I was hesitant to book this hotel because even though it is within the Monterrey top ten rated hotels in Trip Advisor, it was based only in 2 reviews. During my first night in this property I realized I should have stayed somewhere else, so I decided to be the third person to post a review about it and express my concerns in regards to the service they provide and the way they run this hotel.

I also want to be as fair as I can, so let me start by saying the hotel facilities are very nice and well maintained. The property looks great from outside. The lobby is also very nice, and the rooms are good size (2 double beds), clean, and with a nice view.

However, the facilities are not everything, so now allow me to mention a few things I did not like before and during my stay.

Booking
The hotel has a nice website which provides a good overview, and there is also a section for online reservations. I was looking for 2 rooms to accomodate 6 adults and 2 children for a family weekend in Monterrey. Safi Valle seemed to be a good option, so I made my 2 rooms reservation online, but I have to tell you it does not seem to be safe. After I completed the reservation and received the confirmation number, I noticed this had no sign of being a secure website (no https or secure site logo in the website address). This means your personal information is not protected. I recognize that part of this was my fault, since I did not verify this hotel had a secure online reservation form before entering my information, but I am so used to book online in secure sites of other hotel chains, that I just assumed this one would be the same. So if you decide to try Safi Valle in Monterrey, do not make your reservation online.

Check In
This process was going fast and smooth, until the front desk person asked me for something no other hotel asked me before: besides my signature in the registration form for each of the 2 rooms, she needed the signature of each adult staying in each room, so they verify their signature in case additional services are requested. So here I go hauling everyone in my party to the front desk so they put their signature in this small form.

Lobby Bar
After some time in my room I decided to go have a drink in the lobby bar, and my mother and my 7 year old nephew offered to accompany me. When we got to the table a waiter approached us and said he was sorry, but children are not allowed in that area. Again, something that never happened to me before. I have stayed in many hotels with lobby bar, and none of them had restrictions for children. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Leave them in the room? What damage can do a 7 year old kid? To me, this sounds as discrimination. If this hotel does not like children, why don't just post it in the website or in the front desk?

I am still in my first night at the hotel while I am typing this review, and as soon as I finish it I am going to start looking for another place to spend my second night.

One thing I am sure: I am through with Safi hotels.

we felt like superstars in this fancy 5 star hotel for only 100 bucks. it was right across the street from a nice mall and a starbucks. it cost about three dollars and five minutes for a taxi ride downtown. this is the nicest part of town. the only headache was using the phones in the room.

So I've been to Monterrey before, staying at the typical chains in the city. By chance, due to room (un)availability, I ended up booking rooms at the Safi Valle, thanks to a recommendation from a local businessman. Only a year old in October 2006, the hotel boasts an impressive lobby, excellent food available 'round the clock, and and a very good staff at a much lower cost than those other hotels. Not the downtown Hotel Safi, there is no problem getting anywhere in the city from it and it is right beside the largest shopping mall in Monterrey (should you care).

Our late arrival was no problem as there were at least four people behind the desk to assist us at 10:30pm in the impressive lobby. Bags were delivered to the rooms promptly post check-in. The rooms were ample - mine was the smallest of our group and it was bigger than any other "superior" room I've had in Monterrey - though not particularly ornate (N.B.: we all ended up w/rooms with jacuzzis, an upgrade from the regular fare). There was plenty of room to stretch out without banging your elbows on the other furniture. (The ironing board behind the mirror was a nice touch.)

Service was excellent: besides a well-staffed front desk and kitchen, I had arranged for a car to take us around the city the next day. No problem - a note at check-in assured me that our driver would be there. The only oddity was that the hotel actually gave me cash, which was charged to my room, to pay for the car - next time it would be better to work out billing such that I didn't walk aroud with bulging pockets.

As I speak Spanish, I cannot say for sure how bi-lingual the staff is, but would say that two of our party spoke no Spanish and were able to negotiate a late-night dinner &/or snack by themselves w/no problem.

All in all, I'd say pretty impressive & the price didn't hurt its cause at all. I would stay again and would recommend it to other travelers - I've already suggested it be added to our corporate list as a viable option in Monterrey.