mexico city's 5-star hotel alternative

Guest Blogger: The Restless Voyager

Honeymooners planning a stop in Mexico City after getting married in San Miguel de Allende and not wanting to check into an impersonal "Big Box" hotel,need look no further for the perfect "honeymoon haven," thanks to the recent addition of the chic "Flat & Breakfast" to the roster of 5-Star accommodations.

Conveniently located just one block from MexicoCity's iconic Angel de la Independencia (aka "The Angel") and two blocks from well known Paseo de la Reforma, location of many of the city's finest museums, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and myriad tourist attractions - including the legendary Chapultepec Park and Castle the "flat" offers the perfect launch pad for visiting the ancient Aztec capital.



Trendy Polanco - home to designer boutiques, popular eateries, 5-star hotels and modern shopping centers - is nearby. A short taxi-ride away is the Historic Center and the Zocaló - legendary "Halls of Moctezuma" and hub of the ancient Aztec Empire - as well as Bellas Artes Palace and Alameda Park.

The "flat" is completely furnished, offering privacy and a truly "at home feeling," with two bedrooms, two-and-half baths (designer amenities included) and a living and dining room. The "flat" is close to the US Embassy and tucked into a small secure building whose ground floor is home to the renowned Curryer Chocolates, which has been crafting the finest confections in Mexico City since 1919. Guests of F&B receive a 50 percent discount at Curryer's on a variety of gourmet coffees.



The apartment suite offers a king-size Master bedroom with desk, walk in closet and private bath and deep Jacuzzi. Should you be traveling with a couple of post-wedding guests, the second bedroom has two oversized twin beds, full bath, walk-in closet and in-room safe.



The tastefully appointed living area offers plush leather sofa and love-seat, large LCD flat screen TV, DVD and large dining area. A fully equipped kitchen includes granite counters, microwave, dishwasher and wet bar. The flat also has a washer and dryer, high speed Wi-Fi, free long distance telephone to the US and Mexico and SKY HD satellite international TV service.



Parking is available for one vehicle and a doorman is onsite from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Housekeeping service includes replacement of towels and sheets as needed and Continental breakfast. Also available for a nominal fee: laundry and ironing services, grocery shopping, dry cleaning and arrangement of transportation services.



Drawing on the Mexican adage: "Mi casa es su casa," (My home is your home), F&B is perfect for up to four guests for short - or extended stays.

For more information: email: travel twin@aol.com or call: (860) 632-1911.

A few of our favorites...

Always on the hunt for hidden gems, the team at Runaway Bride has searched high and low to uncover and discover some of the most charming, boutique havens in the world. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites...

While all these hotels have enviable locations, what really sets them apart is that each makes you feel like you are the only person in the world who knows it's there.



Overlooking the bay of Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast, Le Sirenuse, is the former summer home of the Sersale family. Still family run, the 58 room property features whitewashed walls and vaulted ceilings. The glazed floor tiles and shuttered French doors and private terraces furnish guest rooms with the comforts of a luxury hotel, while maintaining the atmosphere of a private home. Runaway Bride favorite: the champagne and oyster bar!



The next hotel on our list takes us to colonial central Mexico. The Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is fashioned after a classic Mexican hacienda. The luxurious furnishings of its 67 guest rooms include regionally sourced hardwood floors, leather desk blotters, museum quality wool rugs and special touches such as candle drawn bubble baths with turndown service. Runaway Bride favorite: the views from the rooftop Luna tapas bar at sunset!



Sunrise is just a little bit nicer at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. Surrounded by palm trees and thatched roof dwellings, this Polynesian village resort has been deemed by many "the most beautiful place on earth". Overwater bungalows allow guests to star gaze or spy on schools of fish below. Runaway Bride favorite: passion fruit mojitos at the pool bar!



Qualia, meaning "a collection of deeper sensory experiences" in Latin, is situated on the secluded northern-most tip of Hamilton Island surrounded by the mesmerizing Great Barrier Reef. Hillside pavilions dot over 30 acres of tropical land overlooking the Coral Sea and incorporate Aussie style using local hardwoods and quarried stone. For a real treat, book one of their sundeck pavilions with a private pool. Runaway Bride favorite: the Tasmanian salmon with whiting and enoki!



Couples can channel their inner "Will & Kate" at this sixteenth-century fortified castle in the Irish countryside. The limestone exterior towers Dromoland Castle give way to interiors with Waterford-crystal chandeliers, damask wall coverings, and tasseled drapes. Guest rooms feature Empire and Louis XV furnishings and eighteenth-century botanical drawings. Runaway Bride favorite: picnicking on the grounds with special baskets prepared by the chef!