My husband, teenage daughter and I stayed here for three nights in late March. Although our overall experience was positive, our view is somewhat more temperate than many others expressed here.

We stayed in “Lilia”, one of the family rooms. We were initially dismayed when we entered the room because it had been closed up for some time and had a dank, suffocating odor. Fortunately, after a day of airing and air conditioning, the smell cleared. Then, we were very comfortable, as the room had good beds, a spacious feel, and was quite private. At breakfast, we found the offerings to be adequate, not special, and the atmosphere created by Iona and her animals sometimes too intense. However, Iona was generally helpful and addressed whatever issues or questions arose; JR was very nice and very helpful, too. The grounds are very attractive and lush, with an inviting pool. Note that the tall smokestack next to the entrance, a legacy of hemp manufacturing many years ago, serves as an excellent landmark for identifying the Hacienda from the road.

There are pros and cons to the location; for us, the location turned out to be more con than pro. We had chosen to stay on the outskirts rather than in Merida because we had a rental car and mainly planned excursions to sites outside the city. However, at night, after showering off the sweat and grime of the day’s excursion, we were ready for a nice dinner and a stroll, desires that could best be satisfied by going into the city. We went into Merida every night, but the significant extra time and effort involved when we were hungry and/or tired made us all sorry that we were staying so far away. (N.B., “La Susana”, the recommended restaurant in the neighboring town, does not have good options for a vegetarian like my daughter.) Of course, there were some pros to staying outside of the city: it was indeed very easy to deal with the car, quiet, and a pleasure to wake up to the sound of birds. But we learned that, for our family’s travel style, staying at a B&B in Merida would have been better.

My wife and I stayed at the Hacienda in February 2008 for six nights. It was truly wonderful place run by two wonderful people, Iona and JR. We based our decision on the reviews here and were not disappointed. If you want the CannedCun fake Mexico experience, this place is not for you. If you want a relaxing time and a great base to explore Mayan ruins, colonial towns and small Mexican villages, the Gulf Coast, and the amazing city of Merida, this is the place to stay. The temps are cooler than in the city. Fresh breakfast every morning with freshly squeezed juice and a local dish called huevos con chaya. The staff is very helpful but never hanging around and hovering. Some afternoons we were the only ones by the pool and felt like we'd rented the whole hacienda as we had the place to ourselves. And be sure to take a motorcycle taxi to Susana's in the nearby village Kanasin. Again, I can't say enough about the hosts, they were the best.

We stayed at the Hacienda in April 2007, based on the other reviews from this site. This was the last part of our trip, and we were coming from the extremely touristy coast, therefore this hacienda was a great way to immerse yourself in a much more authentic Mexican city at the same time holding on to the comforts of the coast.

The Hacienda itself is absolutely gorgeous, and has a very welcoming staff that will make you feel very relaxed and at home.

The owner was very knowledgeable about things to do, especially things off the beaten track. She also can point you to local restaurants that you can guarantee will not be in the guide book.

There are two pools, air conditioned rooms, and (this was the best part) there is Goldy the resident dog, 2 peacocks, and parrots that will eat breakfast with you if you wish. There is a rich history to the Hacienda, and a couple of photo albums the owner can show you as well.

This Hacienda is hidden, and on a street that actually made us a little wary of what the place would be like, as its just homes, and some run down looking buildings. However, you pull into the parking lot and you realize you made the right choice! It is a great place to see part of Mexico that other hotels hide you from.

Finally, the breakfast in the AM was great. There was good coffee, fresh fruit, and some great choices to pick from. Overall, a unique and hidden getaway!

My husband and I stayed with Iona and JR at their hacienda for three nights this month and it was wonderful. If you're looking for a sterile, brand-name experience, this isn't the right place for you (but then neither is most of Mexico outside of the Cancun resorts). Their hacienda is full of charm, clean, beautiful and very relaxing. The pools are clean and the home-made breakfast (fresh fruit and squeezed orange juice, coffee and eggs scrambled with this local spinach-like vegetable with tortillas) was delicious. Iona and her staff were particularly helpful with our rental car problems (they called the Alamo office directly and negotiated for a new car and a discount off of our bill). She also provided great restaurant and day-trip advice. Go to the cenotes at Cuzama!
I highly recommend staying here; it was one of the best "hotel" experiences we've ever had in any country we've visited.