Mexico City Hotels

Stylish, modernistic with bold yellow and pink walls, the Camino Real was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. Luxurious and original, this Mexico City hotel is renowned for a huge mural in the entrance lobby by artist Rufino Tamayo. Spacious guest rooms offer views over a delightful garden and large pool with terrace. Convention facilities include a business centre and meeting rooms, shops and a gym.

This 659-room, high-rise Mexico City hotel boasts a celebrity clientele with Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton past guests. The hotel's modernistic lobby sets the tone. Large rooms offer pleasant views and king-size beds with the 32nd floor reserved for ladies-only. First-rate business facilities include an executive floor equipped with a club lounge and library while a business centre is open 0700-2300. There is also a sports club with a pool and a number of good, popular restaurants especially Au Pied de Cochon.

Located off Reforma Boulevard amidst the trendy shops, chic boutiques, galleries and cafés of the trendy Polanco neighbourhoods, W Mexico City boasts eye-popping artistic bold hues and stylish décor inspired by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Butler-style personal attention caters to a guest's every whim and there's a spa for relaxation.

A shrine to art nouveau styling, this is one of the most elegant and original hotels in Mexico City. The lobby has a cathedral-like quality, with a stunning coloured-glass window canopy overhead, ornate wrought iron balconies and lifts at either end. Located conveniently on the Zócalo in the Centro Histórico and a 15-minute drive from the airport, this Mexico City hotel also has convention facilities, making it popular with the business community and upmarket travellers. The 124 rooms all have art nouveau touches and TVs. There is a restaurant in the lobby and a terrace café over the square.

Located in the heart of the Centro Histórico, this elegant mid-range hotel in Mexico City is perfectly placed just a stone's throw from the Zócalo and its fine architecture and museums. An attractive art deco-style facade opens up onto a cheerful, rose-coloured marble lobby hung with leafy plants. Rooms boast a simple pastel colour scheme together with TV and private bathroom with views overlooking the street or a quiet inner courtyard. A reasonably priced restaurant Capilla and bar offers a decent range of international beers and liquors together with Mexican dishes with a global twist.

Boasting an enviable location overlooking the fine historic monuments of the Zócalo, the 85-room Hotel Majestic has five large suites. A mirrored lobby is adorned with fountains and Mexican tiles. Choose a room overlooking the square for bird's eye views of the daily ceremonial raising of the flag at 0600. Simple décor centres on comfort with a TV, mini-bar, coffee-making facilities and rustic wood furniture. Popular terrace restaurant Terraza overlooks the Zócalo and serves basic Mexican and international food at reasonable prices.

Finding a better choice in terms of a central location, low price and excellent quality all at once is likely to be tough. Yet somehow Casa Gonzalez combines a small, personal guesthouse feel with close proximity to Paseo de la Reforma making it excellent value for money. The property has its own little garden and each room has a private bathroom.

There may be some fancier hotels close to the Zócalo with delightful art deco architecture, but you will pay less for a more modest hotel with similar proximity to the Mexican capital's epicentre. Hotel Catedral is just behind the Metropolitan Cathedral. Some rooms have balconies and all are modern and come with air conditioning. You can even access the roof deck and drink in the view of the art deco buildings from there.

Hotel Escandón offers quite remarkable value for money. It is situated in the Escandón neighbourhood, just 10 minutes away on foot from the hip Roma-Condesa regions of the city. But if you want to get there faster the free bicycle hire is bound to be an attractive feature; as are their spacious rooms, on-site fitness centre and room service. There is a restaurant in the hotel serving authentic Mexican food and plenty of restaurants and cafes on the same block as the hotel.