Hotel La Casona De Tita: The Definitive Review [2024]

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

Finding the ideal hotel in Oaxaca is very difficult because there are hundreds and 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 Hotel La Casona de Tita 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 La Casona de Tita in this article are credited to Expedia.com and Hotel La Casona de Tita*

Hotel La Casona de Tita: The Definitive Review

Where is Hotel La Casona de Tita?

Hotel La Casona de Tita is an artistic boutique adults-only 6-room hotel situated in the north end of 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.

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 La Casona de Tita.

Hotel La Casona De Tita: The Definitive Review

How Do I Get To Hotel La Casona De Tita?

Getting to Hotel La Casona de Tita 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 La Casona de Tita as simply and efficiently as possible.

Flying Into Oaxaca

To reach Hotel La Casona de Tita, 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 La Casona de Tita. 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 in Oaxaca for more than a day or two, I recommend that you rent a car at the airport.

Even though Hotel La Casona de Tita is very centrally located in the historic center of Oaxaca, many of the best attractions in Oaxaca are outside of the city, so having a rental car is the ideal way to get around.

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 La Casona de Tita. 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 will 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 La Casona De Tita: The Definitive Review

Review Of Hotel La Casona De Tita

Hotel La Casona de Tita is an adults-only cosy six-room boutique hotel located in the north of the historic center of Oaxaca City.

It is set in a beautiful colonial building dating back to the 19th century that has been carefully restored to introduce modern touches while retaining the beauty of the original structure.

The rooms have also been furnished with antique furniture pieces, including iron-wrought bed frames and chests dating back to the period of Spanish rule over Mexico.

Hotel La Casona de Tita belongs to the artistic group of boutique hotels in Oaxaca and the hotel’s owner, Amelia Lara Tamburrino, has extensive experience directing Mexican artistic and cultural sites.

Most recently, she spent 17 years overseeing the Santo Domingo Cultural Center in Oaxaca, before leaving to realise her dream of opening Hotel La Casona de Tita.

In a way, she has turned the hotel into a little Oaxacan cultural exhibition. The walls of the hotel’s six rooms, courtyard, and corridors are adorned with an extensive collection of Oaxacan artworks.

Each piece you see is available for sale. If you see something you like, you can speak to the hotel staff to find out how much it will cost you to take it home with you.

As a small hotel, dining options are predictably a little limited, but breakfast is included in your room price and is available each morning. You can enjoy it in the cute restaurant area, or in the gorgeous interior courtyard.

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 La Casona de Tita for your trip.

Let’s jump right in.

1. Location

Hotel La Casona de Tita has a great central location in the north end of the historic center of Oaxaca City.

You’ll find it on Calle de Manuel García Vigil on the corner of Cosijopí, just a few blocks to the east of El Llano, a lovely city park known for having a statue of Benito Juárez, Mexico’s most famous president.

The hotel is also very close to the Templo de Santo Domingo, one of Oaxaca’s most important landmarks. If you’re not familiar with it, it is a beautiful church designed in the neo-Spanish baroque architectural style dating back to 1551.

From there, you can head south to the Zócalo, which is the heart of Oaxaca City and from which you can reach all of the city’s other many attractions with ease.

Whatever you want to do or see, Hotel La Casona de Tita is a great base for you to explore the city.

2. Price

The price per room at Hotel La Casona de Tita starts at around US$408 per night for up to two. That price includes breakfast at the onsite restaurant.

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 or Expedia.com for prices and availability on your travel dates, or you can use the search box below:

3. Rooms

There are six rooms at Hotel La Casona de Tita and each is individually furnished with Oaxacan artwork, antique furniture, and artisanal textiles.

Each of the six rooms is named after something for which Oaxaca is well known. Four of the rooms come with a king-sized bed, and two come with two double-beds.

I’ve set out more detail on the rooms available at Hotel La Casona de Tita below.

Alebrijes

The smallest room in the hotel is called Alebrijes, named after the fantastic and colorful wooden figures carved by expert Oaxacan artisans in villages near Oaxaca City.

Alebrijes is a cosy 161 sq. ft. and comes with a king-sized bed and a private shower-only bathroom. The room also features an antique desk and chair.

You’ll also have access to air-conditioning, a flatscreen TV with cable channels, free WiFi, a room safe, a wardrobe and a coffee-maker. In the bathroom you’ll find a large wall mirror, towels, toiletries, bathrobes and a hair-dryer.

Alebrijes starts at US$408 per night and sleeps up to two.

Mitla

Mitla is named after the Zapotec ruins about an hour to the south-west of Oaxaca City.

It is a little larger than Alebrijes at 215 sq. ft. and comes with two double-beds rather than a king-sized bed. Like Alebrijes, it is also air-conditioned and has a private shower-only bathroom.

The room features an antique chest made in the Philippines and believed to have been transported to Acapulco on a Chinese ship during the period of Spanish rule over Mexico.

The two double-beds are set on brass frames dating back to the 19th century and the room also features and full-length antique mirror.

You’ll also have access to all of the same amenities available in Alebrijes.

Mitla starts at US$453 per night for up to two, and you can add up to two more people for an additional US$50 per night per person.

Chapulines

Chapulines is a still more spacious 269 sq. ft. and comes with two double-beds and a private shower-only bathroom.

It is named after the toasted or deep-fried grasshoppers that are a well-known delicacy in Oaxaca and frequently eaten as fillings in tortillas.

Like Mitla, the two double-beds are set in brass frames, although those in Chapulines are of a different style and are a little thicker than those in Mitla.

The room also features two antique wardrobes, an imposing piece from the 19th century and a more subtle piece from the 16th century.

You’ll also have access to all of the same amenities available in Mitla.

Chapulines starts at US$525 per night for up to two, and you can add up to two more people for an additional US$50 per night per person.

Mezcal

Mezcal is also 269 sq. ft. in size and comes with a king-sized bed and a private shower-only bathroom.

The key features of Mezcal are an antique chest, a desk area and a window facing onto the street. Mezcal is also wheelchair accessible.

You’ll also have access to all of the same amenities available in Chapulines.

Mezcal starts at US$525 per night and sleeps up to two.

Monte Albán

Monte Albán is named after the ruined Zapotec city just a few miles to the south-east of Oaxaca City. It also 269 sq. ft. in size and comes with a king-sized bed and a private shower-only bathroom.

Monte Albán features an imposing iron-wrought bed frame dating back to the 18th century, as well as other antique and modern furnishings, and a ceramic mural in the bathroom.

You’ll also have access to all of the same amenities available in Mezcal.

Monte Albán starts at US$525 per night and sleeps up to two.

Santo Domingo

Like Monte Albán, Santo Domingo is also 269 sq. ft. in size and comes with a king-sized bed and a private shower-only bathroom.

Santo Domingo features a 19th century antique wardrobe, as well as an antique iron bed frame.

You’ll also have access to all of the same amenities available in Monte Albán.

Santo Domingo starts at US$525 per night and sleeps up to two.

4. Hotel Facilities

Hotel La Casona de Tita has a great inner courtyard, a great collection of Oaxacan artwork and sculpture, and a cute breakfast area. But beyond that, it doesn’t really offer any other facilities.

I’ve set out some more details on this below.

Courtyard

Hotel La Casona de Tita has a beautiful open-air interior courtyard decorated with potted plants, sculptures, other ceramic works, and Oaxacan artwork.

There are places to sit and rest in the shade and the area is beautifully designed to create a tranquil atmosphere and to help you to relax.

The courtyard isn’t enormous, but there are only six rooms at the hotel, so the number of guests is never really going to be high enough for it to feel crowded.

Extensive Art Collection

Hotel La Casona de Tita has a great collection of artworks used in the rooms and other areas of the hotel, all of which is available for sale if anything takes your fancy.

The works include paintings, ceramic works, glass works, and sculptures. All of the artists are either Oaxacan-born or have spent much of their lives living and working in Oaxaca.

There are many artistic hotels in Oaxaca, notably the NaNa Vida Hotel Oaxaca and Pug Seal Oaxaca, so Hotel La Casona de Tita isn’t unique in that regard.

What makes it special is how well the artwork is integrated into the hotel, which is down to Amelia Lara Tamburrino’s years of experience.

5. Dining Options

Hotel La Casona de Tita has a beautiful breakfast area located right next to the interior courtyard area.

You can choose to dine inside and admire the beautiful artwork or outside in the courtyard to listen to the birds singing, as you choose.

The breakfast offering spans Oaxacan cuisine as well as a more traditional American breakfast, so you can decide which way you want to go when you sit down to dine each morning.

6. Reviews

Hotel La Casona de Tita has a rating of 9.2 out of 10 on Booking.com from around 20 reviews.

Although there haven’t yet been many reviews provided, the story so far is that people love this hotel.

Even though it is light on facilities, the staff receive great reviews for attentiveness and the breakfast offering is also highly regarded.

7. Check-In and Check-Out

Check-in at the hotel is from 2:00pm to midnight, and check-out is before noon.

Late check-in and check-out can be provided subject to room availability, but you’ll need to confirm with the hotel staff in advance.

8. Pet-Friendly?

No, Hotel La Casona de Tita is not pet-friendly.

Unfortunately, if you want to visit this hotel, you’ll need to find a pet-sitter.

9. Family-Friendly?

No, Hotel La Casona de Tita is an adults-only hotel, so it isn’t family-friendly.

You won’t be able to stay here with any children that are younger than 18 years old.

10. Nearby Attractions

Hotel La Casona de Tita 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.

Don’t forget your sunhat, suncream, and a bottle of water before you leave the hotel.

Attractions in Oaxaca City

If you’re planning to set off exploring the city on foot from the hotel, I recommend that you start by first walking the few blocks south to the beautiful Templo de Santo Domingo with its neo-Spanish baroque architecture. It’s one of the primary landmarks in Oaxaca City and an absolute must-see.

The Oaxaca Cultural Museum (Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca) is also next to the church and has lots of fascinating Oaxacan cultural exhibits. The Ethnobotanic Gardens (Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca) are also in the same complex if you are interested in Oaxaca’s biodiversity.

Once you’ve explored that area, you can take the pedestrian street known as the Andador Turístico south to the Zócalo, which is the center of Oaxaca City. Oaxaca’s stunning cathedral, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is right opposite the Zócalo, and the beautiful Teatro Macedonio Alcalá is just a few blocks further to the east.

You can also head south from the Zócalo to visit some of the city’s great markets like the Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juárez.

Attractions Outside Oaxaca City

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

You can also speak to the staff at Hotel La Casona de Tita, who can speak to you about tours offered by the hotel directly.

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 La Casona de Tita 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 La Casona De Tita: The Definitive Review

Hotel La Casona De Tita: 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 La Casona de Tita as I see them.

Pros

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

Quiet Peaceful Hotel

Hotel La Casona de Tita is a quiet oasis, even though it is still very close to the hub-bub of Oaxaca City.

It’s location in the north of the city center means that there is less traffic from taxis and other vehicles. The small number of guests also means that the chances of being disturbed by your neighbors is low.

It’s also an adults-only hotel, so there won’t be children making noise either.

So if you’re looking for cozy, peaceful hotel, Hotel La Casona de Tita is a great option.

Great Location

Despite not being right in the middle of the historic center of Oaxaca City, the hotel receives very high ratings for its location.

The hotel is just a few blocks north of the Templo de Santo Domingo and from there you’re only a 10 minute walk to the Zócalo along the Andador Turístico.

So although it isn’t quite in the thick of it, the location is actually still fantastic.

Beautifully Integrated Oaxacan Artwork

The hotel integrates Oaxacan works of art and sculpture into all parts of the hotel, including its six individually furnished and decorated rooms.

There are other hotels in Oaxaca City that are very artistic hotels, including Hotel Sin Nombre and Pug Seal Oaxaca.

However, Hotel La Casona de Tita takes a more down-to-earth, traditional approach that creates a very peaceful environment. That may not be the case in the artistic hotels with a more contemporary flair.

Cons

Although there are some big positive aspects, there are also a few cons to Hotel La Casona de Tita, although I think these follow the style of hotel more than anything else.

Price

Although it is by no means the most expensive hotel in Oaxaca, prices for a couple still start at US$408 per night. That’s quite a lot to spend on a boutique hotel in Oaxaca, and puts the hotel in the upper end of the price range.

The price includes breakfast, which is a plus, and the dining area and the courtyard are both great. The hotel also has a great collection of artworks integrated into the hotel.

Beyond that, though, really isn’t much in the line of amenities, so it’s not as easy to see the value for money as it is in a hotel with lots of great facilities. The reviews also bear this out, as one of the only aspects of the hotel that has come in for some negative review is value for money.

Having said that, overall, the reviews so far for Hotel La Casona de Tita are very positive. Most guests found value for money, so if you love the relaxed atmosphere and the beautiful artwork integrated into the hotel, you’ll likely see the value as well.

No Facilities

Hotel La Casona de Tita is light on facilities, even taking into account that it is a boutique hotel. There’s no pool, gym, or spa-treatments available, and there is also no roof terrace or bar area.

I appreciate that the small size of the hotel restricts the services that can be provided, and it may be that even offering bicycle rentals doesn’t work due to space concerns.

Still, it’s something that you should bear in mind if you are the type of person that likes to get a spa treatment or use a hotel gym when you’re travelling.

Limited Dining Options

There is a breakfast service at the hotel that runs through to brunch.

The breakfast room is inviting and beautifully decorated, and even has an old piano to give the room more character. The quality of the breakfast served is high, and it has received great reviews so far.

There’s no restaurant offering dinner, though, and there’s also no bar either, so you’ll need to plan to dine out of an evening.

It’s obviously not the end of the world and also understandable given the size of the hotel. Still, you’ll need to be aware that you won’t have the option of dining at the hotel of an evening at Hotel La Casona de Tita.

Hotel La Casona de Tita: The Definitive Review

My Personal Views

In my view, Hotel La Casona de Tita offers a cozy, peaceful option that is great if you’re looking to stay somewhere a little outside the busier part of Oaxaca City that is still close enough for you to easily reach all of the city’s attractions.

The hotel only has six rooms, which means that the noise level will be lower, and it also means that you’ll get more attention from the hotel staff.

If you’re interested in Oaxaca art and culture, you’ll also love the integration of artwork, antique furniture and sculpture into the design and decoration of the hotel.

One downside is that beyond the lovely internal courtyard and the breakfast offering, there really aren’t many facilities available. I understand that boutique Oaxacan hotels will never have the facilities of Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca, and I’m not suggesting that it should be otherwise here.

Still, Hotel La Casona de Tita doesn’t have a pool, roof terrace, a spa area or a restaurant serving dinner, and most boutique hotels in Oaxaca have at least one of those amenities.

In my view, the limited facilities makes the value for money proposition is a little harder to justify. That’s particularly the case when you compare the price to other boutique artistic hotels like the NaNa Vida Hotel Oaxaca, which is less than half the price per night.

But if you place a lot of value on having a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, or you really enjoy the artistic offering of the hotel, then I think you’ll have no problem seeing value in what the hotel provides.

Hotel La Casona De Tita: 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 La Casona De Tita below.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Hotel La Casona De Tita?

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 La Casona De Tita?

There is a 24-hour front-desk service at Hotel La Casona De Tita, so you can be sure that no one will be able to gain entry other than guests of the hotel.

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

What’s The Closest Airport To Hotel La Casona De Tita?

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. If you want to book a private transfer, I recommend using Viator or reaching out to the staff at Hotel La Casona De Tita.

Why Is Hotel La Casona De Tita Special?

Hotel La Casona de Tita is an adults-only cosy six-room artistic boutique hotel located in the north of the historic center of Oaxaca City.

If you’re looking for a peaceful, artistic hotel in a great location close to all of the city’s attractions, you’ll love Hotel La Casona De Tita.

Hotel La Casona De Tita: The Definitive Review

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you now have all the information that you need to decide whether Hotel La Casona De Tita 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 or Expedia.com.

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

Enjoy your stay!