At this point, nearly every New York creative has considered a move to Mexico City, with its verdant parks, walkable neighborhoods, ever-evolving food scene, and artistic treasure trove of galleries and museums.
The discourse around the mass American migration to CDMX is one of both gentrification and opportunity, and short-term rental platforms play a not-insignificant role. So, when I too felt the overwhelming urge to join the flock and fly south to the Mexican capital this winter, I knew I wanted an Airbnb that fulfilled my logistical needs (affordable price point and central location) and moral obligations (a listing owned and operated by a full-time local resident, not a third-party management company).
This spacious one-bedroom apartment, located on the border of Mexico City’s popular Condesa and Roma neighborhoods, hit all the marks. The home’s owner, Mariana, is a highly rated Airbnb superhost who has been using the platform for eight years, with nearly 900 reviews and an average rating of 4.85 stars. According to her bio, she’s also a graphic designer at a Mexico City–based creative agency and a mother of three.
The most obvious perk of renting an actual home from an actual person is that you can communicate with a real-life resident should any questions or issues arise. This, of course, comes in handy for sourcing local intel and recommendations, but also for logistical snafus regarding luggage storage, early check-in, or tricky key hand-offs (all three of which Mariana responded to with gracious flexibility).
Unlike the other Airbnb I stayed in for the second half of my trip, which seduced me with its Instagrammable pink walls and sleek interior design but lacked simple necessities (such as doors that closed and lights that turned on), you could tell this apartment was actually designed for somebody to live in, as opposed to being a backdrop for content creation. While it might have seemed a bit simple in the listing, I was proven wrong during my stay, and it ended up being my preferred choice between the two. There were smaller lived-in details, like the dining room’s armoire of tableware and wine glasses and the pre-loved selection of books and board games, as well as amenities that made this apartment suitable for months-long stays, like an in-unit washer and dryer and extra trundle bed.
