Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review [2024]

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Are you planning a trip and want to know if you should stay at Hotel Casona Oaxaca?

Finding a hotel in Oaxaca is very difficult because there are literally hundreds to choose from.

While there are some great options out there, it’s important to choose the perfect hotel to ensure that your trip is everything that you want it to be.

The last thing that you want to do is choose a bad hotel and return home disappointed and frustrated.

To make sure that doesn’t happen, I’ve set out a comprehensive guide to the beautiful Hotel Casona Oaxaca so that you can find out everything that you need to know before making your decision.

Let’s dive right in.

*All images of Hotel Casona Oaxaca in this article are credited to Expedia.com and Hotel Casona Oaxaca*

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Where is Hotel Casona Oaxaca?

Hotel Casona Oaxaca is a highly-rated 25-room boutique hotel situated in the historic center of Oaxaca City in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

If you aren’t familiar with Oaxaca, it’s a vibrant city in southern Mexico that is known for its rich cultural heritage and colorful traditions.

Probably the most famous of these is the Day of the Dead festival, which is held in Oaxaca each year from 31 October to 2 November.

Other attractions of the city include its countless beautiful colonial-era buildings that date back to the time of Spanish rule in Mexico during the 16th century.

And if that isn’t impressive enough, just a short drive outside the city you’ll find Zapotec ruins that are literally thousands of years old.

Let’s take a look now at how to get you to Hotel Casona Oaxaca.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

How Do I Get To Hotel Casona Oaxaca?

Getting to Hotel Casona Oaxaca is a simple two step process.

The first step is to fly into Oaxaca International Airport (OAX). The second step is to book a private transfer, get a taxi or rent a car to drive to the hotel.

I’ve set out the steps you’ll need to take to get to Hotel Casona Oaxaca as simply and efficiently as possible.

Flying Into Oaxaca

To reach Hotel Casona Oaxaca, you’ll need to first fly into Oaxaca International Airport (OAX), which is around 5 miles from the hotel.

In North America, you can get a direct international flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston or Los Angeles.

From elsewhere in the world, you’ll need to fly into Mexico and take a connecting flight. There are regular flights to Oaxaca from Mexico City, Tijuana, Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexicali.

Flights from Mexico City are by far the most frequent. Unless you’re planning on stopping over in one of the other cities listed above for a few days, I recommend you fly via Mexico City.

Oaxaca Airport to the Hotel

Once you arrive in Oaxaca airport, you’ve got a few options to get to Hotel Casona Oaxaca. You can book a private transfer, take a taxi or rent a car.

I’ve gone through each of these below.

Rent a Car

If you’re staying for more than a day or two, you should consider renting a car at the airport.

Oaxaca does have public transportation, but a lot of the attractions are outside the city so having a rental car is the ideal way to get around.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca offers offsite parking for just 100 Mexican pesos per night (around US$5 per night), so you won’t need to worry about where to park the car when you’re not using it.

Getting a car at the airport is very easy. You can book ahead and pick up your car in the arrivals hall of the terminal when you get off the plane.

I recommend using DiscoverCars to book the best deal available ahead of your arrival. You can expect to pay around US$30 per day plus gas for a basic rental car.

Book a Private Transfer

The simplest way to get to the hotel is by booking a private transfer on a platform like Viator. There are plenty of different providers for you to choose from, and prices start at around US$25 for a couple.

If you prefer to get a local recommendation, you can reach out to the staff at Hotel Casona Oaxaca. Their contact details are below:

Take A Taxi

If you haven’t booked a car with the hotel, the simplest way to get from the airport to the hotel that requires absolutely no planning whatsoever is taking a taxi.

You’ll need to be able to tell the driver your destination and agree a price for the trip. The journey should cost you around US$15 – US$20 and you may need to haggle to get the driver down into that range.

You’ll also need to make sure that you have Mexican pesos with you, as the driver may not accept US dollars and won’t take credit cards.

Now that you know where it is that you’re going and all of the options that you have for getting there, let’s get into the review itself.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Review Of Hotel Casona Oaxaca

The Hotel Casona Oaxaca is an architecturally beautiful hotel in a wonderfully central location.

The very Spanish-style open-air interior courtyard area is enormous and there are tables and chairs set out among a water fountain and small garden plants.

The walls are also adorned with beautiful works of art that lend a traditional and stylish feel to the atmosphere of the hotel.

I’ve set out below a summary of the hotel, the rooms, hotel facilities, dining options and nearby attractions.

After that, I’ve given you a list of pros and cons of the hotel and given my personal view on whether you should book Hotel Casona Oaxaca for your trip.

Let’s jump right in.

1. Location

The architectural beauty that is Hotel Casona Oaxaca has a great central location in Oaxaca City.

You’ll find it at the corner of Calle de Valerio Trujano and Calle de 20 de Noviembre, and it’s the yellow building with the words “Zapatería” written on the wall.

Honestly, it’s difficult to imagine a better location if you’re looking to stay in the center of the city. From the hotel, you’re just one block to the west of the Zócalo, which is the heart of Oaxaca City.

From there, you can walk along the pedestrian street known as the Andador Turístico north toward the Templo de Santo Domingo or south towards Mercado de 20 Noviembre.

Whatever you choose to do it’s the perfect base for you to explore the city.

2. Price

The price per room at Hotel Casona Oaxaca starts at about US$115 per night for a couple. That price doesn’t include breakfast, which can be added to the package for an additional US$10 per person.

Discounted offers may be available from time to time, so it is worth checking prices in advance of your travel dates to see if you can get yourself a deal.

Check out Booking.com for prices and availability on your travel dates, or use the search box below:

3. Rooms

There are 25 rooms at Hotel Casona Oaxaca. Each of the rooms is simply but tastefully decorated in a classical style.

There are four categories of room available. You can choose from a standard suite, double suite, king suite, and a deluxe double suite.

I’ve set out more detail on each of these below.

Standard Suite

The Standard Suites are cosy, clean and comfortable at 161 sq. ft.

Each Standard Suite is air-conditioned and you’ll also have a flatscreen TV, cable channels, free WiFi, a room safe, desk, and an iron and ironing facilities.

In the shower-only bathroom, you’ll find free toiletries, towels, and a hairdryer.

You can also arrange a wake-up service with the concierge.

The Standard Suite starts at US$115 per night for up to two.

Double Suite

The Double Suites are more spacious at 269 sq. ft.

The Double Suites are on the first floor and there is no lift, so bear that in mind in case you can’t or don’t want to have to go up the stairs to your room for any reason.

You’ll have access to all of the room amenities available in the Standard Suite.

The Double Suite starts at US$135 per night for up to two. If you’re travelling as a larger group or as a family, it will be US$15 per person per night for any additional people staying in the room with you.

King Suite

The King Suites are also 269 sq. ft. and are the same as the Double Suites, only you’ll have one king-sized bed rather than two double beds.

You’ll have all of the amenities available in the Double Suite and the King Suites also start at US$135 per night for up to two.

Deluxe Double Suite

The Deluxe Double Suites are each 323 sq. ft. They offer more space than the Standard Double Suites and you’ll also have access to a private balcony looking out onto the city.

You’ll also have access to all of the room amenities available in the Double Suite.

The Deluxe Double Suites start at US$150 per night for up to two. As with the Double Suites, if you’re travelling as a larger group or as a family, it will be US$15 per person per night for any additional people staying in the room with you.

4. Hotel Facilities

Hotel Casona Oaxaca doesn’t have a great deal of on-site amenities and, in particular, there’s no pool, gym, or spa offering.

You can borrow a bicycle at the hotel, which is great for exploring, and there is free parking nearby if you’re driving.

There is also a concierge available who can assist you with things like local maps, travel adaptors, directions to restaurants, airport shuttles, and any laundry requests.

If you need to send an email or print a document for any reason, the concierge can also assist you with basic business services as well.

5. Dining Options

Hotel Casona Oaxaca has an onsite restaurant, Patio Rojo, that serves breakfast and then becomes a bar in the evenings.

Restaurant

Patio Rojo is a cute little restaurant set in the beautiful open-air courtyard in the center of the hotel.

Tables and chairs are set out alongside the white supporting pylons creating a lovely place for you to enjoy a meal or even just a morning coffee.

Breakfast at Hotel Casona Oaxaca is not included in the price, but is available from 7:30am for an additional US$10 per person.

Mezcal Tasting

From 2:00pm until 9:00pm, Patio Rojo becomes a mezcal bar where you can book a full hour-long mezcal tasting.

The tasting takes you through at least 10 different types of mezcal and will cost you 380 Mexican pesos (around US$20).

You can book a mezcal tasting with the concierge at the hotel.

6. Reviews

Hotel Casona Oaxaca has a rating of 8.5 out of 10 from over 1,250 reviews, which is impressive enough. However, if you just look at the reviews given by couples, the rating jumps to a whopping 9.4 out of 10.

The story that the reviews tell is that people absolutely love this hotel. Even though it is light on amenities, what the hotel does do, it definitely does right.

7. Check-In and Check-Out

Check-in at the hotel is from 3:00pm, and check-out is before 11:30am.

Late check-in and check-out can be provided subject to room availability.

8. Pet-Friendly?

Hotel Casona Oaxaca is not pet-friendly. Unfortunately, if you want to visit this hotel, you’ll need to find a pet-sitter.

9. Family-Friendly?

Children of all ages are welcome at the Hotel Casona Oaxaca. The hotel doesn’t supply you with rollaway beds, although if you book a double room, you can include your children for around US$15.

The hotel doesn’t have cribs available, so you’ll need to bring your own if you’re travelling with an infant.

10. Nearby Attractions

Hotel Casona Oaxaca is very close to all of the attractions in Oaxaca City, and you’ll be able to reach everything within the city limits on foot.

I would recommend that you start by walking the short block to the east until you reach the Zócalo. From there, you can take the Andador Turístico north towards the Templo de Santo Domingo or south towards the Mercado 20 de Noviembre, as you fancy.

If you have time to do a day-trip out of the city, there are also some fantastic places that I recommend you visit. Some of them are quite close by. I’ve described a few of the best of these below.

Don’t forget your sunhat, suncream, and the bottles of water from the room in your hotel.

Monte Albán

The closest attraction outside the city limits is the ruined Zapotec city of Monte Albán. It’s only three miles away from Oaxaca City, so you can reach it easily and can even fit something else in after you’re done exploring.

Monte Albán is built on the top of a hill overlooking Oaxaca. It’s quite large at about four square miles and there’s lots to see. Among other buildings, there are two pyramids, a ball court, and around 170 tombs.

The simplest way to reach Monte Albán is by taxi. It will cost around US$5 – US$10. Make sure you bring Mexican pesos and agree the price before you depart. 

There are also lots of Monte Albán tours available if you’d rather have the trip planned for you. Viator offers lots of different options, and you can often combine it with other attractions.

Hierve El Agua

Hierve El Agua is a unique geological marvel created from two petrified waterfalls about 40 miles to the south-east of Oaxaca.  

The smaller waterfall is called “la cascada chica” and the bigger one is called “la cascada grande”. The waterfalls were formed over thousands of years as mineral-rich waters ran over the edge of the cliff and down the escarpment.  

The plateau above the falls is covered in large shallow pools separated by beautiful mineral formations that look like atolls in an ocean. It makes you think that you are walking on a shallow reef in the Caribbean.

You can also hike to the bottom of the waterfalls, where there some more pools that you can sit in. There are change-rooms and toilets nearby.

The best way to visit Hierve El Agua is with a tour. There are some great tours from Oaxaca that combine Hierve El Agua with a visit to local mezcal producers or other attractions.

The hotel can recommend a tour operator, and Viator also has lots of them to choose from if you’d prefer to arrange a tour yourself.

Mitla

The ancient ruins of the Zapotec city of Mitla is about 30 miles to the south-east of Oaxaca, on the way to Hierve El Agua.  The name is derived from the Nahuatl word “Mictlán”, meaning “place of the dead”.

The ruins are situated in a valley nearly a mile above sea level and the site is thought to have been inhabited as far back as about 500 BC.  The city was a center of religious power in the region and was destroyed by the Spanish shortly after their arrival in the 16th century.

Mitla is perhaps best known for its intricate stone mosaics, which are sometimes called “Zapotec Greco”. You’ll recognize the striking pattern in lots of ancient friezes adorning walls and floors at the site, and it is often used in clothing and other artwork produced in Oaxaca.

My recommendation is to combine Mitla and Hierve El Agua together as a tour. They start at about US$50 per person on Viator, and you can speak to the concierge at Hotel Casona Oaxaca if you’d prefer to organise it through the hotel.

If you prefer to guide yourself, you can reach Mitla with a taxi or the bus, and its about a 90 minute trip each way.

Entrance to Mitla costs US$5 so bring your Mexican pesos with you.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: Pros and Cons

To try to pull all of the information above together for you, I’ve set out below the pros and cons of Hotel Casona Oaxaca as I see them.

Pros

Pros are easy here, because there are some genuinely top-notch aspects of Hotel Casona Oaxaca.

Top Location

Hotel Casona Oaxaca has three major selling points, one of which is its amazing location in the middle of the historic center of Oaxaca, making it an ideal base to explore the city.

From the hotel, you’re just one block away from the Zócalo, which is the heart of Oaxaca City. From there, you are just a few blocks south of the Templo de Santo Domingo, and can also reach any other attraction on foot.

You can also borrow a bicycle at the hotel, which is great for getting around leisurely at a slightly quicker pace than you would if you were walking.

Beautiful Architecture

The second major selling point of Hotel Casona Oaxaca is its beautiful architecture that dates back to the period of Spanish rule over the city.

The hotel is an absolutely beautiful example of this form of architecture. Various paintings hanging on many of the courtyard walls also add to the classic style of the building.

If you enjoy the beauty and history of old buildings, you can spend a while just walking around and taking in the Hotel Casona Oaxaca.

Price

The final selling point of Hotel Casona Oaxaca is the price.

The price per room is very reasonable, which is why Booking.com give it a very high rating in the value for money.

In my mind, the most important things in a hotel are its location and the quality of the hotel facilities, including the rooms.

While the hotel doesn’t offer the degree of luxury that you might be able to find in Quinta Real Oaxaca, it offers great quality rooms in a beautiful building in a similarly central location at about half the price.

That’s a major win in my book.

Cons

There are a few cons to Hotel Casona Oaxaca, although in my mind these tend to be a result of the limited offering of hotel.

Limited Dining Options

The breakfast offered at the hotel is great quality and the open-air courtyard is a beautiful dining setting.

However, the hotel doesn’t do lunch or dinner, so you’ll have to plan to eat out on each day during your stay.

It’s not a big issue, though, because there are lots of great restaurants nearby. You can try Boulenc, Restaurante Coronita, and Origen to get you started.

In my mind, the lack of evening dining options is just an invitation to head out into the city and try out some new restaurants.

But if you’d prefer to remain at the hotel for dinner, unfortunately Hotel Casona Oaxaca doesn’t offer you that option.

Limited Amenities

Similar to the limited dining offering, the hotel doesn’t really do much in the line of amenities.

There is offsite parking offered for a small fee and you can borrow a bicycle, but there’s no pool, no spa offering and no gym.

If you weren’t planning on spending enough time in the hotel to use the amenities anyway, then you won’t even notice that they’re missing.

But if you were planning for a spa treatment or using the pool or the gym, you should be aware that Hotel Casona Oaxaca isn’t that kind of hotel.

Street Noise

You should be aware that there will be some inevitable street noise, given the hotel’s very central location.

The windows are ok as far as softening the sounds coming through, but they don’t completely stop loud vehicles like motorcycles going by.

The noise tends to stop of an evening by around 10:00pm, although it might go a little longer on a weekend or when one of the festivals such as Day of the Dead is taking place.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

My Personal Views

Personally, I think Hotel Casona Oaxaca is a great boutique hotel and the perfect place to base yourself when you visit Oaxaca City.

I think the hotel has done a fantastic job of providing you with great value for money. In some hotels like Pug Seal Oaxaca that have a similar offering of amenities, it’s a little harder to justify the price per night, but here I think the deal is very fair.

The hotel’s location is pretty close to unbeatable, which makes it great if you’re like me and tend to do a lot of your exploring on foot. The central location ends up saving you lots of money on taxis, because you can just walk everywhere.

I think the hotel has also realized this is a key selling point for them, because they’ve even thrown in free bicycle hire, which is just a bonus. Particularly if you’re visiting in the Oaxacan summer, getting around on a bicycle is quite a nice way to get off your feet during the heat of the day.

The only thing I’d flag is that if you’re coming expecting lots of amenities like a pool, spa, yoga classes, or fitness area, you’re going to be disappointed. The Hotel Casona Oaxaca just isn’t that kind of hotel.

They offer you a great location, a great room and a lovely building, and that’s the deal. If you want more, you’ll have to go somewhere else like Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca or Quinta Real Oaxaca, and obviously you can expect to pay a little more.

But if you’re looking for simple quality in a super central location, I think that the Hotel Casona Oaxaca is one of the best hotels in Oaxaca for you.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Just in case you still have a few questions that I haven’t covered, I’ve set out some responses to a few frequently asked questions about Hotel Casona Oaxaca below.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Hotel Casona Oaxaca?

The best time to visit is during the high season (December to April) because the weather is cooler and there is little or no rain.

However, it’s also more expensive during the high season, so if you’re on a budget and can put up with a little rain, the low season is also a good option.

Is It Safe To Visit Hotel Casona Oaxaca?

There is a 24-hour concierge service at Hotel Casona Oaxaca, and you’ll have access to a room safe so that you can store your belongings when you’re not in the room.

You’ll also have no troubles when you explore Oaxaca provided you take basic precautions. You can read more about safety in Oaxaca here.

What’s The Closest Airport To Hotel Casona Oaxaca?

Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) is the closest airport, and is about 5 miles away.

You can reach the hotel by booking a private transfer, taking a taxi or renting a car. The simplest way is to contact the hotel and they’ll arrange to have a car waiting for you at the airport.

Why Is Hotel Casona Oaxaca Special?

Hotel Casona Oaxaca is a beautiful boutique hotel with period architecture and a perfect location right in the center of the historic part of Oaxaca City.

If you’re looking for a high-quality boutique hotel in a great spot at a decent price, you’ll love Hotel Casona Oaxaca.

Hotel Casona Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you now have all the information that you need to decide whether Hotel Casona Oaxaca is the hotel for you.

If you’re interested in booking, you can get the latest current prices and availability on your dates at Booking.com.

If you want to check prices of car rentals at Oaxaca airport, you can find out at DiscoverCars.com.

Enjoy your stay!