Hotel de Mendoza

Guadalajara is a huge, bustling metropolis, but secreted within a few blocks of its heart is a section with a rich Colonial heritage. This Centro Histórico is the highlight of Guadalajara, and if you want to be within steps of its architectural wonders, the Hotel de Mendoza makes a good choice for accommodations. With a prime location next to the beautiful 16th-century Santa María de Gracia Church, the Mendoza attracts tourists from around the globe. This is a simple hotel that offers a genuinely warm welcome and pleasant facilities. From the canopied entrance, you enter an old-fashioned lobby accented by a bronze, multi-tiered chandelier and large oil paintings. To the left is a raised area with tables and chairs in a parlor-like setting. A hallway to the right leads to La Forja restaurant. The hotel is built around an inner courtyard, with an inviting swimming pool as the center of attention. Some of the guestrooms overlook this courtyard, but my favorite is number 308; a smaller bedroom than many of the others, but with a romantic view overlooking the Santa María de Gracia Church. All of the bedrooms are simply furnished and have a traditional hotel look with built-in headboards. They all have good lighting, air conditioning, color cable television, and marble bathrooms.