The Language Barrier

My Spanish is very limited. My mom doesn't speak any Spanish at all. But we got around Mexico City just fine. If you stay in a place like Condesa or Polanco, you will be just fine. People will speak English, and people will be helpful.

When you go out to some major tourist areas, such as when you go to Chapultepec Park or to the Zócalo, there may not be any English spoken at all by the local vendors. However, people will try to help you out, so don't be intimidated by the language barrier. With the assistance of Google Translate and a bit of charades, you can navigate most interactions.

Do try and learn a little bit of Spanish -- please, thank you, and how to order food and drinks. I suggest you know some specific dishes that you want to order, so when you see them on a menu, you can spot them and say, "Oh, yes I definitely want to eat chiles en nogada."

Don’t let the language barrier intimidate you—even with limited Spanish ability, you will be able to make your way through Mexico City!