My husband is arriving in Mexico City around 10:30 p.m. and I was wondering if taking a "safe" taxi (paying at the the airport taxi booth, etc.)at this time of night is a smart thing to do. His hotel is located is in the Zona Rosa area. If taking a safe taxi at this time of night is not considered safe, what would you recommend? If it is okay to take the taxi, does anyone know approximately how much the fare would be from the airport to the Zona Rosa area? He has never been to Mexico City before. Thank you.

This is the sort of question usually asked by women travelling alone.

But, no matter. Yes - a taxi taken using a pre-paid coupon bought at the airport taxi desk is perfectly safe.

Been there, done that. Solo female.

Cost 150 pesos.

Fuzzy, be nice. You have to be more sensitive. It just sounded like a concerned wife. You know there are plenty of people in the US or other countries that have a misconception of Mexico City, specially if they have never been there. That is what these forums are all about, to provide sound advice and facts of what to look for from ones own experiences.
Fuzzy is correct getting a taxi at the airport is the safest way to get anywhere in Mexico City, specially late at night. All the cabs at the airport at union and/or regulated and constant watched over. Where ever they take you, there has to be an exact amount they can only charge you, and a specific time they have to be back at the airport, otherwise it is reported to the head of the union or organization. Their whole livelyhood is depended on the tourist, so they have to be completely safe. Otherwise people would not ride them and their whole bussiness goes down the drain. As far as price from the airport to zona rosa, I am not sure, but it should not be that terribly expensive, and like I said, the price is set at the cab ticket booth inside the airport or just outside the exit/entrance door, and you get a ticket and you give this to a person outside and he will call upon the next cab on line. Safe trip for your husband!

Although taxis are safe always precaution is good. Taking in consideration he is arriving the city late at night. Dont wear nice clothes, try to dress simple. More casual than profecional for his arrival, if he is taking a business trip.

I have been to Mexico City more times than I care to remember. The airport taxis are safe. I wouldn't worry about time of day or night. Mexico City is bustling from 6 am until 3 am.

A few tips on safety & wellness:

1. Do not put your luggage or bags onto the x-ray belt until the metal detector is clear. I've had colleagues get bags stolen. Two thieves work together. One thief passes through the detector & waits on the far side of the metal detector while the 2nd thief intentionally sets the detector off, holding up the line. By the time you get through, your bag is gone. This scam is typically done on laptop bags. Because the bags all look similar, theives take yours and leave an empty one in its place. Again, this is not a legend. I've had two colleagues lose laptops this way.

2. Act confident walking through the airport. If someone approaches you offering to "help", look them in the eyes an politely, but firmly say, "No, garcias."

3. exchnage money at the airport. You'll get the best exchange rates there, paying a 1-2% premium, if I remember. Hotels charge up to a 10% premium for exchanging money.

4. Wherever you are, if you need a taxi, have someone call one for you. You will get a taxi number to look for. Unless the taxi has that number somewhere on it, I would not get in.

5. Do not venture outside the core of Zona Rosa on foot. The area gets VERY seedy and dangerous outside the area patrolled by guards.

6. Unless it is a hotel that caters to Americans (and has its own water purification system), do not brush your teeth with tap water. Do not let shower water get in your mouth. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel it (bananas & oranges are ok, apples, grapes, berries are not ok). Do not eat salads. Do not drink beverages with ice unless you know the ice has been made from purified water. A good indication if it is safe at your hotel is if you can smell chlorine in the tap water.

That said, Mexico City is beautiful and there is a lot to do. If your husband has time, I would recommend visiting the Zocalo. The National Palace is there with the fmaous mural done by Diego Rivera. The Temple Mayor. The Cathedral.

Thank you very much for all your replies. And yes, I am a very concerned wife whose husband usually travels abroad with the family, and seldom ventures solo beyond the US. My concerns stem from not having had an opportunity to visit Mexico City, and also reading a post where this person was robbed even though they took a safe taxi from the airport. The poster strongly advised taking down the taxi number, just in case. Thank you for all the tips about safety,luggage, clothing, etc. He will have a lot of luggage as he will be there to climb with professional guides but they will all be coming in at different times. Thank you, too for the tip on places to avoid and places to visit. I feel a lot better now.

In reading my response, people are probably thinking - and she's concerned about the ride from the airport instead of the climb? Trust me, I am mortified every time he goes on a climb, and I spend a lot of time on my knees during those times. Thanks again for the sound advice.