Gran Hotel Xalapa — Hotel in Veracruz

I stayed here for just under a week and was anxious about what I could expect after reading the reviews here. The main complaints seem to be noise, lack of cleanliness, and poor service. I didn't experience any of these things. The main noise is the dawn chorus (which is neither very loud nor very early). I think when people say it's dirty they mean that some things are a little worn and, in some cases, stained. It's not as if there is mud anywhere or the cleaning staff don't do their job. The pool, for instance, is cleaned every day. But the carpets, curtains, etc. are getting a little old and could use a makeover. The service has been very good--friendly and efficient. I couldn't get the internet password to work and I received immediate and effective help, in English, as soon as I asked. The best things about the hotel are its location (an easy walk into the city center, and right next to a wonderful "fog forest" park), the size of the rooms (as big as any I've ever had), and the food. I wasn't sure about the food at first, but it's grown on me as I've figured out what things are (I can't read the menu) and what I like. Breakfasts are the best. There's a green juice made from cactus and other things that is delicious and, I'm told, very healthy. There's also a woman there who makes tortillas fresh and will grill you a couple with cheese and whatever else you want, with green or red salsa that you can pour on top. They're great. And there's the usual cereal, toast, fruit, and a variety of baked goods. I've only had fish dishes at dinner, and they tend to overcook the fish, but the food is tasty. Across the street is a very nice place called the Churreria, which has regular meals as well as churros (and an English language menu). So that's a very good alternative if you want to eat somewhere else. The restaurant in the hotel is fairly large, not very crowded, and plays kind of middle-aged music (sometimes live), so the atmosphere won't be to everyone's taste, but on a clear day (about half the time) you can see a snow-capped mountain in the...

First off: The recently renovated room I stayed in was clean, with wooden floor, good pillows, ok mattress, great water pressure, and satisfactory internet that came and went a little. Bellman was very nice. I did not try the restaurant (at the recommendation of others who did). ||The reason I would probably stay elsewhere next time is that, to make a long story short, my colleague and I had two rooms reserved for two nights and called the day before our arrival to cancel one of the rooms. We were told that the room could not be cancelled for the first night (less than 48 hours in advance, which we understood) but we could cancel the second night upon arrival. In the meantime, unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, our employer prepaid both nights. When we arrived, we tried to cancel her second night and although they kept us optimistic that they would do so even after she had checked out and did not use the second night, in the end they refused to refund anything, offering a variety of different excuses such as the invoice has already been issued and could not be canceled and reissued, or because their policy is that a prepaid room must be used within 30 days and they were full for the next 30 days we would not be able to use it, or that they were at 100% occupancy that night -- which, to me, would mean they would not have had a hard time filling it had they wanted to. The real reason seems to be that they already had our money so they didn't have to. If the room had not been prepaid, I am sure it would not have been an issue. Whatever. There are many other hotels in Xalapa who I would rather give my business...

When Management give you your money back - it usually means the situation is well beyond the pale. We went to Xalapa for the untimely death of a dear relative. Funeral, wake, burial, etc. - exhausted we arrived at 6pm, we were fast asleep at 7pm and... at 11:30pm precisely - huge scandal, music, so loud that it reached across the 60-meter yard into our room at a high volume. I went to the front desk, asked for a change of room - one was give, yet the bell boy suggested I check the noise level of the new room and... it was across the street of a disco/night club that closed until 5pm!! I went back to the front desk, demanded that they either lower the party noise, or give me my money back and I would seek a Hotel that cared for the sleep of their guests. They immediately gave me my money back. Sad.||||I had been a loyal guest of the Hotel. Nice staff, aged facilities yet good enough, good food, downtown location, good parking. Yet, enough was enough. We moved to the Holiday Inn Express - Xalapa, smack in the middle of downtown, yet in spite of hosting three events that night, facilities are modern enough that we slept soundly...