Mexico City Arrivals With Children
Benito Juárez International (MEX) sits inside the city, so the ride to a hotel in Roma Norte or Condesa runs about 30 to 45 minutes in light traffic and closer to an hour between 07:00 and 10:00 or after 18:00. Authorised airport taxis and ride-hailing pickups are organised by terminal; confirm your meeting point before you land, because pushing luggage trolleys between terminals 1 and 2 with children is slow. If your flight lands after dark, book a hotel in Roma Norte or Polanco for the first night rather than somewhere further out, and save longer transfers for daylight.
Terminal 2 handles a large share of international arrivals and has the smoother taxi queue in my experience. Ask the hotel to send written directions in Spanish, since drivers may not recognise an English booking name. Rooms in Roma Norte and Condesa typically start around the mid-range band and climb steeply in Polanco; for a family of four, an apartment-style hotel with a kitchenette often costs less than two standard rooms and removes the pressure of every meal out. I would book that over an airport-adjacent hotel unless you have a very early departure.
Tijuana and the Border Crossing
Tijuana's General Abelardo L. Rodríguez airport (TIJ) is close to the city centre, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by road, and the walk-across border at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa adds its own rhythm to a family travel day. Crossings are busiest early morning and late afternoon on weekdays; mid-morning tends to move faster. Keep passports, children's documents and snacks in one bag you carry rather than check. If you cross on foot, the pedestrian queues can still run long, so build in a buffer and avoid scheduling anything tight on the other side.
Zona Río suits families who want malls, pharmacies and wide pavements within walking distance, while Playas de Tijuana is quieter and better for a wind-down day by the water. Ask whether your hotel offers parking and a shuttle before booking, since driving yourself across the border means Mexican vehicle insurance arranged in advance. May, June and October are the most comfortable months for walking with children; July and August afternoons are hot enough that a midday rest indoors makes sense.
Building a Realistic Travel Day
A workable rule for families: one anchor activity per day, and nothing booked within three hours of a flight. That covers the taxi, the check-in queue, the security line and the inevitable snack stop. Domestic terminals in Mexico are generally efficient, but check-in desks for international routes close well before departure, so arrive early rather than relying on a tight plan. Pack a refillable bottle and layers; cabin air and terminal air conditioning both run cold, and altitude in Mexico City can leave small children tired faster than expected.
If you are connecting to Oaxaca, Guadalajara or Mérida, consider a hotel night near the airport on arrival and another in the city centre afterwards, rather than a same-day connection. Roma Norte and Condesa work well for a first stay because parks, bakeries and pharmacies sit within a few blocks. In Tijuana, Zona Río gives you the easiest base for errands. For both cities, book refundable rates when travelling with children; plans shift, and flexibility is worth more than a small saving.
When to Go and What to Skip
For Mexico City, March to May and September to November bring the most comfortable walking weather; December and January mornings are cold at altitude, and the rainy season from June to September means afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain. In Tijuana, coastal fog in May and June can surprise visitors, while autumn is clear and mild. School holidays push hotel rates up in both cities, so booking two to three months ahead is sensible for family rooms, which are the first to sell out.
Skip the ambitious same-day arrival-and-tour plan, and skip airport hotels in Mexico City unless your flight leaves before 07:00. Skip the cheapest fare with a long layover when travelling with young children; a direct route into MEX or TIJ is worth the difference. What I would book: a refundable family room in Roma Norte or Condesa for Mexico City, and a hotel in Zona Río with parking for Tijuana, both within a short walk of food and a pharmacy.