My favorite place to stay in San Miguel

Guest: None (Morelia, Mexico)
Date of Stay: 09/21/11 Review Submitted: 09/25/11

An unexpected historical gem with a more than delightful and informative hostess. The more than several times I have stayed in both apartments I have never been disappointed. Taxi service is directly across the street as well as one of the towns many inter-city Bus Stops, there is no inter-city Bus Station. There are no restaurants just outside or beneath Alice's Palace, but you can find a multitude of them within an easy walk. If you have a hunger for a particular type of food, Alice can direct you to some of the best eateries in town. Shopping for something special to take home--ask Alice where it can be found--nearly everything is a short, easy walk from one of her lovely apartments. If there is a parade in town, and there often is, you do not need to join the crush of people lining the sidewalks; the rooftop terraces with a multitude of plants provide a wonderful unobstructed view and offers you the opportunity to snap some of the best photos in town. Having lived and traveled all over the world I love to "people watch" and the town has an abundance of people to watch. You can always watch television from the comfort of your own home, but how often can you see a live parade, step out from your front door and purchase fresh flowers, see parents carrying their children rather than pushing them in a stroller, walk a few doors from your abode and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, walk two blocks and purchase decorative Mexican items for your home, find a sidewalk cafe in which to have lunch or sit on your rooftop and enjoy a peaceful afternoon while you forget about CNN? Alice's Palace offers a traveler not just two wonderfully appointed apartments, the best rooftop view in town, but so very much more than you ever expected. Will I stay there the next time I am in San Miguel--YOU BET!! . J. H. C. Romero .

Owner response:To JHC Romero. Being a famous writer, I especially thank you for the nice review. I know that a lot of your time here was spent in writing your most recent historical novel,Holy Betrayal.Hopefully you will return while writing the sequal. You are a facinating insightful person. It is a pleasure to know you.All best wishes. Alice

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Do not rent the studio

Guest: LOLASMOM (Tucson, AZ)
Date of Stay: 08/21/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

Pictures can be deceiving We rented the studio. There is little positive that I can say about our experience. Alice is a very polite and nice landlady. However the description of the place is somewhat embellished designed to sell you the pace. It worked with us! We did unfortunately stay there for a week. True that it is near every thing. What it leaves out is that the studio is directly across from the BUS station where the buses park and the fumes of fuel penetrate the room and the young men scream (I mean that SCREAM) the itinerary of the next bus. It goes on all day long. The studio is so small that it can provide for only one chair under the tiny desk. One can watch TV only from lying down on the bed. No table to eat, because the place is so small. There is a tiny fan for air circulation, but it is so small that one can hardly notice that it is on, so you have to keep the tiny window opened. The other terrible thing about the place is the continuous music from the stores below which starts promptly at 8 AM, and never stops till the night. One additional thing that made us ill daily is the smell from deep fried food from the restaurants below. The private terrace mentioned in the brochure, is in front of the outdoor space for the penthouse apartment, thus providing neither tenant any privacy if they are occupied at the same time you are there (as it was in our stay). Also the studio terrace has no cover, and during the sunny days or afternoon you have no cover from either the sun or the rain. plus the lack of privacy, rendered itself useless to us. We left a week early, but paid everything in full in advance. Alice did not refund any portion of the payment for the second week, though we informed her on the 3rd day of our stay that we needed to leave. The decent thing to have done would have been to give back at least something. So if you want to sleep in the centro, surrounded by incredible noise and horrible smells, the studio will supply that for you in abundance. Be aware of photos, as they do tell only part of the story.

Owner response:Sandra and Harry, First I must tell you that I am not a hotel where people come and go every day. Reservations and deposits are made in advance. Your space and time requested is secured from others behind you once you have made the deposit and checked in . If you decide to leave before your reserved date is complete, it is your loss. AS I recall, Harry had a job offer he wanted to report to immediately choosing to leave early.I have no way of getting people off the street for the night.You chose to forfit your second week at Alice's Palace. Please remember that this is the national holiday season which is the loudest week of the year. Also, if you check my web sight on line, it clearly shows a photo of the terrace with a table and umbrella over looking the historical churches of San Miguel.It also mentions there is a bus stop across the street for your convenience I have in no way tried to deceive you . In 12 years of renting at Alice's Palace, yours is the first complaint I have received. I deeply regret that it was a negative experience for you.

Recommended for:

Stayed several times in both Apartments! and will go back again and again!

Guest: Aprilfool (Toronot, Canada )
Date of Stay: 07/20/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

We are "Citizens of the world" and experienced Travellers, Austrian, Canadian and Mexican, uniting old world as well as modern tastes. PASSIONATE about SMA and all it has to offer. Colonial Atmosphere, Culture, great Restaurants etc....We are regular vistors of this town and have stayed several times with Alice, a fantastic, very interesting beautiful woman and warm human being. She is the perfect Hostess sharing this wonderful home. It is VERY private and tastefully decorated. The views of the Terrasses are really spectacular at any time of the day! The closeness to all important locations is great. Mostly flat walking, no steep uphill climbing to get home! Some steps inside are worth climbing to YOUR PALACE! We can highly recommend this outstanding Home away from home in the real sense! Thank you Alice for making our styes each time UNFORGETTABLE! We are coming again soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway.

Arthur

Guest: Arthur (St. Louis, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 05/11/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

If there is a property with a better view in SMA, I do not know what it would be. The view from Alice's Palace at night is stunning. You see not only the Parroquia -- and close-up, not from a distance -- but also all the most significant buildings in town. Also, the price is reasonable, and Alice is a wonderful hostess who seems to know everyone in town. I am delighted to recommend Alice's Palace.

Owner response:Thank you Arthur. It was a pleasure meeting you and Gayla for the first time. Here is hoping for future returns to Alices Palace. Alice

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

San Miguel's Jewel

Guest: Jack (Roches Point, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 03/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

Alice's Palace is a real gem well located in the Pueblo Viejo of San Miguel de Allende. All the sights and sounds of this vibrant UNESCO Heritage town are easily available--concerts, galleries, historic churches, wonderful shops, markets and restaurants--within an easy walk of 20 Mesones. But the best of all is the magic of the "palace" done in superb taste by Alice with furniture and items from her world travels --and Alice herself is a wonderful owner, gracious, warm and welcoming. We stayed in the fully equipped penthouse with two rooftop patios overlooking the town. A "must stay".

Owner response:What lovely people I meet along the way when renting my pent house.Thank you, Jack. I hope to see you next year. Alice

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car.

A Beautiful Stay

Guest: Barbara (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

The simple door to 20 Mesones belies the magic that lies beyond. Through it one enters a calm, cool, tastefully appointed Mexican house owned and run by a charming, extremely helpful hostess. The Palace, a private apartment on the third floor, is spacious and beautiful with patios and incredible views in all directions. While located in the heart of everything, at night the only sounds are church bells. A truly wonderful place to stay. I have recommended it unreservedly to all my traveling friends.

Owner response:And then there was Barbara and husband Jack..... I must say that I am looking forward to meeting you again either in Canada or San Miguel. How rewarding it is to bond with your "new best friends". That is really not my intention but happens sometimes anyway. Lucky me.Alice

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car.

Tranquility in El Centro

Guest: Dan (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 09/18/10

Like most of the old homes in San Miguel de Allende, from the street you would never guess that such a palace would await you inside. But that's what Alice's Palace turned out to be. I had originally booked the studio, which would have sufficed for my 11 day visit, but I opted to upgrade to the 1 bedroom apartment. What a joy it turned out to be! The spacious living room and study were beautiful, as was the outdoor living room, which I wound up using more than anything else. Every window greets you with a fantastic view and the melodious peal of a church bell. I cooked most of my meals in the well stocked kitchen, as the Ignacio Ramirez market is just up the street. There was a panederia next door, as well as a grocery store, an Internet cafe, farmacia...anything you could possibly want. I also made use of the gym a block over. El Jardin is just minutes away, and Benito Juarez Park just a few more minutes in the opposite direction. As for location and convenience, Alice's Palace is just about as perfect as you can get. But that's not why I go back to San Miguel. I go because Mexico has a special place in my heart, and San Miguel epitomizes what I love about it; great historic beauty, charm, culture, but most of all, the honesty and openness of it's people. Mexicans seem to be preoccupied with living life, with all the celebrations, rituals and pageantry that go along with it. It seems that there is just no time for getting bogged down in all the negativity that we seem to have in such abundance here in the States. In my conversations with Alice, I can tell that she, too shares my love of Mexico, and has opened her home to others who would like to experience that special relationship with one of the worlds truly great cultures. Either for those who know and love it, or for those who are just discovering it, I would recommend Alice's Palace as the home base for your San Miguel de Allende odyssey.

Owner response:Hello Dan, Thanks so very much for your lovely review of your stay in Alices Palace in San Miguel de Allende. I hate that I had to be gone part of the time you were staying here. Please come back sometime and i will try to make it up to you. happy travels, Alice

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car.