The rooms at the Best Western Mirador are very large and great for Families traveling in town or launching a trip to Creel and the Copper Canyon. I really like that the Hotel is located right on Universidad Avenue with ease access to a Vivabus Station. There are also two rent-a-car dealers right next to the hotel if you did not bring your car.
The hotel looks and feels just like the Best Westerns of the roadway from west Texas, New Mexico and Arizona in the USA. The large rooms open onto a central parking lot where you park just outside the room. The hotel has two stories, so we had a room on the second floor near the end. The kids loved the indoor hotel and their was lots of room to just sit down and relax.
The Hotel has a good restaurant and bar on property, which makes it great for staying on site.
Getting around:
A one way taxis run to downtown is about 3 dollars. Walking to downtown is about 3/4 of a mile and takes about 15 to 20 minutes. I uploaded a taxis rate sheet for the City from the hotel for your review. While we were there, we took the local public transportation called 'Vivabus' from the Deza y Ulloa Station on Universidad Ave, just a block from the hotel. The cost is a onetime charge of 20 pesos for your bus card and 6 pesos or about 40 cents per person for each stop, no matter the length of route. Note: Buy one card and use it for the members of your group.
To use the Vivabus, look for the Red Stations in the middle of Universidad and pick up the bus in the direction you want to go. The Buses on the North/South route are new Mercedes Marco Polo, Air Conditioned ones which are very similar to those in the big Cities in the US. The main bus route goes North to South through the City, so if you wish to go downtown, take the South route which heads to the right of the Station. To return from downtown, take the North Route back to the Hotel.
There are several station stops in the Central Historic Area which will take you extremely close to specific restaurants, Museums and Plazas. Please note that the downtown loop of Vivabus is figure 8 with certain stops only available on the South or North Routes.
Here are important stops for your stay at the Best Western Mirador:
Hotel bus stop for either direction is Deza Y Ulloa.
These are the South Route stops from hotel :
Fuentes Danzarinas is the stop for the Templo de San Francisco de Asís, Casa Chihuahua, Palace of the Governors, 14 Coffees, the Hidalgo's Dungeon, Plaza de Angel, Grand Plaza of Chihuahua and the Chihuahua Barbaro - Day tours main ticket office.
Juarez Station is the stop for the Casa Juarez or the Museum of the Republic. Casa Siglo XIX is just two blocks from the Juarez station on the Right hand side of the street. Casa Siglo XIX is a wonderful art museum downtown with wonderful free public restrooms near the Cathedral.
The Sagrado Corazon Station will take you to the steps of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. If you walk up Avenue 20 de Noviembre two blocks to Calle 10a then take a right onto Calle 10a and walk two more blocks, you be at the entrance of the Pancho Villa Museum.
These are the North Route stops from the hotel :
The Quinta Gameros Station will take you right in front of the beautiful French Styled Quinta Gameros house completed in 1910. This is a one of the most beautiful homes in all of Mexico and is a must stop for those who love architecture.
The Catedral Station is on the under pass directly below the Catedral de Chihuahua and its great plaza. Once you get off the bus, just walk up two flights of stairs and you are right next to the Cathedral. This is also the stop for the Quality Inn where the Chihuahua Barbaro tour bus departs 4 times a day. This is also a great stop to return to the hotel after your trip downtown.
The Sor Juana Station, traveling north from the hotel, will take you to an Alsuper grocery store which will provide you all your food and convenience items needs on the trip. An Alsuper is very similar to the neighborhood Wal-Mart stores open in the US. The Alsuper has a great café for a quick affordable lunch and dinner as will as good prices on beer and wine for the room. They have weekly beer special and I was able to buy German Beck's and Sam Adams Cherry Wheat beer for 6 pesos a bottle during our stay. When finished shopping, take the south bus route back to the Hotel.
VIVABUS Instructions :
To ride the bus, you will need to use the Red Ticket machines in the Station to buy and charge your bus card. If you select the American Flag on the machine's screen, the instructions will switch to English for easy use. The Bus Cards will cost a one-time charge of 20 pesos. Next place the card in the slot and recharge the card with Mexican coins or bills. Remember to press the green checkmark after you enter your money and leave the card in place until the money has been deposited to the card. There is a little white card reader on a pole at the front of most stations which will let you check your balance. See my photos. less
Andrei K, Manager at Best Western Mirador, responded to this review
Thank you very much for your thorough and insightful review!
We are indeed one of the hotels with the largest rooms in the city and offer the closest parking to your room. We also try to let customers know that we are the closest hotel to downtown without the hassle of actually being downtown. We are a family hotel and are encouraged to read good reviews from families staying here from abroad. Our indoor heated pool is perfect for families wanting to have a relaxing weekend with their loved ones.
Best Western Mirador is in fact very close to all the major tourist sites and especially now that we hace the Vivebus system with one major stop in front of the hotel.
Thank you very much for your review and hope to serve you and your family again!