Airlines
Serving Mexico City From the US:
American
Airlines Connections
through Dallas & non-stop from LAX
Continental
Airlines Connections
Through Houston
US
Airways Connections
through Phoenix
AeroMexico
Non-stop from various US Cities and
Europe
Delta
Non-stop from LAX,
Atlanta and Salt Lake City
United
Alaska
Airport arrival
& transfers:
Arriving in Benito Juaraz
International airport you will go through Mexico Customs
which is usually fairly simple. The Mexico City airport
has been remodeled in recent years and is very clean
and orderly and has a wide selection of good restraunts
and shops.
US citizens
are now required to have a valid US passport to enter
Central Mexico via plane. At
customs you will be asked to push a button which displays
a green or red light in front of you. If you get a
green light you will proceed immediately to the main
airport area where you can find ground transportation.
If you get a red light your bags may be searched.
The best way to get from
the airport to downtown is by taxi. It is important
that you use an official taxi. To do this you must
go to an official taxi booth usually located right
outside customs. They sell you a taxi voucher according
to what zone you will be going to. For the Hotel Majestic
& the Holiday Inn Zocolo you will be going to
the Centro Historico Zone. For the Galleria Plaza
Hotel you will be going to the Zona Rosa. You will
then proceed to the official taxi stand with YELLOW
taxis. Official yellow taxis are considered as safe
as any taxi in the US. Do not take a green taxi from
the airport. Do not accept any offers in the airport
for a taxi ride from anyone, always go guy the official
voucher.
Our
Meeting Place and Time in Mexico City:
We will meet
at 6pm for dinner or drinks at our hotel. We will
confirm our meeting place when we confirm our hotel
choice. We will get to know each other and
discuss the trip and the itinerary. If you will be
arriving after 6pm please let the CAG office know
in advance.
Our
Hotel in Mexico City:
We will use one of the
following hotels in downtown Mexico City, depending
upon availability. We will confirm our choice 4-6
weeks prior to the trip.
Hotel
Majestic, Best Western
This is the
historical hotel right on the Zocalo. They have a
terrace bar and restaraunt that has a spectacular
view of the Zocolo, presidential palace and National
Cathedral.
They have a large all-you-can-eat
breakfast buffet. The rooms are older and a little
small, but it has been renovated in recent years since
becoming a Best Western Property. Like much of Mexico
City, The main Zocolo or square can get a bit noisy.
Holiday
Inn Zocalo
Also right on the Zocalo,
the Holiday Inn is just a few feet away from the National
Cathedral and some of the nicer shopping areas of
Mexico City. They also have a very good rooftop restaraunt
with an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.
Galleria
Plaza Hotel
Located in the central tourist
area called the Zona Rosa, this four star hotel offers
all the comforts you'll need. Also very centrally
located, the Galleria Plaza, is a luxurious base camp
for exploring Mexico City. Or you can just lounge
in the rooftop pool.
They offer an all-you-can-eat
breakfast buffet and fine dining. Other, possibly
cheaper, restraunts are located right in the neighborhood
as well as bars and nightlife. English speaking tourist
police patrol the Zona Rosa making it one of the safer
areas of Mexico City.
Safe travel in Mexico City:
To be honest, Mexico
City can be a dangerous city. That said however, there
are sections to the city that can be as safe as any
major city in the US or Europe. Approximately 20%
of Mexico City can be relatively safe and since it
is one of the largest cities in the world that 20%
is a very large area. Reccomended sections of the
city to stay within are the Zocolo, Zona Rosa, Condesa
and Polanco.
Sites
to see: