Review: Courtyard Mexico City Airport

In a nutshell: If you’re looking for a quality hotel with easy access to MEX, the Courtyard Mexico City Airport is an excellent choice. It has both a direct connection to Terminal 1 and offers a free shuttle to Terminal 2. The ease of transit gives you peace of mind if you’re arriving late or departing early. It’s everything you can expect from a quality midscale international brand, with comfortable rooms, decent food, and friendly service. 

I burnt 17,500 Marriott Bonvoy points for my final night in the CDMX back in May. The hotel was an easy pick, as it provided easy access to the airport. I’d already stayed at the NH Collection Hotel in Terminal 2, found it a bit sub-par, and decided I wanted to save the case. It wasn’t an great use of Marriott points, but I was happy to save the ~$120.

Hotel Location and Access

As with any airport hotel, accessibility from the airport is a major factor. The Courtyard Mexico City Airport is an ideal choice, as it is directly connected to Terminal 1. To get to the hotel from the terminal, you’ll want to head up to the departures level. There is an enclosed skyway that crosses over to an “island” building in the middle of the divided road. You’ll see signs in the departures level. Once you’ve taken the first skyway, head right, and you’ll see another skyway that takes you directly into the hotel lobby.

To get to the Courtyard Mexico City Airport from Terminal 2, you’ll need to take a shuttle, or the landside bus ($). If I understand correctly, the only way to use the Aerotrén between terminals is to have a boarding pass for a connection at the other one. You can technically use the metro, but this would be incredibly annoying to get from one terminal to the other with all the walking involved. I’d definitely call the Courtyard and use their shuttle. There is also Uber or taxi.

The location of the Courtyard makes it incredibly convenient if you’re flying into or out of Terminal 1. If you have an early morning departure, arriving at the Terminal Aérea metro station (Subway Line 5) is a decent option, although you’ll need to walk about 400 meters to the hotel.

Terminal 1 is not home to Aeromexico or Delta. It is home to most other airlines. There is the NH Hotel MEX Terminal 2 as an option if your flight is in that terminal. However, the Courtyard is nicer, in my opinion.

Arriving at the Courtyard Mexico City Airport

Since I had an early(ish) morning flight back to SFO, I arrived at the Courtyard from closer to the centro of CDMX. I took Line 1 from Chapultepec to the Pantitlán station, transferring to Line 5 to head back around the airport to Terminal 1. Getting to the airport require 1-2 transfers from most places in Mexico City.

The hotel had a mask policy, as this stay was a few months ago while COVID-19 has been ongoing. The front desk also had the common plexiglass shields. I had a terrible time understanding the lady at the desk.

You’re given a disinfected and packaged key card to your room. I was given an interior room, which may be better in terms of noise versus an exterior room with traffic and airport noise.

King Room

With a king bed, good-sized couch, and desk, my room at the Courtyard Mexico City Airport was very comfortable. I found it very typical of the quality for the brand, although a bit behind the newer Courtyard and Fairfield Inn hotels I’ve stayed at. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

I was glad both in-room coffee and water were provided.

I was also glad that the room offers a shower and not a tub-shower combo. I know a bathtub is a must for some people at hotels. I’ve never been keen on this, unless it offers a separate tub and shower, which you’ll only really find at upscale or luxury properties.

Room quality is solid on the whole. Noise level was very low, and I slept well. My room was also adjacent to the elevator bank (not a fan of this), but there was no elevator noise either.

Hotel Facilities and Dining

I’d planned to enjoy my final evening near the Centro, but after a morning in Xochimilco, lots of walking through Coyoacán, and some final sightseeing near Chapultepec, I was too tired to continue. My plans for quick weekend trips (and sometimes even longer trips) are always ambitious, and I rarely end up doing everything I’d planned to do. Dinner would have to be at the Courtyard.

The restaurant is located off the inner atrium. I didn’t wander down to the atrium floor, although it looks pretty cool.

The hotel restaurant was…extremely un-busy. I had my choice between watching soccer or news. The tacos were decent, but nothing like the ones I’d eaten the previous day. Nor were they as cheap.

Courtyard is one of the Marriott brands that has a hard-to-remember breakfast policy. As I am Marriott Gold and not Platinum, I decided to eat once I got through security in the Terminal. But for those with Platinum or Titanium status, the policy is “500 points per stay or food and beverage amenity or $10 food and beverage credit per day for member plus one guest” for Courtyard properties without a lounge outside the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Courtyard Mexico City Airport Review: Final Thoughts

The Courtyard Mexico City is the nicer of the two hotels I’ve stayed at with direct connection to a MEX terminal. The rooms are comfortable and quiet, exactly what you need either before or after a flight. The food is decent enough, although this is Mexico City where you can find amazing tacos. I’d happily stay here again, although at the points cost, I’d waffle between whether I’d pay cash or redeem points. The value would be excellent as a Category 2 property. At Category 3 prices, I’m not crazy about redeeming my Bonvoy points here.