Hotel-Motel Apatlaco

What to expect from a two-star hotel. A simple room with a private bathroom, a television and little else. Hot water and daily cleaning are usual; breakfast, a lift or air conditioning rarely are. This is the low-price category that solves accommodation without pretension.

Where the location puts you. You are in the east of the city, on the big arteries — Zaragoza, Río Churubusco, Ermita Iztapalapa — that lead to the airport and to the road out towards Puebla. The TAPO, the coach terminal for the south-east, and the airport are relatively close, and Metro lines 1, 8 and A cover the area.

What you have to accept. This is a dense working-class district with no tourist offering, and the centre is 30 to 45 minutes away. It works if your flight leaves early, if you are travelling by coach to the south-east, or if the budget decides. At night, go straight to the door by taxi.

What to confirm before booking. Whether they take cards or cash only, whether the room faces the avenue — noise is the most frequent complaint in this category — whether there is parking, and what the deposit policy is. It is worth asking to see the room before you pay: that is normal here and nobody takes offence.

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.