We recently (January 28,29,30 – 2006) stayed at the Hotel Colonial in Manzanillo, Mexico. It is an older, very traditional Mexican hotel in the heart of the historic center of Manzinillo. You won’t get the extras you get at a Marriott such as Kleenex boxes or shampoo or even an electric outlet in the bathroom(I had to unplug the tv to shave), but the essentials are there. The rooms are clean, the beds comfortable, the water hot, the rooms air conditioned and even cable tv with a few channels in English. The hotel décor is very Mexican with tile floors and tile mosaics on the walls with an open courtyard/restaurant in the centre. The doors are ornately carved wood. All this with real Mexican ambience for 300 pesos per night for two people.

They do not have queen size beds so for the the last two nights we upgraded to a room with two double beds for an extra 40 pesos per night. We found that a worthwhile expense. We originally had Room 201 which had no air conditioner controls: it was either on or off and was quite loud. Our move to Room 204 with two double beds the next two nights provided an air conditioner with controls. We set it at 2.4 and that was fine for us. Warmer would mean a move to 2.5 or 2.6.

The hotel restaurant is excellent, but there are many others nearby. We also ate at the Chantilly (down to the plaza and then one block to the right) it was excellent as well.

The waterfront plaza is one block away and there are many shops of all types all around the area. The plaza on Sunday evening is a real family gathering place with young and old enjoying the music, activities or just the evening stroll.

The photo of the front of the hotel shows piles of paving stones. They were just completing the paving of the street and by the time you get there it will be completed.

We would certainly choose to stay there again.