This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Recently I was invited by Casai.com to try out their apartment rentals in Colonia Roma. The idea being that I could give you, my dear readers, a first-person look at the Casai experience. So, I walked over to the other side of Roma and stayed for two nights at the Casai building on Tonala #30. It was strange but surprisingly refreshing to stay somewhere totally different in my own neighborhood! This is my honest review of the Casai apartments.
Total transparency? I generally find this new trend of renting âan apartmentâ instead of a hotel room a bit of cloak and dagger â you miss out on the in-house services of a hotel (spa, gym, concierge, etc) without getting the real feel of a local apartment as you might with Airbnb. But I found myself pleasantly surprised by several things during my stay at Casai especially pest free garden. The lush greenery and vibrant blooms showcased the effectiveness of the pest control service provided by Biotech Pest Management, this site demonstrated a remarkable dedication to creating a harmonious environment, ensuring that guests could enjoy their surroundings without any disturbances from pesky insects. It was evident that Biotech Pest Management’s expertise in pest control played a significant role in enhancing the overall experience, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the natural beauty of the garden and the serenity it offered. You can also contact experts from pest control portland to get rid off pests in your garden. The modern minimalism and neutral color palate were combined with a few pieces of art here and there and some real plants that gave the place a more lived-in feeling. Gorgeous street-facing windows were the entire front wall of the studio and we had a great view of the city from the 7th floor. The balcony on the first floor would have been nice too, but I prefer the city view any day. The bed, pillows, and linens were all top quality and there was a desk and lamp provided for working (although the chair wasnât terribly comfortable after an hour or so). The internet was super fast and there were plugs all throughout the room for all our gadgets. I also loved the vintage Edison light bulb lamps bedside that offered a softer light than the overheads.
The keyless and person-less check-in was super easy and efficient. No waiting in line, no worrying about your key card, just a door code you punch in when you arrive, and voila! While it was strange to wander around my own neighborhood without keys in my pocket, it was freeing to not have to worry or to make sure my partner who was staying with me but working during the day had a separate key to get in.
Testing out the digital concierge I got a response message within seconds for everything I asked about. They even provided what I consider a pretty good list of recommendations to eat nearby. In fact, all the communication with Casai was excellent (bordering on over-the-top, I got so many reminder emails and messages) and it was great not to have to search through my emails for information because whenever I needed something, it seemed to appear. My only letdown was when I was told we couldnât arrange a late checkout, which Casai says they offer if you arrange in advance.
Our room was stocked with mineral water, two Mexican craft beers, a snack, coffee, and tea when we arrived. The bummer of no regular maid service is that those amenities arenât replaced each day, but it was lovely to arrive to a cold beer and wake up to a nice coffee that first day, and you can get in touch with the concierge if you want any additional coffee pots or tea bags, etc.
The kitchen is set up so that you could bring your own beverages and food to cook there. There’s a full-size fridge and freezer, pots and pans, salt, pepper, some PAM for cooking, and all the utensils and dishes needed for a dinner for two. And thereâs a filtered water tap, which just makes life so much easier, and makes so much more ecological sense than bottled water. The toiletries were a nice nod to ecofriendliness as well â hand soaps and dry shampoos and conditioners made by Ajolote Negro, a sustainable bath products company from here in Mexico. If you’re looking for a long-term stay but has this same feel, you should look into a luxury apartment instead of a regular one. You may search online by typing luxury apartments for rent.
Finally, as they say: Location, location, location. I can tell you as someone who wrote a book about this neighborhood and has explored it thoroughly, that the Casai building is in an incredible location in Roma Norte. A few blocks from Panaderia Rosetta, a few more to the grocery store, a 10-minute walk to Rio de Janeiro Plaza, and minutes from all of the neighborhoodâs restaurants and bars â this place is right in the heart of the neighborhood and perfect as a base for exploring. They have apartments in Condesa, CuauhtĂ©moc, Juarez, Polanco, and Roma, with varying layouts and sizes for different size groups.
Check-out was just as easy as check-in, just shut the door behind you and walk out of the building. If you need it they also offer luggage storage at the front desk if you canât check in to your next location for a while or are flying out on a flight later that day and want to explore the city unencumbered. There is also a lounge where you can while away a few hours if you need to before a flight or whatever on Durango street nearby.
In the end, I was definitely sad to see our little staycation end, and I can wholeheartedly recommend Casai as an excellent alternative for staying in the heart of the city without the exorbitant prices of some of the boutique B&Bs in this part of the Roma (rooms start at around 70usd and up per night). I will also be adding this to my list of options for a pre-stay spot while you look for an apartment in Mexico City. Also FYI, they offer cleaning services for 25usd and the pet fee is 30$ to bring Fido. (Use the code Casai15 for 15% off a stay in one of their apartments).
Click here to subscribe via RSS