Had a group of 23 at the hotel for 3 nights and have to say I would likely stay again. The staff is friendly and wants to please, though we had keys for several rooms that needed to be recoded each day. The rooms were adequate and clean. A little more water pressure on the 9th floor would have been nice. The pool is small and the two elevators are as well. Breakfast in the restaurant was nice (included in the rate) and offered quite a variety. One room had a malfunctioning electronic safe, but we didn't really need it anyway. Travel desk in the lobby as in most hotels in Mexico.

There were two reviews on the El Castellano. One said the folks were friendly, and I can confirm that. The other said the water was too cold in the bathroom, and the street lighting was too dim. The hotel has nothing to do with Merida public works, but the lighting wasn't any different anywhere else in town. We had a two room suite, with three bathrooms and an enormous outside patio. One shower had the hot and cold reversed, maybe that was because it was marked C and H. Caliente is Spanish for hot. Otherwise the room was wonderful, the people great, and Merida is a fascinating city. For one or two days we were invaded by grasshoppers. Thousands of them flew around and occupied most of our patio. Our two potted plants got munched. It was probably their way of taking a Christmas vacation before returning to the fields. We loved the Mayan ruins and the flamingoes of Celestun. Don't miss the Portico del Peregrino, an Italian restaurant about two blocks to your left as you exit El Castellano. Best chicken pibil around.

After staying at this hotel I realized it was very expensive for what was offered.The room was very,very basic, simple furnishing,warm water that took never got hot, no floor coverings.It is on a side street downtown that after dark walking from the main plaza was scary as it is not well lit.I found other hotels in Merida that offered more at better prices.As the privious reviewer said they smile alot,yes they do, because they don't understand what your saying.Maybe service to Spanish speakers is different but to English speakers they see you as a tourist that won't come back and they already have your money.

It's an excellent hotel, the service and attention from the staff is great they are very pleased to help and as yucatecan people, they are always with a smile in their faces. The rooms are very comfortables and are very quiet, even at the time the maids are working. The air conditioning works perfectly well, and that is important in the Yucatan due to its high temperatures year round. The beds are new and very comfortable, and the shower with very good water pressure and relaxing.
The food is not one of the highlights of the hotel, but is fair.
Anyway, is very good located near the central plaza and many places to go eat.