by vagabondette on June 10, 2009
I walked past Posada 5 several times on my way to/from Backpackers/Na Bolom before I stopped in. I was getting sick of dorm life and since Posada 5 had gotten some good reviews I thought I’d see how much a private room was.
The Posada is fairly small with 5-6 private rooms and a dorm with 10-12 beds. The kitchen is not as nice as the Backpackers Hostel and there really isn’t a central sitting area besides the kitchen but the prices more than make up for it. Dorm beds (single level, not bunk) are only 50 MXN/night which is 1/2 the cost of the cheapest dorm at Backpackers. My single room was 75 MXN/night. It’s the cheapest because there is no window but even the one with a window was only 85 MXN/night. If there are two it’s even cheaper. They also allow camping for, I think, 40 MXN/night.
The bed I slept in (queen size) was very comfey though the other bed in the room (single) was NOT.
One of the best things about Posada 5 (aside from the cheap prices) was the view. It’s situated on top of a hill and the back patio overlooks a large, grassy back yard with swing set and a couple of run-down hammocks but what really grabs you is the view. From the top of the yard you can look over the main downtown area and across the valley to the mountains on the other side. The view is just beautiful and I would have loved to have seen last night’s lightening storm from the patio.
The Posada seems to be more geared towards couples and families so if meeting lots of other young travelers and going out partying is your goal the Backpackers is probably a better option. But, if you’re ready for some alone time and a private room to call your own I think Posada 5 is a great option.
by vagabondette on May 20, 2009
Tonala doesn’t have much going for it aside from easily accessible markets and pharmacies which is why I came here. After the limited supplies in Puerto Arista I needed a bit more modern convenience but I wasn’t feeling well enough to continue on to San Cris so I decided to stop for the night at the Hotel Galilea in Tonala.
The hotel is more expensive than I would normally pay (300 MXN/night for one person) but one of the cheapest in town and the air conditioning was a nice treat. The rooms are clean, the beds (king size) are comfey and there’s a TV in each room with cable (including English channels).
Located right on the main square it’s convenient to the busses (first and second class) as well as restauarants, the market and other things.
If you have to stay the night in Tonala - likely on your way to somewhere else - it’s a good option. The restaurant serves decent food at reasonable prices and there is free WiFi as well.
by vagabondette on May 17, 2009
When I rolled up to Jose’s Campground I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t a party. Jose (Joe) a Canadian who has lived in the area for about 30 years was hosting a retirement party for a friend of his and the joint was jumping.
After showing me to my cabin (150 MXN/night with 1 queen bed and 1 twin along with a private porch) I was invited to join the party and it was a night to remember. With live music, more cerveza than I knew what to do with and some darn good food, there wasn’t much to complain about.
The guests were very welcoming of the random American dropped into their midst and made me very welcome even giving me lessons on how to eat like a Mexican. The guest of honor - a rather tipsey man in his late 50s - seemed to take a particular shine to me and invited me to dance several times which, by the end of the night was more stumble than salsa.
The rest of my nights were much more quiet but if you happen to be there when Jose is throwing a party, hold on to your hat because it’ll be quite a ride.
Jose’s might not be the most convenient hotel since it’s not right on the beach (it’s 2 blocks away) and it’s about a 10 minute walk from town but the price is definitely right and it was nice having a private cabin. Their showers were also some of the best I’ve had since I’ve been in Mexico with actual real water pressure. You also can’t beat being able to walk out your front door and pick a fresh mango for breakfast.
