This was my third trip to Mexico City, and have previously stayed in the HR Polanco and HH Santa Fe properties (and reviewed both). On this trip I stayed at this property then moved to the HR Polanco, and checked out the Andaz Condesa for a future trip.
Unless you need to be on the north side of Chapultepec Park, the HR Insurgentes is a great combination of location, price and amenities.
Location: easy to get to from the airport (9 miles, US$10 Uber in the late morning). With Ubers so cheap and easy, we don't waste our time with public transit. An Uber from the hotel a mile north to the Andaz Condesa or the Roma neighborhood is a US$3-4 ride and 3-10 minutes, depending on traffic. Getting to Polanco is about 20-30 minutes by car. Order your Uber from the Novotel next door, as there is no official "street entrance" of the property. It's also a nice walk, felt very safe. The only restaurant we visited in the immediate area was Beer Boss for pizza, as most of the nearby fare is American chain restaurants. Plentiful shopping at the World Trade Center/Sears across the street if you need anything.
Price: HR Insurgentes was $180+tax for a Wed-Fri stay in late January. Andaz Condesa was charging $350+tax a night, HR Polanco about $250+. This business hotel was nearly empty on a weekday, and it appeared as though we were the only tourists (the handful of people we saw were in business attire). Weekend rates for HR Insurgentes dropped to the low $100s. The front desk staff was welcoming, knowledgeable and very helpful (although when we asked for a recommendation for a quick bite for lunch they offered up "Fogo de Chao".
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Amenities: great rooms and services for the price. Everything in the hotel looked new and shiny. I was offered a choice of Globalist upgraded suites upon check-in, and chose a high-floor corner suite. Nice layout for both rooms, with a wet bar and lots of light, looking north to Chapultepec and the World Trade Center. Breakfast was only offered in the lobby restaurant, and it was a slightly elevated version of the standard HR buffet. I did not see a single customer at the lobby bar during our stay, and the Skybar had conflicting hours posted. We never saw it open, and I would not be surprised if it was a day-to-day decision based on occupancy. Apparently they have a gym but I was already getting my daily steps in.
The Regency Club was fantastic for views, food and drink. We got there as the Club opened, hoping to grab a snack and a drink before going out, but ended up staying all evening as the only guests in the Club. The appetizer spread was pretty extensive (see earlier reviews) and Manuel was the highlight of our hotel stay, giving us Mexico City recommendations, telling us stories, and pouring some great cocktails. We went again the second night, and there were only a couple businessmen there grabbing a bite. Again, the hotel was nearly empty, even mid-week.
We also stopped at the terribly-laid-out Andaz Condesa, attempted to eat at the Skybar (closed for a private party) and ended up having lunch at Wooftop instead. Great service and casual bites from a rooftop food truck and a good choice for a sunny afternoon. We were the only customers there, too. I will be picking the HR Insurgentes over the Andaz for future stays south of the Park.
