It’s been almost a year since I visited Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico – CDMX). It’s been much longer since last I blogged. 2020, as we all know, was miserable. Those who thrive at a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet + overlooking a wing were grounded alongside the rest of the world. I live in Toronto, which had the longest consistent lockdown on the planet, and the most lockdowns of any city.
@thatgirlcartier Doing my little mental health walkie walk right the eff out of #ontariolockdown #mentalhealthwalk #torontofyp
Leaving Lockdown
By January 2022, I had had my 3rd vaccination and was being told to shelter in place once again in my barely 400 Square foot studio apartment with one window that barely opened. I had injured my foot and ankle mid-2021 and was still unable to complete a home workout. I needed out. I packed one suitcase and my laptop and booked a trip to Mexico City. I booked a trip to Mexico City working remotely for 2 weeks, though I wish I had stayed longer. These are my lessons learned leaving lockdown.
I Should Have Booked an AirBnB
I know, I know, AirBnB is insane these days. The requirements are more demanding than staying at your Mother’s house, and the costs are astronomical. That said, the friends I met in Mexico City who stayed in AirBnBs were MUCH happier than I was. Sure, you don’t meet people the way you would in a hostel, but next time I would definitely pay more for quiet lodgings and a mess that would only be my own.
Where Not to Stay in Mexico City
My first stay in Mexico City was at Metro Hostal Boutique in Roma where I had booked a single room. I had visions of working from my private balcony and of starting my day with rooftop yoga as advertised. All I had to do was make it through customs en Español and say a little prayer to all deities that Air Canada got my luggage securely on board. It took a while, but my crash course on Duolingo outdid itself and, eventually, the conveyor belt began to move.
@thatgirlcartier So my first @Hostelworld spot was a flop, but we press on! #iaintstayinghere #ciudaddemexico #cdmx
Starting off with the Wrong Kind of Bang
When I arrived at the hostel address at 2 AM, it was tough to find the door. I felt like a fool traipsing up and down the dark, quiet, romantic streets of Colonia Roma frantically looking for a door with an intercom. When I finally got in, I lugged my suitcase up a few flights of stairs (par for the course in a hostel, I know) only to be told that my room wasn’t ready and that I would be staying in a 6 person dorm and on the top bunk. There was no way I would have been able to find my lock in the dark, and my suitcase was definitely not going to fit in the locker. There was one airplane-sized pillow and no blankets. I slept in my winter coat hugging my valuables, tried to cover my face as the creaky door kept opening and slamming letting the light in every 15 minutes or so until just past 7, and promptly found another hostel the next day.
@thatgirlcartier Just trying to get this work done before my deadline, but go off! #remotework #coworkersbelike #corporate
Co-Bragging
Selina Mexico City Downtown & Cowork in Centro Histórico was my next stop. You’ll notice I haven’t linked either of the properties because I would not recommend you stay at either. Selina has a nice co-working space, though incredibly noisy while I was there. People were having full-blown meetings discussing confidential client information without headphones at the top of their lungs. There were private phonebooths, but they didn’t seem to be used much.
https://www.tiktok.com/@thatgirlcartier/video/7055069361312156934?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7055069361312156934
2 Weeks, 4 Rooms
At Selina, my first room was clean and adorable. I really thought I had locked in for a sweet stay. Unfortunately, my window faced the smoking alcove behind the bar. Even from the 6th floor, I could hear the bellow of every drunken Celine Dion-wannabe as though they were serenading me behind my bed frame. I was moved to another smaller room next to an American and British employee who were living together. The man yelled into his phone on speaker all day and liked to smoke in the hallway outside my door, so off I moved again. The next room was fantastic! It had an actual closet and its own en-suite bathroom – a majestic change to the filthy communal bathrooms. I don’t mind sharing a bathroom, but we’ve got to be considerate of one another, right? I was so thrilled with this room until I discovered the ant infestation. To my fourth room at Selina in 2 weeks, I went! This room was immaculate. I was thrilled. This room also had an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet. Unfortunately, it was beside the rooftop bar, and after 4PM the thump of the bass started and the smell of cigarette smoke permeated my room.
@thatgirlcartier I wasn’t planning on living out of my suitcase, but here we are. #travelproblems #mexicocheck
I Love Hostels
As a solo traveler, I’ve had amazing experiences all across Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Iceland, and more. Heck – I met the love of my life (to date) at a hostel in Phuket. I’m old enough to be beyond the dorms. I like to stay in private rooms at hostels because they’re typically safer for solo travelers and there are activities and tours where you can make friends. The Community Manager was a homophobic anti-vaxxer who had been hired the day before I arrived. He spoke no Spanish and was more interested in sleeping with the guests than planning events. It was brought to my attention that a staff member had also sexually assaulted and robbed a couple of guests. Management did not take this seriously while I was there. Someone from their administrative team did reach out, but it was with a canned “sorry your stay wasn’t so great message. A couple of friends of mine had their safe cleaned out entirely at a beachside location, and instead of being helped they were banned from all Selina locations.
https://www.tiktok.com/@thatgirlcartier/video/7052860784099020038?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7052860784099020038
Stick Around for the Good Stuff
Don’t get me wrong – I really enjoyed my time in Mexico City and would go back to visit in a heartbeat. Stay tuned for the good now the we’ve got the ugly outta the way, will ya?
@thatgirlcartier I love this little #perro so much. #perrosdetiktok #cdmx #mexicocity