Aguascalientes Resorts

Aguascalientes (population roughly 1,000,000) was founded in 1575 and is a city in the State of Aguascalientes, which is located in west central Mexico. Known for its hot springs (aguascalientes means "hot waters") and originally a mail stop on the route between Zacatecas and Mexico City, today this fast-growing, bustling city mixes tradition and history with modern amenities. Lovely sunsets, azure skies, comfortable weather and very good infrastructure make Aguascalientes an excellent destination for business travelers and vacationers alike. Aguascalientes resorts and hotels come in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps one of the best Aguascalientes resorts is the exquisite Quinta Real Resort, a 6-star, European-style property that may elicit a soft "Wow." Ornate, elegant and lavish, the Quinta Real (168 rooms) will impress even the most experienced world travelers. Built in 1990, this sumptuous Aquascalientes hotel employs traditional Mexican architecture and has the seductive feel of a hacienda. Guests are welcomed with a tasty piece of fruit or a refreshing glass of wine and may enjoy a coffee in the reception area, decorated with Indian columns from the 13th-century, before unpacking. Really, if there is an Aguascalientes hotel at which to stay, this is it.

If the Quinta Real Resort is booked, another excellent Aguascalientes resort is the Fiesta Americana, a beautiful, 5-star property sure to enhance any Aguascalientes vacation. Accommodations (212 rooms) here are luxurious, and the hotel is located downtown, close to many city amenities. Lush gardens, modern rooms and a first-class staff add to this Aguascalientes hotel's considerable appeal.

Another fine Aguascalientes resort is the lovely, 5-star De Andrea Alameda, a small (48 rooms), European-style hotel with the character and style of a 19th-century French villa. Lavish furnishings, ten ballrooms and a well-regarded restaurant reflect the history of this Aguascalientes resort, which throughout the years has been a private home, a military command headquarters and finally today an elegant boutique hotel.

The Fiesta Inn is a modern Aguascalientes hotel with 86 simple but tasteful rooms. A colorful entrance, a full-service restaurant and a short walk to the Villa Asuncion shopping center make this a comfortable and welcoming choice when on a budget-conscious Aguascalientes vacation.

The best time for an Aguascalientes vacation may be during the 175-year-old San Marco Fair (Feria Nacional de San Marcos), the largest festival in Mexico. Usually held during the first part of April and last part of May each year, this month-long event draws seven million people and packs Aguascalientes resorts and hotels with revelers from across Mexico.

No Aguascalientes vacation is complete without a visit to the San Marcos Garden, the Villa Charra, the historic downtown, the Aguascalientes Theater, the La Plaza de las Tres Centurias and the Cathedral of the Ascension. And as tourists enjoy the history and Colonial architecture found throughout Aguascalientes, many do not know that they are strolling across a fascinating and intricate labyrinth of centuries-old underground tombs. Aguascalientes is also home to some of Mexico's most beautiful cemeteries.