LIST OF ALTERNATE HOTELS for the PORT of VERACRUZ
All of the hotels listed here are less expensive alternatives to a stay at the Grand Hotel Fiesta Americana. They fall into two categories: those that are in the same geographic area as the Fiesta Americana, and those that are downtown.
HOTELS CLOSE TO THE GRAND FIESTA AMERICANA (where our wedding will take place, and where we will be staying). The Grand Hotel Fiesta Americana is located approximately 6 kilometers south of downtown in an area known as “Boca del Rio”. This is the fashionable side of the city, which means that it resembles a typical US American shopping suburb, but close to the ocean. A cab ride here from downtown will cost approximately 100 pesos ($6 dollars) and takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes depending on traffic. It’s hard for us to personally recommend any of the hotels here since we always stay downtown, and our best advice is to look carefully at the comments section for each of these hotels in whatever booking site you’re most familiar with.
Rivoli Select Hotel
486 Avenida Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez, Boca del Rio
https://www.hotelrivoli.com/en
On a major thoroughfare slightly inland from the ocean. Recommended by a good friend who has stayed there.
Hotel Bello Veracruz
258 Avenida Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez, Boca del Rio
On the same thoroughfare as the Rivoli, recommended by the same friend ⬆️
Four Points by Sheraton Veracruz
1997 Avenida Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez, Fraccionamiento Jardines de Virginia
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/verfp-four-points-veracruz/overview/
On the same thoroughfare as above two hotels, but further south.
Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio
Blvd. Manuel Avila Camacho S/N, Costa del Oro, Boca del Rio
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/verbrgi-hilton-garden-inn-boca
Located on the ocean, just north of the Fiesta Americana, on the same avenue.
City Express by Marriott Veracruz
2374 Blvd. Manuel Avila Camacho, Costa de Oro, Boca del Rio
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/verxv-city-express-veracruz/
Located on the ocean, just north of the Hilton (mentioned above).
Camino Real Veracruz
3650 Blvd. Manuel Avila Camacho, Costa del Oro, Boca del Rio
https://www.caminoreal.com/caminoreal/camino-real-veracruz
Located on the ocean, directly south of the Fiesta Americana, on the same avenue.
Hotel Mocambo
4000 Avenida Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez
https://mocambo.hotelesdeveracruzmexico.com/en/
We actually probably should not recommend staying here, but it’s definitely worth a visit, and we might organize an event here for Sunday, October 27th. This was supposedly the first luxury hotel built on the Mexican Gulf and the hotel and massive grounds feel like the set for a 1930s Hollywood movie, and truth be told, many famous movie stars did in fact stay here. But it’s definitely seen brighter days and is in need of a billion-dollar makeover. We always take visiting friends here for a drink on the huge terrace overlooking the ocean, and they always feel transported to another era.
For more information about the faded glory of this once glamorous hotel, please read the following article: https://chamberoftheamericasblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/hotel-mocambo-historical-jewel-of-golf.html
HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN VERACRUZ (CENTRO HISTORICO)
Downtown Veracruz is where all the action is and is our preferred place to stay. All three of the hotels mentioned below are within a few feet (or easy walking distance) of the main square (Zócalo) which is oozing with history, and rightly so since it’s ‘ground zero’ of where the Spanish conquest of Mexico began. We will be taking a tour of downtown Veracruz on Sunday, Oct.27th. The possible downside of a stay there (or upside depending on your point of view) is that -- amidst all the lovely historic buildings -- there is also a feeling of ‘decaying old port’ and all that comes with it: an unpleasant odor or two, a dirty street and sidewalk or two, etc…But these tend to fade away as you take in the colorful, lazy, and perennially festive atmosphere. It’s generally safe, but you should always be aware of your surroundings.
While these are the 3 hotels where we have stayed and can personally recommend, you can find other hotels for downtown Veracruz on any booking site (such as kayak.com). While we tend to use ‘booking.com’ for making reservations, it’s always a good idea to compare the price offered on a booking site with that offered on each hotel’s individual website.
Gran Hotel Diligencias
1115 Avenida Independencia, Zona Centro
You can’t get closer to the historic center of downtown Veracruz than this old hotel given a modern makeover 10 years ago. The 16th century Cathedral and Town Hall, bars, and lively ‘son jarocho’ music are just outside the front entrance, and yet the hotel seems surprisingly quiet and rooms are spacious and comfortable. Small outdoor swimming pool on second floor, overlooking city’s main square.
Hotel Emporio
244 Paseo del Malecon, Zona Centro
https://hotelesemporio.com/hoteles/emporio-veracruz/
Also good, about a 10-minute walk from the Diligencias. It has an elegant art deco feel to it and is located right in the middle of the old port, with international cargo ships docked in front, and San Juan de Ulua in the distance -- the 16th century fortress that once protected the city from unruly invaders. The hotel has two attractive swimming pools, as well as a rooftop bar with a superb view of downtown.
Hotel Baluarte
265 Francisco Canal, Zona Centro
https://www.hotelbaluarte.com/en/
The least expensive of the three, but perfectly fine, with clean and comfortable rooms, and centrally located in a lovely square containing the last remnant of the 16th century wall that once surrounded the entire city.
