La Joya Merida Historical Center in Merida

Hidden Paradise

Sheila (New York City)
Review submitted: August 15, 2012   Date of arrival: January 7, 2012

La Joya is truly a hidden gem, from the outside it looked plain, but when I opened the door it was paradise. I loved this home and have inquired a few more times since my visit, but it was unavailable at those times - understandably, it is precious. I was greeted by Omar upon arrival with a walk through of the house and he explained the appliances, air conditioning, wireless internet, pool and everything else. He gave me his personal phone number and showed me how to use the phone to make local calls - which was great. The house is HUGE, it must be 5,000 square feet. The first room near the street has a queen bed(usually loud in other colonial homes in Merida)but was quiet because Calle 66 is not a very busy street. The Merida English Library is right around the corner, centro a few blocks. Two bedrooms are Huge with gorgeous minimalist-designed private bathrooms and queen sized beds. Yet another bedroom is smaller with a bathroom right outside it's door - queen or double bed, can't remember. The living room is a delight and the entire home is a thoughtful combination of minimalist chic and refurbished colonial architecture (ie flat screen tv, grey plush sofa, fine wooden dining furniture, stainless refrigerator...so nice, the living area gives a "loft-like" feeling, w/an open layout which includes the living room, dining and kitchen. The bathroom in the 3rd huge bedroom at the rear of the house has a door that opens to the patio/pool. Outside of the kitchen is a comfortable seating area with chair with comfy cushions. The pool was delightful. In January, it was not that hot, but a couple of days were hot enough to welcome the pool, which was not heated and did not need to be heated. Another wonderful aspect of this home is the palapa roofed area next to the pool, with hammocks and seating area, dining table...My group consisted of myself and 3 others, including creative writing professors I had invited to Merida for an event. EVERYONE loved this house and there was more than ample room for a lot of privacy. All in all, my experience was wonderful and I look forward to coming back again to casa La Joya. We never had a problem in 10 days. The washing machine is up a flight of stairs outside the backdoor and that made life easier as well. The home owners have a modest artistic flair that at once functional, beautiful and warm. Thanks so much, Omar, sorry I didn't write my review sooner and sorry La Joya won't be available next January when I am in Merida!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Do not rent it!

Isela A. (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Review submitted: August 10, 2012   Date of arrival: June 25, 2012

The house is nice, spacious and confortable, as seen in the pictures,it's closed to main attractions, but we had not a good experience with the management of this house, the swimming pool was for most of the time dirty, by management's orders they did not clean it and put the appropiriate treatment to it so half of our staying the water was green, I do have pictures of it and the person in charge of the swimming pool maintenance told us about it.
At the end of our stay, the administrator informed us that we have to pay a ridiculous amount of electricity because of the electricity of this house was connected to the next door house (so basically you have to pay the electricity for both houses) I am a mexican citizen and I know the cost of electricity, it was absolutally ridicoulus. We confront him about it and then he wanted to charge us for a stain on the kitchen's floor that was already there. Do not rent this property unless they change the management. It's such a pitty that the owner do not know about this, the house is nice but these type of incidents makes it not worth staying.

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