Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review [2024]

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Are you planning a trip and want to know if you should stay at Pug Seal 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 unique Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca in this article are credited to Expedia.com and Pug Seal Oaxaca*

Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Where is Pug Seal Oaxaca?

Pug Seal Oaxaca is a highly-rated 3-star 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca.

Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

How Do I Get To Pug Seal Oaxaca?

Getting to Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca as simply and efficiently as possible.

Flying Into Oaxaca

To reach Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal 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.

Pug Seal Oaxaca offers free parking onsite at the hotel, 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 Pug Seal 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.

Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Review Of Pug Seal Oaxaca

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.

The Pug Seal Oaxaca really is a unique hotel. It’s almost like one enormous artistic tribute to Mexican and Zapotec culture.

The interior decoration was carried out by Passus / Atelier, who are well-known interior decorators based in Mexico City. The hotel’s artwork was created by famous Mexican artists Rafael Uriegas, Sabino Guisú and Manuel Lozano.

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 Pug Seal Oaxaca for your trip.

Let’s jump right in.

1. Location

The artistic marvel that is Pug Seal Oaxaca has a great central location in Oaxaca City.

From the hotel, you’re just a few minutes away from the Templo de Santo Domingo and a few blocks to the north of the Zócalo.

It’s the perfect base for you to explore the city.

2. Price

The price per room at Pug Seal Oaxaca starts at about US$370 per night for a couple. From February 2024, the starting price is increasing to around US$470 per night for a couple. In each case, the price includes breakfast.

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 20 rooms at Pug Seal Oaxaca. Each of the rooms are individually decorated and take inspiration from Mexican or Zapotec culture.

Each of the rooms comes with a king-sized bed as well as air-conditioning, WiFi, minibar, room safe, desk, wardrobe and flatscreen TV with cable.

All rooms are soundproofed and have a private bathroom with bathrobes, slippers, a hairdryer and luxury toiletries. Additional rollaway beds are also available for US$35 per night.

There are six categories of room available. These are a standard suite, deluxe suite, executive suite, superior suite, master suite and master executive two-bed suite.

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

Standard Suite

The standard suites are cosy and colorful at 269 sq. ft.

In addition to all of the amenities listed above, each standard suite comes with a small sitting area and a courtyard view.

Deluxe Suite

The deluxe suites are a little bigger than the standard rooms at 323 sq. ft.

In addition to all of the amenities listed above, each deluxe suite comes with a comfortable sitting area and also has a courtyard view.

Executive Suite

The executive suites are each 377 sq. ft.

In addition to all of the amenities listed above, each executive suite comes with a sofa-bed, lounge area and has a courtyard view.

Superior Suite

The superior suites are each 377 sq. ft.

In addition to all of the amenities listed above, each superior suite comes with a sofa-bed, lounge area and has a courtyard view.

Master Suite

The master suites are a spacious 431 sq. ft.

In addition to all of the amenities listed above, each master suite comes with a sofa-bed, lounge area and has a city view with a balcony.

Master Executive Two-Bed Suite

The master executive two-bed suite is a spacious 646 sq. ft. and come with two king-sized beds.

In addition to all of the amenities listed above, this suite comes with a sofa-bed, lounge area and has a city view with a balcony.

4. Hotel Facilities

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

You can rent 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.

5. Dining Options

The dining options at Pug Seal Oaxaca are also limited.

Breakfast at Pug Seal Oaxaca is included in the price and is available between 7:00am and 11:00am each morning. You can take your breakfast in your room or at any of the tables on the balcony overlooking the courtyard.

The hotel doesn’t do lunch or dinner, but the minibar and snacks in your room are also included in the room price.

6. Reviews

Pug Seal Oaxaca has a rating of 9.4 out of 10 from over 350 reviews, which is impressive enough. However, if you just look at the reviews given by couples, the rating jumps to a whopping 9.8 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 11:00am.

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

8. Pet-Friendly?

Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca. Rollaway beds are available for US$35 per bed per night.

10. Nearby Attractions

Pug Seal 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 two blocks to the east until you reach the Andador Turístico, and you can then decide whether you want to head north towards the Templo de Santo Domingo or south towards the Zócalo.

If you have time to do a day-trip out of the city, there are also some fantastic places to visit that 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 Pug Seal 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.

Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca as I see them.

Pros

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

Interior Decoration and Design

The biggest selling point of Pug Seal Oaxaca is its beautiful interior decoration and artistry. The entire hotel is a giant canvas, and every wall tells a different story.

If you are in any way inclined toward art, you’ll just love the murals and the exquisite interior decoration in both the rooms and the common parts of the hotel.

Room Amenities

Even though the hotel is light on amenities, the amenities in the rooms are great.

The room price includes the minibar and snacks, so you can drink the minibar dry every evening without needing to worry about a painful financial reckoning when you leave.

You can also enjoy breakfast in your room, or take it on the courtyard balconies, as you prefer.

Great Location

Pug Seal Oaxaca is right in the middle of the historic center of Oaxaca, making it an ideal base to explore the city.

From the hotel, you’re a few blocks south of the Templo de Santo Domingo and just a few blocks north of the Zócalo.

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

Cons

Despite its unique interior decoration and design and impressive reviews, in my mind there are a few cons to Pug Seal Oaxaca that bear mentioning.

Price

Although it is by no means the most expensive hotel in Oaxaca, prices for a couple still start at US$370 per night. That will increase in February 2024 to US$470 per night. That’s quite a lot to spend on a hotel in Mexico.

While the price does include a lovely breakfast, it isn’t an all-inclusive resort, so you’ll need to pay for all of your other meals and drinks on top of the price of the hotel. There really isn’t much in the line of amenities either, which I’ve detailed below.

Having said that, the reviews for Pug Seal Oaxaca really are overwhelmingly positive, particularly from couples honeymooning or just enjoying a romantic getaway. Those guests clearly found value for money, so if you love the artistic vibe of the hotel, you’ll likely see the value as well.

Limited Dining Options

The breakfast offered at the hotel is great quality, and you have the option of taking it on the courtyard balconies or in your room as you prefer.

The hotel doesn’t do lunch or dinner, though, so you’ll have to plan to eat out. The hotel does offer a complimentary minibar and snacks to fill the gap, which is great for keeping the hunger at bay between meals.

As long as you’re not expecting lots of dining options, this isn’t a significant issue, but it’s something to be aware of when you’re booking.

Limited Amenities

Similar to the limited dining offering, the hotel doesn’t really do much in the line of amenities. There is free parking and you can rent 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca isn’t that kind of hotel.

Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

My Personal Views

Personally, I think Pug Seal Oaxaca is a great boutique hotel and it’s definitely quite unique as far as its interior decoration and design.

I’d especially recommend it if you’re travelling as a couple and you’re looking for a romantic trip away. Couples rave about the hotel and lots of them spent an unforgettable honeymoon at the Pug Seal Oaxaca.

The very limited amenities make the value for money proposition a bit harder to justify. Without having access to amenities like restaurants, a pool or a spa complex, you really need to see value in the beauty of the hotel, because that’s essentially what you’re paying for.

If the look and feel of the hotel isn’t all that important to you, there are cheaper options available to you. Hotels like the NaNa Vida are just as centrally located and still of very high quality, without causing so much pain to your wallet.

But if you love arty boutique hotels and you’re looking for the perfect romantic getaway, I think that the Pug Seal Oaxaca is one of the best hotels in Oaxaca for you.

Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca below.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca?

There is a concierge service at Pug Seal Oaxaca, although it isn’t a 24-hour service. However, 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 Pug Seal 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 Pug Seal Oaxaca Special?

Pug Seal Oaxaca is a beautiful boutique hotel featuring truly unique interior decorating and design right in the historic center of Oaxaca City.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind arty boutique hotel, you’ll love Pug Seal Oaxaca.

Pug Seal Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you now have all the information that you need to decide whether Pug Seal 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!