I’m not sure what I was expecting from a planned overnight in downtown Laredo, Texas, at the end of my drive down the “Road To Nowhere” on U.S. 83, but it wasn’t what I got, if that makes sense. Maybe it was the time of year. Maybe it’s because I’m not the night owl I used to be. But the area seemed quiet, and more than a little worn in places. Still, I felt like I made the best possible decision for where I stayed – at the historic La Posada Hotel.
Finding the La Posada Hotel was shockingly easy. If you’re driving south on I-35, just take the last exit before the border crossing, then follow Ventura Street south to Zaragosa Street and take a right. Almost instantly, you’re in the historic section of downtown Laredo and the La Posada Hotel comes into view on the left side of the street.
You really can’t miss it, as it takes up a whole block across the street from San Agustin Plaza. The main facade looks almost more like an embassy than a hotel.
Being on a one-way street, I looped around the plaza and pulled up to the main entrance to check in.
A
courtyard in front with lush vegetation and a fountain? I was already feeling some of the hotel’s
“south of the border” charm.
The lobby felt a little more ordinary than I anticipated but charming, nonetheless. I liked the stained glass and decorative wrought iron fencing on the staircases. The check-in process was quick and easy, and the cost to use the adjacent parking garage was minimal ...
... even if the entrance to the parking garage seemed like you were going to tumble over a hill and into the Rio Grande.
I’m exaggerating, of course. The river wasn’t that close, but just to give you an idea of how close the La Posada Hotel is from the border, here’s a view of the border crossing bridge from behind the hotel. My cellphone texted me, convinced that I needed to purchase an international one-day pass.
And, as I alluded to earlier, you really can’t pick a more convenient location to stay for whatever brings you to Laredo’s historic downtown district.
For
starters, the hotel is literally next door to the Republic of the Rio Grande
Museum.
If you
arrive too late for a tour or simply don’t have time, at least there’s a plaque
to help you understand its importance.
Across the street from the hotel is the aforementioned San Agustin Plaza, which is supposedly the center of all festivals and outdoor events in downtown Laredo.
Walk a few blocks upriver and take a left turn toward the pedestrian border crossing, and you’ll find the city’s visitor’s center and outlet shops.
And on the other side of the San Agustin Plaza is the entrance to the Tatangelo Parkway, a scenic street/walkway that leads to further points downtown.
Unfortunately, my arrival was too late to get much enjoyment out of these sites, so I decided to focus my time on checking out all the amenities the hotel had to offer.
And my room at the La Posada was probably the nicest I had on my entire road trip. I’m always a fan of a big bed with a bolster pillow.
The room also featured a nice sitting area next to the balcony view ...
... which overlooked the spacious pool area in the center of the courtyard.
In fact, if you didn’t know you were in Laredo, you could easily imagine from the courtyard scenery being somewhere luxurious in Old Mexico.
If you got tired of staying in your room, and I did, you could check out this extremely cozy seating area in the lobby.
I, however, ventured over to the adjacent Zaragoza Grill and Bar instead. And for a hotel bar, La Posada’s seemed to have a steady flow of business after I showed up. I felt like I made a good call to stay here for dinner.
As I hoped (and expected), the frozen margarita was on point.
The soup of the day, a creamy poblano chicken with all the toppings, was an excellent start to the meal ...
... and my chicken enchiladas verde was downright delicious. No sauce was left on the plate.
At the time of my overnight in Laredo, it seemed like hotel choices in town were for the most part lifeless and limited. Fortunately for any traveler who wants to stay somewhere with character, charm and perhaps a taste of history, the La Posada Hotel in downtown Laredo has it all. It’s definitely worth seeking out and making an integral part of a trip to Laredo.
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