Hotel Tlahuac

The Tlahuac is way out in the Southeastern suburbs, very close to Nopalera metro and offers a good budget choice with large, clean rooms. It's possible to get there from the airport for 5 pesos on the metro, but it requires 4 changes - but if you take a taxi be prepared for resistance from the taxi driver! Mine told me no fewer than three times that the area was very unsafe and not good for tourists. I found it fine; yes you need to be careful anywhere in Mexico City, but this area was not at all threatening, with plenty of local shops and friendly street vendors. On arrival at 530am in the morning, the Reception was perhaps a little disconcerting. It wasn't possible to see the receptionist who was hidden behind a black glass screen with just a small window slot at eyelevel. As I needed to pay on my credit card, she had to come out from behind the bullet proof glass with the card reader, which rather negated the excessive security arrangements. To my surprise, I was able to check-in even though it was only 530 in the morning, and my reservation started from the evening. Even better, they made a no charge for what was in effect an extra day's use of the room. My room was large and fairly basic, but the bed and shower were both perfectly acceptable. My principal complaints were that it contained no cupboard but just a hanging rail and space to put one suitcase underneath. It also lacked a room safe and I developed the habit of leaving my laptop and other valuables in a hidden space under the television! My room looked across the car park and a wing where each room has parking underneath towards the mountains South of the metropolitan area; the Tlahuac is really a motel (but one that also rents rooms by the hour). Most rooms face the rear - there's an (internal) corridor along the front which cuts down noise from the elevated metro. No meals are included in the room rate so it was all pay-as-you-go. The breakfast was perfectly adequate and I had eggs Mexico, which was essentially an omelette with refried beans on the side, accompanied by tostadas, and bread with Heinz strawberry jam; they have plenty of juices and coffee included with the main dish - prices are moderate. I also ate in the restaurant one night (it's called the Laguna) and found the food to be good for dinner, to, with an excellent avocado & prawns starter. The wifi worked fine. Overall it offered excellent value for money – I was only paying just over £20 a night for the room. I never felt uncomfortable about security while in the hotel or immediate vicinity of Nopalera Metro station. The downside is that it can take an hour to get into the centre and require two or even three changes of metro line. And it offered a view of the snow-capped peak of Popocatépetl volcano by craning my neck out of my bedroom window!