Frida Costa Azul

Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. Traffic, loud exhausts, and whistles carry on through the night, and there’s a persistent clunk from the elevator or generator. A white noise machine might help even more. The value and location are strong. It's about a 20-minute walk to the Zocalo and five minutes to the Metro, a block or two from the busy center but with more of a neighborhood feel. I felt safe walking around, and an Uber from the airport was about $7. A good breakfast place is next door. Staff were reliably available, with free coffee and pastries and a comfortable downstairs sitting area. Wifi worked best in the common areas. The room had a bed, desk, chair, and safe with a PIN you set yourself. The bathroom was well maintained and had dependable hot water. The elevator only goes to the third floor, so there's a flight of stairs to the fourth.

This is a straightforward, no-frills place, somewhere between a budget motel and a hostel. The location is excellent, the price is great, and both the room and shared areas were clean. The hallway water filter was a plus. Management handled our last-minute request to extend a third-party booking at a reasonable rate, and seemed honest. We did find hair on the bedding when we arrived. The doors and frames make a loud bang unless people close them with a lot of care, and slamming plus loud hallway conversations went on until 3 a.m. one night. A quiet-hours policy would be nice. The bathroom vent has open fixed slats, so noise and insects could get into the room. We moved from an inner-yard-facing room to a street-facing one during our long stay, and the street noise was unbearable for me. I couldn't have slept without earplugs. Luggage is stored off to the side in an open lobby area, so it’s at your own risk. There's a sex shop next door.

The room was clean and the staff were friendly and welcoming during our two nights there. There isn't much happening nearby at night, but you can take an Uber wherever you want. I'd definitely recommend it and stay again.

For the price, I have no complaints. The location is amazing, and the place was nice and clean.