DoubleTree Guadalajara Review

Every once in a while us award travelers may find a destination that many may not think of or talk about frequently. Whether it's the location, or even an amazing hotel view, something about it intrigues and captures you. I think I found that on a recent trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. Guadalajara is in western Mexico, the capital of the state of Jalisco. This visit brought me to the DoubleTree by Hilton. I was pleasantly surprised with my stay, and in this DoubleTree Guadalajara review, I share all that this hotel has to offer without breaking the bank.

Location

Located in the Centro area or Zona Centro, the DoubleTree puts you right on the middle of downtown Guadalajara. It's about a 25-40 minute Uber ride depending on traffic. The cost of my ride was about $15 US from the airport and took 40 minutes, while the return trip took 30 minutes and was about the same price. The property is just steps away from the historic Guadalajara Cathedral, museums, and markets. This also gives you access to the nearby transit system as it is just steps from the Plaza Universidad stop.

This was a quick trip for me and I found it the city very easy to navigate and walk with some nearby restaurants and bars. I made it a priority of mine to visit one of the local markets, Mercado San Juan de Dios, which are huge indoor shopping areas.

DoubleTree Guadalajara: Typical Booking Cost

Hilton has dynamic pricing, meaning prices can vary and points are typically valued about 0.5 cents per point. For this booking, points prices were hovering around 22,000 points for a standard room or about $110 in value. However, they had cash rates lower than that and I was able book a room for just $80 plus taxes and fees, which was the better deal for me. Additionally, I hold Hilton Diamond status by having the American Express Hilton Aspire card, which can lead to some great benefits.

Keep in mind you can also stack hotel bookings through certain portals like Rakuten to earn points or cash back. Finally, don't forget to sign up when hotels have promotions throughout the year that can earn you extra points. These can be found on their promotions page and on our blog.

Check-in

Hilton often emails elite members ahead of a stay offering the ability to purchase an upgrade. Having done my research on this property ahead of time, I knew I wanted an upgrade but was holding out for one with my status based on rooms still being available. Hilton's offer was $70 per night for a Terrace room, which was a hard pass for me, especially at a non-peak travel time for many. Regardless of hotel, I often check available rooms via standard rates prior to arrival.

Sticking to my guns paid off. I received a complimentary upgrade upon check-in, but then I asked specifically for a cathedral view room. Many of these rooms also have a terrace as well, making the view the winning component of this room. The only downside would be that many of these rooms seem to have queen beds. There is a king bed suite with a terrace as well but was not available.

DoubleTree Guadalajara Review: My Room

With my upgrade secured to a Queen Bed Guestroom with Terrace, I quickly made my way to the fifth floor to see my room and view. The rooms are nothing special in terms of space or décor or amenities.

Like many of my Hilton stays in Latin America, you will find the room small at just 200 square feet. However, the terrace is almost as large as the room at 165 square feet.

The room had all the basic necessities you would expect or need: a small refrigerator, a TV, coffee station, an area to hang clothes, a safe, and a small work area.

I quickly noticed the large-sized terrace when first opening the front door to the room, which made me want to go outside first. The views from the terrace are nothing but stunning, historic, and really something to enjoy. When in the room, I found myself spending the bulk of my time on the terrace, whether working or just taking in the views while enjoying a cold beverage.

Property/Amenities Review

It really is all about location with this property. However, this hotel does offer a restaurant–Piso Siete–with stunning rooftop views and a great local menu. It also features a quirky entrance with local artwork. This location also gives you the spectacular views that some of the rooms give you. The restaurant also has a lounge with a bar, which I usually prefer

The restaurant and bar has a variety of seating with different views.

I was able to enjoy a beverage and small entrée one evening. The service was a bit lacking here, but the drinks and food tasted great. I typically charge everything to my room so it goes on my American Express Hilton Aspire card for some additional Hilton points. They were having an error getting the charge to my room so I used my Chase Sapphire Preferred for 3x on dining.

Breakfast is also served at this restaurant, meaning you can double up on those stunning views while you start your day. The breakfast was complementary for me as a diamond member.

I found the breakfast and service to be fantastic with plenty of options. It compares to many higher end hotel buffets on an international level and much better than most domestic hotels. This makes for a great way to start the day. If available, you can sit outside so bring those sunglasses with you.

While the property has no pool or hot tub, it does have a gym. They required an appointment scheduled to use it, which seemed odd these days, so I did not go in. The hotel website did show one picture of the gym and appeared to be your standard hotel gym.

Doubletree Guadalajara Review: ToP Thoughts

The DoubleTree by Hilton Guadalajara gives you a great central location in the heart of Guadalajara to explore. While lacking in amenities, the views and location make up for it, making this a great stay regardless of your trip. I was not expecting a lot for $80 per night, but we this goes to show that we can often find great value hotels, whether cash or point wise. The DoubleTree by Hilton Guadalajara met my expectations and more.

Have you been to Guadalajara or stayed here? Come over to our Facebook group and let us know.