My wife and I have spent a few months (Sept. - Nov.) at Raul & Mariluz's Casa Blanca in the Mexico Oriente neighborhood (one block north of charming Itzimna) of Merida, and cannot speak highly enough of the apartment and its hosts. We found the apartment on VRBO after an extended search for a longer-term housing option as my wife is in Merida doing some short-term work with SEP in the Yucatan. The apartment is located on a quiet street, right next door to a great local restaurant (La Terracita Azul) and a small fruit/vegetable stand. We do not have a car (if you do, however, there is convenient parking located right in front of the building), which has not been a problem at all as there are two bus stops within a block of the apartment. We frequently go into centro for meals, drinks, or cultural events, and it is a brief, 10-minute bus ride directly downtown. We also walk sometimes, and it's a nice 30-45 minute walk through quiet neighborhoods to centro. It is also located a short walk from Itzimna, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Merida, where we frequent an excellent French patisserie, an independent movie theater/cafe with character (Cairo Cinema Cafe), and another cafe with regional coffee beans and small dishes (Cafe Latte). The apartment itself is new and spotless, with air conditioning, tile floors, and a kitchen with a stovetop, microwave, coffee machine, and dishes and cutlery - we cook often and have found the kitchen perfect for our needs. The apartment is cleaned and the linens changed once every week, so the room always feels fresh. The bedroom has an enormous picture window that slides open, the shower always has hot water, and the patio is a great place to have a meal in the evening. As for the hosts, Raul and Mariluz have gone above and beyond in welcoming us and making us feel at home in their apartments. They are responsive, attentive, and stop by every so often to see how we are doing, offer travel recommendations, and ensure our stay is going smoothly. They have invited us over for dinner and been a consistently hospitable presence during our time in Merida - the type of selfless, generous, and kind people that make traveling so meaningful. It's difficult to find a place like this for this price - we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and give Raul and Mariluz's apartment 5 stars.