Fodor's Expert Review Hacienda Soltepec

Resembling an old castle, this hacienda was made famous as the backdrop for the 1955 film La Escondida. Converted into an elegant and welcoming hotel, it is a true gem seemingly in the middle of nowhere—51 km (32 miles) from Tlaxcala—but a five-minute bus ride from the hotel to the charming pueblo mágico of Huamantla. The stately restaurant ($$), watched over by two stuffed bulls, serves delicious regional fare and has a cozy fireplace to warm up the chilly winter nights. It is a hive of activity on Sunday, when people from around the area come here to lunch. Best of all, the hotel gives tours to other remote haciendas of Tlaxcala State, an eye-opener into the history of the rural region, along with other activities like hot-air ballooning and horseback rides.