Hotel Heraldo

What to expect from a one-star hotel. The basics and nothing more: a clean room, a bed, a bathroom and little space. Do not count on breakfast, a lift, air conditioning or room service. This is somewhere to sleep and head out from, at minimum cost.

Where the location puts you. You are in the north of the city, in an industrial and residential belt on the main exit routes towards Querétaro and Pachuca. What matters here is the proximity to the Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte and to the Basilica of Guadalupe, and the connections on Metro lines 5, 6 and B.

What you have to accept. This is not a tourist area, and the historic centre is 30 to 45 minutes away depending on traffic. It makes sense if you are arriving or leaving by coach, if you are visiting the Basilica, or if price decides. At night, take an app taxi to the door.

What to confirm before booking. Three things head off almost every problem in this category: that there is hot water and at what hours, whether they take cards or cash only, and whether the room faces the street. Ask too about the deposit and the check-in time, because many small hotels will not store luggage beforehand.

What applies to any hotel in Mexico City. The city sits above 2,200 metres: on the first day, go easy on alcohol and exertion. Tap water is not drunk here; every hotel provides bottled or purified water. And keep the exact address written down, borough included: colonia names repeat across the city, and taxi drivers will thank you.