Hotel-Motel Savoy

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. Colonia Guerrero sits right against the historic centre on its north-west side: the Alameda, Bellas Artes and Plaza Garibaldi are walkable, and Metro Guerrero and Hidalgo cover the area.

What you have to accept, frankly. This is a working-class neighbourhood with a difficult reputation on some of its streets. By day, moving around is normal; at night it is better not to walk and to go straight to the door by app taxi. In exchange, the prices are among the lowest you will find this close to the centre.

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.