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We have recently posted two new reviews of San Miguel de Allende hotels here on the magazine side of Luxury Latin America. If you don’t know much about San Miguel, here’s the basic story. It’s a key city in the history of Mexican independence, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site with miles of Spanish colonial buildings, and it’s the most popular spot in Mexico for Americans and Canadians living abroad. In the past decade it has become more popular with Mexican tourists as well, especially as a wedding destination thanks to all the pretty photo backdrops.
Naturally, there are some great San Miguel de Allende hotels to choose from that cater to all the visitors. One that came out of the gate the past year and a half and started getting lots of attention is Hotel Amparo, a five-room boutique hotel about a five-minute walk from the main square. It was once the mayor’s residence and as a private home, served a few other families over the centuries. It has a lovely main courtyard that serves an open-air restaurant, a roof garden, a combo bar/coffee shop, and a wine salon. Here’s a tour that will take you less than two minutes to check out:
If you want to read more about it and see some photos, check out our full review of Hotel Amparo in San Miguel.
Our next “new” review is really an update. Hotel Matilda is celebrating its 10th anniversary in October. As a contemporary and artsy hotel, it really took the city in a new direction when it opened a decade ago and gave the young and hip an alternative to all the colonial B&B spaces. Its 32 rooms are arranged around a heated swimming pool, a lower-level spa, an outdoor bar, and acclaimed Moxi restaurant. The dining space is indoor-outdoor to take full advantage of the nice highland climate. Come, let’s take a look around on a tour!
See our full review of Hotel Matilda, with photos and plenty of details from what was our third stay at this great property.
In these times when people are naturally worried about travel and the hazards that await them in an unfamiliar place, San Miguel de Allende is doing far more than most in easing your mind. There’s a mask mandate in place, businesses have to follow enhanced health procedures and be certified to open, and there are capacity controls in place to maintain distancing. This means some of the annual holidays and festivals are a bit more subdued than usual, but you can vacation there feeling safe. The city is blessed with an “eternal spring” climate that allows you to eat outside all year and take advantage of all the rooftop restaurants.
I stayed two nights each at these San Miguel de Allende hotels and visited a few others for a drink. I can assure you they are going out of their way to minimize any health risks as much as humanly possible.
You could spend a week here just dining, drinking, and strolling, but there’s plenty to do nearby as well, including some wineries with nice tasting set-ups (like Tres Raices, which has a hotel) and some hot springs where you can soak away your cares. It’s hard to explain how gorgeous this city is, but picture colorful houses lining cobblestone streets and plazas filled with manicured trees. While it’s a tourist town and expat center for sure, it’s still a lively place bustling with locals, especially once you get a few blocks from the main square.
Source: luxurylatinamerica.com