Luxury Hotels in Mexico
The Brick 
La Roma is a historic residential neighbourhood in the throes of reinvention in the heart of Mexico City and The Brick is its newest luxury boutique hotel. Declared a cultural landmark by the National Institute of Fine Arts, The Brick offers carefully restored details of the original 1902 mansion with retro/modern architectural elements, putting a contemporary spin on this hip hotel. With just seventeen luxuriously appointed rooms, each decorated with Mexican style and bold mid-century furniture, the rooms offer smart fresh design and a unique use of space. The gourmet mini-bar (complete with condoms and a hang-over kit), Kiehls bath products and extremely comfortable mattresses and bedding make your stay that much more enjoyable.
Head downstairs to the Brasserie La Moderna for classic French cuisine or enjoy a coffee on the corner terrace of Loncheria Olivia while watching the neighbourhood pass you by. In recent years many excellent boutiques, cafes, galleries and bars have moved into the La Roma area and along with a vibrant street market offer the traveler many days and nights of exploration.
La Casona
Built in early 1920’s, Hotel La Casona was originally six townhomes that were merged together to create this thirty room boutique hotel with a charming pink façade and period reminiscent balconies. Taking over a year to renovate, the original façade and internal walls were maintained showcasing the wide hallways and generous sized rooms. Each room offers unique furnishings and today’s modern comforts and retaining a warm feeling throughout with its wooden floors and carefully selected traditional furniture.
One of the first small boutique hotels in Mexico City, La Casona opened its doors in 1996. Imagined by a Swiss mathematician who has lived in Mexico for more than 60 years, the hotel is now run by his two sons who attended the prestigious Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland, the European influence is apparent throughout. With a casual restaurant on site offering international cuisine the hotel feels more like a Bed and Breakfast than a hotel.
Located near Chapultepec Park and the Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, La Casona is a short walk to Mexico City’s many attractions, fine restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
Villa San Francisco
It was (as usual) a perfect day with bluebird skies and a gentle breeze coming off Lake Chapala. I joined the proprietor of Villa San Francisco on the front veranda and settled down with some coffee for a chat about the realities of life in Mexico and take in a little people watching on the nearby Malecon. Perhaps the newest boutique hotel in Chapala, opening in the summer of 2011, this classic 19th century mansion has been lovingly restored by Toronto native Tony Whilshire and his wife. Featuring a beautiful private garden setting overlooking the lake guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning on the wrap around porch.
With a strong personal musical connection in the Chapala area, Tony themed each of the ten rooms around a specific musical genre, from Tango to Hollywood Musicals to Classical. A collection of this music is offered in each room for the guest’s listening pleasure. All the suites have working wood burning fireplaces, luxurious linens and wireless Internet.
Just steps from Lake Chapala and the newly refurbished malecon, in the heart of the town, the location of Villa San Francisco offers its guest excellent nearby dining and plenty of activities. Enjoy a boat cruise on the lake, play a round of golf at one of the many nearby courses or book a tour into Guadalajara or Tlequepaque to enjoy a full day of shopping and sightseeing.
Azul Fives Hotel
Bright, cheerful and inviting, Azul Fives is what I was looking for as I stepped out of my taxi. Having traveled all day on an early morning bus from Merida I was ready to relax, kick back and enjoy some room service. With a more than ample 2 bedroom suite on the ground floor about mid-way to the beach, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the furnishings and the huge soaker tub in the master suite. A quick look around and a call to room service had me in the tub with a Club House, plate of fresh fruit and cheese and a dessert plate.
As an all-inclusive, the resort has better-than-most dining options and offers a substantial 24-hour room service menu. Perfect for when you roll in at 5am from the club scene in Playa (as the kids call it) or the mega-discos of Cancun. The on-site ‘nightclub’ offers a nightly show and a DJ that plays an eclectic mix of 50’s sock-hop to today’s Top 40. If you are over 18 or under 60 you might want to consider checking out the (much) livelier venues in town.
Running as condo-hotel, each unit is made up of one bedroom condo with separate (but attached) 2nd bedroom unit. This allows owners the opportunity to rent out just a portion of their suite and the hotel to offer a selection of rooms and suites.
Day two and it’s off to the beach, which does not disappoint. The crystal clear azul water and the fine powdery white sand are almost to good to be true. It looks exactly like the brochure. With plenty of loungers and a prompt staff eager to satisfy, your days at the beach will zip by enticing you to sell everything and buy your own private suite at The Fives.
Villa Amor
The popular surfing village of Sayulita, located about forty-five minutes north of Puerto Vallarta is an authentic Mexican town with a wonderful laid back vibe that offers everything from backpacker hostels to the five-star experience at Villa Amor. Keeping things casual but luxurious (600 thread count linens) with open-air suites that provide dramatic ocean and village views, this is one of the most prestigious hotels in town.
Originally built as a family compound in the 1960’s, owner Rod Ingram was convinced by friends and associates to expand his vision and today there are forty-two homes amongst twenty-nine owners. Every villa is unique in design but all share the same high quality amenities.
Villa Amor brings the discerning traveler options that range from a cozy studio to the five bedroom Paraiso Villa which has a Robinson Crusoe feel with its high palapa ceilings and rope swing in the living room. The onsite restaurant ‘O’ offers excellent Mexican and international cuisine and room service if you just can’t (or won’t) leave your beachfront paradise.
Popular with the wedding crowd, Villa Amor brings a uniqueness to every event, an on-site planner is available and the services and amenities rival that of any five-star resort. If you are looking for a truly tropical destination wedding that retains the authentic flavour of Mexico, this is the place. From each Villa to the charm of Sayulita itself, your envy-inducing holiday will have your friends and family joining you next time!
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