Casa Santiago is a wonderful place to anchor a stay in Mérida. We stayed 5 nights and found it hard to leave. Raphael is a gracious host. We felt we met the innkeeper on arrival and bid adios to a friend when we left. Like many places in Mexico you arrive at a street address with only the house number plaque, a window and door to greet you. What lies behind the doors is always a mystery. When the door of Casa Santiago opens you are treated to a long set of bright rooms of seating and a dinning room. There is a spacious courtyard with chairs and tables shaded by a large mango tree along one side. Out the back of the house is another terrace with seating and an inviting pool.

Each morning we enjoyed a breakfast of fresh local fruits in a nice presentation, excellent coffee from Chiapas and fresh breads and muffins baked by Raphael each evening. Typical of Mexican B&Bs guests aren’t your usual “hotel tourists”. Our first night we met a Swiss couple, later a Mexican/Canadian and a woman from Guanajuato, a woman from Ecuador and a Cuban couple, all very interesting people.

Casa Santiago is a small B&B (3 rooms), all with private baths and of generous size and several bed arrangements. It is an easy walk to Centro, the many Mérida parks, theater and restaurants. All of Raphael’s restaurant recommendations were excellent. Mérida is also a great base for exploring Yucatán’s many other treasures such as Celestun and Mayan sites especially Uxmal. Raphael was also helpful with additional reservations when we left, all of them turned out to be exceptional.

I’m sure you can find more luxurious accommodations in Mérida. We came here because we made last minute reservations at a busy time of the year. Casa Santiago had room and we stayed. No question that it is a value for the rate but we will stay here the next time, not because of rates but for the charm and ambience.