Howard Johnson Plaza Monterrey: Solid Value in Mexico's Northern Business Hub
Written: Nov 02 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great location, great rooms, great breakfast
Cons: Some small rooms, minor nits
The Bottom Line: Howard Johnson Plaza Monterrey is one of the best overall values among downtown Centro Monterrey hotels. It's nice, convenient, and affordable!
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| mrkstvns's Full Review: Howard Johnson Plaza - Monterrey |
Whenever anybody asks me for a hotel recommendation in Monterrey, the first words out of my mouth are "Howard Johnson Plaza Monterrey." It isn't the most opulent hotel in the city (that would be the Quinta Real), and it certainly isn't the cheapest. The Howard Johnson though is one of the best all-around good values in Monterrey.
Monterrey's hotel scene has changed quite a lot over the past few years. When I first started visiting Monterrey on a regular basis about 15 years ago, Howard Johnson was a slam-dunk choice for absolute best value --- based not only on the quality of their rooms, but also on their outstanding breakfast buffet, which was included in the room rate. I have some good news and bad news about that buffet. The good news is that it's still available, and the food is as delicious and enticing as it ever was --- easily the best hotel breakfast in Monterrey. The bad news is that you have to pay for it these days (and the room rates didn't go down when the buffet prices went up). So while the Howard Johnson is still an excellent, classy downtown hotel with a great breakfast --- it's no longer got a "slam dunk" on the bang for the buck --- you gotta balance it against what everybody else in town offers.
That's why I often book rooms in other hotels these days. Sometimes they manage to give me the better bang for the buck....but sometimes I still land a great rate at the HoJo, and when I do, you can bet I'm lovin' my breakfast in the morning! (Charge or no charge.) Anyways, there's more to a great hotel than just a great breakfast....so let me tell you a bit more about what this hotel has going for it....
Unbeatable Location for the Urban Adventurer...
Of all the hotels in downtown Monterrey, I think the HoJo has the best location of all. It faces the Macroplaza -- the city's sprawling central park and hub of metropolitan life. It's where the government buildings are located, along with most of the city's important museums. The hotel also has a door that open directly onto Morelos -- the city's Zona Rosa pedestrian shopping mall.
Walk to the MARCO museum (Museum of Contemporary Art) -- it's only 100 yards across the park. Walk to the fabulous old cathedral. Walk to the artesania market (it's just 10 short steps from the hotel!) Walk to the Museum of Mexican History -- it's only about 10 minutes away, and along the way you can check out the huge fountain of Neptune, or the trade tower, or the many little nooks and crannies and statues that make up the Macroplaza. The city's Metro subway system has a stop just a short block away on the corner of Zaragoza and Padre Meir.
Nice Rooms...with a View!
I've stayed at the Howard Johnson Plaza Monterrey several times, and my favorite rooms are outside rooms with a plaza view. I recommend these rooms highly, even though traffic noise can sometimes be heard below (the views are worth the minor nuiscance of a horn honk or a bus rumble). Outside rooms are also considerably larger than inside rooms. While the inside rooms are always smaller, sometimes they're furnished more nicely.
All of the rooms feature marble bathrooms, and the HoJo filters their water so you shouldn't get sick even if you do drink the water. (I still try not to, but I've never had any problem using the tap water for brushing teeth or for making coffee). One of the nice things about the HoJo is that there is a coffee maker, a refrigerator, and a microwave oven in all of the rooms. The rooms have always been clean and comfortable. The hotel is completely air conditioned, and unlike most hotels I've stayed in recently, you can actually open the windows.
TVs are large 27" inch color models with remotes, and they get a very nice range of cable channels, including all of the local broadcast stations, a good mix of english-language cable offerings, and an excellent selection of spanish-language cable channels.
Perks and Amenities
Before it was bought by HoJo, this hotel was one of several grand hotels that graced downtown Monterrey. It was (and still is) a place of tradition and elegance. Today there are other hotels that are ritzier than the HoJo -- though the Howard Johnson is still a very nice property (far nicer than any of their low-end budget properties that dot the United States. They have a large, modern restaurant called Los Fundidores (didn't purple, black, and polished brass go out of style with disco?) that sports a full bar and a piano player during breakfast and evening hours. The hotel has a lot of banquet and meeting rooms, and though it doesn't have a lot of recreational perks, there is a small swimming pool on the 5th floor. A very refreshing change from most urban U.S. hotels is that the HoJo Plaza Monterrey offers free parking...the spaces are tight, but the freedom from fees is quite liberating.
Nice Hotel, Nice Price....
Rates are usually quite reasonable: it's not too tough to land a nightly rate as low as $65 per night, though $75 might be a more realistic average these days. Considering that the Holiday Inn Centro can be landed close to $60 per night and the Sheraton Ambassador for about $70-75, I don't jump and down over the HoJo prices....but they're not out of line. I do recommend that visitors shop carefully for rates as Monterrey has become suddenly quite affordable over the past 12-18 months and bargains are definitely out there.
Food and Drink...
The hotel's restaurant, Los Fundidores, has an awesome breakfast and I can't rave enough about all the authentic Mexican hot breakfast dishes that are available in the mornings. The coffee is bold and hot, and you get a whole carafe of it on your table. The waiters are quick and efficient, and even during lunch and dinner, prices are reasonable (and food tasty). They'll occasionally have a piano player dealing out the jazz jams in the early evening, and hanging out in the hotel lounge is very comfortable (if you don't mind the occasional blast of bright purple decor).
If you don't like the hotel's food: no biggee. You're in the heart of the city and there are dozens of outstanding restaurants within an easy walk (and walking in downtown Monterrey at night is very safe). I would recommend Luisiana if you like very upscale dining rooms, or Iannilli's on Dr. Coss (behind the Cathedral) if you like affordable but stunningly prepared Italian food. If you want a garish taste of typical northern Mexican cooking, walk over to Constitucion and have some cabrito (grilled baby goat) at El Rey del Cabrito --- it's an experience!
Bottom Line...
If you're looking for a genuinely nice, comfortable, clean hotel at a good price then look no further than the HoJo. While I don't care for the chain in general, I can definitely recommend this location -- it's a real winner in my book!
Related Reviews...
* Things to See and Do in Monterrey
* Sheraton Ambassador
* Quinta Real Hotel Monterrey
* Fiesta Americana Centro
* Santa Rosa Suites
Recommended:
Yes
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