It is no secret that I absolutely adore Mexico City, or “CDMX” as it is known amongst locals. My sister and I grew up in Mexico City, and it is a place that I continuously rediscover. That said, despite the lack of potential objectivity, I promise to provide the best hotel options, but with a twist! One unique aspect of hotels in Mexico City is ample availability of valuable hotel point redemption opportunities and incredible hotel cash rates. I cover both!

Before I dive into the hotels, some background on Mexico City. It is a city of enchantment and home to world renowned restaurants, architecture, music, and cultural sites. You will find that opportunities for exploration are everywhere. However, Mexico City is a massive cosmopolitan city, with a population of 21.6 million. Traversing the city can take anywhere from two to four hours due to the size and heavy traffic. This makes choosing a hotel with a central location extremely important.

The Best Cash Rates

Points are not always the answer. There are many occasions where booking a hotel directly with cash makes more sense. Mexico City has numerous, reputable hotels, where the cash rate falls between $50 – $65 a night. The five best (i.e. lowest cash / highest quality) cash rates in Mexico City, of the big four hotel chains (i.e. Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott), are all IHG properties.

1. Holiday Inn Express Mexico Basilica (IHG) – Nightly Rate: $46
2. Holiday Inn Mexico Buenavista (IHG) – Nightly Rate: $53
3. Crowne Plaza Mexico Norte Tlalnepantla (IHG) – Nightly Rate: $58
4. Holiday Inn Express Mexico – Toreo (IHG) – Nightly Rate: $58
5. Holiday Inn Express Santa Fe (IHG) – Nightly Rate: $58

In Mexico City, cash may be king!

The Worst Point Redemptions

Conventional wisdom says use your points where they generate the most value (you define value); and Mexico has some extremely valuable point redemptions. With that as a guideline, then the opposite must also be true. Do not use your points where they generate the least value. The five worst (mathematical) point redemptions in Mexico City, of the big four hotel chains are almost all Hilton properties.

1. Hilton Garden Inn Mexico City Santa Fe (Hilton)
2. Hilton Mexico City Santa Fe (Hilton)
3. Hampton Inn & Suites – Centro Historico (Hilton)
4. Hilton Mexico City Reforma (Hilton)
5. Courtyard Mexico City Toreo (Marriott)

If you want to book one of these hotels, points may not be your best option.

Add Some Local Knowledge

While either a cheap cash rate or a bad point redemption is a great starting point, it is by no means the final answer. Remember the metropolitan / traffic comment from above? Almost every hotel on the above lists are “far away” from the action. Who wants to spend their whole vacation sitting in a car in traffic. Not me! In my opinion, there is only one hotel from the list above that should still make the cut: Hampton Inn & Suites – Centro Historico (Hilton).

With that said there are three great value hotels, which fell just outside the “Top 5” lists for cash rate and poor point redemption. Unlike the other hotels, these three hotels are smack dab in the middle of the action!

1. Four Points by Sheraton Mexico City – Colonia Roma (Marriott)
2. Le Meridien – Mexico City (Marriott)
3. Umbral, Curio Collection – Centro Historico (Hilton)

Now, let us take a deeper look at each hotel!

Hampton Inn & Suites – Centro Historico (Hilton)

The Hampton Inn & Suites – Centro Historico is the only property which survived the “local knowledge” test. While the rooms are basic (i.e. no frills), the hotel sits in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The draw of this hotel is definitely the location. The area around the hotel has more of a cultural vibe. This part of Mexico City is packed with locals going about their day-to-day; long strolls through the park and heading to work. Perfect for people watching and sensing the true soul of the city. Within walking distance, you find the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), the zocalo (public square), the National Palace, and the Cathedral. In addition, check out the Limosneros restaurant.

Four Points by Sheraton Mexico City – Colonia Roma (Marriott) 

If I only had one hotel recommendation for Mexico City, it is the Four Points by Sheraton Mexico City – Colonia Roma. To start, Colonia Roma is my favorite area in Mexico City and hotels are scarce. The area is extremely walkable, with lush vegetation in every direction. There is a young, hip vibe, which makes me want to sit outside all day, drink coffee, and discuss current events with friends. The area somehow feels like you escaped the city, but is still so central that it is within walking distance of many cultural sites. While none of the nearby restaurants have a Michelin star, they probably should. One of my favorites is Meroma. Thank me later. As for the hotel itself, it recently underwent a massive renovation. The rooms are clean, updated, and pretty posh!  

Le Meridien – Mexico City (Marriott)

The Le Meridien – Mexico City hotel is an incredible “luxury” option for cheap. In general, an upscale, European design focus and great amenities define the Le Meridien hotel brand. The location is central and the major cultural zones of Mexico City (Roma, Condesa, Zona Rosa, and the Historic Downtown) are all walkable. The hotel is on a busy street, so it won’t feel “homey,” but you will get a true sense of the “hustle and bustle” of the city. This hotel also happens to be just steps away from one of my favorite rooftop terraces: Terrazzo Cha Cha Cha. It is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset over the city.

Umbral, Curio Collection – Centro Historico (Hilton)

The Umbral, Curio Collection – Centro Historico is a truly unique property in the heart of Mexico City. The historic center is so busy, it often overwhelms the senses. However, I was here recently, and at the Umbral, the noise stops at the front entrance. The hotel offers a lovely, serene reprieve from the chaos of downtown. As a bonus, for a luxury hotel, the price is unbeatable. The rooms are simple, but modern and elegant. The highlight of the property though is the rooftop terrace and pool. Imagine brunch on the terrace with sweeping views over the city or sipping a margarita at dusk after a full day of exploration!

Final Thoughts

I can promise you one thing, you will not regret a visit to Mexico City. It is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city where you are guaranteed a good time; if you know where to stay! With that in mind, here is my parting advice. Pick a hotel centrally located to the sites you want to explore. While some some properties offer amazing point redemptions, Mexico City (CDMX) also has extremely budget friendly, but high quality, cash options. Remember, points are not always the answer!