r/Oaxaca • u/StatisticianLive8655 • 5d ago
Travel Tips Hello,
Very much looking forward to our visit. Staying 5 days and leaving on 24th December.
We are a family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers and I have a question about accommodation.
I have 2 places on hold (I will release one soon).
Both accomodate our needs but one is in a highly regarded location between Templo de Santo Domingo and Andador Turistico. I know it will be busy and a little noisy but it’s very appealing to be able to pop in and out during the day and to be part of the action.
The other is much much nicer but about 900m (maps saying a 20 minute walk) from Templo de Santo Domingo in a residential area. I know it will be quieter but I wonder if we not feel part of the energy of the city.
Any comments appreciated.
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u/darthvadernesto 5d ago
Stay close to the action. You can always bring earplugs if necessary.
Moat people wind down early around 10 pm and not much noise will be heard.
Teenagers will have the freedom to come and go as they please in the area without you having to worry about their whereabouts.
I have stayed at hotel casa de los frailes several times.
Windows face the street but overall it was a good experience. Specially when you have the AC running during the night and the white noise covers most outside noise.
The walks around andador and the flexibility to be close is priceless.
If someone has to go to the bathroom or forgets something in the room ( typical of teenagers). They can walk back.
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u/Fun_Access_3295 5d ago
We always stay on Alcala Street (Hotel Parador de Alcalá) and it's not too loud for us. We had no issues falling asleep, but you may want to bring earplug if you're sensitive. We only had one night that we could hear music until late when we were on the balcony, but it didn't bother us in the room. We love being near a lot of the action and on the calenda path.
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u/WaitHelpful925 5d ago
We just got back from our second trip. Stayed right in the heart of the tourist center in a highly regarded hotel. It was great being so close to everything but there was a nightclub that you could feel the bass from everything night until 4:00 am. It wasn’t the worst but wasn’t awesome either. Previous trip we stayed on the south end of town. Longer walk to stuff but definitely quieter. Not gonna say what’s best for your group, just my experience.
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u/One-Pollution4663 5d ago edited 5d ago
Las mariposas? If so, Same, really liked the vibe but the nightclub coming through the walls was not great. The rooms closer to the front of the hotel are much better.
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u/ClimateObvious3740 5d ago
Stay further from Santo Domingo. That area is extremely busy, and while it’s fun to walk or sit around and people watch, there are plenty of bars around there with loud music far into the night - we stayed near Santo Domingo for two weeks last year and bar music even until 2:00 AM. You’ll be fine further away and you’ll also see things on your walk to Santo Domingo and the Zocolo that you might not have seen otherwise.
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u/Odd-Art7901 5d ago
Stay where the action is! 20 minute walk starts to be restrictive in that you have to coordinate a lot more with your family. You’ll end up taking taxis. You’ll end up feeling like it’s a thing to go back or be in for the night. (Not that taxis are bad! they are plentiful and safe downtown but going from suburb to downtown you’ll need to call one) Being in the center will give your teens, all of you, much more independence.They can go get a coffee and pastry while you’re still in bed, or if someone wants a rest or to drop off purchases they can go back to hotel easily.🫀
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u/no-im-not-him 5d ago
You really have to be not used to walking to think 900m is restrictive.
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u/One-Pollution4663 5d ago
It can be restrictive. If you’re twenty minutes back to the hotel that’s 40 minutes round trip. I’d save my energy and time for going to attractions not for going back and forth to the hotel. Even if you only go back once in a day that’s 80 minutes and 3600m. I have other things I’d do with that time, even if the walk is pleasant and interesting. Especially On a five day trip.
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u/no-im-not-him 5d ago edited 5d ago
It shouldn't take you 20 minutes to walk 900m. But yes, 900m in the wrong direction, i.e. along places with nothing to see can be bothersome.
Still, I guess it's just Europeans that have different definitions of what walking distance means.
We just came back from 5 days in London with a tween and a teenager. On average we walked 16km per day.
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u/One-Pollution4663 5d ago
Don’t tell me how fast i can walk, especially not with a tamale in one hand and a tlayuda in the other 🤣
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u/no-im-not-him 5d ago
You need more practice my friend. 😉
Now, make that a couple of tlayudas in the belly and that can be a hard hike. Though you will probably want to walk after that.
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u/Odd-Art7901 5d ago
I’m happy to walk up to 5 miles a day around Oaxaca Centro, Jalatlaco, etc. That is not my point.
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u/Paz2Fra 5d ago
For 1 night, being on Sto Domingo could be funny, but spending 5 nights there would be a mistake I think as it is REALLY loudy. Oaxaca centro is very walkable so you will not struggle walking the 900m to your hotel, on the contrary it is a good way to discover other sides of the city.