shelleyk

I live in the northeast and I plan to leave our cold and snowy climate for a few weeks each winter. We are going on an 11 day tour of Columbia, flying into and out of Miami. I am thinking of visiting Mexico for 5-9 days when the tour ends. I am thinking of visiting Mexico City and possibly Puebla.

How many days would you recommend to see the highlights? We do not have any time constraints, but we don't want to spend so much time travelling that what we see becomes one big blur, especially since we will have been travelling for 2 weeks touring before we arrive in Mexico City.

We are a physically fit retired couple who enjoy cultural experiences, museums, good Mexican food, and sightseeing. We do not enjoy shopping. This is our first trip to Mexico, although we have traveled extensively to Asia and Europe, mostly independently, but sometimes on a tour. We understand and speak a little Spanish, with the emphasis on "a little".

If our plane landed after 7 or 8 PM would you spend the first night at an airport hotel or would you make your way into the city? What is the safest way to get into the city from the airport at night, and how long would it take?

I am assuming that a bus to Puebla will take 3 hours. Is that correct? If we were to split our time between Mexico City and Puebla, how many days would you recommend in Puebla.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

SambaChula

There are booths for trustworthy official taxis at the Mexico City airport. You will see a group of them as you make your way into the terminal from baggage claim and/or at the exit. Just decide on one (fares are mostly equal amongst them), pay and go to the taxi stand at the curb with your receipt where an employee of that company chosen will help you and your luggage into a taxi. Fares are charged by zone/neighborhood of the city, fixed according to distance from the airport. These taxis FROM the airport cost a bit more than same distance back to the airport, but are not expensive. For example, airport to the historic center is about 250 pesos iirc, about half an hour/45 minutes in daytime traffic. IMO it would be safe to go to a hotel in the city at that hour of the evening, including time for customs/immigration and baggage claim, because late hours are kept by many there and it should still be fairly lively on the street.
As far as where to stay, many like the historic center so as to be near the sights, but many enjoy one of the residential neighborhoods where you can stroll to restaurants and the feel is more suburban. There is a good metro system, so pick someplace near a stop. Sundays there are extensive street fairs in the center and in many neighborhoods, so you might want to plan to be there for that.
Enjoy.

Daniel_Williams

Shelley,

I think whether I would include Puebla or not would depend on whether I had 5 days or 9 days. 5-6 days I'd probably stick to the capital with day trips to Xochimilco and Teotihuacan, for example. 8-9 days, I'd spend 2-3 days in Puebla. If you choose to visit Puebla first, it was about 2 hours from the Benito Juarez airport to Puebla--this all depends naturally on the traffic. I took the Estrella Roja bus line.

You're in for a treat!

Best wishes, Daniel

baldone

Agree with both of the above. Coincidentally, we just returned from Colombia and spent a few nights in CDMX. Our flight arrived about 830, and it took an hour and a half to get our luggage because the drug dogs had to sniff each suitcase. We stayed in Roma Norte and by the time we got to our hotel, there were still plenty of people out and about @ 10:30. So no issues there. The trip that time of night took about 1/2 an hour. Get a sedan taxi instead of a van or suburban which cost more.
Would it be possible to just fly direct to MEX instead of to Miami? Probably not I'm thinking, or you'd have do just that.

Christina

I also would stay in Mexico City if you only have 5 days, would do Puebla with more.

I'd go to my hotel if my plane landed at 8 pm, it doesn't take that long from the airport to a hotel in, say, Condesa neighborhood. And the bigger chain hotels north of there, say around Paseo de la Reforma, I'm sure are used to getting check-ins at all hours.

Buses should not take 3 hrs to get to Puebla -- some may, but some only take 2 hrs.

I would suggest you do DF first, then bus to Puebla then fly home from PUebla. It's not that small a city, there are flights frm there. United, for example, flies from Puebla to the US, they go to IAH first.

Shanti

If you are arriving around 8 pm I would stay in Mexico City. I also like the Condesa area.

If arriving earlier and you want to go to Puebla (and I really like Puebla) I'd go there first via Estrella Roja from the airport. It took about two hours when I took it last month.

I'd devote at least two days to Puebla - one for the Centro Historico and one for San Pedro Cholula.

shelleyk

Thank you all for your input. It's wonderful for me to be able to make some decisions based on your experiences and recommendations.

I have a few more questions:

1-I am thinking of flying Interjet from Miami to Mexico City. Has anyone used them, and what was your experience?

2-Can you recommend any specific hotels in the areas mentioned in Mexico City? My primary objective is safety, a good location near tourist sites and museums, the ability to walk to restaurants at night, good beds and good air conditioning. If it's near public transportation, so much the better. If not, we will take taxis called by our hotel.

3-Any other tips for a first time traveler to Mexico City would be appreciated.

Thanks again for your help.

baldone

I used Interjet from MEX to BOG and back recently and have used them before. Nice carrier, no complaints whatsoever.
Roma Norte/Condesa are pretty much right next to each other and if you walk from one to the other you'll hardly tell the difference. But both are very walkable at night and quite safe. I felt Roma had more restaurants, at least that was my recollection as it's been 4 years or so since I stayed in Condesa and this was my first time in Roma. Condesa is closer to Chapultepec, but not considerably so. It's easy to see if you drill down on Google Maps.
I think Roma has more reasonably priced hotels, if that's a concern. We've stayed at the Hotel Roosevelt in Condesa; it was more bugdety for the area. The Red Tree House in Condesa is very, very popular and well regarded. Hard to get reservations.
In Roma we stayed at Hotel Stanza. If you're looking for something in the $50-$60 US range, this fits the bill nicely. The rooms have mini-splits that aren't turning on and off all the time, which is irritating. The rooms weren't what I'd call overly spacious, but certainly more than adequate. Street side rooms had double-paned windows, which was good, even though you could still hear the occasional siren. Nice beds, (not rock-hard which is typical in Mexico) a working in-room safe, decent size bath and professional staff. A clean, full service hotel at a good price. I think it was like 4-5 blocks to the nearest metro station, although we used Uber,taxis and walked, mostly.
The only tip I'd offer is be careful of your belongings on the metro, as pick-pockets are common, especially when they're busy.

Daniel_Williams

Took Interjet from Guatemala City to Mexico City less than a month ago. Seats were reasonably comfortable and there was beverage & snack service during the short flight. All went as it was supposed to, so no complaints.

lasagna

No problem with Interjet. Its a good airline. Only complaint I have is that on some long flights they don't have movies.
Another hotel option would also be to consider staying in Polanco. There is a strip of very nice hotels near the Museo de Antropologia and Paseo de la Reforma. I agree with everyone else, not to stay in a airport hotel.
Uber also works great in Mexico. Its another great option for getting around, especially for tourists who don't speak Spanish since you can enter your destination on your cell phone.

shelleyk

shanti or anyone else-My Interjet plane from MIA to MEX lands at 2:15PM which means the earliest bus from the airport to Puebla that we could possibly make would be 4PM. It get dark early in Feb, so I have 2 questions.
1- Is travel to Puebla safe after it gets dark? What are the roads like-highway or one lane in each direction?

2- If we arrive at the bus station in Puebla at 7-9 at night, will we be able to get a taxi to our hotel?

3-Should we wait until the next day and travel to Puebla in daylight?

4-Any recommendations for centrally located hotels in Puebla would be appreciated? I assume 2 full days in Puebla and surroundings is sufficient.

baldone

1. Safe, 4 lane. Even at dusk.
2. Taxis know the bus schedules, so there will be plenty.
3. If you don't mind the longer travel day, it is perfectly fine to arrive 7ish.
4. Or go-to hotel is El Colonial. It's moderately priced, (like $50 US, if that's a concern) and it's right on the pedestrian andador. Perfect location, double pane windows. Its an ex-convent.
One unsolicited comment. For classic mole Poblano, check out Mesones Sacrista, just around the corner from El Colonial. It is also a hotel, but the layout of rooms around the restaurant makes me leery of how quiet it would be.
http://www.colonial.com.mx/colonial/hing.htm
http://mesones-sacristia.com/espanol...estaurante.php

Shanti

I'm afraid that I won't be much help.

I landed in the middle of the day so it was still light out when I arrived in Puebla. And I was initially staying at a B&B in Tlaxcala and they met me at the bus station. So I did not have to catch a taxi there, although there were taxis waiting there.

It's a major highway with two lanes in each direction so I would assume that it would be safe.

I think that one day each in Puebla and San Pedro Cholula would be sufficient.

shelleyk

baldone-Thanks for your recommendation of el colonial.I sent them an email requesting whether they had availability for certain dates in Feb. I sent it 3 days ago , and have not gotten any response. Does it usually take that long for a response? Also, do you have any recommendations for breakfast in the area of the hotel, or would you eat at the hotel? Breakfast at the hotel is slightly less than $5 USD., but I am wondering how good it is.

Leely2

shelleyk, I don't know your budget but last summer we enjoyed--for different reasons, very different experiences--the Marquis Reforma (business hotel--soft landing into a hectic city, comfy if not stylish rooms) and the Hippodrome in Condesa. Condesa was an excellent location, easy walking to lots of restaurants and people all out and about in the evenings, dining, walking their dogs, etc.

http://www.marquisreforma.com/default-en.html
http://www.hippodromehotel.mx/

We took taxis and Uber without problems whenever we felt like it; DF is a big, big city.

In Puebla we loved Casona de la China Poblana. I understand all the rooms are different; we lucked out and had a huge, very charming room.

http://www.casonadelachinapoblana.com.mx/

None of these are particularly inexpensive. Have a great trip!

baldone

I usually just call when I make a reservation, but I do speak Spanish. Their website indicates a 72 hour response to emails, but being Mexico that might mean 96 hours! They do accept reservations by fax according to their web page. You might try the staff tab on their website and go to the sales or assistant manager. Or, I can call for you and ask that they check their emails. But February is a ways off so you still have plenty of time. I don't think they're on many search engines, however. Thus their low rates. Kinda mom n pop ish.
As far as breakfast goes, $5 US is just more indicative of their value rather than the quality. For the times we've eaten there, it was good, not great, but certainly adequate. I did find their mole breakfast plates kinda heavy on the sauce. But a typical scrambled egg dish was fine. I'm not familiar with other breakfast locations, sorry. It's just that sometimes we're fine with some fruit, pan dulce and coffee, or an egg mcmuffin as we hit the road.

Christina

I really like the NH Spanish hotel chain and they have some in Mexico, including Puebla. That's where I stayed. I know a lot of people want something more "charming", not modern decor, but sometimes a nice, comfortable hotel with good AC and stuff is something I prefer rather than "character."

In any case, the location is excellent, only a short walk to the zocalo, and my room rate including breakfast which was a very good buffet. They arranged a taxi for me upon departure to the airport, as it was really early in the morning, and that worked great. I just booked online.
http://www.nh-hotels.com/hotel/nh-puebla

I just took a taxi from the bus station, but I arrived in the afternoon. I don't think you realize how big Puebla is, that is a major bus station, I can't imagine any problem with taxis at any time, but definitely not 7-9 pm.

In Mexico City, I stayed at an upscale B&B in COndesa. Location was excellent, neighborhood nice, B&B had it's pluses and minuses as B&Bs tend to do. AC didn't work very well, but their in-house restaurant was very good.
http://www.villacondesa.com.mx/

shelleyk

baldone- Thank you for your kind offer to call the Colonial Hotel on my behalf. I did finally get an email from them, and they do have availability for my 3 nights in Feb.

I am wondering if you might be able to compare the Colonial Hotel to the NH Puebla to the Casareyna Hotel (which is #1 on TA)in terms of central location and rooms. The Colonial Hotel is about $40 per night less than the other 2, and I would not mind saving the money, if most things are equal. When we travel we look for a well located, clean and comfortable room for sleeping, as we are out of the hotel sightseeing during most of the day and evening.

I'd sooner take the recommendation of a fellow Fodorite than TA. so I look forward to what you have to say. Christina and Leely2, thanks for your hotel recommendations.

Once I get the Puebla hotel nailed down I will work on finding a suitable hotel for our 6 nights in Mexico City. As you might have noticed, I am a type A person when planning trips, which I think is one of the reason we have had such fantastic and memorable trips.

baldone

I've stayed at NH's, but not in Puebla. As a chain, their rooms will be more consistent in terms of how they're set up, I think. The Colonial, being a converted convent, won't be so consistent from room to room, i.e., the same double room may be larger on one floor than the next, things like that.
As far as location, Colonial is 1 block off the zocalo, while the NH is like 2? So, not a huge difference. Nor have I stayed at Casreyna, but I know the location. Blvd. Heroes de 5 de Mayo is a very busy street, and you'd have to cross it to get to centro. Sometimes we've had to cross only to the median because we couldn't cross right as the light changed. And you have to watch out for turning traffic, even if you have the light/right of way. Pedestrians in Puebla don't get the courtesy that they might elsewhere.
One thing to add about Colonial, is that if you drill down on Google maps, it's located next to a pedestrian street. It's hard to tell,(streets with an arrow are for vehicles, those without are pedestrian) but Calle 4 Sur (adjacent to the hotel) is pedestrian only, and it connects with 3 Oeste and 6 sur that leads to the Plaza De Los Sapos, which are all pedestrian only. Often, artists and other vendors will have their stuff for sale along the andador. Plaza De Los Sapos often has flea markets on Saturdays.
It's probably good to book the Colonial early, as it can get booked with tours.

Daniel_Williams

HI Shelly,

If you wanted a second word on NH Puebla, I stayed at the NH Puebla and had no real issues. It's a modern hotel, which was a bit of a change from the old colonial-style hotels I had been staying elsewhere in Mexico and Guatemala that trip. Not as charming a hotel as the old colonials, but I found I enjoyed some of the modern amenities such as the small fitness center and soaking in the small pool for a bit. I thought their price for doing laundry was a bit steep, but this was no problem as Lavanderia Princess was a few blocks away and I was able to do everything I needed for 65 pesos. I opted as well for going to VIPs for breakfast some days a few blocks away rather than paying the 200 pesos for the NH Puebla breakfast.

Best wishes, Daniel