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Guadalajara is kind of an odd destination in Mexico when it comes to luxury hotel choices. Despite being Mexico’s second-largest city by population, it only has a small fraction of the high-end hotels you’ll find in the capital. With just four that we recommend, it’s more on par with small Oaxaca or Guanajuato.
Those two cities probably get more tourists though, since Guadalajara is more of a business destination than a tourist one. Despite being the original source of so many things we associate with Mexico—tequila, mariachi music, cowboys with big sombreros—few tourists spend more than a night or two here. It has a sizable airport with a lot of direct U.S. connections, but many travelers land here and then head somewhere else.
We have detailed reviews of the best luxury hotels in Guadalajara on Luxury Latin America though. We just updated the first one below with a new review and photos. So here’s a rundown of where to stay.
Quinta Real Guadalajara
This storied hotel is the best large property in town, but that’s a relative term since it has 76 rooms. What sets this place apart is all the space, with lovely courtyards and lawn spaces for lounging or dining outside in the pleasant year-round climate. You’ll also feel a sense of history here, with colonial accents and stone arches. The recently revamped restaurant is a popular spot for local elites and the rooms pile on plenty of finery. When you want to get out and about, some of the city’s best restaurants are a stroll away.
Villa Ganz Hotel Boutique
This has long been the top Guadalajara hotel choice for discerning visitors who like intimate spaces and personal service. It only has 10 rooms, so book well in advance if you want to be sure of snagging the one of your choice. The three Gran Master suites offer the most space, but a few of the others open onto the lovely gardens with sitting areas outside. Everything is impeccably designed, with a strong emphasis on quality Mexican furniture, lighting, and handicrafts.
The owner and staffers are a wealth of information about the city and they are well tapped-in to the local dining, drinking, and coffee scene. (They helped out with our recent tour article Three Delicious Days in Guadalajara.)
Casa Fayette
The latest addition to the scene, opened a couple years back, is from Mexico’s coolest hotel chain: Grupo Habita. The team that brought us Downtown Mexico, Condesa df, and Hotel Escondido opened Casa Fayette in two adjoining buildings. One is a restored mansion from the 1940s, the other a nine-story annex that was built to suit. As with some other Habita properties, the emphasis is more on attracting the right crowd (young, artsy, upwardly mobile, and attractive) to the public areas than it is on pampering you. Those include an excellent restaurant in the original mansion and a rooftop bar and pool in the new annex. Step up for your room choice though.
“The best option is the appropriately named “Top Suite,” really an ample two–bedroom apartment, located on the top floor. This sun–flooded space is beautifully furnished with mid–century tables and chairs as well as contemporary art. It is seductively classy, highly recommended. The other option is the Junior Suite, which adds nearly 200 more square feet of space, a sitting area, and a corner location with windows on two sides.”
Westin Guadalajara
Do a search and you’ll find plenty of chain hotels with familiar names in this city. Although not luxurious enough for our reviews, the sprawling Intercontinental Presidente is a good choice for business travelers. The newer high-rise Westin is much more stylish, however, and it’s right across from the convention center. Since conferences (including the annual International Book Fair) are a big business draw here, this is a good location. Rooms are stocked with all the amenities you would expect from the hotel conglomerate of 30+ brands and you can earn Starwood/Marriott points. You probably don’t want to cash in those points though since room rates here are a real bargain, often coming in under $100 per night.
Sоurсе: luxurylatinamerica.com