Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca - Centro Historico is at Díaz Quintas 115 on the Ruta Independencia, on the northern edge of the historic centre, about a three-minute walk from the Ethnobotanical Garden and seven from the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. It is a modern hotel with 100 rooms, and guests rate it 9.6 out of 10 across about a thousand reviews, with cleanliness and staff and service both at 9.8, which is exceptional for a hotel in this price range. The practical package is the draw. A free full breakfast is served every morning, free self parking is available on site, there is an outdoor pool, a gym with ellipticals and stationary bikes, a terrace, a business centre and a 24-hour front desk that can help with tours and tickets. Free Wi-Fi covers every room, and the hotel has a small private gallery of original oil paintings in a nod to the city's art scene. Rooms have air conditioning, a safe, a coffee and tea maker, blackout drapes and a desk.
Location and getting around
The position is one of the best features. Santo Domingo Square is about eight minutes on foot, and the Zócalo and the cathedral are about thirteen, so you can walk to the main sights, to the Benito Juárez and 20 de Noviembre markets and to the city's best restaurants without a taxi. The streets are flat and the walk is easy in the morning and evening, although the midday sun is strong, so carry water and a hat.
Taxis are cheap for trips to the markets farther out, to the Monte Albán tour meeting points and to the bus stations. Oaxaca International Airport is about twenty-five minutes away by car, which is convenient for a city of this size.
Rooms and facilities
Standard rooms are on the compact side, with a king bed or two double beds, and larger rooms and a one-bedroom suite give extra floor space. Some have a balcony. Families of three will find rooms with two queen beds that sleep three. The pool is open during the day and into the evening, with adult supervision needed for younger children, and it is a welcome way to cool off after a day of walking in the heat.
Parking is free, with wheelchair-accessible spaces, which makes this a sensible choice if you rent a car for the villages and mezcal distilleries around the valley. Breakfast runs until the late morning and is included in the rate, so check your booking to confirm. Alcohol is not served or permitted at the hotel, which suits some travellers and not others, and pets are not allowed apart from service animals.
Who it suits and what to know: the hotel is excellent for families, first-time visitors, couples who like a comfortable base and anyone who values included breakfast and parking. It is less atmospheric than the colonial courtyard hotels in the heart of the centre, so if you want a restored mansion with a fountain, look at Quinta Real or Casa Antigua.
Check-in begins in the afternoon and check-out is before noon, and the minimum check-in age is eighteen. Free cancellation applies to selected rates. Book early for the Guelaguetza in July, for Day of the Dead at the end of October and early November, and for Christmas week, when Oaxaca fills quickly.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Free full breakfast
- ✓Free self parking
- ✓Gym
- ✓Terrace
- ✓Business centre
- ✓24-hour front desk and tour assistance
- ✓Free Wi-Fi in all rooms
Good questions
Is breakfast included at Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca?+
A free full breakfast is served daily. Confirm it on your rate when you book.
Is there a pool and parking?+
Yes, there is an outdoor pool and free self parking on site.
How far is it from the Zócalo?+
About a thirteen-minute walk, and Santo Domingo Square is about eight minutes.
