Inconspicuously tucked along Calle 74A, sits the Hotel Santiago Mérida near the heart of Centro Mérida. In advance of our trip to Mérida, we had browsed several boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts. The reviews were solid and it was rated as the number two bed and breakfast in Mérida at the time of booking.

Overall Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Service: 5 of 5 Stars
Location: 5 of 5 Stars
Comfort: 5 of 5 Stars
Cleanliness: 5 of 5 Stars

We arrived in Mérida from Dallas around 3 PM and took a taxi directly to the hotel. It’s a short drive of just a few kilometers from the airport but Mérida traffic is a bit fussy. It took about 15 minutes to arrive. When we pulled up, Ana opened the front doors and greeted us at arrival. At that moment, the incredible hospitality of the Hotel Santiago Mérida began. Ana checked us in and then proceeded to give us a tour of the property and the room.

The room itself was extremely spacious and comfortable. It was also incredibly clean! There was a large comfy bed plus a nice storage cabinet with a safe. The bathroom was very large with double sinks and a spacious rain shower. The water pressure in the room was fantastic. Right outside the room was a small patio and lounge chairs. The pool was only 5 steps away form the door. Depending on the weather, you could leave the door or windows open and let the evening breezes flow in. If it’s too hot, the ice cold air conditioning will quickly chill the room.

The Hotel Santiago Mérida is owned and managed by Jan and Rita, a fantastic couple who really know how to run a hotel. Jan introduced himself nearly right away and gave us an overview of Mérida. Even with a smartphone, it’s nice to have a paper map to navigate a new city gave us some great notes and highlights on a map to get a started with our exploration. We took a spin our Centro Mérida for a couple hours before heading back to the hotel.

We arrived back just in time for the hotel’s nightly happy hour which takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. This is where we met Rita for the first time. She was incredibly friendly and warm, just like like Jan. We also met a couple who was also staying at the hotel who were also from Dallas. Ultimately, we spent a lot of time with then throughout the long weekend. They only added more enjoyment to our weekend.

Before the day started, we had a multi-course breakfast by the pool served by the on-site chef, Rita always offered her warm hospitality. Over the next few days, we took day excursions around Mérida and the surrounding Yucatan region. We had a fantastic time exploring during the day but coming back to the hotel each late afternoon was just as much fun. We had so much fun just sitting by the pool, chatting with our fellow guests and hosts, drinking a few beers.

One night, we had a special dinner hosted by the on-site chef. They were wanting to sample some new menu items they were trying out. The food here is incredible. Everything from the fresh sweet breads and coffee in the morning to the fresh fish and salads served at dinner. And even thought the chef only spoke a few words of English, she was just as hospitable as the rest of the staff. Ana staffed the front desk for much of our stay and her local hospitality was much appreciated from the arrangements she helped make to offering drinks. And let’s not forget, Gio, the adorable Maltese who also resides on property.

I can very truthfully say that the Hotel Santiago Mérida is one of the best hotel experiences I have EVER had. It’s that fantastic. Even reading the solid reviews in advance on Trip Advisor, I expected an overall good experience but nothing this fantastic.

Jan and Rita take great pride in their hotel. This is not only their business but their home as well. They strive to make their guests feel like family. Saying goodbye was very hard. I could live at this hotel at be completely content for a very long time. We’re already making plans to return again!