Reading a well-known Autralian guide about Mexico, coming from a visit to the U.S., I was planning to stay only one night in Chihuahua and its only hostel. This was my first time in Mexico, and I was not sure about what I could expect, between great food and sulfurous reputation. I actually found Chihuahua to be a great buffer. My stomach got used to the local food, I still found all the amenities I was expecting, and I found that the local people were amazingly friendly and proud of their land. They were curious about you but would never approach you unless you do the first step. Well, four days later, I am still here, as I needed to organize my trip through Mexico. I am leaving Chihuahua now, but I built enough self-confidence and safety to continue my journey to the rest of the country.
I'm writing now from Chihuahua, from its music festival, with venues of Foreigner and Toto. Quite a Mexican city, not something the average tourist wants, but definitely worth it for someone who came to meet the true Mexico and Mexicans. Men wear cowboy clothes and colourful boots -- Indians are everywhere. I would suggest the Pancho Villa museum -- Pancho Villa had twenty-five official spouses, quite funny coming from a very Catholic country. I actually liked this place, and always felt safe everywhere I would go. Of course, women should not enter these men bars called "cantina." These are no pubs, but it's also part of the real Mexico.
Hostel Casa Chihuahua in Chihuahua … Extremely clean, spotless toilets and showers. Very friendly and familiar atmosphere. A great thanks for all the useful information on the city of Chihuahua, the Copper Canyon region, and the entire country! I have rarely met staff who provides reliable information and local tips -- many places unknown to the average visitor.
Hostel Casa Chihuahua in Chihuahua … This is an excelent hostel. It was my first time that I stay in a hostel and I was very pleased. It's in excellent condition. Very comfortable, super clean, and the atmosphere its just great -- very friendly.
Hostel Casa Chihuahua in Chihuahua … This is a wonderful hostel, one of my top five in the around-the-world trip I am completing. There are hostels for fiestas, hostels for hippies, or hostels feeling like home. Casa Chihuahua belongs to the last one, a great value when one comes back from the Copper Canyon or arrive with the seventeen hours train. Super clean, super hot water, super safe, really comfortable, amazing staff, right opposite the train station. Just like home. Sometimes this is what you need really after a few days in so-so hostels. 2 or 3 dollars more expensive then the cheapest hostels in Mexico, but as soon as you enter that place, you understand why. Worth every cent. I would come back here just anytime.
Casa Margarita's in Creel … The place itself is nice enough; the food is excellent; and the price is a great deal for getting breakfast, dinner, and a dorm bed for 100 pesos. I checked in alongside two lads I met on the train, they showed us upstairs to the dorm which has two double beds as well as two bunks. Only two beds were spare, they expected two of us to share one one of them! The guys were gents though and one volunteered to crash on the floor -- at a 20 peso discount! After three days they asked me to move to a single bed in case a couple came of the train they could sell the double to. this would have been fine except none of the sheets had been changed on the other beds, simply pulled straight, so I returned back to my (also unchanged) bed. Even odder is that two members of staff kept coming in to use the bathroom, one even crept in to sleep in there in the middle of the night -- sneaking out again in the morning!
Casa Margarita's in Creel … Casa Margarita's is one of several other hotels (of higher price range) in the Copper Canyon region run by the same owner. When we were there, it really seemed like the place where all tourists stayed. Eventually we realised that it is because they sometimes have a bus waiting to pick up tourists…
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