karen10

Have a 4-5 hour lay over in Mexico City next week. My husband and I have time for lunch and margaritas. We are big foodies and love mexican food. Does anyone know of great place where we can also soak up some of the atmosphere, people watch, get in a little piece of Mexico City in the short time we are there. I know nothing about the city, did a little research but need to know where to tell cab to take us.
Any info would be great.

marilynl

Well, unfortunately, maybe nowhere. Traffic is such in Mexico City that most of your time would be eaten up in transit. Also, the last time I checked in at Mexico City airport, it took a LONG time because everything was hand-searched. I guess your baggage would be checked through, so you wouldn't have that to contend it, but IMHO 4-5 hours is not long enough to leave and return to and from anywhere interesting.

Dude

The layover is not as much time as you think. As noted above, sometimes they spend time searching your stuff, sometimes they don't. In adition I have waited an hour or more at security. On other occasions it has moved quickly. I think I would go across the skybridge connecting the airport to the Camino Real Hotel. The restuarnt and bar are o.k. As far as heading downtown, again as noted, it can take a while. In a four hour layover a while ago I managed to take the metro from the airport to the Zocalo, look around for an hour and get back and get in line. I think the Camino Real is you best best. Finally, do not walk around in the area outside the airport.

karen10

Thanks for the info! Maybe I will stay close by and go to the Camino Real Hotel. Better to be safe than sorry!

gomexico

About time needed at airport:

Arriving: figure one hour needed to exit plane, walk long distance to Immigration, wait in ,long lines, clear immigration, walk down to luggage claim, walk to Customs, clear Customs. It could be 15 minutes less, but figure the hour.

Departing:

2-hours before flight departure is really necessary in Mexico City, most of the time. So, figure on being back there 2 hours before leaving.

So, unless you've already deducted the times I've indicated, you'll likely only have 2 hours to play around. Depending upon the time of day you'll be arriving you could take a taxi from the airport to a restaurant like Cafe Tacuba in Centro Historico. Or to the restaurant on top of Hotel Majestic on the Zocalo (overlooking the large plaza).

It's about a 20-25 minute drive to the airport from the Zocalo and Centro Historico. So, deduct another hour for taxi back and forth, and you'll have an hour to eat. For some people an hour is sufficient. It is cutting things close, however, if you're thinking of departing for the airport between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. But, you could hire the "authorized" taxi from the airport to wait for you at the restaurant in order to get you back quickly (it might cost you an additional US$20 in taxi fare).

The airport's an intersting place. There are 20+ restaurants/food stalls there and several are good. It's a good people-watching place, also.

Also, you might hire an "authorized" taxi at the airport to drive you around town for a couple of hours and ask the driver to take you to a local place familiar to him where you can get a quick bite to eat. These drivers are typically very good and have lived in the city for many years.

Some food for thought. Oh, see what you've done now? I'm hungry!

karen10

Thanks gomexico!!!