Hotels in the Historic District

As a newly arrived TEFL teaching prospect, first on your agenda is a place to stay. It?s not just a place to flop, but will be your ?base of operations? and starting point of reference for virtually all your initial endeavors in and about the city. Look at two or three places at least, and choose the one you feel most comfortable with. Be sure to get the hotel?s business card with the name, complete address, phone number and particulars of the place you?re staying and carry it with you at all times. Many hotel business cards have a small map on the back to help you re-locate them. If all else fails, you can always show the card to a policeman, taxi driver or other official who could then assist you if you?re turned around, having problems, need directions or are just plain lost. Don?t be ashamed of being ?lost? in Mexico City - this metropolis, the largest city in the world, sprawls for many kilometers in every direction and is awesome and overwhelming for even the best and most experienced travelers.

The following are hotels near the Zocalo, which is the center of the Historic District of Mexico City.

Hotel San Antonio

Address: 2nd Callejon 5 de Mayo No.29 (between Isabel la Catolica and Palma) Phones: 512 ? 9906, 518 ? 1625, 518 ? 1626

A little difficult to find at first, but located in an L ? shaped ?Callejon? (alley), which shelters this small, classy hotel from the street noise on the ever-busy Cinco de Mayo and the equally noisy Palma. With 5 floors and plenty of small, clean rooms, a vacancy is almost always available. Most have color TV, private bath, phone and 24 hour hot water. Upper level rooms on the street side are brighter than interior ones. It?s a mere half-block strut to restaurants, shops and a multitude of stores. The people-packed Zocalo and Metro are less than two blocks away. Prices are 120 pesos for a single, 140 pesos for a double with two beds. One of the best values in the Historic District. The front is lined with fluttering flags that portend the hotel?s offerings.

Hotel Canada

Address: Cinco de Mayo No.47 Phones: 518 - 2106 Fax: 521 - 9310

Upscale and bright, but affordable is this well-known and popular hotel on the corner of Cico de Mayo with Callejon 5 de Mayo. It has nearly 100 rooms, although the ones on the street side can be noisy during the day and early evenings. All rooms have all the basic amenities; color TV, phone, 24 hour hot water, are clean and moderate-sized. Travel agency services, tours, mail, fax and other business services are available at modest cost. On the ground floor there is an excellent juice bar. Prices are likewise at bit more upscale with singles going for 170 pesos and doubles for 210 pesos. A great location and good value though. The staff is likewise courteous, friendly and helpful. Some English is spoken.

Hotel Washington

Address: Cinco de Mayo No. 54 Phones: 512 - 3502

Among the several hotels along the Cinco de Mayo, the Washington, near the corner of Palma is less than two blocks from the Zocalo and offers basic accommodations at reasonable rates. Most rooms have a private bath, 24 hour hot water, phone and TV. Rates are 130 pesos for a single and 140 pesos for a double with one or two beds. Street side rooms tend to be noisy, while the interior ones can be a bit dark. Look at several rooms on different floors before deciding to receive the best value.

Hotel Rioja

Address: Cinco de Mayo No. 45 Phones: 521 ? 8333, 521 ? 8273, 518 ? 3852

One block from the Zocalo, with rooms containing private bath, hot water mornings and evenings only and radio speakers piping in music from a local station; the Rioja?s sparsely furnished rooms offer little more than a place to sleep. The location is good and the small staff amenable enough to assist with some information, but little English is spoken. One of the cheapest hotels to be found in the area (with acceptably clean, liveable rooms) prices are based on location. Rooms with a window are priced at 110 pesos for singles, 130 pesos for doubles and 140 pesos for triples with two or three beds. Interior, windowless rooms are 90 pesos for a single and 100 pesos for doubles.

We?ll continue with a few more inexpensive hotel options in part 2 of this article on ?Where to Stay in Mexico City?. Be sure to check out my other articles in the two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, have questions or comments, the author can be e-mailed at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com