Mexico City with kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven’t you seen “Man on Fire?”

+1

[Anonymous]

Just visited CDMX. It’s very easy to get around via Ubers. For hotel, recommend Mondrian Condesa and ONTO Tonalá.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family has decided on a trip to Mexico City for spring break.

The only time I've been is for work meetings in my 20s, so I went to the clubs in the early 2000s (and the brunch places to soak up the booze) but I haven't seen many of the sights other than the Archaeological Museum.

My kid are excited about the trip, and are good travelers but not adventure travelers. Where could we stay close to many of the sites that would be comfortable?

What did your family visit there that you enjoyed?

I am thinking we should go to Taxco. Anywhere else?

Both of us parents are fluent in Spanish (we both lived in Latin America) so that part doesn't really worry me.

Don't look rich.
Don't stand out or look lost.
Dress to blend in.
Don't carry all your cash but don't leave it in the hotel either.
Have small amounts of money in different pockets to pay off cops or stickup men.
Be careful using taxis if you do any of the above. Do not use busses at all.
Don't have a daily routine that can be noticed, and change hotels during your stay.

Depending on where you have lived before, as you mentioned, you should know all this already, but Mexico is a little different, so be aware of that.

lol my husband and I went in 2020 and took a mix of Ubers, the metro, and (gasp!) the bus. The bus is awesome - cheap, reliable (several bus-only lanes) and lines that get you all around the tourist areas. If you live in DC it’s similar to navigating our public transit station.

[Anonymous]

We went over spring break this year. We really enjoyed staying in Condesa. Very walkable. No one has mentioned Mexican wrestling—that was very fun. We enjoyed a cooking class. We ended up taking Ubers everywhere even though we typically use public transportation in cities. It was just so much cheaper than DC

[Anonymous]

Man, I haven't been to Mexico City since I went on a HS trip - these posts have brought back some great memories. Sad to hear that you can't climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon. That was a highlight of my trip for sure.

I've traveled more recently to northern Mexico (Chihuahua) for work, and as others have said, just take general precautions but have a great time. Sounds like a fantastic Spring Break.

[Anonymous]

El kidnapo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just visited CDMX. It’s very easy to get around via Ubers. For hotel, recommend Mondrian Condesa and ONTO Tonalá.

While I think Mexico City is a great place to visit with kids, I would caution on using Uber Mexico. I used Uber a few times in our Mexico trip (not just Mexico City) and I would say that only 50% of the time I had rides without a problematic incident, and that's not a good ratio. A few times, I had drivers pick up and then say they wouldn't take me to the destination they accepted via the app unless I paid them double the fare the app cited and paid the driver in cash. That may be difficult for you to navigate if you don't speak Spanish. But more disturbingly, I had a driver threaten me via phone and via the Uber chat because the location where I had requested a pickup wasn't one where he could pick up at because of some tensions with registered taxicabs, and I told him I didn't feel comfortable walking 5 blocks to where he wanted me to go after dark with my 2 kids.

Even when I reported the incident, with screenshots of the Spanish swearwords the driver hurled at me via chat when I said i would cancel, I didn't get any response from Uber Mexico--they just refunded me the cancellation fee they had autocharged me without an apology or any indication they would discipline the driver.

[Anonymous]

A family member was there a few weeks ago on business. His corporate security team arranged private transportation in advance from and to the airport, and for everywhere else. Absolutely no use of taxis or rideshare companies allowed, too problematic. The security briefings made clear that situational awareness and good judgment regarding movement when out of the hotel and the office were the order of the day - it's just not safe, despite the many people who pay no attention to security but survived nonetheless. Do you feel lucky, punk, is not a reasonable risk mitigation approach to travel in the 3rd world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just visited CDMX. It’s very easy to get around via Ubers. For hotel, recommend Mondrian Condesa and ONTO Tonalá.

While I think Mexico City is a great place to visit with kids, I would caution on using Uber Mexico. I used Uber a few times in our Mexico trip (not just Mexico City) and I would say that only 50% of the time I had rides without a problematic incident, and that's not a good ratio. A few times, I had drivers pick up and then say they wouldn't take me to the destination they accepted via the app unless I paid them double the fare the app cited and paid the driver in cash. That may be difficult for you to navigate if you don't speak Spanish. But more disturbingly, I had a driver threaten me via phone and via the Uber chat because the location where I had requested a pickup wasn't one where he could pick up at because of some tensions with registered taxicabs, and I told him I didn't feel comfortable walking 5 blocks to where he wanted me to go after dark with my 2 kids.

Even when I reported the incident, with screenshots of the Spanish swearwords the driver hurled at me via chat when I said i would cancel, I didn't get any response from Uber Mexico--they just refunded me the cancellation fee they had autocharged me without an apology or any indication they would discipline the driver.

Different local mafias control businesses in different areas. Don't get mad at locals if they say you cannot do this or that. They are trying to prevent you getting in the middle of a shootout from sicarios enforcing the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family has decided on a trip to Mexico City for spring break.

The only time I've been is for work meetings in my 20s, so I went to the clubs in the early 2000s (and the brunch places to soak up the booze) but I haven't seen many of the sights other than the Archaeological Museum.

My kid are excited about the trip, and are good travelers but not adventure travelers. Where could we stay close to many of the sites that would be comfortable?

What did your family visit there that you enjoyed?

I am thinking we should go to Taxco. Anywhere else?

Both of us parents are fluent in Spanish (we both lived in Latin America) so that part doesn't really worry me.

Don't look rich.
Don't stand out or look lost.
Dress to blend in.
Don't carry all your cash but don't leave it in the hotel either.
Have small amounts of money in different pockets to pay off cops or stickup men.
Be careful using taxis if you do any of the above. Do not use busses at all.
Don't have a daily routine that can be noticed, and change hotels during your stay.

Depending on where you have lived before, as you mentioned, you should know all this already, but Mexico is a little different, so be aware of that.

Yep, I took similar precautions in Aghanistan circa 2003. lmao

Was probably safer in Afghanistan then than MC these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The prior poster on security is overly dramatic. Buses are fine. Sure, don’t be flashy or carry all your money with you, but that’s normal precautions - you don’t need to go beyond that. Taxis are fine, as is Uber. You don’t need to change your hotel or any of that. Mexico City is like most other urban cities - there are parts that are riskier for petty theft and areas of more wealth where that’s less common. Your biggest risk as a tourist is pickpockets, but just be aware.

+1.

I always wonder where these people come from and why they’re on the Travel forum, as it seems like they’d have trouble leaving their house every day.

Personal experience with the area. If you know you know.

Not saying you have to hide like a shutin, but there's a big difference between being a dumb tourist and knowing what a place is actually like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family has decided on a trip to Mexico City for spring break.

The only time I've been is for work meetings in my 20s, so I went to the clubs in the early 2000s (and the brunch places to soak up the booze) but I haven't seen many of the sights other than the Archaeological Museum.

My kid are excited about the trip, and are good travelers but not adventure travelers. Where could we stay close to many of the sites that would be comfortable?

What did your family visit there that you enjoyed?

I am thinking we should go to Taxco. Anywhere else?

Both of us parents are fluent in Spanish (we both lived in Latin America) so that part doesn't really worry me.

Don't look rich.
Don't stand out or look lost.
Dress to blend in.
Don't carry all your cash but don't leave it in the hotel either.
Have small amounts of money in different pockets to pay off cops or stickup men.
Be careful using taxis if you do any of the above. Do not use busses at all.
Don't have a daily routine that can be noticed, and change hotels during your stay.

Depending on where you have lived before, as you mentioned, you should know all this already, but Mexico is a little different, so be aware of that.

Yep, I took similar precautions in Aghanistan circa 2003. lmao

Was probably safer in Afghanistan then than MC these days.

Hummm, let's see....

Warzone with multiple engagements

VS

CDMX loaded with digital nomad nerds who seem to be doing just fine.

[Anonymous]

CDMX is perfectly safe if you take reasonable precautions. It isn’t like the US is the safest place in the world!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just visited CDMX. It’s very easy to get around via Ubers. For hotel, recommend Mondrian Condesa and ONTO Tonalá.

While I think Mexico City is a great place to visit with kids, I would caution on using Uber Mexico. I used Uber a few times in our Mexico trip (not just Mexico City) and I would say that only 50% of the time I had rides without a problematic incident, and that's not a good ratio. A few times, I had drivers pick up and then say they wouldn't take me to the destination they accepted via the app unless I paid them double the fare the app cited and paid the driver in cash. That may be difficult for you to navigate if you don't speak Spanish. But more disturbingly, I had a driver threaten me via phone and via the Uber chat because the location where I had requested a pickup wasn't one where he could pick up at because of some tensions with registered taxicabs, and I told him I didn't feel comfortable walking 5 blocks to where he wanted me to go after dark with my 2 kids.

Even when I reported the incident, with screenshots of the Spanish swearwords the driver hurled at me via chat when I said i would cancel, I didn't get any response from Uber Mexico--they just refunded me the cancellation fee they had autocharged me without an apology or any indication they would discipline the driver.

Different local mafias control businesses in different areas. Don't get mad at locals if they say you cannot do this or that. They are trying to prevent you getting in the middle of a shootout from sicarios enforcing the rules.

Sure fine. But that’s part of the reason you should be careful using Uber Mexico and should use registered or hotel taxis even if they’re more expensive, especially if you have kids with you.

Ubers do have tensions with the registered taxis that you won’t be aware of as a tourist, and they also don’t seem to vet their drivers well if their drivers are writing swear words at their passengers who cancel when the Uber driver says they can’t pick them up at the requested location.