Guadalajara Getaway: Holiday Inn Select's Unbeatable Luxury!
Guadalajara Getaway: Holiday Inn Select - Unbeatable? Let's Dive In (and Maybe Spoil a Few Things!)
Alright, buckle up, because I've just returned from a stay at the Holiday Inn Select in Guadalajara, and let me tell you, it's not just another hotel review. We're talking experiences, people! And, as you'll soon discover, those experiences came with a healthy dose of both "Wow!" and "Hmm, interesting…"
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- Keywords: Guadalajara, Holiday Inn Select, Luxury Hotel, Accessibility, Spa, Pool, Restaurant, Wifi, Fitness Center, Mexico, Travel Review, Guadalajara Hotel, Wheelchair Accessible, Pet-Friendly, Family Friendly, Business Travel, Meeting Facilities
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Holiday Inn Select in Guadalajara, Mexico. We'll explore its accessibility, dining options, spa, and all the nitty-gritty details, plus share personal anecdotes (and maybe a few gripes!). Is it truly "unbeatable?" Find out!
First Impressions & Getting Around:
The drive up to the Holiday Inn was… well, it was Guadalajara. Let's just say the city has character (and traffic). The hotel itself is pretty imposing - a modern, glassy tower jutting out of the cityscape. Accessibility is a big win right off the bat. Ramps, elevators, the whole shebang. I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I always appreciate a hotel that actually considers everyone. The car park is free, which is a massive relief after navigating the city's roads. Valet parking is available, too, for those who really want to feel fancy. They offer airport transfer, which I regret not using, because getting a taxi was a bit of a gamble on arrival. Lesson learned.
The Room: My Own Little Kingdom (with a Few Cracks in the Foundation)
We booked a non-smoking room (thank GOD), and the air conditioning was a lifesaver. Guadalajara gets HOT. The room itself was spacious, with a king-sized bed that practically swallowed me whole. Extra long bed? Check! They’ve got it. Blackout curtains? Absolutely necessary for sleeping off that post-taco food coma. Free Wi-Fi was a must, and it worked like a charm, which is more than I can say for some "luxury" hotels I've stayed in. Speaking of which, I was a frequent user of Internet Access as there was Internet [LAN] as well as Wi-Fi in all rooms! so it made sure I could work when and how I wanted to.
BUT… and there’s always a “but,” isn't there? The décor felt a little… dated. Think neutral tones, but in a way that screams "corporate hotel" rather than "luxurious sanctuary." I found a very basic mirror, a desk with Internet access – LAN and an ironing facility. The inter-connecting room(s) available seems great for a family, but not so good if you want privacy. And the bathroom? Functional, but the toiletries felt generic and the water pressure in the shower was… inconsistent. Come on, Holiday Inn! Up your game in the bathroom department!
Dining, Glorious, Questionable, Memorable Dining:
Let's talk food. This is where things get… interesting. The restaurants at the Holiday Inn Select offer a decent range, with both International cuisine in restaurant and Western cuisine in restaurant. The Asian cuisine in restaurant was a welcome surprise. The breakfast buffet was, well, a buffet. (I did love the buffet in restaurant). The coffee/tea in restaurant was good as well as the essentials condiments available. Some of the food was good, and some of it was… less so. I tried the soup in restaurant and it was just OK. The desserts in restaurant were a bit of a letdown, while the salad in restaurant was fine.
The Room service [24-hour] was a HUGE plus! I ordered a late-night snack, and even though it took a while (a little over an hour), the food was surprisingly good. They offered Alternative meal arrangement and Breakfast in room which I liked a lot, but the breakfast takeaway service came in handy on a particularly frantic morning. I didn't try the happy hour or poolside bar. This would have been a better choice to have a bottle of water.
The Spa & Relaxation Zone: Where Dreams… Get Slightly Damp
Okay, this is where the Holiday Inn Select tries to shine. The Spa boasts a Sauna, Steamroom, Pool with view, Spa/sauna, and a whole menu of treatments. And I was ready to be pampered.
I booked a massage and made damn sure to try the Body scrub and Body wrap. The service was fine, the therapist was professional, but the spa itself felt… a little under-loved. The swimming pool [outdoor] was beautiful, yes, and had a fantastic view, but the equipment felt a little tired. I could only imagine how the gym/fitness would be. The Foot bath was a clever touch, but the whole experience didn't quite deliver that "wow" factor. I actually wanted a Couple's room for the massage, but it wasn't offered which was a bit disappointing.
Cleanliness & Safety: Navigating the 'New Normal'
This is where the Holiday Inn Select really does things right. In a world grappling with… gestures vaguely at everything…, the hotel does a commendable job. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere. The staff was all masked up and I witnessed them sanitizing constantly. They offered Rooms sanitized between stays and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. I could've room sanitization opt-out available, but I decided to keep the room sanitized.
The hotel also had a decent number of Safety/security feature., with CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property and Security [24-hour]. I felt safe and secure the whole time.
Things to Do: Mixing Business with… Pleasure?
The hotel seems to cater to both business and leisure travelers. They have Meeting/banquet facilities, business facilities and seminars offered, which I unfortunately didn’t get to explore. There's a Gift/souvenir shop (because you always forget to buy a fridge magnet, right?) and some outdoor space for events.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly…ish?
The hotel is Family/child friendly and offers Babysitting service and Kids meal. They also have Kids facilities, though I didn't have kids with me.
The Quirks & Imperfections: The Human Element
Okay, here are the little things, the things that made the experience… real.
- The Staff: Generally friendly and helpful, but sometimes a little… scattered. I'm not sure if it was a language barrier or just the occasional staffing shortage, but there were moments of awkwardness.
- The Elevator: One of the elevators was out of service for a couple of days, which led to some serious congestion at peak times.
- The View: My view from my room was of… another building. A bit disappointing, honestly.
The Verdict: A Solid Choice, But Not Quite Paradise
The Holiday Inn Select in Guadalajara is a perfectly decent hotel. It’s accessible, the location is alright, and they’ve invested in safety and cleanliness. The Wi-Fi [free] is good, which is critical whether you are on business or traveling for pleasure. The air conditioning is a game changer. It's a solid option for business travelers or families who value convenience. In the end it was a pleasant experience, but just not mind-blowing.
Would I stay here again? Maybe. If the price was right, and the alternatives were worse, then absolutely. But if I was looking for a truly luxurious experience, I’d probably explore other options. The Holiday Inn Select is a dependable workhorse, not a thoroughbred racehorse. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need.
Escape to Paradise: Aquarela Pirenópolis Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your clean-cut, perfectly organized travel guide. This is me, battling jet lag, questionable tacos, and the overwhelming urge to nap, trying to navigate Guadalajara and the Holiday Inn Select. Here we go…
Guadalajara Gauntlet: A Messy Meander
Day 1: Arrival & Awkward Greetings
- Time: 10:00 AM - Arrived at Guadalajara International Airport (GDL). Dear God, the heat. It hit me like a brick of sunshine right in the face. And the humidity? Don't even get me started. It's that kind of humidity that makes your hair want to stage a coup against your head.
- Event: Airport chaos. Finding the taxi? A trial. It’s like a chaotic dance of aggressive taxi drivers and bewildered tourists. I swear, I aged a decade just trying to find the authorized booth. Finally, after what felt like a pilgrimage, I got into a taxi.
- Transportation: Taxi, a vehicle with a driver that seemed to have a death wish. We were weaving thru traffic with the grace of a caffeinated squirrel.
- Time: 11:00 AM - Checked into Holiday Inn Guadalajara Select. Oh, the lobby… The lobby is nice, but I'm already wary. All hotels give you the facade of perfection. How much does the hotel resemble it's photos?
- Event: The room. It’s… fine. Clean-ish. View of a parking lot. Welp. At least there's air conditioning. And a bed. Priorities. The bed is my friend.
- Event: The Great Tortilla Chip Incident of '24. Upon entering the room, I ripped open the complimentary bag of tortilla chips with gusto. Suddenly, a CRUNCH and then… a splatter. A rogue chip somehow managed to escape my grasp and dive-bomb my freshly pressed shirt. I stared at the chip, then at the stain, then at the ceiling. The battle of the chip stain had begun.
- Lunch: Restaurant in the hotel. Food was good. Service? A bit… lackadaisical. But hey, mañana spirit, right? I think I'm officially in vacation mode -- trying to relax.
- Afternoon: Nap. This is not an option, this is a necessity.
- Evening: Walk around the block to get a feel for the surroundings. Found a taqueria. Now, I am not a spicy food person. (Slightly dramatic, yes.) But I figured, "When in Mexico…" Let's do this.
- Dinner: The tacos. Oh. My. GOD. They were heavenly. I may have accidentally ordered the pastor (which, thanks to Google Translate, I think means "spicy meat"). I was sweating, my eyes were watering, but I kept eating. Because those flavors… were worth the potential fiery demise. Pure. Taco. Bliss. Except for the burn.
- Night: Collapsed in bed. Jet lag kicking in hard. Watched bad TV in Spanish, mostly without understanding, but I understood the beauty of the telenovela.
Day 2: Culture Clash and Cathedral Contemplation
- Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. I attempted the “continental” breakfast. Mostly, it was mediocre coffee, stale pastries and a strange-looking egg scramble. I really miss real food.
- Rant: Why is hotel coffee always so awful? It's like they're trying to sabotage your day from the very start.
- Transportation: Uber to Centro Histórico. The thought of braving the city buses alone was terrifying. (Yes, I'm a wimp. Sue me.)
- Event: The Cathedral. It's beautiful. Really, really beautiful. The sheer grandeur is almost overwhelming. The stained glass, the ornate carvings… I was genuinely in awe.
- Anecdote: I saw a little girl selling flowers outside the Cathedral, and she had the brightest smile. It made me tear up (probably the jet lag, don’t judge).
- Lunch: Found this little cafe near the Plaza de Armas. I ordered… something. Again, relying heavily on Google Translate. It involved avocado, so I was happy. So good!
- Afternoon: Wandered through the Plaza, watched some street performers. Tried (and failed) to learn a few basic Spanish phrases. "Where's the bathroom?" is crucial, people.
- Event: Tequila Tasting (Yes, you read that right!) This was a mandatory experience. Turns out, tequila is a LOT more complex than I thought. I sampled… several. I may have over-sampled. My face felt warm, my words became slurred, and I convinced myself that I should buy a giant sombrero.
- Quirky Observation: The bartender, a wizened man with a twinkling eye, kept saying "¡Salud!" and throwing back shots like it was water. He was my hero.
- Emotional Reaction: Okay, maybe I got a little emotional during the tasting. I started waxing poetic about the agave plant's journey from field to glass. I think I also told the bartender my life story. In broken Spanish. It’s a blur.
- Evening: Stumbled back to the hotel, slightly tipsy and deeply content.
- Dinner: Hotel restaurant again. Tried to order something simple. They brought me something completely different. Oh well. More tortilla chips!
- Messy Structure: I'd planned to explore the art scene, but I was feeling a little over-stimulated, and the nap potential was high.
Day 3: More Adventures and Farewell (Sort Of)
- Morning: Woke up with a throbbing headache and a profound sense of regret about the sombrero. (It was bright yellow, by the way.)
- Event: Pool time at the hotel. Needed to recover. And rehydrate. And maybe consider a vow of sobriety. (Maybe.)
- Event: The pool… I was horrified at how crowded it was. Kids everywhere. Screaming, splashing, and trying to throw beach balls right in my face. I considered hiding in my room.
- Transportation: Taxi.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: A visit to a local market. Okay, this was an explosion of color, smells, and general chaos. I loved it. The vibrant textiles, the spices, the vendors hawking their wares… It was sensory overload in the best way possible. I bought a ridiculously large bag of chili powder.
- Anecdote: I tried to haggle for a scarf. I failed miserably. I'm a terrible bargainer. I just started laughing and gave the vendor whatever he wanted.
- Lunch. More tacos. Different taqueria. Different meat. (It might've been brains. Don’t ask).
- Afternoon: Attempted a museum visit. Got lost. Gave up. The museums can wait.
- Event: Pre-flight panic. I need to pack. I hate packing. This is the worst part of travel. Finding all kinds of things I didn't expect to encounter in my luggage.
- Event: Goodbye dinner. Maybe a final tequila shot? No, definitely not.
- Emotional Reaction: I’m sad to leave. Guadalajara is a vibrant, quirky, imperfect place. It's challenged me, entertained me, and given me a lot of stories to tell (even if half of them are slurred and involve tequila).
- Night: Headed back to the airport.
- Thought: Maybe I'll see the little flower girl again on my way out.
- Final Thought: I'll be back. Someday. Once I’ve mastered the sombrero and the pronunciation of "bathroom." And maybe, just maybe, after I learn how to deal with the heat.
And that, my friends, is my messy, honest, funny, and absolutely human travel log of Guadalajara. Adios! (And yes, Google Translate helped with that).
Escape to Paradise: Aquarela Pirenópolis Awaits!
Guadalajara Getaway: Holiday Inn Select - Your Uncensored Guide!
Okay, spill it! Is this Holiday Inn actually *luxurious*? I'm picturing stale coffee and scratchy towels.
Alright, alright, let's be real. I, Mr. Skeptical Traveler, went in with the exact same baggage! "Holiday Inn Select" sounded… well, marketing-y. But honestly? I was pleasantly, *shockingly*, wrong. The lobby? Not just a landing zone; it actually *feels* fancy. Think… polished marble, a chandelier that actually sparkles, and a front desk staff who don't act like they hate their jobs (a rare find!). The coffee? Not stale! Actually, I remember waking up and grabbing the coffee, and the guy behind the counter was so bubbly, I think he called me "amigo" like three times. And the towels? Fluffy. Seriously fluffy. Almost made me want to stay in the bathroom all day. (Almost.)
What about the rooms? Are they cramped little boxes? I need space to, you know, *breathe*. And sprawl.
Space? Honey, you’ve come to the right place! My room? HUGE. Like, I could've done a cartwheel (though, let's be honest, I'm not THAT flexible anymore). Big bed, a proper desk, a sitting area… It was a room you actually *wanted* to spend time in, not just a place to dump your luggage. The view was…city, so not a beach, but who cares? I was in Guadalajara! Living the dream, even if the dream involved, you know, a slightly less-than-perfect view. And the air conditioning? Blessedly quiet. I hate a noisy AC unit…it's like having a grumpy house guest who never shuts up.
The pool? Is it a chlorine-filled puddle, or something you can actually, you know, enjoy?
Okay, the pool. This is where things get *interesting.* I spent a whole afternoon by the pool. Truth be told, I'd started my day as intended, but by 2 pm, the allure of the sun, those poolside cocktails, and a *really* good book had completely swallowed me up. The pool itself? Perfectly clean, the water was amazing! Not too cold, not too warm. Just right! There were families, couples, people like me, just trying to escape it all, and then... the music. It sounded so good! It was even better with a cocktail. I spent almost two hours doing nothing but reading, sipping on a drink, and listening to the music. And, here's a confession: I may or may not have dozed off in my lounge chair. Woke up feeling utterly blissful. That pool? Worth the price of admission. Seriously.
Seriously, the *food*... Is it just your standard bland hotel buffet?
Okay, the food. Here's where I'm going to confess a small, minor, indiscretion. The buffet? I skipped it. I’m a cheapskate at heart. But, the *a la carte* restaurant? Different story! I had the *chiles en nogada* one night. Oh. My. God. Seriously, the best thing I've ever tasted! And the margaritas. Don't even get me started! They were strong, delicious, and probably contributed to the slight haze in my memory of the whole trip. But good haze! And the service? Impeccable. They treat you like you are their favorite family member.
Location, location, location! Is it in a convenient area, or am I going to be stuck in a desert of chain restaurants and empty parking lots?
Location? Surprisingly good! Not *right* in the thick of things (which, honestly, is a good thing sometimes). It's close enough to everything. You can easily grab a taxi or Uber, or even (gasp!) *walk* to some cool little spots. I went to a local market one morning, and then wandered through the streets for hours. Found a tiny, authentic restaurant that served the most amazing tacos! It's a great base for exploring the city without feeling completely overwhelmed. Really, it's so much fun!
Are there any downsides? Or is this some kind of travel unicorn?
No place is perfect, right? Okay, so, here are a few tiny, nit-picky things. The wi-fi wasn't *always* lightning-fast, but honestly, who cares when you're on vacation? It did the job. And, yeah, the gym... I looked in there once. Looked a bit... well... It was there. I guess. But, as for everything else? I am very hard to please, but I am very happy, and the Holiday Inn Select in Guadalajara really impressed me. Definitely recommended!
So, should I go? Is it worth the hype?
Go. Seriously. Stop reading this and book your trip! I'm not usually one for gushing, but honestly, I'm already planning my return. The Holiday Inn Select in Guadalajara? It's a solid choice. It's a comfortable, luxurious, and overall fantastic place to stay. Just go! You won't regret it! And if you see the bubbly coffee guy? Tell him I said hola!
