Alternative places to stay in Mexico City

Hotel/Motel Las Piramides is a very pretty, large hotel located on Eje Central in the Narvarte area of the city. You wont have to google for too long to understand what a motel usually involves in Mexico but the modern and pretty place has both motel and hotel price lists with rooms divided until "motel" and "hotel" accordingly - so be sure when checking in to ask for a hotel room if you don´t wish your room to be complete with "massage oils and magic powders"!.

If you check online you will find great reviews for the hotel - its clean and the rooms are large with King size beds. The hotel would be a great place for anyone on a budget or anyone not wishing to spend too much money on hotels whilst in the city. The hotel is also located in a very safe residential area which is heavily patrolled at night by police and only a ten minute trolleybus ride from the downtown historic area of the city.

Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 1176 Col San Simón Ticuman between Pilares and Miguel Laurent

http://hotelmotelpiramides.com.mx/

Outside of the city...

Anyone visiting Mexico city or spending anytime here wishing to get away from the hustle and bustle should think about visiting Tepoztlán - a small town of just over 32,000 residents located a short drive away from DF in the state of Morelos.

According to myth, Tepoztlan is the birthplace over 1200 years ago of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god widely-worshipped in ancient Mexico.

It has not yet been possible to determine who first inhabited the area. The earliest findings of pottery and other ceramic utensils date back to approximately 1500 BCE.

By the 10th century CE the Toltec culture was predominant in the area. Tepoztlán is said to have been the birthplace of Ce Acatl, a very important Toltec leader, later known as Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl, and who may be the possible historical basis of the Mesoamericangod Quetzalcoatl.

During the Spanish Conquest Hernán Cortés is said to have ordered the town razed after the refusal of the town leaders to meet him. This event was chronicled by Bernal Díaz del Castillo in The Conquest of New Spain.

The town has a rich history and plenty to see and is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after areas with many wealthy mexicans snapping up weekend and summer houses in the town.

If travelling to Tepoz in a large group you may wish to rent a house for your stay. We recommend looking at www.laquintadimension.com for a beautiful rental house in the pretty town. The owner has one large home in Tepoztlán and a smaller condo at Valle de Bravo available for rent year round. Reservations can be made by contacting the owners son, Fabian Aldama on the telephone number listed on thier website who can arrange bookings of both properties and speaks fluent english for any of you non spanish speakers.

Hotels - Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel and Towers

The Maria Isabel Sheraton is located right on Reforma infront of "El Angel" - the perfect location for anyone visiting the city. The neighbourhood is safe and with the US Embassy being the hotels closest neighbour, there is always a large police presence in the street at all times. The is a few shops in the lobby selling jewellery and gifts, post cards and also mexican art. Mexico cities first starbucks is also located infront of the Hotel for early morning coffees with a late closing time.





Being part of the Starwood group means that the hotel is also Pet friendly !





Good Points about the Hotel


*Price - Good for business travellers and people on vacation


*Location - right on Reforma, the views from the rooms over the city are amazing


*Room Size - All rooms are large and have good bathrooms with large baths and showers


*Bars and Restaurants - although a little overpriced the food from the hotel restaurants are great ( we recommend the "Amichi" salad)


*Starbucks - the staff at the starbucks infront of Maria Isabel generally speak english and are really friendly and always happy to help


*Sanborns - There is a sanborns located on the corner outside the hotel which is open till around 11pm for any emergency buys and ofcourse with pharmacy


*Money - the foreign exchange rate at the hotel is generally very good

*Room Service - staff are excellent





Bad Points


*Staff - apart from the Bell Boys, the other staff are not the nicest - If you have any problems, the Management team are not the best to deal with. If you speak any other languages than spanish and english you may also have problems as the staff dont seem to have a wide knowledge of foriegn language

*The pool - the swimming pool is small and is usually overcrowded with few sun loungers leaving people without anywhere to sit.

*Room Service - expensive and can sometimes be very slow

*Suites - the top floor suites are not great - small and outdated

*Old and outdated hotel

*Bathroom - dont wake up too early otherwise you might find that the water isnt very hot for your morning shower !


*Internet - the hotel rooms all have internet which is expensive and problematic


*Noise - although the windows in the rooms are "sound proofed" - the rooms can be noisey. The hotel sits on one of Mexico Cities principle avenues and traffic starts early in the morning (4am sometimes) and major demonstations frequently take place infront of the hotel due to the american embassy being close by

*Reforma is closed for cars for a large part of sunday to allow people to walk and ride bicycles so dont expect any taxis and Do expect LOTS and LOTS and people outside on the streets


*Traffic - if you are in a hurry, leave early, traffic infront of the hotel is always terrible

I lived in the Hotel whilst i was moving house - i hated the hotel but found the location so great that i stayed for almost six months. Walking on reforma at night is great. If you have to stay in this neighbourhood whilst in the city, i would suggest one of the other hotels like the Presidente or if you must stay at a starwood property, the Sheraton at Centro Historico or the W at Polanco are far nicer hotels.

Mid Range Hotels

Mid-range Hotels

• Holiday Inn Zocalo, Av Cinco De Mayo 61 Col Centro Colonia Centro Mexico City 06000. Four star hotel that has an amazing rooftop balcony restaurant overlooking Zocalo Square. The rooms are comfortable, well furnished although the internet access in the lobby can be inconsistent. $102.
• Hotel Majestic, Av Madero 73, Centro Histórico, Mexico City 06000. While boasting an impressive tezontle stone facade, this four star hotel is let down by small rooms and staff that seem ambivalent. However, it is an unbeatable location and the terrace restaurant gives stunning panoramic views of the Zócalo that are not to be missed.

• NH Centro Historico, Palma, 42 Centro, +52.55.51301850. The NH Centro Histórico is located in the heart of the city of Mexico, only a few steps away from the historic 'Plaza de la Constitución' better known as “Zócalo”, and the magnificent historical 'Metropolitan Cathedral', the 'National Library' and 'Mexico City Museum'. The NH Centro Histórico offers the ideal starting point to visit the most important symbolic buildings and monuments. There are 2 other NH Hotels in Mexico City.