So much to do

South of the border: Who needs beaches when Mexico City offers so much toexplore?

Art pieces such as this one, are found all over the city and are quiteinteresting.
Photo by Karen Burd
Polanco Shopping District
MexicoCityExperience.com
Ecobicis are found all over town.
Innovapedia.org
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Photo by Karen Burd
Catedral Metropolitana
Photo by Karen Burd
Building in the Historical District, wouldn't you want that tile on your house?
Photo by Karen Burd
El Angel de Independencia located in Paseo de Reforma.
Photo by Karen Burd

The typical vacation spots for Mexico usually tend to be places like Cancun or Cozumel, but what about Mexico City? As one of the largest cities in the world, it has a lot to offer for vacationers. Get away from the heat and enjoy the great weather along with the occasional rains at night that help keep the city cool.

The abundance of art galleries and great restaurants in theColonia Condesaprovides a wonderful area to unwind after "must see" visits to such notables as the Museo de Antropologia and the Museo de Arte Popular, Palacio de Bellas Artes and the incredible historical district with tons of interesting architecture.

If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to get some exercise, Mexico City now has great Ecobicis (Eco bikes) that you can rent and take around town.

Zócalo is the main square or plaza inside the city's historic district and one of the largest city squares in the world. It is bordered by the Catedral Metropolitana, Palacio Nacional and the Federal District buildings.

For shopping, the city provides countless opportunities including the Polanco, home to the city's upscale residential and shopping district. You can spend all day there window shopping, finding local notable designers and enjoying a wonderful array of unique boutiques and cute little coffee shops and restaurants.

The food is fantastic; one of the best and long-standing restaurants in the city is La Hacienda de Los Morales. An original hacienda, it is now home to a wonderful restaurant and bar with flowing gardens and a welcoming and cozy atmosphere.

Whether sitting outside in the courtyard or inside by the bar, you get an incredible view of the wonderfully decorated, historic restaurant. It is a great place to go to get away from it all, listen to live music and enjoy cocktails — the "tamarind" margarita is house specialty — and specials like the famous tortilla soup.

When traveling to the capital, remember that it is 7,940 feet above sea level, so plan on taking it easy the first day to allow your body to acclimate to the altitude. It's the perfect time to enjoy anafternoon stroll down the massive Paseo de la Reforma — where you see the iconic Mexican monument of El Angel de la Independencia commemorating the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence.

If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to get some exercise, Mexico City now has great Ecobicis (Eco bikes) that you can rent and take around town to explore the city and avoid driving in the hectic traffic.

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only the best in HOU

Houston's IAH soars as 4th best airport for holiday travel in 2024

George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Facebook

Houstonians are in safe hands at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston's punctual and award-winning George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has just been rated the fourth best airport in the country for the upcoming holiday travel season, so says a new report by travel experts Locals Insider.

The study examined the percentage of on-time departure flights at 50 of the biggest airports in America to discover the 10 best and worst airports for traveling during the holidays. Departure statistics and reasons for delays were analyzed from November 17, 2023 to January 3, 2024.

According to the report's findings, IAH had an on-time departure rate of 85.8 percent during the 2023 holiday period. That means out of the 13,921 total scheduled flights departing from the airport, only 1,976 flights were delayed. That's a pretty good track record.

IAH has been working hard to deliver the best travel experiences for its passengers, including opening its new Terminal D, investing in much-needed bathroom upgrades, showing off its award-winning art and entertainment program, and providing top notch dining experiences.

Though IAH appeared on Locals Insider's top 10 best list, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) descended onto the travel guide's 10 worst U.S. airports for holiday travel this year.

Appearing at No. 8, HOU isn't the worst offender on the list, but its holiday season delay and cancellation rate in 2023 was 22 percent.

"Although Houston’s William P Hobby experiences fewer departing flights compared to other airports on our top 10 list, it’s still prone to disruptions," the report's author wrote. "Overall, more than one in five (22 percent) of departing flights are either delayed or canceled during the holidays."

The study's data found 1,178 holiday flights at HOU were cancelled in 2023, and only 19 were delayed.

Ranking as the No. 1 best airport for holiday travel is Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., which had an 88.6 percent on-time departure rate.

For Houstonians that will be traveling this holiday season, Locals Insider recommended five best-practice tips for a smooth travel experience: Book an early morning flight as those are less prone to delays (additionally, book a direct flight), apply for TSA PreCheck to avoid long screening processes, and budget more time to arrive early to the airport.

The report also suggests packing light and shipping gifts to their intended destination ahead of time.

"Even the TSA recommends shipping your wrapped gifts rather than packing them in your luggage or carry-on," the report said.

The top 10 best U.S. airports for holiday travel in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Washington Dulles International
No. 2 – Minneapolis-St. Paul International
No. 3 – Salt Lake City International
No. 4 – George Bush Intercontinental
No. 5 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 6 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
No. 7 – Newark Liberty International
No. 8 – Detroit Metro Wayne County
No. 9 – Chicago O'Hare International
No. 10 – Charlotte Douglas International

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines the Thanksgiving travel period from November 17-28, and the winter holiday travel period from December 14 through January 3, 2024. The study included data from both holiday travel periods, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airline Service Quality Performance System (ASQP).