INCIDENTALS Hotel Address Calle 62 No. 476 entre 57 y 59 Mérida, Yucatán, México C.P. 97000 www.HotelColonial.com.mx Reservations (9)923-64-44; 923-64-78; Fax (9) 928-39-61 toll free Mexico: 01-800-71-20-004 USA: 1-888-886-2982 reservas@hotelcolonial.com.mx Restaurant Poolside Bar Full service travel agency 50-person Conference room Medical Service Safe-deposit boxes Laundry Services Solarium Nearby guarded parking lot LOCAL ACTIVITIES City Tours Flamingo Watching at Celestún Mayan ruin tours at Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Labná, Ruta Puuc Arts and Crafts Shopping (Hammocks, Panama Hats, Guayaberas…) College graduation just days behind them, the two young women landed excitedly in Mérida just in time for Carnaval -- a celebration not unlike Mardigras, with many colorful parades. A few days ahead of the festivities, the women checked into Hotel Colonial and then walked two steps to the travel agency inside the lobby. They wanted to take a tour to see the flamingos at Celestún and the ruins at Chichén Itzá and Uxmal before Carnaval started. After a quick dip in the hotel's refreshingly cold pool, the women headed out to get tickets for the ballet folklorico. With Hotel Colonial right in the heart of Mérida, they were only a few blocks from the theatre, but it took them quite a while to get there for all the shops and street vendors along the way that caught their eye. Traveling most of the day, and then walking around town had tired them out, so they decided to have a quiet night at their hotel: dinner in the dining room downstairs; a little music from the in-room radio and then from the TV as they unpacked with their balcony door open to the balmy night; and finally a movie on cable while lying in bed. Lobby Poolside Bar Facade Skylight Sandcruiser Comments RATES (as of 28 Feb, 2001): Room $61 single/dbl. Tax included. Want a 25% discount? Of course you do. Email your reservation request through Sandcruiser, and you stay for cheap. If you prefer to call, be sure to ask for the Sandcruiser discount. CLEANLINESS: Very good. Just as we'd expect. Linens are of fair-good quality. ROOM: White tile floors, two double beds, small balcony, desk (great for people who use computers in their room) and a color TV with 20-odd channels (though some are a little blurry). There are no fans in the rooms, which we miss, but the AC doesn't freeze you out overnight. BATHROOM: It would be difficult to make it smaller than it is. The sink is actually in the room, not the bathroom. The shower has tons of hot water and a tiny window provides good ventilation. PARKING: Locked and guarded public parking lot about a block away. The hotel pays for parking from 8pm to 8am only, daytime parking at the same lot runs about US $5/day. Seems very safe (it is a public lot), but it isn't very convenient. LOCATION: Good. We're two blocks from the main square and cathedral, surrounded by shops and restaurants, and several daytrips take off from Mérida every day. ATMOSPHERE: The pool is really nicely lit at night. The dining room is pleasant and carefully decorated, but is brighter than we like for eating dinner. SERVICE: Good. Our waiter remembered from one night to the next, that when Bb orders a salad, she likes thousand island with it, without her having to ask. ACTIVITIES: The hotel has no activities outside of the small and rather chilly pool, but it does have an onsite travel agency and Mérida is centrally located to a handful of daytrips. RELAXATION: The rooms have radio and cable TV which is good for indoor relaxing. Room service is also available OVERALL: We find it a good hotel for the money. The pool is a bit of a disappointment and the bar area is right on top of it, but the oscillating light coming out of the pool makes for a pleasant atmosphere. We are close to a busy street, but double-paned glass shuts out the noise very nicely. SOMETHING UNIQUE: Hotel Colonial makes the best cheladas we've had yet.