Need Quick Answer- leaving in 2 days! Mexico City Hotels

Staying in Sante Fe area for the work days (Tues- Fri) which I understand to be a very safe but sort of boring business area where global companies are based. I also understand it to be about 20-30 minutes away from the city itself.

I have two free nights that I plan to spend touring- probably just going to do the Hop on Hop Off bus one day and maybe a tour of the pyramids the other. I am now wondering if I should stay inside the city for those 2 nights. My # 1 priority is feeling safe but second to that Id like to be in a lively, "real" area where I can step out to a store or restaurant and maybe walk around during the day to markets, tourist sites. I see hotels in areas like Zocola, Reforma, Centro Historica- where would be best?

I leave on Sunday am so quick help appreciated.

Safety map.

Safety map.

http://www.eluniversaldf.mx/fotos/mapa_centro_df.jpg

Hmm. That isn't very reassuring! Maybe I should just stick with the cleaned up Disney-esque Sante fe area.

We are going to Mexico City for Christmas and ultimately chose an airbnb, but I spent a lot of time looking at neighborhoods, and finally zeroed in on La Condesa and Roma Norte. They are supposedly very safe, interesting/trendy with lots of food and nightlife. The Centro has many sights, but is more business-oriented so it can be dead at night. So, no hotel info for you, but I'd focus on those neighborhoods!

One suggestion: everyone seems to adore The Red Tree House B+B. Its reviews are so pristine and flawless that it is probably full, but worth a try -- or they may have a suggestion for you.

Depending on where you want to go in Mexico City and time of day, I think it could take considerably longer to get between Mexico City and Santa Fe. The traffic is truly terrible.

I would feel very comfortable staying alone in Condesa or Roma Norte as iwasmim suggests. Polanco also has lots of hotels and would be very safe.

Edited to add: reforma also has tons of large hotels and am sure would be fine but it's a busy road with large corporate headquarters, banks, embassies, etc. It does not have the walk out into a neighborhood feel you would get in Roma or Condesa.

Good to know about Reforma- I may as well stay in Sante Fe rather than pick that area if its industrial anyway. I had narrowed it down to the Centro Historico but Dave's map is sort of scaring me off. I am concerned that such a small area is the only "green" I see and that historical area is bordering on yellow and red- any comments on that? I don't want a B&B experience when traveling alone- I want a large hotel with security and a manned front desk 24/7

"Among the regions with no advisory in effect: Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Guanajuato (home to the mountain town of San Miguel de Allende), Oaxaca, Quintana Roo (the region containing Tulum and Playa del Carmen), the Yucatan, and Mexico City."

http://www.outsideonline.com/1928366/mexico-safe-or-dangerous-definitive-guide

Yes, I read that also but that map is making me nervous. Such a small radius of "safe" zones.

I agree the map looks scary, but everything I read persuades me that Polanco, Roma Norte and La Condesa are safe, if you observe normal big-city precautions.

Okay. I'll have to search more- I don't see those areas on any hotels. I see Reforma, Zocalo and centrist historico as my main options

I lived in Mexico City for three years until a year ago. I never felt unsafe alone (I am female) in Condesa, Roma or Polanco. I can't recall being in Centro at night and asked my husband who worked nearby and his comment was that Centro might feel marginally less safe than Condesa or Roma and that there are more homeless much as there are high numbers of homeless near Penn Station/Times Square in NYC.

If you plan to head to Mexico City in the morning and back to Santa Fe in the evening, then staying there is probably fine. If you would want to be able to get back to your hotel midday for a break at all, being in Condesa/Roma/Polanco. There are some hotels in Polanco within walking distance to the Turibus stops in Polanco (Auditorio/Anthropology Museum) that are in an area of Polanco that have lots of shops/restaurants. In Polanco things are clustered in the area around Parque Lincoln. Of course, Polanco hotels may be expensive. There are also hotels in Condesa/Roma which would be in walking distance from the Turibus but given that most of the buildings in Condesa/Roma are very old, the hotels also tend to be boutique hotels or B&Bs.

Got it. Thank you! What markets/shopping would you recommend? I love to look at and sample market foods. I was also hoping to pick up lots of cheap little day of the Dead things for the kids.

I am thinking I'd just do one day in Mexico City either on a guided tour (not my favorite) or self-guided on the double-decker bus. I can get a cab from the hotel in the am but what do you recommend going back to the hotel? I know not to use street taxis so should I just go into a nice hotel in the city and ask them to get me a cab? I am not sure pre-arranging at my Santa Fe hotel makes sense as I am not sure when or from where I'll be ready to return.

You can call a "radio taxi" and request one from wherever you are. Ask at the hotel for the local number. The other safe way to get a taxi are via "sitios" which are taxi stands that are scattered around.

Shopping depends on where you are and what day of the week. There are outdoor markets (tianguis) that move around on various days. Then there are stationary/covered markets (mercados). In Roma, I like Mercado Medellin. Mercado San Juan is also very well known and attracts locals for a huge variety of food products as well as tourists. If you happen to be down in Coyoacan, the mercado there is also very good (similar to Roma although perhaps a bit more touristy). Jamaica market is amazing if you are into plants/flowers but its a bit off the beaten path.

I liked these two blogs while I lived there, and they might have some useful info:

http://mexicocitydf.blogspot.com/

http://davidlida.com/

This blog has a ton about food. You will have to search for the older posts as the writer moved back to NYC and thus her recent stuff is about food there, rather than Mexico City: http://www.themijachronicles.com/

Just wanted to update to say I am here. I stuck with Hilton in the city center. nice location- right in front of the double decker turibus stop. I did the bus tour today- tons of traffic so it took all day (9 hrs) with me getting out to walk around twice- Polanco and Roma areas. Unfortunately museums are all closed on Monday but I have a free morning tomorrow so I will try to get to at least one. Food is amazing and really cheap. I like the city a lot. Very clean, people are very friendly. Tons of high rise buildings and interesting architecture. I have felt very safe. Some beggars and homeless but its a huge city so that is to be expected. I saw a few areas on bus tour that I wouldn't want to walk around but isn't that true of any large city. I am enjoying it even more than I thought I would. Thanks for all the tips!

Great! So glad you are enjoying it. It really is a fabulous city.