shelleyk

We will be spending 6 nights in Mexico City in Feb. This is our first trip to Mexico, although we have traveled independently in Asia, Europe and Central America. We want to visit the museums, see the murals and buildings, and do the sightseeing that most tourists to Mexico City would do on a first trip. We'd like to attempt it by metro, and some taxi cabs. After doing some research I think we would like to stay in the zocalo area, as we are not looking for nightlife. We'd be happy to sightsee the whole day, return to our hotel around 5PM and eat dinner in the zocalo area.

Our main priority for a hotel is comfortable beds and a lack of noise after 11PM so we can get a good night's sleep. We'd like to spend around $150 per night, We'd like to be able to walk to the metro and to the sites around the zocalo, and be safe when coming back to the hotel when it is dark. (It gets dark early in the winter)

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

baldone

I normally don't try to suggest a change to people's itineraries, especially after they've done research. Which is a fun part of trip planning, at least for me! But here goes. While the evening dining in the historic center has improved, your options will be better in a neighborhood such as Condesa/Roma. Condesa is quiet and is quite attractive with it's Art Deco architecture, and not party central by any means, unlike the Zona Rosa. Nightime/evening walking/strolling is safe and relaxing, with lots of people out doing the same, many just out walking their dogs. Lots of sidewalk cafes/restaurants. Condesa is within walking distance to Chapultepec. If nothing else, 3 nights in centro and 3 nights in Condesa would give you a nice contrast between new and old. Even though changing hotels can be a hassle. The colonias are not far from the historic center. Just a thought.

Stewbear

Hotel Majestic is a fine old hotel with wonderful views on the outside rooms. Right on the main square (Zocalo).

Christina

For that budget, you could stay at the highest class hotel on the zocalo, which I think is the Gran Ciudad. You can get a room in February for US$150 or less.
https://granhoteldelaciudaddemexico.com.mx/

I think the BW is a mid-levelhotel.

For quiet, you do not want to be on the zocalo, anyway, though.

I agree with baldone, for a week, I would not want to stay in that area, I don't think it's that nice, there are a lot of stores around, even though there are a few older classic restaurants, sure. Just can't imagine staying there a week in that hubbub.

Not sure what you are considering the zocalo area, would that include the area around Bellas Artes metro stop? There are quite a few hotels around there, seems a bit more tranquil to me, although I do like the Condesa area, also. I stayed very near Parque Espana which is very convenient for the hopon/off bus (Turibus) which I took one day when I wanted to go out into the suburbs, it was good for that (to see Frida Kahlos' house, for example). It has a stop along ave Oaxaca at Fuente de las Cibeles, which isn't a long walk).

You don't mention wanting to use Turibus but it was convenient for one day, of course, I was there in fine weather so enjoyed the views and open air.

That location is a bit far from a metro stop, though (I think Sevilla was the closest to me). But you can find a hotel or B&B closer to metro stop like Chilpancigo and there are tons of restaurants around there (there were enough around where I stayed).

I hate to disagree with all your research, also, but if you want quiet, I don't think staying around the zocalo is the best choice.

shelleyk

Just to clarify-6 nights will equal 5 full days of sightseeing. I was thinking that 2 days would be spent in the zocalo/Belles Artes area, one day at the pyramid at Teo.., 1 day in Chapultepec and in day Coyacan.

I don't care how busy and noisy the zocalo area is during the day as we will not be in our room during the day. But I do care if the area is noisy after 11PM. Is it?

Perhaps we will split our time between the zocalo and Codessa, as baldone suggested, though I don't know if DH will want to do that. I'd still want to spend 3 nights in the zocalo/Belles Artes area, for the sake of sightseeing time efficiency.

The hotels in the zocalo area that I was considering were the Gran Hotel de Ciudad, the Hampton Inn, and the Catedral Hotel. I also was considering the Fiesta Hotel near the Belles Artes tmetro stop.

I considered using the Turibus for one day, but it gets mixed reviews concerning the slowness in traffic. Also, we will be there in Feb. and if the weather were to be unseasonably cold I would not want to use it. I'd rather rely on the metro or sitio taxis.

glover

We've stayed at hotel Catedral many times and like it a lot. Have not found it noisy at night. It's s busy place, with a good onsite resto for breakfast, good location just off zocalo and good onsite tourist desk. We also like its rooftop that looks directly at Cathedral.
We like staying in zoc for all the reasons you mentioned. Then we can or cannot all from there to expand restaurant choices

emd3

I almost always stay at Hotel Catedral. A room with two beds for 2 people will cost about $75 USD a night, with full breakfast in the restaurant included. It's a great deal, very friendly hotel with good service, good free internet, small low key bar for a drink at end of the day, and good restaurant. They arrange for tours also, they hooked us up with a good tour to Teothicuan. Hotel is a block off the Zocalo behind the Cathdral, and the Templo Mayor and Palacio Nacional with Diego Rivera's murals are right there at the zocalo. There are nough good restaurants in the area to fill your evening dinners, or easy transportation to get to other areas for dinner if you like.

emd3

One thing about Hotel Catedral. there used to be a club behind it, between it and the cathedral. Not sure if it is still there, but ask for a rm. away from it if it is still there, because the music can be a bit noisy in the rooms up agqints the club in the back of the hotel.

shelleyk

Thank you all for your comments. I think we will try the Cathedral Hotel, although I can't book it yet as they do not have Feb. dates on their website.

baldone-Thanks for your recommendation of the Colonial Hotel in Puebla, as we've decided to stay at that hotel for our 3 days in Puebla.

glover-We are going to Columbia for 11 days prior to going on to Mexico, and one of the reasons we are going to Columbia is because of your interesting and detailed trip report from several years ago. So thanks for posting regarding your Columbia trip.

glover and emd3- Since you have stayed at the Catedral Hotel, do you haveany tips on which room location within the hotel would be best for a quiet night's sleep. Also, do you feel that the tours the hotel booked for you were worthwhile. I was thinking of going to Teo..on my own, but frankly I'd rather take a tour if the tour spent a couple of hours at the pyramid, and if there was no mandatory shopping stop to waste time. emd-It sounds like you were satisfied with the tour to Teo... I assume it was a group tour and not a private tour. Correct?

emd3

Shelly, the Teot. Tour that Hotel Catedral bookedfor us did have a shopping stop, but it was not long or bad, no pressure to buy. My son and I used it as a restroom stop and got a drink and snack. We did also have a late lunch stop after the time at the pyramids. The lunch stop had an aztec dancing show with it. Not a bad tour for the price with lunch. But aince you have a baby and will have a car, I would say you could easily go to the pyramids on your own and avoid the shop stop, and pack a lunch from the hotel, or get a less time-consuming lunch on your own.

Be aware that there is a lot of walking btwn pyramids at the site. You will need a stroller that can get around on light rock terrain ( the walking roads btwn the pyramids are lined with rocks).

BTW, like baldone, I can highly recommend the Colonial Hotel in Puebla. I have stayed there 8 or so times in the last 10 yrs. It is by far my favorite place to stay in Puebla. Great location just off the zocalo, lots of character. All rooms on the exterior have small balconies, not big enough for furniture but nice enough to let fresh air in and get a nice street view. I espcially like the rooms that face the University next door. i have also had very large rooms on the interior of the hotel ( no exterior windows) that are very quiet with high ceilings. Lots of nice colonial tile work, much character. good breakfast in the hotel restaurant. If you want quiet with the baby, get an interior room.

emd3

If you are in Puebla on a Sunday, there are usually nice fairs and markets set up in parks on the perimeter of the Centro Historico area. I have seen lots of live local music, dance groups, kids activities with balloons, face painters, etc. and nice market stands at those sunday park fairs

Also there is a good train museum in Puebla, lots of restored train cars from the golden age of train travel in MX.

Are you thinking of going to Cholula for an afternoon while in Puebla? great unexcavated pyramid there with voladares next to the site, and a fantastic view of Popocatepetil volcano on a clear day. Great market days twice a wk in Cholula when many people come in to town from the surrounding areas to set up their stalls in the streets. Very nice market.

http://www.mexperience.com/cholula-c...and-volcanoes/

emd3

For suggestions on to quiet room at Hotel Catedral, see my post above. Get an interior room-there is an air shaft that runs down the middle of the hotel by the interior rms, but it is quiet), or at least not a room on the back side ( cathedral side) of the hotel if there is still a club on that side.

shelleyk

emd-Thanks for your comments. Although we do not have a baby (our youngest grandchild is 3-lol) and we won't have a car, I have found your comments useful in helping plan my trip.

We are planning to spend some time in Chulula. Did you get there from Puebla by bus or taxi? And did you take the tour of the pyramid and/or walk to the top of the pyramid to see the church? Do you have any restaurant recommendations for Puebla? We will be there 3 nights.

yestravel

Love Mexico -- its' a cultural feast. Even if you don't stay in Condesa/Roma area, try to visit it. It will give you a very different perspective on Mex City. Could probably be easily done from Chapultepec.
You mentioned Columbia -- have you seen Crellston's posts and/or his blog? We also did a TR during our visit this past winter.

Have a great trip --

shelleyk

yestravel-I did read your and crellston's TRs on Columbia. It sounded like you both had a great time. Thanks so much for posting. The TRs I found on Fodor's gave me the idea that Columbia would be a country that DH and I would enjoy.

Like you, we want to get out of the cold northeast winter for a couple of weeks. We have been to southeast Asia a number of times to accomplish this. I am looking forward to our Columbia and Mexico trip this winter.

yestravel

I wish we had spent more time in Colombia - like you we were inspired by glover's TRs. Also like you last year we had a trip planned for both Mexico & Colombia with more time in Colombia. I had to cancel that long trip and we just went to Mexico in 2015. When we planned the trip for this year for some reason Colombia got shortchanged. It's a nice country with wonderful people. My only advice is to avoid long bus trips. Enjoy your planning.