Mexico - Mexico City Airport was a breeze

I had another posting about being scared to go to the Mexico City Airport. I had heard from a friend that MEX was a scary place. He told me stories of illegal taxis, bad cops, touts, hawkers that would not take no for an answer and general chaos. My friend lied to me!

The Mexico City Airport was in fact quite nice. As modern as any place in the United States. There were lots of shops, places to eat, currency exchange and efficient lines. The taxi service was quite efficient but a little expensive.

Mexico City had few tourists but alot of interesting things to see. The hotels were great and I saw no indications of all the crime everyone talks about. The people were relaxed and the streets were full of smiling faces. No smog to speak of and great weather.

I give a high rating to Mexico City and its International Airport.

There was no need for a new thread ...!

It's great to hear positive feedback from someone who was anxiety-ridden beforehand. I'm looking forward to my first visit to Mexico City next week!

I had a great time in Mexico City (as a woman traveling alone). In fact it was one of my favorite trips ever. I took the metro, I walked at night on streets that the hotel clerk said were okay for that, etc.

But all the potential problems you mention do exist. You should heed basic precautions like not taking the green Volkswagen taxis, not taking the taxi touts at the airport, etc.

I had a great time in Mexico City (as a woman traveling alone). In fact it was one of my favorite trips ever. I took the metro, I walked at night on streets that the hotel clerk said were okay for that, etc.

But all the potential problems you mention do exist. You should heed basic precautions like not taking the green Volkswagen taxis, not taking the taxi touts at the airport, etc.

I will follow your advice as it is the same as every guidebook and cautionary post on FT. I think the subway during the day and especially on weekends should be safe.

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The biggest problems people can experience at MEX / Benito Juarez International is if you must make interterminal changes (Terminal 1 to / from the new Terminal 2) for flight connections, as indicated in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=810154) in the American AAdvantage Forum. If you are connecting in MEX, it will pay to be aware and plan for some chaos.

And, Mexico City is a large, congested city with disparities of income and a major sector of impoverished people (like the thousands of pepenadores (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS214US214&q=pepenadores&um=1&ie=UTF-8), who make a living picking over the already-picked-over rubbish.) So, like any other big city with a population of desperate people, be aware there is crime and you can be victimized; it pays to be prepared.

I will follow your advice as it is the same as every guidebook and cautionary post on FT. I think the subway during the day and especially on weekends should be safe.

Just back from Mexico City and I want to comment on the subway system. I rode it on numerous occasions throughout the weekend during daylight hours. It is a clean, organized and efficient system. Police presence was everywhere and I never felt I was in danger or in a threatening situation.

The only negatives I can associate with the Mexico City subway is the temperature within some of the trains (hot!) and the loud, music-blasting vendors that constantly stroll through the train. There were also vendors selling flashlights, mascara (the subway is the place all women buy their cosmetics!) and lottery tickets.

As with travel in any city, being aware of your surroundings is essential.