Mexico City

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Mexico City, capital of Mexico in so many ways

A travel journal to Mexico City by Phil Best of IgoUgo

Maria Christina HotelMore Photos

A compendium of about ten trips to Mexico City. Highlights include several museums (Frida Kahlo's home, Anthropological museum), culture (the Symphony, Ballet Folklorico), dining and accommodations.

  • 7 reviews
  • 9 photos

Mexico City, capital of Mexico in so many waysBest of IgoUgo

Overview

The House of Tiles
A concert or show at the Palace de Bellas Artes (one of the most beautiful concert halls in North America), a Sunday visit to Coyoacan to enjoy the public plazas with ice cream cone in hand, floating through the Xochimilco gardens, churros and hot chocolate at El Moro cafe, lunch or dinner in the lovely Sanborn's at the House of Tiles, and soaking up the Belle Epoque atmosphere with dinner at Bar Opera.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Mexico City's Metro is a wonder... I doubt any transit system carries more passengers. Try to avoid rush hour and take the subway! In one of the world's largest cities, public transit is abundant. In addition to the Metro there are buses and taxis. The only caveat: DON'T TAKE the Volkswagen beatle taxis.

Hotel AeropuertoBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

This is my choice for an airport hotel. I often have to make a layover at the airport, and this is where I stay when I do. Walkable from the airport, and the price is right: about US$25 per night.

Don't be put off by the front desk which is behind glass (you'd think you were being checked in by a bank teller). The hotel is very comfortable, and the rooms are quiet (especially given that the hotel is literally across the street from the airport). There's a nice little dining room for breakfast or a quick dinner. The Metro is right outside if you want to make a quick trip into the city.

If you're planning on arriving very late I'd suggest a reservation. The hotel does fill up!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Phil on October 30, 2000

Hotel Aeropuerto
Boulevard Aeropuerto 380 Mexico City, Mexico
785-6928

Best Western MajesticBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hotel Majestic"

Hotel Majestic
The Hotel Majestic is one of my favorite hotels in Mexico City. It's not the cheapest, nor is it the newest. But I always feel right at home here. The tiled lobby with the gurgling fountain, the lovely rooftop restaurant overlooking the Zocalo, the old elevators, convenience to the Metro, and the terrific central location in the heart of the Centro Historico make for a combination that can't be beat in my book.

The rooms are furnished with heavy Spanish colonial-style furniture. The bathrooms have the original fixtures: which means HUGE bath tubs and huge sinks.

The rooms facing the Zocalo have the best views, but if you take one of those, wear earplugs or be ready to wake up with the bugle's fanfares announcing the raising of the huge flag in the Zocalo. Less scenic, but certainly quieter, are the rooms facing the central atrium.

Be sure to enjoy a meal at the rooftop restaurant while you're here. The restaurant is one of the nicest features of the hotel.

The Majestic participates in the Best Western's reservation system, so you can easily make a reservation from home.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Phil on October 30, 2000

Best Western Majestic
AVE MADERO 73 COL CENTRO Mexico City, Mexico 06600
525555218600

Maria ChristinaBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Maria Christina Hotel
The Maria Christina is a darling of Mexico City's budget travelers. The rooms are large, the lobby's done up in Spanish Colonial, and there's a terrific lawn where you can sit and sip coffee or tea.

The staff is sometimes surly, and make sure you have a reservation! This place is popular: the reasonable rates and the relative convenience to the Zona Rosa make for a winning combination.

This isn't my favorite hotel in Mexico City, primarily because I'm *not* fond of the Zona Rosa. I'm much more inclined to the Centro Historico because I favor history and colonial architecture over nightclubs and neon. Otherwise I think the Maria Christina's a great choice.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Phil on October 30, 2000

Maria Christina
Rio Lerma 31 Mexico City, Mexico
703-17-87

Churreria El MoroBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

El Moro serves churros, a Mexican doughnut. Select one of the four kinds of hot chocolate or a coffee and an order of churros, and enjoy a very typical Mexican snack. El Moro's been here for more than 50 years, and it shows. It's not chic... it's comfortably worn. If you're looking for a slice of life in the Capital, this might be the place.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Phil on October 30, 2000

Churreria El Moro
Lazaro Cardenas (Eje Central) #42 Mexico City, Mexico

Xochimilco´s Floating GardensBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Floating gardens of Xochimilco"

Xochimilco
The 'Floating Gardens' have long been one of Mexico City's most noted attractions. The gardens have fallen in and out of favor over the years, with the canals suffering from a lack of attention during the out-of-favor periods. The gardens, at one point, were even known as the 'Floating Garbage of Xochimilco'. The gardens are back in favor, and the canals have been cleaned recently. Popular with Mexican families, weekends in the gardens can be boat bumper-to-boat bumper traffic jams. The gardens date back to the time of Moctezuma. Mexico City, at the time, was a marsh with a sophisticated series of canals. These canals are a remaining portion of that original system of canals. Your day will start with negotiating a rate for one of the pole-propelled boats. The boats vary in size, depending upon the size of your party. You can even rent several boats, and 'raft' them together. Allow about two to three hours for the tour. Take a picnic lunch, put your feet up, and enjoy the gently rocking motion of the boat as your float among the islands and gardens.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by Phil on October 31, 2000

Xochimilco´s Floating Gardens
Xochimilco Mexico City, Mexico
+52 5 676 0810

Palacio de Bellas ArtesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "National Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico"

Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Mexico City Philharmonic is a fine orchestra. Some of my favorite memories from visits to Mexico City are of concerts that I've attended at the Palace of Fine Arts. It's nice to hear promgramming that varies from those pieces that always seem to be performed in the States. One concert featured 'Sones de Mariachi' by Blas Galindo, and 'La noche de los mayas' by Silvestre Revueltas. I'm still waiting for either of those to appear on a schedule at home!

The orchestra's home, the Palace of Fine Arts, is a magnificant structure. The exterior is Art Nouveau. The interior is Art Deco. That's because it took 30 years for the building to be finished, and styles had changed in the interim. The stage curtain was designed by Louis Tiffany, and is constructed of stained glass. The image is of the volcanoes that overlook Mexico City: Popocateptl and Iztaccihuatl.

This building has been named by the United Nations as one of the world's top 100 most-endangered monuments. That's because it (as is most of Mexico City) is constructed on a marsh. The building has been sinking, and not so slowly!

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Phil on October 31, 2000

Palacio de Bellas Artes
Avenida Juárez y Eje Lázaro Cárdenas Mexico City, Mexico 06050
+52 5 5122593; +52 5

About the Writer

Phil
Phil
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.