Dominican Republic: Hotel Bayahibe

When we decided to go the Dominican Republic, we were on a very tight budget . We believed it possible to set up a trip for less than the cost of the all inclusive packages –and we didn’t especially like the idea of being captive in a resort. We were lucky and found extremely cheap plane tickets on the Internet (250$ round trip via Air Transat direct booking – all taxes included). Our next task was to find affordable lodging and we found our match in the small town of Bayahibe—2000 inhabitants— on the shore of the Caribbean Sea: the Hotel Bayahibe (aka Bayahibe Inn). The place is simple, pleasant and spotless clean. Each room has it’s own balcony, from which you can enjoy a view of the ocean and hang your bathing suit to dry. The price of the room (45$ to 60$ with AC) includes a satisfying breakfast consisting of omelet, toasted bread, fruit juice, coffee and a fresh tropical fruit platter . You also have access to a nice beach one block away but if you’re looking for a truly great one, use the dirtpath along the shore and head south –where the big resorts are. After a 25 minute walk, you’ll hit a beautiful public white sandy beach with lots of small shops and beach restaurants. If you rather eat around the Bayahibe Inn, make sure to pay a visit to La Cubana, on the beach stretch: the setting is cool, the food is excellent, the prices are fair and the staff is genuinely friendly. Pictures: The Bayahibe Hotel, view from the hotel entrance, beach restaurant La Cubana. Pictures: Bayahibe Hotel, view from the entrance of the hotel, La Cubana beach restaurant.
Downsides: there is no ATM in the village of Bayahibe but there are some in the resorts area.
Warnings: none
Price range: $
Global evaluation: Thumbs up!
Coordinates: Bayahibe Village/La Romana (Dominican Republic) Tel: (809) 833-0159 or 833-0045

Website: www.hotelbayahibe.net

Mexico - Beaches of the Michoacan Coast

The Michoacan Coast is one of the best destinations (and best kept secret) to enjoy the ocean and the white sandy beaches while on a very limited budget . Dozens of small villages scattered along the Ruta 200, mostly untouched by foreign tourists, offer frugal accommodation directly on the ocean front. Ask the owner of one of the many beach restaurants or one of the locals and, for a few dollars (3 to 5 $ per person or per tent, depending of your bargaining skills) you’ll get a great spot under a palapa to set your tent up, a table, a couple of chairs, a hammock as well as the use of the toilets and showers. Last but not the least, you’ll get an incredible view of the Pacific and its impressive –and sometimes treacherous- waves. Expect the washrooms to be rustic (better wear sandals while using the showers). For a few bucks, your hosts will cook you a nice dinner –you can even ask them to grill that fish you bought on the beach, directly from the fisherman. You’ll find your little spot of heaven in Playa Azul, Maruata, Faro de Bucerias,or Playa La llorona –just to name a few. You’ll encounter many other beaches, some deserted, along the coast road.

Downsides:
-rustic facilities (showers, toilets)
-wave strength perfect for surfing, not so perfect if you travel with young kids
Warnings: Even though the medias make frequent reports of incident involving drug dealers in the states of Michoacán and Guerrero, we never saw or experienced anything that made us feel uncomfortable or threatened –day or night. Still, be prudent and use your good judgement.
Price range: $
Global evaluation: Thumbs up!
Coordinates: Road 200, between Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas
Website: no

Mexico: Hotel Colonial

We made a one night stop in Toluca, on our way to Acapulco. Our expectations weren’t high, the plan was to get a cheap place to sleep that wasn’t going to be too creepy. We read about the Hotel Colonial in a travel guide –the review said it was nice- and went for it. We were surprised to discover it was more than just nice, it was actually a luminous hotel, with stained-glass windows and spacious stairwells surrounding an interior patio. As its name suggests, the colonial style rules, although without the heavy feeling. The room was big, comfortable and sparkling clean –all that for under 35$. The staff was friendly and helpful. The location is great (next to the Arcos and the lively plazas) and the parking lot is safe and free.


Downsides:
-the parking lot is one block away and locked at night (if you need something in your car, the staff will unlock it without making a fuss).

Warnings: none
Price range: $
Global evaluation : Thumbs up!
Coordinates: Hidalgo Oriente #103, Toluca (Mexico)  Tel: (52) 722. 215.9700
Website: no

Canada: La Maison d'Irlande Bed & Breakfast

You’ll find La Maison d’Irlande sitting on top of a hill surrounded by hayfields, in a setting recalling The little house on the prairie. It’s so remote, one doesn’t just happen to pass by . The owners made the most of the this former rectory’s distinctive style. The dining room is especially striking, with its dark wood-paneled walls. The rooms are comfortables but there’s no connecting bathroom (the lavatories are on the landing). What makes this place so charming? In this old house, time seems to stand still. You take a nap, listening to the crickets chirping gently outside. Then you go for a slow walk in the sunny hayfields. Once the sun has disappeared, a hearty dinner is served –I had the duck breast and it was tasty. While you digest, have a chat with Thomas –or ask him to play a tune on his Irish flute.

Downsides:
-rooms with no connecting bathrooms
-it IS remote -don’t expect to find a nightclub around!

Warnings: none
Price range: $$
Global evaluation : Thumbs up! 
Coordinates: 153, de L'Eglise, St-Adrien d'Irlande -Chaudière-Appalaches-, (Quebec, Canada) Toll free : 1.866.338-1351
Website: no

USA: Hotel Solamar

The Solamar is a boutique-hotel located in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, a lively neighborhood with its victorian buildings, cool cafés, restaurants & bars and the site of numerous happenings and festivals. The 235 posh rooms are very comfortable and beautifully decorated –I really liked the way they mixed the aqua blues and chocolate browns-. I also enjoyed the firm bed and plush bedding. There’s a very relaxing feeling to the place. The bathroom was cute and well designed. On the 4th floor, you’ll find a hip terrace with a pool surrounded by cabanas. We had dinner at the restaurant (the Jsix) -the filet mignon was grilled to perfection. The Solamar is a pet-friendly hotel –no extra cost for your four legged friend.

Downsides:
-the street where the Solamar is located seems a little shady at night (maybe just my imagination).
-no parking facilities
-expensive place to stay but the hotel occasionnally offers discount rates –if you’re lucky, you can get a room for half price.

Warnings: none
Price range: $$$
Global evaluation: Thumbs up!
Coordinates: 435 6th Avenue, San Diego, California (USA )
Website: www.hotelsolamar.com

Mexico: Hotel Marriott Reforma

The Marriott Reforma is located in the Zona Rosa, the cool and gay friendly neighbour -with its laidback restaurants and bars with terraces on the street sides-. The regular rooms are a little small but the ultra soft bedding, the high end installations (including a well equipped gym and a cute terrace pool sitting next to a jacuzzi) and the sophisticated decor make this hotel deserve its four stars. Nothing one would’nt expect so far. However, The Marriott had a few surprises in store for us. When we checked-in, nobody bothered telling us there would be an extra charge (of 50$ per night!) because we were accompanied by a dog. We were told –and we even doubled checked the info to make sure- that access to the Executive Lounge was included in the price of our room...which appeared not to be the case when we checked-out and got the bill. Because of the extra-charges for the dog and the use of the Executive lounge, the bill had almost doubled. Not a good surprise, especially when you have a plane to catch and no time to sort the situation out. So we paid what they asked. Back in Canada, we called to make a claim and after a lot of talking, all we got was a very small refund.


Downsides:
-pricey
Warnings: When you check-in, find out exactly what you will be billed for and double-check the info
Price range: $$$
Global evaluation: Lukewarm
Coordinates: Paseo de la Reforma #276, Mexico City (Mexico) Tel: (52) 551 102.7030
Website: www.marriott.com

Mexico: Bar Real Hacienda de Garibaldi

“The place where great nights begin” claims the Real Hacienda de Garibaldi leaflet. Unforgettable experience? Yes. But surely not in a good way. The scheme works as follows: as you walk by the bar, a tout (one of the pack!) pressures you to come in to enjoy the music, and that, with no admission fee (“no cover, no cover” he insists). As soon as you enter, you find yourself in a run down and badly lit place. The band playing seems bored to death. And on top of that, the beer is pretty expensive (around 5$). But the real surprise happens when you decide to leave and comes the bill –including an extra charge of 20$ for “el concepto de entretenimiento”. Hey, wait, isn’t this the equivalent of a cover charge? Isn’t the admittance free, as you were told over and over BEFORE getting in? I complained to the manager and he showed me with arrogance what was written in fine print on the cocktail list: prices do not include the entertainment concept. In addition, they will try to bill you for different kinds of phoney taxes –by that I don’t mean the expected 10% or 15% tip-. Our bill ended up being around 35$ for two beers and a 20 minutes stay – tip not included. To sum up, the Real Hacienda de Garibaldi is definitely a place to avoid. You’ll be happier spending the night at El Guadalajara de Noche, one block away: the entertainment is great (mariachis, traditional dancers, live salsa music -all in one night!), the place looks nice, drinks are cheaper. And cover is free (for real)! 
Downsides:
-shabby and dark place 
-expensive drinks

Warnings: they’ll try to charge you hidden fees and phoney taxes
Price range: $ $ (see warning above)
Global evaluation: Thumbs down!
Coordinates: Plaza Garibaldi, Mexico DF, Mexico  Phone: unknown
Website: no

Mexico: Hotel Rioja

The Rioja is an incredibly cheap colonial hotel with an ideal location -in the hearth of Mexico City’s historical center. You’re at walking distance from the Zocalo, the Palacio de Bella Artes, the Diego Rivera Mural Museum, the Alameda Central Park and much more. The thirty some rooms are laid around the interior patio, the cheapest ones (under 25$) with no windows. I personally prefer the slightly more expensive rooms (25$ to 30$) with a balcony overlooking 5 de Mayo Avenue, even if it’s a little noisy at night and not mosquito-proof. With those rates, two can share a nice and extremely clean private room at the RIoja for less than staying at the Youth Hostel. In the hall, a computer with Internet access is available for a small fee but beware, equipment malfunction is common and don’t expect to get your money back.

Downsides:

-no WIFI in the rooms

-Service at the front desk varies from good to very poor, depending of the person attending (the lady IS rude).

Warnings:

The public computer with Internet access does not work well – no money back!

Price range: $

Global evaluation: Thumbs up!

Coordinates: Rioja Hotel, 5 de Mayo #45, Mexico DF, Mexico Tel: (52) 55 21 8333

Website: no

Mexico: Hotel La Casa de la Marquesa

La Casa de la Marquesa is a luxury baroque hotel located in the heart of Queretaro’s Centro Historico. The 25 rooms –with ultra comfy bedding- are distributed in two facing buildings –one of which was build in the middle of the 18th Century. Heaven of gilt, crystal chandeliers and richly upholstered furniture, the ostententious rules, making the guests feel like kings and queens.  Good spot for lovebirds and honeymooners.

Downsides:
-Slightly stiff-necked ambiance
-High price

Warnings:  None
Price range: $$$
Global evaluation: Thumbs up!
Coordinates: Madero 41 , Queretaro (Mexico) Tel: (52) 442.212.0092
Website: www.lacasadelamarquesa.com