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 April 6, 2009
If you talk to most travelers heading through Campeche they’ll tell you to stay at the Monkey Hostel. While I can see the draw, for me it was the worst hostel experience I’ve had on this trip.
The hostel is in a great location, has a great view, a roof deck overlooking the Zocalo and Cathedral and has a nice common space, but it’s missing a key ingredient to being able to sleep: Aircon.
I have no idea why a hostel in a place that reaches 90-110 degrees would not have airconditioning. Instead, they rely on weak ceiling fans and cross-ventilation to keep the rooms clean. This might work, except that the night we were there, there were people (including staff) partying and being loud in the common room until 5 am. This meant that unless you felt like joining the party, the door to the room had to be closed.
At around 2 AM I finally gave up when I checked the thermometer on my bag and discovered it was 95 F in our room. At that point, I took my sheets, my yoga mat and my pillow and went to camp outside on the balcony. Said balcony was about 18″ wide and made of concrete so it was less than comfortable. The only saving grace was that it was 20 degrees cooler out there.
The only positive thing about my experience at the Monkey Hostel was the fact that because I was forced to be awake all night I was able to see the sunrise from the roof and was up to wander the town before it got too hot. Other than that it was a complete waste and I would not stay there again during the hot months.
by vagabondette on March 17, 2009
Nomadas Hostel is probably the most well known hostel in Merida and it’s easy to see why. It’s large dorms are clean and airy and the bottom beds are actually full size, not twin which is a nice change. They’re also in the process of installing a pool in the back yard which will definitely be useful in the hotter months.
Located just a few blocks from the main square they offer a great location from which to explore Merida and their in-house travel service, which offers discounted tours to the local attractions, is another great benefit.
Included in the price of your room (98 MXN/night) is: a “breakfast” of homemade bread and butter and coffee, salsa lessons, sheets, a full kitchen, free wireless and wired internet, no lock-out and information about sights in the area. They also provide water to refill your containers at a discounted price of 1 MXN for ½ liter.
However, as much as Nomadas has going for it, I have to admit that I didn’t much enjoy my time there. Granted, I was ill most of the time I was there but that aside, I just didn’t find the staff to be very friendly and the visitors seemed young and only interested in partying. So, while it’s a nice hostel and I can understand why it’s so popular, it’s not one I would go back to if I had another choice.
by vagabondette on January 24, 2009
The Mayan Hostel is located at Calle Margaritas 17, just a quick walk from the downtown bus terminal. When you arrive, exit the bus terminal and go to the left. Cross Ave. Uxmal and turn left. Your first right will be Calle Margaritas. The hostel is ahead 1 block on the right.
The hostel costs MXN 120 which is approximately $9. This includes: Breakfast (cereal, bread, eggs), Dinner (pasta, meat, bread, soup), free internet (their computer as well as WIFI), sheets and towels. The food is not the best you’ll ever have, but it’s all you can eat so if you’re on a budget it’s a good way to fill up for cheap.
The hostel has both dorms and private rooms. I have not seen the private rooms but the dorms are clean and not too crowded. I would not want to stay here when it rains though because they have thatched roofs so I imagine there could be some leaks. I’d also not want to stay here during a buggy time of year since everything is pretty much open.
The upstairs patio at Mayan Hostel
Because it’s so open it gets pretty chilly at night. I’m not sure what they do during the colder months, but in January all they gave visitors was a sheet to cover up with so if you get cold this might be a problem. I slept in long pants, a long shirt and in my silk sleep sack and I was pretty comfortable.
On some review sites I read that people didn’t have cold water, but I didn’t find this to be a problem. I also showered at off times, not first thing in the morning when everyone else was doing it so that may be why I had hot water.
There is a nice rooftop patio with a table and lounge chairs where you can relax and talk to the other visitors or plan your day. There are lots of restaurants nearby as well as a couple of parks that turn into markets in the evening. There’s a big grocery store that has anything you could need just on the other side of the bus station and it’s easy to catch busses to the beaches for only $.70.
So, while this is not the nicest hostel I’ve ever stayed at, I think it’s a pretty good value, particularly if you take advantage of the free meals, and I’d stay here again.
Getting the bus from Cancun Airport to the Downtown Bus Terminal
It costs $3 US and takes 20-30 minutes. You pay on the bus and can use US Dollars, but you’ll probably over-pay a little unless you have exact change. To find the bus exit the airport and walk straight ahead until you get to the parking area. The city busses are on the far right at the beginning of the parking row. It will have a sign that says Cancun. Pay attention to that because there are busses that park there that also go to Playa. The bus will stop after a few minutes and fill up with locals so if you’re traveling with someone, make sure you sit together. You’ll put your bags under the bus but you don’t have to worry, it’s safe. If you’re staying in the Downtown area this is your best bet otherwise you pay $15+ for one of the shuttle companies or a taxi. If you’re staying at the beach, you can easily catch another bus from the downtown bus terminal to the Hotel Zone.
