Going to Mexico City and want help with public transport and general information! :o)?

Question

Hey!

I will be going to Mexico City for 5 days in the end of August and will be staying in the historical section of Mexico City. Can anyone answer these questions?

1-How much should a taxi cost from the airport to the historical area? Alternatively is there a bus/shuttle system from the airport?

2-Are taxis expensive in Mexico City? Is there anything i should be watching out for with the Taxis?

3-Is there a bus service in the area? If so is it safe and a good price?

4-What are the costs of general foods in the area? Is restauraunts or supermarkets expensive?

5-Is botteld water expensive there? Should i bring my own water with me?

6-I will be there for 5 days and staying in the historical area but also want to go to see the temples a bit further away. What is the easiest way to see them?

7-I am ther for 5 days. What amount of money should i need for my time there? What is best currency while there? Can i pay for stuf in US$'s? Or do i need Mexican currency?

Thanks everyone!

Answer 1

1. It will probably cost around 250 pesos. You will have to take an airport cab from the airport.  You pay for it after going through customs and immigration, so it's a flat rate depending on where you're going.  Just follow the signs to Taxis, state the address, and pay for it.

2. Cabs are not too expensive compared to the US or other places.  However, I recommend you only take taxis from a SITIO,  not just off the street.  A Sitio taxi is registered and goes back and forth from a fixed location.  They are more expensive that taxis on the street, but a lot safer.  Your hotel might have a sitio, or can advise you where to take taxis.  Either way, you'll probably find sitio taxis at large hotels.

3. There is an extensive bus route, but quite disorganized.  They are very cheap, around 2 - 5 pesos (20 - 50 US cents), but usually crowded.  They stop wherever they want... which is an awful distrubance for cardrivers.  There's also a subway system (http://www.metro.df.gob.mx/)

4.  Food prices vary depending on where you go.  You could expect a meal at an ordinary restaurant to cost from 4 to 7 USD.  However, you could find cheaper meals on the street (which is probably unhealthy, especially for foreigners), and a meal at a fancy restaurant would cost between 25 to 50 USD per person, even more.  Supermarkets have pretty much the same prices as in the US, maybe cheaper, especially fruits.

5. You can find bottled water here.  No need to travel with water. A 1.5 liter bottle costs about 10 pesos (1USD).  Bonafont and Ciel are probably the most common brands.

6. You can probably visit Teotihuacan, which is one of the closest archeological sites near Mexico City.  I recommend going there on a weekday.  I think you can take a bus from the North Bus Terminal, otherwise, just ask at your hotel.

7. You need Mexican currency, although some places might accept dollars, I would suggest you exchange USD at the airport or at banks such as HSBC or Banamex.  You will definitely need pesos for paying at all supermarkets, archeological sites, museums, transportation... although maybe some restaurants accept USD (don't count on it)

Good luck.

Answer 2

Why would you like to stay in historical Mexico???, It is not easy to walk around, some times dangerous. I can provide you with Bed And Breakfast for $45.00 dollars a day. And a great five day plan to visit the best of the city.

A taxi fare is about $ 7.00 for an Hour trip.

You can write to me at gigimx yahoo dot com

Answer 3

1. If it is a taxi of the airport (the normal taxis cannot "take passangers" at the airport), it will be very expensive, maybe about 50 dollars.

2. No, they are not expensive, just check that they have their taxi driver card, you can´t miss it.

3. Of course there is a good bus service, it is not too nice obviously, but it is very very cheap, about 1 dollar, haha.

4. The food has a normal price, you can find either from very cheap places, to world class.

5. I don´t think it is expensive, it would be strange if you bring your own water, haha.

6. Take a taxi and go to the place.

7. The establishments can accept dollars, but not the places of the street.

Answer 4

1. beetween $10 or $20.

you can take the subway, but if you have a lot of suitcases that's going to be a problem.

2. you have to see the taximeter, they show how much you have to pay.ask to the taxi driver: sirve su taximetro? so he knows that you are aware of this and he doesn't try to charge you more. you'll see the identification with photo of the driver in the front.

3. there are many buses,subway, and mini buses. well. it's a huge city for saying is safe.they chargue around $30 to 80 cents (talking in dollars).depend how far you go, for  the buses the fare is the same.

4.it's not expensive.

5. no it's not expensive.

6. visit the pyramids of TEOTIHUACAN. go to the CENTRAL DEL NORTE ( BUS STATION).and take the bus.

7. Mexican currency (peso.)

if you want to travel by subway.

http://www.metro.df.gob.mx/red/index.htm...

the historical place is called ZOCALO. is in blue

if you want to go the LA central del norte. the station is calle AUTOBUSES DEL NORTE in is yellow.

to the zona rosa. INSURGENTES is in pink. you have to walk like a 5 min to get there.

Answer 5

A taxi to Zona Rosa or around the Zocalo is about $15.  Look for stands in the airport near exit D and buy a prepaid ticket and also confirm with the driver that that's the price to your destination.  I never had a problem. But you can also take the subway right from the airport and go into town in 3o minutes for about 25 cents.  It's not good if you have lots of luggage.

You need to get Mexican money at the airport.  Either bring cash and exchange them at banks in the airport or use your ATM card (no problem, but about a $7 fee each time.)

Traveler's checks and credit cards are good, too, and safer, but I never felt in danger in Mex. City even late at night.

Make sur you go see the Aztec temple right next to the Cathedral and the Zocalo.  You can take direct buses to  Teotihuacan from Estacion del Norte (Autobuses)

They are not expensive.  It's hot there so take a hat.  Mex

City is usually a comfortable temp.

In the zona rosa you can eat well for about $7 - $10,

in some places even less.  If you pay just $25 in an elegant looking place, you'll be amazed at the service, style, and quality of food.

Bottled water is about a dollar a liter. don't bring your own.Hotels have purified water too.

I know hotels for about $40, then maybe $15 to $25 a day for food and drink.  Taxis add up.  There are lots of buses, so

it helps to have a bus map.  Subways are quite clean and efficent; you don't get stuck in traffic and it's interesting people watching..  Check out the markets!!!  Coyoacan is a great little part of town with the Frida Kahlo museum, and they have boats at Xochimilco.  At night in the Zona Rosa it gets kind of annoying walking on the main streets.  At every corner there are men saying "table dance, ladies, lap dance???" to every male tourist that walks by.  But it's not scary or anything, just shut up, man.

Buy the book Let's Go Mexico or Lonely Planet Mexico for great listings of restaurants, clubs, prices, and transportaion.