I had high hopes for Marques del Valle. It's quite an old hotel, and definitely looks charming. Like everything in Oaxaca, during Dia de los Muertos, prices are really elevated. The star system is also a bit off, as the hotel may have been worth it's higher star rating in it's heyday, but those days have passed.
Off season rates are most likely a little more commensurate to quality. The rooms are definitely in need of an update and the beds, true to what I'd read on Trip Advisor, are rock hard. That said, the rooms were clean and perfunctory and the bathroom was nice and large. Location, also, can't be beat. It's right on the Zocalo and a stone's throw away from everything else in the centro. The concierge at the desk was also quite helpful when I was struggling with my Spanish. If you're looking for a super no-frills hotel in which to rest your weary bones after a long day/night of exploring Oaxaca, the hotel is perfectly perfunctory. read more