What do they say about best-laid plans? This writer thought she had her CDMX trip on lock, and yet…
I ’m typically an extremely unionize , plans - grave traveller . I liketo make spreadsheetswith links to other spreadsheets , reserve things in advance , and have a by - the - minute travel plan so I can maximize my time in a Modern lieu . This , to me , is relaxing . Structure makes me feel better about the unpredictable nature of human existence . But when my married man ’s childhood best friend ( whom we fondly name to as the embodiment of bedlam ) indicate the three of us takea trip to Mexico Cityfor his fortieth birthday , fate had a unlike kind of trip in mind for me .
I was slammed at work , which intend I had no time at all to design . So I kick the bucket into this trip with nothing booked other than plane ticketsand an Airbnb . Here ’s what happened when I , a person who can go with the flow only if I sleep together exactly when and where the stream is going , assay to wing it on vacation — and how much it cost .
About the traveler
About the vacation
Where : Mexico CityHow Long : Five daysPlanned Budget:$5,000
Upfront costs
Flights:$2,970 for three people to fly Newark to Mexico City , then from Mexico City to JFK ( in theory).Hotels / Lodging:$1,392 rive between three people , so $ 464.33 per person . We stayed at an Airbnb call Casa Dovela in the Condesa neighborhood . We had two bedrooms and two bathrooms ( including one with an incredible stone soak tub and rainfall shower ) split between two floors , as well as a living way , full kitchen , individual terrace , and 24 - hour building staff .
Day by day
Day 1 - Thursday
Total cost : $ 294.80We had a 5 am flight out of Newark , so my husband and I took a $ 97 Uber to the airdrome ( since we planned to fly back into JFK , we could n’t drive and park ) . We met up with our friend Jon , whose natal day we were celebrating , and flew to Charlotte . During our layover , we got coffee from Starbucks ( $ 23 ) and breakfast from Bojangles ( $ 23 ) because I ’m obsess with their biscuit . I also spent $ 12 on a green juice and a full-grown feeding bottle of water so I could last out hydrous on the plane .
Welanded in Mexico Cityaround 11:30 am and immediately got an Uber to our Airbnb ( $ 14 ) . Our friends who had trip to Mexico City told us that Uber was cheap , secure , and often the fast way to get around , and we definitely found this to be true . Traffic in Mexico City is no joke , and it took us about an hour to get from the airport to Condesa . It was too other for us to check in , but we were able to leave our luggage at the Airbnb so we could go exploring .
On the plane , I had compiled an Apple mathematical function withhundreds of pin eating house , shops , and museums I want to render . One of the position I was most interested in turned out to be a five - min walk from our Airbnb : Molino el Pujol , the more casual frontier settlement of the man - famous Pujol . We ordered a mint of food — a concha , three huitlacoche greaser , two tamale ( cultivated carrot and pineapple plant ) , esquites , and a life - alteringly good churro . I had a prickly pear agua fresca , and the boy had a local maiz beer . Our meal came to $ 77 after gratuity , and it was deserving every cent .
Design by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist
After dejeuner , we pass a few hours exploring the neighborhood . We walked around El Parque México , made note of a few interesting street vendors , and generally got a sense of where we ’d be spending the next few day . Since you ca n’t drink the tap water in Mexico City , we also pass $ 1.80 on three one - l water bottles .
We were able-bodied to check into our Airbnb at 3 autopsy , and since we ’d had an other flight and I ’m not a someone who does well without slumber , I prefer to take a nap . I woke up around six , and we had dinner at Taqueria El Greco , a classic spot in Condesa for tacos Arabes — a precursor to the more popular tacos al parson . We each had three taco and a drink ; our meal came out to $ 47 . I loved the vibe . Sitting on a street corner at sunset listening to busker and having very good tacos with two of my best friend was pretty much everything I want .
Day 2 - Friday
entire toll : $ 380.50My husband and I both ignite up early , and I desperately involve some chocolate . We went to Saint Panaderia , which is right on next door to Molino El Pujol , and got two flat white , two conchas ( drinking chocolate and vanilla extract ) , and a strawberry - filled empanada for $ 13.22 .
Since it was Jon ’s natal day , we bought tickets to a lucha libre equal ( $ 103 for three tag with a upright but not incredible view ) . I also mark a last - hour early dinner party reservation at Mari Gold , a restaurant I was excited to try . With those plan in seat , we ventured out toward castle Chapultepec ( $ 17.44 for three tickets ) , a UNESCO World Heritage Site museum where we cease up drop the bulk of our day . On the walkway there , we bought juices from a street seller ( $ 4.28 ) and stopped at Odette for round two of pastry ( $ 6 ) . Its incredible seasonal berry harlot on a croissant - like crust will live rent - free in my brain forever .
After Chapultepec , we plan to head across the parking area to the Museo Nacional de Antropología — but first , more snacks . We got Dorilocos ( $ 3.67 ) and a gordita de cajeta ( $ 0.61 ) from street vendors in the park . They were great , but I needed a latte . I ’m a coffee berry snob so I made everyone walk 30 minutes out of the way so we could get them from Cucuruchu ( $ 7.96 ) . On the way back toward the museums , we bumble upon a street vender called El Banco that specialized in tacos guisados , which are filled with different types of stews . We spent $ 4.59 on three tacos before finally take a leak our way to the anthropology museum ( $ 17.44 ) .
We wandered around for just under two hours before taking an Uber back to the Airbnb ( $ 13.52 ) for a power forty winks . We claim another Uber ( $ 5.81 ) to Mari Gold , where we ordered at least half the fare and had a pretty incredible meal for $ 152 . We walked back to the Airbnb where we hung out for around an hr before taking an Uber ( $ 15.48 ) to the Arena México for the lucha libre event . It was unlike anything I ’d ever live , so I ’m really happy we chink it out . It ’s generally not recommended to take the air around near the arena , so we took another Uber back to the Airbnb ( $ 15.48 ) for some much - needed sleep .
Day 3 - Saturday
full cost : $ 120We part the morning at Saint Panaderia again ( $ 20 ) , then headed into Centro to check out the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral — another UNESCO site . entering was detached , but we did pay $ 4 to take in the reed organ and choir room . Our plan was to get some food for thought while exploring the Barrio Chino , Mexico City ’s Chinatown , but we were distracted by a delicious - look trompo at Taqueria Tlaquepaque . We stopped and spend $ 2 on some of the best tacos we ate on the entire trip .
Compared to NYC ’s Chinatowns , the Barrio Chino was pretty small . We spent about $ 7 trying cooking pan al vapor from a few dissimilar vendor . These coloured steamed tail end were pretty , but did n’t taste like much . fortuitously , we found a memory cache of intriguing street vendors at the end of the Barrio Chino . We spend $ 3 on some taco de cabeza , and another $ 1.22 on the tastiest quesadilla I ’ve ever had .
Next , we quit at the Palacio de Bellas Artes ( $ 16.53 ) to see the very famous — and very worth the hype — murals . After that , my coffee snobbishness struck again and we spent $ 9.18 on an Uber to Kiyo Cafe , where we got a round of dead unflawed caffe latte for $ 11 .
Photos by Carina Finn
Kiyo Cafe is in the Roma locality , so we spend an hour or so walking around and suss out out the shops before walking back to the Airbnb . For dinner party , we ended up at Tortas al Fuego , where we spent $ 31.52 on tacos , tortas , and beer , and I light dupe to my worst vacation trait : crying over average food for thought . Afterwards , we waited an hour and spent $ 8.45 on cold , greasy , lusterless churros at the allegedly - splendid El Moro before lead an Uber back to the Airbnb for $ 6 .
Day 4 - Sunday
full cost : $ 585.35Jon had plans to participate in a citywide bicycle drive on Sunday break of day , but since I do n’t know how to tease a bike , my married man and I determine to drop the morning pick out romantic walks and use up pastry . We started with excellent conchas and flat whites at Quentin ( $ 8.45 ) before heading to Panaderia Gala . I found out about Gala from an Instagram Reel and was right away scheme , because it ’s almost like a speakeasy bakery . We got there as shortly as they open and were able to grab one of the few seats inside so we could eat our pastry while watching the bakers laminate lettuce in the highly pleasing Scandi - inspire space . We expend $ 13.90 on the best conchas and cruffin I ’ve ever had , and by the time we leave , the line was out the door .
Even though we were no longer hungry , we did happen to be around the recession from Expendio de Maiz Sin Nombre , one of the world ’s 50 good restaurants . They do n’t take arriere pensee , and they ’re notorious for having an 60 minutes - tenacious wait . But when we walked past , they had just afford and were empty . I figured that meant we had to try it . Expendio de Maiz Sin Nombre is a sort - of tasting menu style restaurant — i.e. , they ’ll keep bringing you food until you ask them to stop . We made it through about four courses ( $ 64 ) before we could n’t take it anymore . All of the food was really smart and seasonal and delicious , but none of it was as memorable as the best street food we corrode .
We went back to the Airbnb for a minute , before fulfill up with Jon for a late lunch at Molienda del Pujol because I needed to erase the memory of the previous dark ’s churro from my brain . We spend $ 47 on tacos , tamales , drinks , and a churro with ice pick . While we were at lunch , I snagged a late - night dinner reserve at La Docena , a well - jazz seafood restaurant in the Roma neighborhood . We decide to take the air all the way there so we could shit for souvenirs , and I establish a very cool hand - embroidered snake sweatshirt made by a local mother - girl artisan team for $ 147 .
Photos by Carina Finn
At La Docena , we place whole too much food , but it was so good that I did n’t give care . We ate until we were stuffed , divvy up a bottle of vino , and spend $ 296 on dinner . It was our most expensive meal of the misstep , but also one of the best . Then we take an Uber back for $ 9 .
Day 5 - Monday
full cost : $ 658We all really want to see Xochimilco , the famous canals in Mexico City , but no one in my mathematical group was into drink or partying , and that ’s usually the vibration on the tourist gravy holder . But I ’d stumbled on a Xochimilco food and agriculture duty tour through Culinary Backstreets the day before , and it happen to have some last - min handiness , so I reserve three tickets for $ 450 . Since our escape was at 1 am , we checked out of the Airbnb before our tour and left our luggage with the Airbnb staff before walk to the cafe where we met up with our tour template . All of our food , conveyance , and activity for the solar day were covered in the cost of our circuit . We spent about six hours eating our way through the Xochimilco grocery , cruising down a quieter incision of the epithelial duct , and visiting a work farm . It was without enquiry the cool matter we did on our trip .
We stimulate back to Condesa around 5 atomic number 61 , and still had about five hours to kill before head to the drome . We protrude with a round of pineapple plant inhuman brew coffees at Constela Cafe in Roma ( $ 17.61 ) , and then did some more wandering and shopping . I drop $ 15 on a vintage Sephardic cookbook I found at a used bookstore . We also cull up some pastries from Rosetta ( $ 6.73 ) that we planned to eat on the plane .
By this point , we were all worn-out and disturbed of walking around aimlessly . I realise a last - minute of arc arriere pensee pop up at a restaurant yell Ling Ling , and all the limited review said the spot had astonishing views . It seemed like just the place to end our trip , but when we get there , we realized it was a Tao Group restaurant at the top of the Ritz - Carlton hotel . We decided to just go with it , though . We spend $ 140 on cocktails and pretty awful dim sum . That state , the rooftop views were salient .
Photos by Carina Finn
An Uber to the airport — and barricade back at the Airbnb for our luggage — cost $ 29 . We were all tired , felicitous and quick to go home .
Surprise! Day 6 - Tuesday
full cost : $ 2,050Sounds like a great trip , right ? Well , here ’s where things went off the rails . When I book our plane slate , my husband got our friend Jon ’s natal day incorrect . This meant that he could n’t get mobile embarkment passes for any of our escape . So on Monday Nox , my husband and I waltzed through security , image Jon would catch up to us . But at 12:30 am on Sunday , we got a phone call from him . He could n’t get a boarding pass , because our escape had really left the day before . Red - eyes , amirite ?
I promptly take up crying on the floor of the airport . The air hose we ’d booked through ( American Airlines ) still had n’t issued our locomotion credit to rebook , and even if they had , our only option were to A ) wait until Thursday ( Thursday ! ) for a unmediated flight back to NYC , or take a 25 - hr roundabout itinerary that need a 10 - 60 minutes stop in Montreal . Neither of these seemed like upright options .
We went back through security to meet up with Jon and consider our options . There was another verbatim flight to NYC through a different airline entrust at 7 am , but we ’d have to book completely Modern ticket . After considering the alternatives , we decided this was the best selection . So we spend $ 1,500 on three one - way tickets back to JFK .
Photos by Carina Finn
By this point , we ’d all been awake for entirely too long . Everyone was tired , athirst , and emotional . I used my Hotels.com app to book us a room at the drome Marriott ( $ 250 ) only to realise that it was 1 ) nonrefundable , and 2 ) we could n’t check in until 3 promethium — or eight hours after our flight would have left . Cue more crying on the airport level .
Then Jon did some Googling and found out that the airport had one of those futuristic ( or dystopian , you pluck ) log Z’s seedcase hotels in the end . We mystify there around 2 am , and they had on the button three pods leave behind . I was freak out out by the theme of stay in a sopor pod because I ’m fairly claustrophobic , but it seemed better than spend the next five time of day cuckold the airdrome . We pay $ 300 for three pod , and I was surprised to find that it was n’t spoilt at all . I set about seven alarms , and pay off a few time of day of sleep before we finally beget on a plane back to New York .
How it all broke down
Upfront and jaunt costs:$2,970 plus a surprise extra $ 2,050 for a total of $ 5,020Costs from the week:$2,038Final total:$7,058How much I spent liken to my original budget:$1,666.66 over budget
Photos by Carina Finn
Photo by Carina Finn
