Where to Stay Mexico City: Airport Hotels

The Mexico City airport is conveniently located near the attractions and nice neighborhoods if you want to stay in one of the city’s historic hotels, or somewhere like Roma or Condesa. You just have to allow ample time for traffic and leave a few hours before your flight. The Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) hasn’t been replaced by some far-flung runways an hour or more out of town like you find in some other capital cities. If you want though, you can find a good Mexico City Airport hotel and have an easier time of it for an early flight.

If you’re leaving outside of rush hour, where to stay in Mexico’s capital city shouldn’t be impacted by whether you have a flight day or not. If you do have an early departure though, or just a long layover in this Aeromexico hub city, you might want to look at the Mexico City airport hotels that will get you to the airline counter a few minutes after you check out, no stressing about traffic, construction, or accidents. 

Here are the Mexico City airport hotels that are in or right by the terminal, in some cases with a set-up where you take a pedestrian walkway to get there. Just be advised that all but one of these are by Terminal 1 though, so even for the connected ones, you’ll need to either take the free tram if your flight in is Terminal 2 (print or download your boarding pass because you’ll need it) or take the free hotel shuttle that most of these hotels offer. 

Hilton Mexico City Airport

If you search “hotels in Mexico City airport,” you’re only going to find one result for Terminal 1: the Hilton. It is actually in the airport, up an escalator from where streams of people are walking past all day in the arrivals area. If feels a bit disconcerting when you pop out for a bite to eat because you’re eating in an airport restaurant. When I stayed here many years ago, I couldn’t get used to the fact that when I looked out my window, I was seeing airplanes on the runway. 

This is a comfortable and easy option if you want the usual Hilton experience but in a transplanted location. While this is usually the most expensive airport hotel option in Mexico City, it won’t break the bank since the rates for a standard usually start below $120 on Expedia or direct from Hilton. 

Courtyard by Marriott Mexico City Airport

I just stayed here this month before a flight to the USA. I was driving in from another Mexican city with my family and didn’t want to rush it–or leave anything to chance. The Courtyard by Marriott is one of the newest options around, plus it’s connected to Terminal 1 of the airport via an enclosed walkway that leads from registration to the airline counters. We were leaving out of T2 though, so we hopped in the shuttle that leaves every 20 minutes on demand. 

This is an attractive property with a nice lobby area up an escalator from a sunny courtyard and normally it has a good restaurant and bar in the hotel. Those were closed when we stayed because of virus restrictions, but the same menu was on a QR code for room service. So we got a flatbread, a burger, and a dinner salad and all were quite good. The friendly staffers speak English at the front desk and valet parking is available. The rental car return counters are just a couple of blocks away.

We cashed in Marriott points at a reasonable level for this airport Courtyard hotel, but rates usually start somewhere between $60 and $105–a good value. Book online here. 

Camino Real Aeropuerto Mexico

Camino Real is a long-established Mexican chain that has several locations in the capital city. This was one of the first airport hotels and it hasn’t aged so gracefully. Perhaps because of that, plus the fact that they’ve got 600 rooms to fill, it’s often the best bargain around, with rates occasionally dipping below $50 a night for a full-service hotel. Like the Courtyard a block away, it’s connected to T1 of the Mexico City Airport by an enclosed walkway. 

In normal times there’s a bar, restaurant, gym, and pool, plus bellmen waiting to help with your bags. Check rates for your dates here. 

Holiday Inn Express Mexico Aeropuerto

I ended up here once and it wasn’t by choice. I was on an Aeromexico flight that connected through here and thanks to some mechanical problems, I missed my connection and they had to put me up for the night. Off to the Holiday Inn Express we went, a shuttle full of passengers to await our next flight in the morning. 

I’m kind of hazy on all the details of that trip, but I do remember the room and shower both being a welcome sight after a stressful day. I slept well and got to where I was going safely. This chain hotel offers complimentary breakfast, a small fitness center, and no-surprises rooms that will look a lot like any other Holiday Inn Express you’ve been in stateside. 

Rates sometimes dip below $60 a night before taxes, which is a real bargain since the room amenities here are very similar to what you’ll get at the NH. This one is a few long blocks away from the T2 entrance, but a complimentary shuttle will get you to your proper terminal. Book direct with IHG or check with Hotels.com here. 

NH Collection Mexico City Airport

If you want to be able to walk into T2 of the airport from your hotel, this is the one to book. The NH Collection airport hotel is attached to the terminal so you won’t need a shuttle or a tram to get to the check-in counter. 

The Spanish chain NH has several hotels around Mexico City. I haven’t stayed in any of them, but I have stayed in one in Spain and they’re usually a good value for the price. This one offers a gym, bar, and restaurant, plus 287 attractive rooms with coffee makers, premium TV channels, free WiFi, and safe. Rates average around $120 with taxes, on par or slightly below the Hilton in the other terminal. Check online here. 

There are a few other local chain hotels scattered around the area. If you’re looking at where to stay in Mexico City before a flight and the ones highlighted above are booked or out of your budget, you can check We Hotel, Fiesta Inn, or other MEX airport hotel options. 

See those, plus Mexico City apartment rental prices on the map below. Just put in your dates and zoom in. 

Review by editor Tim Leffel, photos by Leffel except NH Collection courtesy of the hotel.