NO heat and NO a/c but a wonderful hotel in the middle of the shopping district, one block from the Cathedral, and one block from the most beautiful main park of any Mexican city I have visited. Rates are very reasonable. Very small hotel---I was told 22 rooms. Excellent service. The restaurant below the hotel is noted as being one of the best in Xalapa for breakfast and lunch. Your breakfast (continental) is included in the price of your room. Very limited English and sometimes no English spoken. Amazing what sign language can accomplish. DO NOT think about using American dollars---they are not known in Xalapa. There is a computer room---across from the lobby desk, no charge. We changed rooms from an upstairs/downstairs to a single floor room and I forgot and left several hundred dollars in our first room. The money was not touched and it was returned to me. The hotel was previously the home of a wealthy family and it retains that atmosphere. I was told that Sanborns will be built in the vacant lot next door to the hotel. There is a Mexican lady who sits on the sidewalk at the entrance to the hotel who sells soft drinks, candy, etc.---buy from her---very reasonable and she does beautiful embroidery.

An old-fashioned little hotel just a few blocks from the main plaza, with very reasonable prices. Just don't expect first-class accomodations. It's made up of a series of small rooms around a courtyard. I looked at a number of rooms before choosing mine. Most are dark, and ventilation can be a problem. Chances are, your window will open right onto the courtyard, so there's not much privacy. The street outside is a rushing torrent of traffic, though inside it's pretty peaceful.

Jalapa doesn't seem to get many American visitors, but it's a delightful city with amazing parks, flowers everywhere, vibrant street life, a terrific and beautifully designed anthropology museum and, if the weather is clear, breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. I stayed two days, and it wasn't long enough.

Xalapa Mexico: Meson Del Alferez: “A disappointing experience"

After reading the fine reviews on this hotel on Trip advisor and in Fromers, we were very sadly disappointed. The property is not well maintained, and the actual rates at the hotel are much higher than most reviewers quoted. The rooms we were shown were all in a similar condition, neat and “apparently” clean. The one we selected, upon closer scrutiny, revealed very soiled upholstery in the sitting area (not well lighted during the tour), unsafe lamp switches (shorting wires), poorly patched holes in the wall, locks that weren’t secure, etc. However, having secured advance reservations, not knowing the town, and being tired after a very long journey we decided to stay for one night and look for better accommodations the next day.

The worst and culminating incident was having a huge cockroach drop on me from a ceiling beam shortly after retiring. It appeared that the room had not been treated for this type of insect infestation. We immediately packed our belongings, told the desk person about our experience and left to book another hotel (at half the cost!). The only good part was that the front desk person did not hesitate to void the hotel charges.

Meson Del Alferez could be a lovely property, the setting has great potential and the rooms are authentic in style and furnishings, but the patio area is sorely neglected, the electrical needs attention, for safety reasons if for no other, holes in walls should be patched to help eliminate insects, etc. Authentic and quaint do not equate to disrepair and lack of upkeep. In our opinion the hotel is extremely overrated as it stood in November/December 2005.

There may be other charming hotels in Jalapa, but we didn't see any- they all looked like dreadfully dreary "modrn" boxes. The Meson del Alferez had simple clean rooms and a charming antique feel. The restaurant downstairs is only open for breakfast and dinner, but from the looks of the clientele, it is a favorite with the city's professionals. there is a good restaurant for dinner in the next block and the zocalo is two blocks away. You will need to ask where to buy ice at the front desk, because though they have internet available, they have no ice machine.