Vista Express Plaza Del Sol Hotel Guadalajara (Jalisco)

Me and my friend stayed here during our trip to Guadalajara over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2007. The hotel is located right next door to the Plaza del Sol shopping center and down the street from the Expo Center (the city's main convention center).

The hotel is fairly popular with both Mexican and foreign visitors so the staff is proficient in English. We paid on average US$75 per night. In terms of facilities, the hotel has a gym, swimming pool (albeit not very large), and two restaurants with one that features a dinner buffet. The hotel is older when compared to other nearby hotels like the Intercontinental across the street. (I would say the hotel's decor looks like something out of the 1970s or 1980s). However, the hotel is kept very clean and my room was cleaned daily. I only add that bit about the decor because some travelers want a W-hotels experience and the Vista Del Sol is not it.

The hotel's concierge is helpful in organizing day trips or offering travel advice. If you're pressed for time and would like a day trip that ends with a free margarita I would suggest signing up for the Tequila Train trip through the hotel. The Tequila Train takes visitors from Guadalajara to the Tequila producing areas outside the city. I didn't join the train, instead the hotel found me and my friend a cab driver willing to be our driver and tour guide to Jose Cuervo Factory located in the aptly named town of Tequila. The ride is about 1 hour each way and the cost for the day was about $100.

The hotel was located neither near the city's historic center nor a metro station. So we took taxis when getting around town. The hotel is located next to the Plaza del Sol shopping center which is kind of nice to visit and unwind after a day sightseeing. The hotel is also within walking distance to the Convention Center.

Overall, I would recommend the Vistal del Sol hotel to travelers looking a good value and location while staying in Guadalajara.