Things change...we stayed at this hotel ten years ago and had a very pleasant experience during the Christmas Holidays. Not this time. They say there is no such thing as customer service in Mexico and perhaps "they" are right. We found the restaurant/bar to be very poor. Maid service was the same. Most days we had to ask for bottled water, soap and never did receive a hand towel until the last day (because I found the maid and asked for one).
But the worst was the noise. In the interior courtyard (most afternoons) there were musicians playing. Our room was located on the southeast side of the hotel and our room adjoined a "new" cantina that began playing "very loud electronics (music if you can call it that)usually starting at around midnight and running until about 7:00 a.m. most days. They partied until 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. New Year's Day. There is also a new cantina directly across the street from the hotel. And they play music all night as well. Hooping, hollering and group singing seems to be a popular thing to do as well at both bars. New Year's Eve a drum and trumphet found their way into one of the bars. If you like to party all night, this is your place!
San Miguel De Allende has become a booming tourist place (lots of visitors from Mexico City) during the high season (Holidays through March). The traffic has become so bad during those times that the government is considering building a parking lot on the edge of town and/or selling permits to vehicles that have a need to drive the downtown area. This information came from the most reputable transportation service company in San Miguel De Allende. I hope this report will save someone from the same experience we had. Looking for tranqulity? Stay away from the Jardin (downtown) area and think about staying at the upper end of downtown and don't go during high season. Fortunately, in spite of the traffic and the noise, San Miguel De Allende is still one of the most enchanting cities I've ever visited. I still love it but now I'm better informed.

I have been to San Miguel twice and both times I was amazed how the Mexican and US cultures have blended and co-existed so well without making the city a tourist attraction. You will find mostly older, wealthier Americans from the west coast who have made this their retirement or seasonal destination, along with numerous groups of students. The city is rather hilly except for the center of town where you will find the main plaza and cathedral along with many wonderful restaurants and bars. The shopping is amazing and plentiful...be sure to visit the open air market for souveniers...the stores are better for furnishings and furniture. We stayed at Hotel Mansion Virreyes this time and loved it. Last trip, I stayed at a small hotel named Vista Hermosa, which you most likely won't find in the travel guides or online. This hotel at $24.00 a night has a great location, friendly (family-owned) staff, and a rooftop view to die for. It is located on the street adjacent to the main cathedral (to the right). Have breakfast in the orange and lemon tree filled interior patio of the restaurant (name escapes me) to the right of the cathedral a few doors back. Here you will find the most authentic US breakfast (if you are missing home) and other Mexican specialties. For the younger crowd, the new bar Mechicanos, across from Hotel Mansion Virreyes is the best night spot. Decorated in predominately red and black, this bar puts a comedic spin on the religion and cultural passion of Mexico without making it too touristy. My absolute favorite place, however, has to be Mama Mia. If you are facing the cathedral turn right and go away less than a block. It will be on your left. Mama Mia is a fixture in San Miguel and in my two visits, I have probably been there 4 times. The food is amazing. Dine in an interior patio surrounded and protected overhead by beautiful ficus trees. There is a stage in the main dining area for nightly live music, usually guitar or something mellow. There is also rooftop dining, although the hours and season for this are limited. It provides a great outdoor dining experience either way. At the entrance of Mama Mia, you will find a sports bar with wrap around bench seating, a big screen television, and great service. To the right as you enter is the salsa room, where salsa dancing and lessons occur many evenings.
San Miguel is one of the most romantic cities I have ever visited. My husband and I (even though we are currently 30 years from retirement) have already considered moving here when we have the chance. It is absolutely a must-see city. Go before it gets too tourist ridden and avoid the months of June and July when it gets really warm and rainy.

We stayed at the hotel for part of our honeymoon in Central Mexico.
Details: Great location, close to everything...the main square, great restaurants (you have to try Mama Mia), the market and stores, and bars. Flat walk to all of the above, which is rare in San Miguel. 10-15 minute cab ride from the bus terminal costs US$4-5.00 I believe. Multi-level hotel with stairs only, a lovely interior patio for dining, bar, interior restaurant/sitting area, and beautiful rooftop deck.

The good: We paid extra for the suite which included breakfast. A steal for $96.00 a night. When we arrived we were told the restaurant was closed for the week, however, they subtracted the breakfast from our room fee. No big deal. The suite was wonderful...small kitchen, huge living area, huge rooftop patio off of the room, large bedroom with attached bath, fire place, and tons of windows! (see pictures) I believe there were only 2 or 3 other rooms on our floor. The staff was friendly and accommodating. We had a gas leak in our stove which was fixed that day. The interior, fern filled patio is beautiful and exposed to the sky on the top floor where our suite was. Across the street and beside the hotel are bars/restaurants which we enjoyed. A couple of doors down there is a wine and cheese specialty shop which sells purified ice and other necessities. We left our windows (floor to ceiling) open one evening and were greeted by the 'hotel cat' in our room when we returned. She hung out with us for the rest of the evening until we eventually shooed her out the door.

The bad: We were awakened at 5:30 in the morning on a Tuesday to firecrackers which lasted an hour. This seems to be a strange, and common, phenom in Mexico. Church bells ring at all hours and last forever. Some part of the hotel was obviously under construction because there was a horrible banging that could be heard several mornings all throughout the hotel. The room was amazing, however, the bed was hard, water pressure was beyond lacking, and the bathroom was in serious need of updating. I don't want to put specific blame on the hotel, but I did notice numerous small bites on my legs after the first night, which I thought could possibly be bed bugs. I do not know this for sure...and I never thought I would say this, but the rest of the hotel was worth it. The rooms are very light in the morning if this bothers you.

Overall, a great location and hotel for the money if you are not a finicky traveler. I would not suggest it if you want to spend much time at the hotel itself, however, San Miguel is a city where you really should want to get out and about. A side note, they do respond quickly and effectively by email for questions or reservations. We reserved almost a year in advance via email with no credit card or deposit and they had our reservation when we arrived.

It depends on your priorities. If you are looking for a very clean and inexpensive place to stay in San Miguel that is smack in the middle of everything this may be the place for you.

It is a small and charming hotel. The patios are lovely with a fountain and trailing vines. Breakfast is outdoors and very hearty (included in the room rate). The beds are hard and that is my most negative comment. The bar is noisy at night but not enough to really bother me and the music and laughter add to the flair of the place. The rooms are neither large nor particularly well appointed but quite adequate and are very clean. The staff is especially friendly and helpful (Spanish speaking only).

Within a few short blocks is just about everything you will come to San Miguel to see as well as numerous excellent restaurants and more shopping opportunities than you can handle. Over all the Hotel Mansion Virreyes offers excellent value and location and a bit of authentic Mexican hospitality.