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Even Lori the maid says the Hotel Doña Manuela seems more like a three-star than a two-star hotel. And based on the affluent conditions and surplus of services, as well as its location next to sprawling gardens, we agree. The prices are slightly higher than other places with the same rating, but the budget luxe is worth the splurge, if only for a night or two.
Floral motifs in rooms make them lofty and feminine. Reproduced moldings and iron-rose bed boards are both un-tacky details that make you feel you're on vacation and not in someone else's home. There's light streaming in from everywhere; even the bathrooms have French windows with views. If all this seems too girly, check out the in-room flat-screen TVs.
The Doña Manuela sits on the north side of Santa Cruz and overlooks one of the main Santa Cruz squares filled with terraza tables and orange trees. The gardens are beyond. Make sure you request a room with a balcony so you, too, can enjoy the view. Rooms No. 19 and 28 are the biggest bets. Otherwise head upstairs and have breakfast on the terrace.
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