Mexico City
Sep 6th, 2005, 11:35 AM
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Mexico City
Hello everyone. I have been to Monterrey several times, stay with friends and feel safe and secure. I have the opportunity to go to Mexico City for the first time and I have this anxiety that I just can't shake. I'm sure it's just in my mind because I had this before I went to Monterrey. Can you tell me some of your experiences in Mexico City, perhaps a nice moderately priced hotel? I need this info asap! Thanks
Sep 6th, 2005, 11:45 AM
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Mexico City is an edgy place. I don't think "safe and secure" is part of the package. However, it is fascinating and exciting. My suggestion would be to stay on or near the Zocalo for the best people watching, as well as easy access to the Cathedral, the Templo Mayor and Rivera Murals in the National Palace. We stayed at the Hotel Majestic. The rooms need a facelift but you're right on the Zocalo -- ask for a room overlooking it. They have an OK restaurant and bar on the 7th floor -- more great views.
Sep 7th, 2005, 07:40 PM
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Ooo, ooo, ooo, take me with you!
I love Monterrey too, but positively ADORE Mexico City! If you're comfortable in Monterrey and you're aware of the basic security issues in Mexico City, then you will have zero problems. It CAN be a bit scary at first, but after a day or so and your first couple Metro trips, you'll have it down pat and be zipping around and doing everything.
If you're at all like me, the biggest problem is going to be figuring out how to do EVERYTHING you want to do in what little time you have to do it (even if the timespan is months or years...)
I've never had a problem finding good deals on hotels either. What's your price range, and any preference on where you want to be? Most of the high dollar hotels cluster around Polanco / Chapultepec / Reforma. Around the Zocalo you can sometimes snag very affordable places. One surprising good place I stayed in last year was the Holiday Inn Zocalo --- kind of cattycorner to the Cathedral. The rooms were fairly predictable in their U.S. chain styling, but the hotel itself had a surprising level of historical class for a Holiday Inn, and I paid about US$65 a night, which was a relative bargain for the level of comfort I got (not to mention the convenience of being smack dab on the Zocalo).
Hope it helps,
Mark
www.tiogringo.com
I love Monterrey too, but positively ADORE Mexico City! If you're comfortable in Monterrey and you're aware of the basic security issues in Mexico City, then you will have zero problems. It CAN be a bit scary at first, but after a day or so and your first couple Metro trips, you'll have it down pat and be zipping around and doing everything.
If you're at all like me, the biggest problem is going to be figuring out how to do EVERYTHING you want to do in what little time you have to do it (even if the timespan is months or years...)
I've never had a problem finding good deals on hotels either. What's your price range, and any preference on where you want to be? Most of the high dollar hotels cluster around Polanco / Chapultepec / Reforma. Around the Zocalo you can sometimes snag very affordable places. One surprising good place I stayed in last year was the Holiday Inn Zocalo --- kind of cattycorner to the Cathedral. The rooms were fairly predictable in their U.S. chain styling, but the hotel itself had a surprising level of historical class for a Holiday Inn, and I paid about US$65 a night, which was a relative bargain for the level of comfort I got (not to mention the convenience of being smack dab on the Zocalo).
Hope it helps,
Mark
www.tiogringo.com
Sep 7th, 2005, 07:47 PM
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By the way, if you're not hurting for cash, I don't really recommend staying in the Zocalo area....I far prefer Polanco and I love the great location of the Marquis Reforma, right across the circle from the Niños Heroes side of Chapultepec. Super convenient to several museums, including the Anthropology museum (one of the best in the city).
I've gotten the Marquis Reforma as cheap as US$100 (a steal for a luxurious 5-star property like this) and have gotten the Galerias Plaza in the Zona Rosa area for US$75 on Hotwire. I've sometimes seen weekend packages at the Four Seasons for under $200.
If you're an upscale traveler and can snag deals at any of the above-mentioned hotels, I think you'll be happier than anything you'd find in the Zocalo.
Just my 2 cents...
Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com
I've gotten the Marquis Reforma as cheap as US$100 (a steal for a luxurious 5-star property like this) and have gotten the Galerias Plaza in the Zona Rosa area for US$75 on Hotwire. I've sometimes seen weekend packages at the Four Seasons for under $200.
If you're an upscale traveler and can snag deals at any of the above-mentioned hotels, I think you'll be happier than anything you'd find in the Zocalo.
Just my 2 cents...
Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com
Sep 7th, 2005, 08:00 PM
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Others have spoken well of Mexico City, and I enjoy it as well (lived there for 6 years in the '90's). I recommend against staying near the Zocalo, however. What's your budget? Maybe some of us can recommend an appropriate hotel for your stay.
Sep 9th, 2005, 05:53 AM
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Hi Rick
I'm from Montreal and visited Monterrey for the first time in December 2003, staying in a hotel in the Centro. I had similar fears/misgivings even before my 5 day trip there, but told myself that if necessary as an escape valve, I could always take a bus right out and stay with my cousin in Houston a few days early if I hated it. I ended up instead falling in love with Monterrey, its food and regiomontano warmth and culture. My mind and heart opened in ways I'd never imagined! I ended up being sad to leave!
In December 2004, I planned a 5-day trip to Mexico City. One hears horror stories and mixed reviews about big, bad old Mexico DF, so I was a bit scared anxious too. Again, I told myself if I hated the city, as an escape valve, I could always catch the bus up to Monterrey.
Mexico City is definitely more chaotic and dense than Monterrey and you'll certainly want to read up about precautions (especially regarding taxis). However, have no doubt about this, Mexico City is one of the great cities of the world. As much as I love New York City for its charm and energy, the Big Apple seems staid in comparison to the frenetic energy of the Mexican capital.
I was blown away by how comfortable I felt getting around the Mexican capital on foot and by public transit. Going to Mexico City, especially after visiting Teotihuacan, the Museo de Antropología, the Zocalo/Templo Mayor and Xochimilco, all the many layers of history seen first-hand, changed my worldview in ways that never would have occurred to me.
I stayed at the Hotel Maria Cristina, a reasonably-priced hotel in Colonia Cuauhtemoc 5 minutes by foot from the Zona Rosa (ca. $55/night), 10 minutes from Insurgentes Metro and one block from the Paseo de la Reforma. While at first, I was chicken to walk around, by day 5, I felt comfortable enough that I even walked to meet some friends of friends at a bar in the Zona Rosa at night!
If you're interested, I have trip reports describing my experiences. I'll top them for you "Awed and Overwhelmed by Mexico City".
Good luck deciding!!! DAN
I'm from Montreal and visited Monterrey for the first time in December 2003, staying in a hotel in the Centro. I had similar fears/misgivings even before my 5 day trip there, but told myself that if necessary as an escape valve, I could always take a bus right out and stay with my cousin in Houston a few days early if I hated it. I ended up instead falling in love with Monterrey, its food and regiomontano warmth and culture. My mind and heart opened in ways I'd never imagined! I ended up being sad to leave!
In December 2004, I planned a 5-day trip to Mexico City. One hears horror stories and mixed reviews about big, bad old Mexico DF, so I was a bit scared anxious too. Again, I told myself if I hated the city, as an escape valve, I could always catch the bus up to Monterrey.
Mexico City is definitely more chaotic and dense than Monterrey and you'll certainly want to read up about precautions (especially regarding taxis). However, have no doubt about this, Mexico City is one of the great cities of the world. As much as I love New York City for its charm and energy, the Big Apple seems staid in comparison to the frenetic energy of the Mexican capital.
I was blown away by how comfortable I felt getting around the Mexican capital on foot and by public transit. Going to Mexico City, especially after visiting Teotihuacan, the Museo de Antropología, the Zocalo/Templo Mayor and Xochimilco, all the many layers of history seen first-hand, changed my worldview in ways that never would have occurred to me.
I stayed at the Hotel Maria Cristina, a reasonably-priced hotel in Colonia Cuauhtemoc 5 minutes by foot from the Zona Rosa (ca. $55/night), 10 minutes from Insurgentes Metro and one block from the Paseo de la Reforma. While at first, I was chicken to walk around, by day 5, I felt comfortable enough that I even walked to meet some friends of friends at a bar in the Zona Rosa at night!
If you're interested, I have trip reports describing my experiences. I'll top them for you "Awed and Overwhelmed by Mexico City".
Good luck deciding!!! DAN
Feb 24th, 2006, 12:09 PM
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Feb 24th, 2006, 04:44 PM
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Love FD & the Hotel Majestic right on the Zocalo. We spent New Years eve in a 7th floor room w/view of all the festives. Not fancy but very adequate with a great staff & roof top restaurant & night spot.
Feb 27th, 2006, 08:55 AM
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Hey! Interesting to see how this thread popped back up again...
Here's a little nugget for anyone planning a trip to Mexico City at this time of year....check out the Four Seasons.
I know, I know, it's usually insanely priced, *BUT* there are some *AMAZINGLY* good weekend rates popping up on their web site...last weekend I saw $145. Now, I see one for the weekend of 3/18 for $159 per night per room (not per person).
Five star luxury at a price you'd pay for lesser corporate hotels? Why not splurge?
Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com
Here's a little nugget for anyone planning a trip to Mexico City at this time of year....check out the Four Seasons.
I know, I know, it's usually insanely priced, *BUT* there are some *AMAZINGLY* good weekend rates popping up on their web site...last weekend I saw $145. Now, I see one for the weekend of 3/18 for $159 per night per room (not per person).
Five star luxury at a price you'd pay for lesser corporate hotels? Why not splurge?
Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com
Apr 4th, 2006, 08:22 PM
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I was in DF for 4 days this past January staying with a friend near the Ibero university campus. The first 2 days were spent stuck to her side as she would not let me do anything without her. Then on day 3 she got called to a job interview, so I ended up leaving the house and making it down to Frida's Casa Azul myself. Then I went from there to Condesa for drinks with another friend. The following day also saw me getting on and off public transportation and spending time alone.
DF is not a safe place, nor is it somewhere I would go if I was not a confident and aware person. I am a 25 year old white female bilingual in Castillian Spanish and did not feel in danger, nor did I ever feel like dropping my guard and wandering into a completely unknown, "local" area.
When I go back I am going to stay in Polanco (a great suggestion and a wonderful area) and I think that is a great idea. The Zocalo area is not so good after dark and you could easily spend the day there and see so much, then head back to your hotel.
Do not miss the great nightlife in Condesa. The Condechi bar serves the most fabulous daquiris that taste just like they should: not sweet or chemical, but smooth, fruity and woozy.
DF is not a safe place, nor is it somewhere I would go if I was not a confident and aware person. I am a 25 year old white female bilingual in Castillian Spanish and did not feel in danger, nor did I ever feel like dropping my guard and wandering into a completely unknown, "local" area.
When I go back I am going to stay in Polanco (a great suggestion and a wonderful area) and I think that is a great idea. The Zocalo area is not so good after dark and you could easily spend the day there and see so much, then head back to your hotel.
Do not miss the great nightlife in Condesa. The Condechi bar serves the most fabulous daquiris that taste just like they should: not sweet or chemical, but smooth, fruity and woozy.
