In the thick of downtown, Hotel Posada Chiapas (2 Calle Pte. Sur btwn. 1 and 2 Calles Sur Pte., tel. 961/612-3354, US$17 s/d, US$25 s/d with a/c and cable TV) is a motel set around a sunny courtyard. Rooms themselves are boxy and curiously dark but they’re clean and have decent beds. If you opt for air-conditioning, ask for a room with a mini-split air-conditioner—they’re quiet and effective.

The rooms at Hotel Fernando (2 Calle Nte. Ote. at 4 Calle Ote. Nte., tel. 961/613-1740, www.hotelfernando.com, US$25 s, US$30 d, US$34 s with a/c, US$37.50 d with a/c) have gleaming tile floors, spotless bathrooms, cable TV, and even wireless Internet. Those on the top floor have great views of the city and a nice breeze to boot. The only downer about the place is the location—a somewhat drab neighborhood—though it’s walking distance from both Parque Madero and Plaza Cívica.

Just a block from the central plaza, Hotel Catedral (1a Calle Nte. Ote. 367, tel. 961/613-0824, US$21 s, US$25 d) offers well-maintained rooms with fans and cable TV, though the beds are a little springy. Be sure to ask for a room in the back—they’re closet-like dark but don’t suffer from street noise like those in the front do, especially in the mornings.