Mexico City Trip Report — Summer 2024
TLDW- Flew Delta JFK–MEX on SkyMiles
- Stayed 3 nights at Hyatt Place Polanco on Chase points (~40k points total)
- Walked around rainy Mexico City, explored local life, street vendors, Disney "Frozen" show scene
- Horrendous traffic — even short rides can take forever
- Steakhouse dinner at Auguri Kosher Trattoria KMD — tasty food but slow service & Spanish-only staff
- Explored La Merced market — massive local market, totally safe if careful
- Shabbos food hunt — challenging but manageable
- Used Hot Logic to keep food warm over Shabbos
- Hyatt staff helped with Shabbos elevator needs
- Davened nearby with Rabbi Sammy Sandler at Bais Yitzjak — warm and welcoming
Flights:- Airline: Delta
- Route: JFK → MEX (Mexico City)
- Booked With: SkyMiles
- Flight Experience: Smooth, no issues. Landed Thursday afternoon.
Hotel:- Hotel: Hyatt Place Mexico City Polanco
- Location: Near the Jewish community
- Booking: ~40,000 Chase points total for 3 nights
- Experience: Very Shabbos-friendly staff. Need front desk to swipe elevator access on Shabbos — they were happy to help. Going up was easy with help, going down sometimes required stairs (11 flights 😅).
Thursday:- Weather: Rain (expected for Mexico City summers)
- Activities: Walked local streets, explored vendors. Peeked at the National Auditorium hosting a Disney "Frozen" event. Security with armed guards at the door. More street vendors selling fake Frozen merch than actual attendees!
- Traffic: Absolutely horrendous. 20-minute walk turned into almost an hour by taxi. Tip: If it’s under a mile, just walk if you can.
- Dinner: Auguri Kosher Trattoria KMD — excellent portions and delicious food. Service was slow. Staff spoke only Spanish (manager helped a little). Pro Tip: Don’t assume English fluency even in Jewish areas.
Friday:- Activity: Visited La Merced market — one of the largest markets in the world. Miles of cramped aisles selling merchandise, housewares, manicures, etc. Industrial, rough, but fascinating place to experience everyday life. Safety: Felt completely safe with phone and cash stashed in a pouch under clothing to deter pickpockets.
- Shabbos Prep: Back to Polanco Jewish area. Kosher food shopping was tricky but manageable. Found enough for Shabbos meals after visiting a few stores.
Shabbos:- Food: Used a Hot Logic warming tray to keep food warm — worked great for Shabbos.
- Davening: Walked to nearby shul and met Rabbi Sammy Sandler — very warm and welcoming.
- Hotel Logistics: Staff used to Shabbos observers. Elevator going up required staff swipe. Going down sometimes needed to use the stairs.
Motzei Shabbos:- After Shabbos, we took a stroll around the neighborhood looking for a coffee shop or something interesting open late. Walked around Polanco’s main street — very nice and clean.
- Did not feel unsafe at all — no suspicious people around. Lots of police presence, and the area felt inviting and fun even late at night.
- Walked about 15–20 minutes away from the hotel and back, and the entire time it felt completely safe.
Overall Impressions:- Mexico City is vibrant, chaotic, and fascinating — just beware of the insane traffic.
- Jewish community is strong but less English-speaking than you might expect.
- Shabbos was very doable with a little planning — Hyatt Place Polanco worked out great.
- La Merced market is a must-see for adventurous shoppers.
Pictures and rest of the TR coming soon!
