Hotel Suido

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 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. 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.