Starwood Preferred Guest - Recent Experience at Centro Historico or Maria Isabella?

Next week I'm staying at both the Mexico City Sheraton Centro Historico and the Sheraton Maria Isabella. Anyone here had recent experience with either of these two hotels? Would you recommend their sending a car to the airport for personalized pickup considering the rumors one hears about current day Mexico? Or would a radio cab be sufficient? Should I confine my eating to the hotels and not venture out to the Zona Rosa or other tourist areas? Would asking for an upgrade be out of the question considering my relative youth with the SPG program? I definitely want to see the Anthropology museum - is it within walking distance or will I need a taxi? Any suggestions, recommendations or comments will be appreciated. I've looked at TripAdvisor.com and filed the comments I thought relative.:)

Just came back from a eight day trip from Mexico City. Between you and me you should go Through grayline.com and get a round trip for just $30.00 rather then the more the $70.00 the hotel will charge you. The best room you will get in the Centro Historico will be a Corner Room as an upgrade and at the Maria Isabel you can score a suite as an upgrade. The Problem with the Sheraton Centro there is always protests down the main strip. When I was there, there was over 100 cops outside the hotel guarding it. There are plenty of places to eat while in Mexico City don't eat at the hotel. There is a great taco place behind the sheraton Maria Isabel. I would go for the Sheraton Maria. And for the museum it is about a 30 to 45 Minute Walk from the maria Isabel hotel. Take the taxi there from the hotel let him drop you off and walk to the W hotel and take the taxi back to the hotel. Thats what I did.

Just came back from a eight day trip from Mexico City. Between you and me you should go Through grayline.com and get a round trip for just $30.00 rather then the more the $70.00 the hotel will charge you. The best room you will get in the Centro Historico will be a Corner Room as an upgrade and at the Maria Isabel you can score a suite as an upgrade. The Problem with the Sheraton Centro there is always protests down the main strip. When I was there, there was over 100 cops outside the hotel guarding it. There are plenty of places to eat while in Mexico City don't eat at the hotel. There is a great taco place behind the sheraton Maria Isabel. I would go for the Sheraton Maria. And for the museum it is about a 30 to 45 Minute Walk from the maria Isabel hotel. Take the taxi there from the hotel let him drop you off and walk to the W hotel and take the taxi back to the hotel. Thats what I did.
I guess you're saying Greyline Company operates a shuttle service between the airport and the major hotels. If that's the case, sounds like a great idea. And one may purchase the tickets insider the terminal for moving out-of-doors?

Just go to their website http://www.grayline.com/ and purchase the round trip to any of the *wood Properties. and they will have a sign waiting for you at the airport.It is a very very safe way to and from the airport. Orbitz even uses them.

Just go to their website http://www.grayline.com/ and purchase the round trip to any of the *wood Properties. and they will have a sign waiting for you at the airport.It is a very very safe way to and from the airport. Orbitz even uses them.
I really like this idea. It takes so much of the anxiety out of the "where do I find a safe taxi" dilemna that I've been going through. Both the Sheraton Centro Historico and the Maria Isabella must be in the Zona 1-2 area geographically I presume. It may be a few dollars more than the conventional cab, but the ease with which one may find Greyline is worth it!! Thank you!!

The Centro is just a much nicer hotel and closer to the Zocalo. I guess it depends on what you are doing in Mexico City. It is also much closer to the Metro. I like the Maria Isabella, but it desperately needs a facelift and I don't really like the Zona Rosa (although Alameda Park isn't necessarily better).

Of course, you need to leave the hotel to eat. That's the joy of Mexico City. Don't get too caught up in Mexico City being unsafe because it just isn't. No more unsafe for a tourist than most U.S. cities.

Thanks for the tip on Greyline, btw.

For the OP, let me add that the trip to and from the airport is actually pretty simple with "safe" taxis. You get out of international arrivals at the airport and there is a desk to prepay for taxis. Your hotel will have a similar service back to the airport. No hassles at all, and easy to find.

TAXI RIDE IN MEXICO CITY

For the OP, let me add that the trip to and from the airport is actually pretty simple with "safe" taxis. You get out of international arrivals at the airport and there is a desk to prepay for taxis. Your hotel will have a similar service back to the airport. No hassles at all, and easy to find.

+1. When you get out of customs, buy your taxi ticket at the stand. Totally safe in terms of security.

IIRC you will be charged MXN 152 for a car ride. If they try to charge you something over 200, its because they are selling you an SUV ride. Sometimes they have more SUVs than cars and they say "its faster, no line".

Ask for a CAR, not an SUV. Not worth. They have tons of cars. If you want to change your mind later, its ok. If you have tons people/baggage, SUVs are perfect.

For the ride back, you can choose your hotel cabs or a radio-taxi. Hotel cabs are far more comfy, however run at triple price.

Going back to the airport, I always take taximex radio-taxi (www.taximex.com.mx) for around MXN 100. Taximex phone number is 9171-8888. They sometimes have english spaking operators, but you can just ask the hotel concierge to request a car for you. Taximex cars are white with a brown line across the cab.

Another note on cabs in Mexico city. I have taken many street cabs in Mexico with no safety problem. I just try to not carry my laptop or too much money.

There are two kind of taxis you can take in the streets. Regular taxis and "taxis de sitio" which are cabs that wait in a specific site, normally in corners, malls or popular sites.

"Taxis de sitio" have specific prices to most locations and do not use a taximeter. You will have to inquire your price before getting in or at least before starting your ride. I recommend to ask for the price to the site keeper and not to the driver.

Regular street cabs should have a taximeter and HAVE TO use it to charge you for your ride. BEWARE some "taxis de sitio" run the street and are looking for gringos to rip-off. If you stop a taxi in the street and they do not want to use the taximeter, just get off immediately.

I will not recommend taking the metro unless you perfectly know where you are going and its not peak time. However if you really need to relax, the USD 17 cents metro ride would warranty a free massage and hot sauna experience if you ride between 7-10 am or in the evening.

SPG UPGRADES IN MEXICO CITY

My own experience says the following:

W Mexico City: You will receive nothing if you do not ask for it. If you are platinum you will have to fight for your upgrade (and request a manager). Most you can get is a corner room which is OK. IIRC is XX09. If you are Gold, do not expect much. Just request your deserved one-level upgrade. Do not hesitate to call for the manager. IIRC Internet was around $20.

Sheraton Centro Historico: Again, most of the time you will receive nothing if you don't request for it. If you are gold, request your one-level upgrade. Do not dream with the corner junior suite. Do not even think about the big corner suite at XX10 that has a Jacuzzy and is bigger than my house. Internet is free for Platinum members. No lounge. Best Gym and SPA (however expensive). New hotel. Everything is new.

Sheraton Maria Isabel: They have a floor for Platinum guests and a nice lounge with free breakfast and appetizers at evening (no free internet). No special tratment should be expected for gold except if they have the Plat floor empty. Plat floor is 12. My junior suite is almost always 1234. If you are Plat you can request a Junior Suite in the Plat floor or a regular room in the Towers floor. Plat floor is OK and you have a butler. Internet connection s*cks and is MXN 170/day. Old hotel. Needs renovation

For me, Sheraton Maria Isabel location is better than Centro Historico, as my customer is at walking distance. I prefer new properties so if this wasn't the case, I would rather choose the Centro Historico or the W (CH is 1/3 price W and same as MI).

EATING

Go outside. Both hotel restaurants are OK, however food outside the hotel is better.

TAKING A TOUR IN MEXICO CITY

You can take a taximex cab or... In our last visit we have a free day. We were staying at Marriott Reforma and booked a day tour for MXN 1700 (around USD150). This included a full-size brand-new private VAN for 7 PAX plus a driver plus an english speaking tour-guide from 11AM till 6PM. We visited all Mexico city spots, including a visit to the pyramids. Lunch near the pyramids was not included in price. Take $15 more for tips during the day in the different spots and $20 for the tour guide and driver.