Under $25

First, the economy Posada Primavera (Palo Verde 5, corner of Gardenia, tel./fax 958/587-1167, fax 958/587-1169, $23 s or d in one bed, $25 d or t in two beds), a few blocks north of the plaza, offers six simply furnished but clean, light, high-ceilinged upstairs rooms with bath. Windows look out onto the palmy, bougainvillea-adorned surrounding neighborhood. Rooms come with fans.

At the adjacent corner, Hotel Posada Michelle (Gardenia 8, tel./fax 958/587-0535, $23 s or d with fans, $35 with a/c), run by personable ecotour guide José Aussenac, offers about a dozen smallish but clean and comfortable rooms with big beds, baths, and good satellite TV. Some of the rooms are airy and light; others, although dark because of their half-mirrored windows (for privacy), do have white walls and open to a breezy, second-story walkway that leads to a pleasant, hammock-hung, shady view porch.

$25–50

A couple of blocks south of the plaza, budget-minded visitors should check out the newish Posada Leo (Bugambilias 302, tel. 958/587-0372 or 958/587-2601, posadaleo_hux [at] hotmail [dot] com, $22 s, $25 d). The six rooms, although a bit cramped for their two double beds, are attractively tiled and furnished with hand-woven bedspreads, and have shiny modern shower-baths. All rooms come with cable TV and fans; some with a/c for $5 extra. Furthermore, guests enjoy an airy upstairs patio for reading and relaxing.

Nearby, just a block south of the plaza, find Posada Jois (Chacah 209, tel. 958/587-0781, joishuatulco [at] hotmail [dot] com, $25–33 d), between Carrizal and Bugambilias. Past the welcoming female owner’s storefront are seven differing rooms on both ground and upper floors. The most attractive are upstairs. One is semideluxe, with king-sized bed and bath; another room is for four with two double beds and bath. There is also a pair of rooms with shared baths, all with hot water, TV, and fans. A major plus here is an inviting, shady terrace for guest use, with tropical plants and soft chairs for relaxing.

On Guamuchil, just half a block east of the plaza, the Hotel Los Conejos (Calle Guamuchil 208, tel./fax 958/587-0054, fax 958/587-0009, informacion [at] turismoconejo [dot] com, www.turismoconejo.com, $30 s, $35 d) offers 10 spic-and-span rooms built around the upstairs balcony of a tranquil, intimate interior patio. The rooms are attractively decorated with ceramic tile floors, white stucco walls, and tasteful, color-coordinated curtains and bedspreads. Rooms come with choice of a/c or fans; all have cable TV, private hot-water shower-baths, Internet café, and small restaurant, but no parking.

The owner of the Restaurant Sabor de Oaxaca has turned profits into investment in lovely Hotel María Mixteca (Guamuchil 204, tel. 958/587-2336 or 958/587-2337, fax 958/587-2338, andrea100 [at] prodigy [dot] net [dot] mx, www.travelbymexico.com/oaxa/mariamixteca, $45 d), just a block east of the plaza. The 14 rooms are situated around an inviting, tranquil inner patio. Reflecting the owner’s love of the Mixteca region, all rooms are named individually, mostly for Mixteca towns, such as Juquila, Tlaxiaco, and Juxtlahuaca. Rooms are high ceilinged and attractively decorated in pleasant pastels, tile, and native art. One room has a queen-sized bed, the rest have two double beds, and many have airy private balconies. Rates include a/c, cable TV, wireless Internet access, parking, and credit cards accepted.

$50–100

The Hotel Suites Begonias (Bugambilias 503, tel. 958/587-0390, reservaciones [at] hotelbegonias [dot] com, $55 s or d, credit cards accepted), at the southeast plaza corner, offers a semideluxe, family-run alternative. The rooms, although clean and comfortable, have motel-style walkways passing their windows, decreasing privacy. Rates for the 13 rooms include fan, a/c, and TV.

A very worthy addition to Crucecita’s deluxe lodging options is the new, refined Hotel Mision de los Arcos (Gardenia 902, tel. 958/587-0165, fax 958/587-1903, info [at] misiondelosarcos [dot] com, www.misiondelosarcos.com, $55–65 d), a block north of the plaza’s northwest corner. Owners offer 14 spacious, rustic-chic white-and-beige-motif rooms and suites. Walls are pleasingly white, with accents in beige tile. Guests in many rooms enjoy views toward the leafy park next door. Some rooms have airy balconies and/or private patios. Rooms all come with large luxurious baths, cable TV, a/c, credit cards accepted, excellent restaurant downstairs, but street parking only.

© Bruce Whipperman from Moon Oaxaca, 5th edition