Over the Christmas weekend, we’ve decided to take a short trip 2 hour trip from Mexico City (CDMX) over to Puebla to see its magical colonial architecture. As we’ve already spent 3 weeks in CDMX, we wanted to explore somewhere new and nearby.
While researching the city, we were pleasantly surprised to find an Intercontinental in the city! With our stash of valuable IHG points on hand, we immediately booked our room for the trip.
Booking
Our 2 nights at the Intercontinental Presidente Puebla was a points redemption. The first night costs us 10,000 IHG points and the second costs 11,000 IHG points. We were surprised that the points were not too elevated despite the fact that we stayed over the Christmas weekend.
It would have cost us US$226.68 if we paid by cash, including an extra-person charge. Note that there’s no extra-person charge in IHG properties if it’s a night redemption.
This brings us to a decent redemption value of 1.03c per point.
Check in
Checking into the hotel was a very smooth process.
During check-in, the staff offered us an upgrade option for 900MXN (US$44) per night which includes club lounge access and buffet breakfast. We didn’t think it was worth it and therefore did not go with the offer.
2 Double Classic Room in Intercontinental Presidente Puebla
We were checked into the 2 Double Classic Room. The 2 beds are double sized, meaning they are slightly larger than singles but significantly smaller than Queens.
It is not ideal for 2 people (as we’ve later learnt) to sleep on one bed unless both are small sized.
A 42″ TV and working desk sits in front of the 2 beds. The office chair is very comfortable for long working hours, but the glass tabletop is less than ideal for mouse users.
The TV does not come with any English or casting features. We did not watch it at all throughout our stay as they only showed Spanish dubbed shows. This was unlike what we experienced in other hotels around Mexico like the Hilton Playa del Carmen all-inclusive resort that we stayed at previously.
2 complementary bottles of water are provided each day for o room. We tried to request for more bottles via room service but was told that we’ll be charged 55MXN(US$2.60) each.
There was a Nespresso coffee machine in the room, but no pods were provided. This was really confusing for us as we thought it should be standard for hotels to provide both.
The iHome alarm clock is a blast from the past! The best part about it is that it comes with additional charging and usb ports.
Bathroom
There is a for him and hers washing basin in the spacious bathroom.
The hand soap and lotion provided is from Agraria, a US soap brand. Here in the west, we noticed that most hotels provide bar soap instead of gel-like what we have in Asia.
Unfortunately, the 2 Double Classic Room does not come with a bathtub. There’s a fixed-in shower head and handheld showerhead.
The water pressure and temperature are amazing though. Be prepared to spend a really long time enjoying the shower during your stay here.
Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel is similarly by Agraria.
There’s a hairdryer provided for guests who need them. Towels are also plenty, which is something we appreciate as we don’t have to make the extra effort to request extras from housekeeping.
Lobby
We were in Puebla over the Christmas weekend, and from what we hear, Christmas is a really big thing in the country. The lobby in Intercontinental Puebla was likewise decorated with a huge Christmas tree and various exhibitions.
Amenities
Swimming Pool
There is a large swimming pool in the centre of the complex. It looks well maintained and clean, though we didn’t see anyone using it throughout our time at the hotel.
This is probably due to the fact that it’s pretty cold this time of the year (8°C to 23°C) in Puebla.
A nice suntanning and patio area for guests looking to chill here.
Dog Park
The Intercontinental Presidente Puebla is a pets friendly property with a dedicated dog park for your furry companions. While booking our room, we also found some pet-cation packages.
Spa
The spa centre at Intercontinental Puebla was unfortunately closed during the Christmas weekend when we visited.
Gym / Fitness Center
The gym at Intercontinental Puebla is open 24 hours a day and is accessible with a key card. I visited twice during our stay and both times it wasn’t crowded at all.
You’ll be greeted by 2 cycling machines right after entering.
Guests who are visiting the gym has to wear masks at all times, even when exercising. This seems to be the general rule throughout Mexico during our trip. They are taking the pandemic pretty seriously.
It’s a fairly small gym, but you’ll have everything you need for your workout. There isn’t really a view to speak of while you’re doing your workout except for large mirrors everywhere.
Club Lounge
An Intercontinental hotel wouldn’t be complete without a Club Intercontinental lounge. Access to the lounge is available through booking a Club Room or buying access during check-in.
The lounge is located on the 3rd floor, in the hotel lobby wing.
As mentioned earlier, we did not think it was worth paying US$44 per night for access to the lounge as there was a lot of other amazing food around the hotel.
Final thoughts of the Intercontinental Presidente Puebla
The Intercontinental Presidente Puebla in my opinion is a great accommodation choice if you’re ever in the city. The relatively small amount of points required for a room gives results in great value when redeeming them here.
However if you’re looking for a five-star luxurious experience, we don’t think the Intercontinental Presidente Puebla will suffice. The building interior was generally dated and the service wasn’t exceptional.
