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christinebaden · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Cairns, Australia

Wow, I have been so busy with garage sales, renting the house, cleaning and the many other things neccessary to move to another country, that I haven't been on this site for weeks, and it has been so busy!
Hello to you all.
Yes, in three weeks I will be in Mexico City on the way to Guanajuato to a Spanish school for a while. I desperately need some lessons on the lingo.
After finally getting the new Lonely Planet guide to Mexico, I have a more up to date version on the costs. I can't believe that I was looking at a 1995 version and didn't even know! Ha!
So, booked at Hotel Isabel for 5 days. After reading some of Lonely Planets tips I am at a loss as to know what to do about getting to the hotel ... it says that taxis may be suss, you can't get on the train with luggage....help! What to do??? As you can tell, I am a long way from my TESOL course.
I have lost all confidence in the possibility of getting a job as a teacher, but will go anyway and see what eventuates. Cairns is lovely, but I need a change.
So, to anyone out there who might be able to advise best way of transporting oneself to hotel, look forward to hearing from you. Also, what kind of bag do you recommend for everyday travel and touristing?
Bye for now,
christine

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I assume you are flying. At the airport there are official taxis with fares posted by zone. The hotel is in the Centro Hist�rico, and you should pay around 110 pesos to get there.

I am not sure what you mean by "everyday travel and touristing", but a small backpack is fine.

Good luck, and welcome!

MELEE · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:47 pm Post subject:

Flagging a taxi on the street is what Loney Planet refers to as dodgy, the official or registered taxis that Moonraven mentions are quite safe. When you come out of Customes at the airport, there is a window immediately on the left that sells the tickets. This way, you don't give the taxi driver any money, just the prepaid ticket. Once you have the ticket, follow the signs (or the porter who has your bags--its also perfectly safe to use the porters) out to the taxi line up. The official taxis are yellow and white and have an airplane on the side. If you feel nervous, obviously write down the number of the taxi you get into so the driver knows you will know who to file a complaint against should need be (I've never know of need being).

Relax, smile and enjoy! While arriving into the world's largest city, which also happens to be infamous for crime, is an understandibly nerve racking experience, you should remember that a confident traveller is a much less likely target.

Happy trails,

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I have to say that I have been flagging down taxis in the street in Mexico City for 10 years, and have never had a problem except for the taxistas who have tried to charge night rates during the day--indicating that you expect the day rate causes them to change the meter setting--or who have tried the broken meter gambit, at which point I have either negotiated a fair price or have had them pull over and let me out (I have gotten out of a taxi 2 or 3 times in 10 years.) I do take the official taxis from the airport, even though they charge more, simply because they are much closer than going all the way out to the street dragging heavy luggage.

I have also never had a problem on the Metro except for a couple of touchy-feelies--one I told to get off the Metro, and he did; another was very embarrassed when I yelled out at top volume: "Stop feeling me up!" (in Spanish, but anything yelled out in any language would have the same effect, I suppose.)

The main thing, as has been advised by others in this thread is to relax and act as if you know what you're doing. Pretty soon it won't be an act, either.