I live in central Mexico, as does one of our other regular contributors, so we’ve got a good sense of the hotel scene in San Miguel de Allende, including which are some of the best boutique hotels in this popular city. All of them have been in the historic center, however, which does have a few drawbacks. I recently checked out a place to stay on the edge of the city limits to see how that experience compares, at Oasis Guesthouse near the Ventanas de San Miguel Golf Club.
This five-room inn is a guesthouse in the real sense of the word: the owner, a well-traveled expat who moved here from Aspen, lives in the main house and her mementos fill the first floor. Three of the rooms are upstairs in that main house, while the other two rooms are more like traditional hotel rooms, separated and with more privacy out by the pool and reading room.
Over the years, San Miguel de Allende has gotten more and more popular. High rankings in glossy travel magazines and getting highlighted often as one of “the places to travel in 20xx” have led to more tourists, plus for decades this has been one of the most popular destinations for expats moving to Mexico permanently or coming down to escape the winter cold as snowbirds. Add to that the huge domestic wedding business that goes on here (it’s a great place for photo backdrops) and there’s sometimes more demand than supply for rooms.
As a result, it can be hard to find a hotel room for a reasonable price these days, then it’s even tougher if you want a reasonably priced one that’s quiet. If you also need a parking spot, that limits your choices even more. This Oasis Guesthouse has rates that won’t make you gasp and it’s a quiet place to stay in San Miguel, with plenty of street parking in a calm neighborhood.
The solar-heated pool is bigger than you’ll find at some of the large hotels in the city and there are plenty of lounge chairs even if the place is full. The pool area flows into several inviting Moroccan-themed outdoor sitting areas with lounge furniture. With the “eternal spring” climate in this part of Mexico lending to pleasant temperatures most of the year, most eating and drinking takes place at these sitting areas and at the two outdoor dining tables.
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There’s also a lovely garden space behind the main house that should take away any stresses you have. With citrus trees, a fountain, and flowers, it’s a welcoming home for hummingbirds and butterflies.
One of the nicest lounging areas for cool nights or when it’s raining is a reading and TV room filled with interesting books and DVDs. It’s a comfortable space with lots of natural light and interesting finds from around the world, plus a fireplace.
Rooms are well-stocked and have comfortable premium mattresses. With heat/air for the rare months you need it and a neighborhood with no loud bars or traffic, it’s easy to get a good night’s sleep here.
A lot of thought went into the design of them as well, with ample storage space in a closet and dressers, quality ceiling fans, safes, coffee makers, and cable TVs with Netflix. Attractive bathrooms match the color scheme of the bedroom, featuring Mexican tile sourced from the nearby town of Dolores Hidalgo. Each bed has a hand-carved headboard.
The three rooms on the second floor of the main house get more sun, especially the Sun Room, which is the least expensive option. The Gold Room in the main building is the most expensive (a relative term at $150 per night). In between are the two more private rooms near the pool and lounge areas: Red and Green.
Breakfast is included in the rates, with coffee, fresh-squeezed juice, and a menu based on whatever the staffers are whipping up that day. They can easily adjust for allergies or preferences and there’s an outdoor kitchen for any guest who wants to make something. There’s also an outdoor grill. You don’t have to mess with single-use plastic water bottles here: a whole-house purification system means you can drink from the faucet.
While this property is a 10-15 minute drive from the historic center, depending on traffic, it is practically walking distance to a golf course and a few minutes from a giant supermarket and plenty of restaurants. You can go check out the narrow bustling streets of downtown, then return to a more tranquil spot in the evenings here, sipping a glass of wine by the garden or by an outdoor gas fireplace. Or head up to the open roof deck to watch the sunset.
If you’re touring around central Mexico in a rental car, this is an especially easy rooming option to get in and out of. With only five rooms, it’s also an ideal spot for a small group traveling together: it’s not going to cost a fortune to rent out the whole place and have it to yourself.
Rates run $115 to $150, with a two-night minimum stay. This new guesthouse will soon be on one of the regular hotel booking platforms, but for now it’s best to book direct with Oasis. Get more information here.
Review and photos by editor Tim Leffel, who was hosted at the property while researching a San Miguel golf article for another publication.
