Ed,

Here's a list of links with some information about your destinations. 
As you can see, Colotlán is not listed on the internet but I found 
the name of some local hotels.  Depending on who's travelling with 
you and if you're in adventurer mode or not, maybe it is better to 
make plans to stay somewhere else when visiting Colotlán.

Zacatecas, Zacatecas
http://www.zonaturistica.com/hoteles-mexico.php?idCd=617

Valparaiso, Zacatecas
http://www.zonaturistica.com/hoteles-mexico.php?idCd=615

Sombrerete, Zacatecas
http://www.zonaturistica.com/hoteles-mexico.php?idCd=613

Colotán, Jalisco
  Hotel Hacienda de los Gálvez
  Hotel Colotlán
  Hotel San Luis

Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes  
http://www.zonaturistica.com/hoteles-mexico.php?idCd=1

Last year I travelled to Zacatecas and Jalisco, but not exactly the 
same towns you're planning on visiting. In Zacatecas, Zac. there are 
many options available.  The smaller towns have fewer options and you 
have to be prepared for the very basic hotel accomodations.

Some important and friendly recommendations:  

plan your itinerary very carefully;  know your point A, point B, 
etc.; carry a good map.

travel only by day;  roads are narrow with few signs; watch for speed 
bumps in every town.

check your fuel level often; there aren't many gas stations as you're 
accustomed to.

pay with pesos;  small denomination is preferable.

drink bottled water. (But everyone knows that, right?)

keep a low profile; try to blend as much as possible;  leave your 
jewelry at home.

take your cel phone; charge your battery;  have at hand a list of 
numbers from your contacts. (service is not available everywhere, 
though)

Victor

p.s. If I think of something else I'll let you know.

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Edward  Serros <ed@s...> wrote:
> I am planning to go to Zacatecas in four weeks. My original plan 
was to stay
> in Zacatecas, Zacatecas (Quinta Real Zacatecas Hotel) as a base, 
traveling
> on day trips to Valparaiso, Sombrerete, Colotlan, and 
Aguascalientes. I
> would appreciate any comments on alternative accomodations, 
alternative
> towns I can use a base, local hotels, rental cars, or guides. 
Actually the
> Quinta Real Zacatecas, sounds like a neat place.
> 
> Maybe some of you have traveled there. I have never seen much of 
Mexico
> except the tourist resort spots or the border towns.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Ed Serros.