THIEVING STAFF: Hotel Casa de la Condesa, Reforma, Mex DF

It gives me absolutey no pleasure to WARN everyone NOT TO STAY at a hotel called "HOTEL CASA DE LA CONDESA, REFORMA" where my partner was staying when he first arrived in Mexico, before I joined him. We have actually moved here so he was staying in this 2 star hotel, and had arranged to stay for 6 months at a rate of US$1000 per month, but had to move out when they changed the rate. This happened a few days after he had paid (and been given a receipt), then they said they wanted another US$500 and had changed their minds about the rate.

But this wasn't the worst thing. THEY ACTUALLY STOLE HIS POSSESSIONS whilst he was there. There are only 3 cleaning staff, and yet the management could not identify the person/s responsible.

There is a sign on the back of the door that states "please keep your money, jewelry, and valuables in the safe". However, the stolen items included a hand-made rug that was kept on the bedroom floor (like I said we have moved here long term). They also stole his leather belts, and his hand-made prescription glasses, which he didn't realise until after he had checked out since he kept them in the case.

Even when he told them he did not want the cleaning service, they still insisted on entering his room whilst he was out to "clean" it...they certainly did that!

The afternoon receptionist, Isabel who speaks good English, (and knows exactly when you are gone and when you will be back) insisted on ordering a taxi for him the first night, she said the taxi was 180 pesos from the hotel to Polanco. On the way back, he paid a different company 50 pesos - the standard rate!

When he told the management (company called Extended Stay Mexico) about the thefts they would not help, and took no responsibility! They simply said he should sue the cleaners.

The owners of the company are Andre Moussali and his son Fred Moussali. They have over 100 units across Mexico City.
We are still living and working here in Mexico and this company is advertising everywhere...PLEASE be careful. There are much better value, cleaner and safer places available, in this great city. I sincerely DO NOT WISH for this to happen to anyone else.

Everything else we have experienced here has been so wonderful, Mexico D.F. is a beautiful city, with so much culture and history, and many lovely people, so please do not be put off...just be careful. AND DO NOT STAY AT "HOTEL CASA DE LA CONDESA, REFORMA"!

On your website, you mention being evicted from your apartment in Sydney on Christmas Day (not written up until May, 2006)... writing in your June 16, 2006 post:

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Michael would not allow me to smash her [the landlady's] plates, put rotting meat in her cupboards, or even pour bleach onto her carpet. We left the place as well as we could with no vacuum cleaner to hand, and left before she returned as promised. I did, however, manage to use up all but 2 sheets of toilet paper which we had intended to buy more of that day. But, that’s just one of those little things that really can’t be helped…<hr></blockquote>

Forgive my scepticism, but people who are evicted suddenly more than once invite questions. Why would hotel staff steal prescription eyewear?

When you call for a car from a hotel, of course you'd pay a premium for the special service.

I agree however, that "extended stay hotels" are not a good bargain.

That's unfortunate. Thanks for the warning. Did you try contacting the police (I know, probably laughable, but a good exercise in standing by your principles). There's also a government agency, similar to the Better Business Bureau in the U.S., that you can contact - on principle if nothing else.

I would add, as RichTX1 does above, that hotels always charge highly inflated rates when they "call" you a taxi - they have private taxi drivers on retainer waiting nearby. It's just part of the system, not a theft per se. If you want to call a radio taxi, you are best to do it from your room by yourself.

VR1, thanks for the advice. No, my partner did not contact the police, he was really hoping that the staff would do the decent thing and just return the items. When we finally realised this was defintely not going to happen, it seemed too late to involve the police. So we won't be able to claim the items back either. This post was really to warn others. I don't like this kind of thing happening to people, especially if I can do something to prevent it. Thanks for the advice.

RichTX1 - Wow, I never realised anyone but family would actually read my blog, I'm flattered, and hoped it's been of interest to you! Actaully, what happened in Sydney (just for clarification) was a Kiwi lady responded to an advert with the dates we wanted to get a flat over Christmas. She said she would rent it for the 2 weeks, but only wanted to take 1 weeks rent (she said she'd get the rest on her return), then texted out of the blue Christmas Day saying she'd had problems at home and was returning that day. It was an unfortunate incident, I was very angry, and as the quote states, my level headed partner refused to take any revenge. He was the one staying at the hotel where he had his things stolen from, not me.

His prescription glasses were very unusual funky design, and I think they must have thought they were designer. We also wondered why anyone would steal prescription glasses. Sad, isn't it? I truly hope my input was helpful, and if at least one person does not lose their things from my warnings, then that is all that matters.

Several years ago my wife's uncle was hit by a city bus in Guadalajara. He was taken unconscious to a hospital. By the time his wife arrived at the hospital ALL of his possessions had been stolen by the hospital staff.

A month ago our car was stripped of all of its trim while it was parked on the street.

Crime is alive and well here.