Name: Hotel D´ Carmona
Address: Damian Carmona, 219 Zona Centro, Hidalgo, Zona Centro, 79000 Cd Valles, S.L.P., Mexico, Ciudad Valles, Ciudad Valles, Ciudad Valles, 79000, Mexico
Rating: 5

Air conditioning

24-hour reception

Currency exchange

Smoke-free property

Garden

Terrace

All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

General

Cable TV

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Laundry

Dry-cleaning

Luggage storage

Wake-up service

Telephone

Services and amenities

Internet access

Internet

Transfer services

Transfer

Tour assistance

Tourist services

No parking

Parking

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Hotel D´ Carmona

Ciudad Valles

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

I booked here because the other options didn't seem to be that much nicer. I expected a dreary dump, to be honest. I thought it was very sufficient as a basic place to crash while I went off exploring the jungle. Here are my thoughts:

PROs:
-cheap, $17/night
-the wall A/C unit worked VERY well and had several settings (AC is absolutely necessary in Cd Valles - the hottest, most humid area)
-ceiling fan with several settings
-flat screen tv 
- bed was softer than most Mexican beds
-good toilet water pressure
-very simple room with a bed, small wood vanity dresser and nightstands
-2 conveniently located electrical outlets by the door and bed
-Nice reception area with plants,  snack and drink vending machines, and tourist brochures

CONs:
-The shower did not have very hot water. It was warm. But I don't think you really need hot water in Ciudad Valles. It is a very hot, humid city. 
- Neither the A/C wall unit nor the ceiling fan had a remote control, and they worked so well, I had to keep getting up to turn them down, then off, then on again.
- very old laminate floor
-sheets were old and worn
-Only one small, old, rough towel and bar of soap given per day, and the maid kept taking the old ones and replacing them
-Both the room window and the bathroom window open to indoor hallways, so there isn't much opportunity to catch an outside breeze, but plenty of opportunity to hear your neighbors - or have them hear you - if their windows are open
-The hotel has an odd, square-shaped layout that requires you to walk down hallways located on the perimeter (The rooms are inside, facing the reception area). You enter a long hallway, cross by reception, then take the far stairs to the 2nd floor, then walk down a few hallways around the outside of the square to get to your room. Very odd. 
-No elevator. You will need to carry your own suitcase(s).  *It is common in the state of San Luis Potosí that rooms begin on the 2nd floor and there is no elevator
-Room was small, but contained few items, so it seemed bigger. 
-Electrical outlets were extremely worn out and loose. They did not support heavier plugs (cell phone charger). *This is very common in Mexico. Always pack an extension cord.
-Some talking and music can be heard during the day
-The last night I was there, a large group was there occupying about 4 rooms. They smoked, sat in all the hallways chatting late into the night, and checked out loudly a few hours later, at 3am, with lots of knocking and talking through closed doors, and discussions of plans in the  hallways, and suitcases rolling back and forth and back again for over an hour. I'm not sure the hotel can be blamed for inconsiderate guests, though. 

Hope that helps!  

*Travel Advice*
-Do NOT GO to the Huasteca from late June to December. This is the rainy season and EVERY waterfall is closed. I was greatly disappointed that I could do nothing but take pictures.  :'( 
- If visiting the Huasteca, do NOT stay in Cd Valles. This city is miserably hot and humid, dirty, and ugly. Stay in Tamasopo or Aquismon. Both of these towns are only one hour in either direction from Cd Valles. They cool down at night with a breeze.  There are plenty of places to stay (in either location) that aren't listed on trip advisor. The only advantage to staying in Cd Valles is the access to the large bus terminal there, and that it is located in the middle of all of the Huasteca activities. 

Bus info:
Despite the outdated info in posts and articles on the web which state that buses are few and far between in the Huasteca, I was able to find comfortable buses all around the region. 
However, be aware that the internet systems are NOT up-to-date (neither by search engine "busbud.com"  or "reserbus.com",  nor by searching a bus line directly on its website).
The best thing to do upon arrival in a bus terminal, is hop from counter to counter, and check the schedules for your next destination. If the buses are limited, you should buy your next ticket in advance right then and there. 

CURRENT BUS SCHEDULES (July):

-There are plenty of buses that run from Cd Valles south to Xilitla (or Aquismón or Huichihuayan) daily. Every 30 min from 5:30am to 5pm. Cost:112 pesos,  2 hrs on Vencedor with A/C.
*Catch the bus from the MAIN bus terminal at the edge of town, rather than the smaller terminals in Centro. Those buses do not have A/C and make many stops, doubling the time of the trip. 

-Buses run from Xilitla north to Cd Valles every hour until 11pm. 112p. Vencedor. Takes 2 hours.  A/C.

- Buses run from Cd Valles west to San Luis, SLP, every hour from Vencedor until 2 or 3am. Omnibus (I think) also offers this route, but only at night at 9:30p, 12am, 1am, 2am. These tickets sell out, so buy in advance. 

Several buses a day run from Xilitla (or Cd Valles) to Mexico City. 

* Vencedor offers the most frequent routes, never sells out, and it's cheaper, but tends to make more stops on the street to let passengers on or off, which increases travel time. It also does not store luggage underneath the bus. So if you have more than a carry-on, you're better off with the other line(s). They sell out fast, so buy your ticket a day in advance. 


Hotel D´ Carmona

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