Summer Internship - Resources for Possible Accommodations in Mexico City
The following accommodations are options that are or have been available in Mexico City. Before finalizing your plans you should of course double check prices and availability. I would recommend that people checkout the place they are interested in in person, or have somebody check it out before committing to anything if it is not a trusted location such as Casa Gonzales (though some places, such as Hotel Avila) fill up fast and would require reservations well before you get to Mexico.
-Casa Gonzales, where I stayed, cost me about $1000 USD for a month and a half. http://www.hotelcasagonzalez.com/. It is safe, attractive, very reasonably priced for extended stays, and includes a continental breakfast of fresh bread, fruit, juice, and coffee/tea/hot chocolate. It does not have a kitchen
- Puerta Alameda, http://www.delparque.com.mx/puerta_alameda/index.html, is the name of the apartment complex where Nancy McEvily, a former SRE intern, stayed. It is literally a one block from the Mexican Foreign Ministry SRE (right next to the Sheraton Centro Historico). It is a relatively new building with 24 hour security and doormen at both entrances. Nancy reports that it is "extremely safe and really nice," although "definitely a bit more expensive than your typical Mexico City sublease, but well worth" in her opinion. There is a shopping mall next door called Parque Alameida http://www.parquealameda.com.mx/
Nancy leased (sublet) from a woman named Estela Flores. Nancy said, "She was a fantastic landlord - she owns a travel company and leases this property as an investment. She recommended several good restaurants, museums and activities. Her email address is:
"Estela Flores" <estelaflores@encuentro.com.mx>," She believes there are also other people who sublet units at Parque Alameda.
Feel free to e-mail Nancy if you have any questions at nmcevily@gmail.com.
-Sublet.com is the website where Nancy McEvily said she originally found her apartment. Here is a link: http://www.sublet.com/city_rentals/mexicocity_rentals.asp. It is a site where apartment owners can advertise their apartments for rental.
-Booking.com is a website with a number of hotels and accommodations that offer a wide variety of locations and prices.
-Hotel Avila is close to the Mexican Foreign Ministry. However, you need to make reservations early because it fills up fast! The Comfort Junior Suite (with 1 bed) comes with a Kitchenette that includes a stove (no oven) and fridge, free WIFI, etc. See more below. I did a search and saw the price for the 1 bed Suite was about $1000 USD for 1 month.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/mx/apartamentos-avilla.html?tab=1&origin=hp&error_url=%2Fhotel%2Fmx%2Fapartamentos-avilla.en-us.html%3Faid%3D307415%3Blabel%3Dgog235jc%3Bsid%3Dfe15eb82bcff41e6b7077f3d85427c05%3Bdcid%3D0%3B&do_availability_check=on&aid=307415&dcid=0&label=gog235jc&sid=fe15eb82bcff41e6b7077f3d85427c05&checkin_monthday=1&checkin_year_month=2012-6&checkout_monthday=1&checkout_year_month=2012-7#availability_target
I have not actually stayed there, but here are some reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150800-d1021933-Reviews-Apartamentos_Hotel_Avilla-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html
-Expatriates.Com – Luis Gutierrez, who worked for the SRE, ended up living in an apartment which was already fully furnished that he found following expatriates website. He had his brother, who was in Mexico City, check it out first to make sure it was ok.
http://www.expatriates.com/classifieds/mexico/hs/
Luis's apartment was located just off of Reforma (one of the main roads that is close to the SRE and Pemex) and was just a 15 minute walk to the SRE. The place itself was nothing fancy but he liked it and it was very convenient since all utilities including internet and cable were included in the monthly rent. Rent was like 500 dollars a month so it wasn't too bad. Location was great and he never felt unsafe but he visits Mexico regularly and maybe somebody new to Mexico would be more comfortable living closer to the SRE. Nevertheless, he said it was a pleasant 15 minute walk.
Liz Cleveland who also worked at SRE the same summer as Luis lived in Polanco and she loved it, but she did say the subway ride was sort of a drag.