Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, D.F.

Arrival/Check-In: I flew Aeromexico from Los Angeles to Mexico City for a four-day business trip. My first visit to Mexico City was not what I anticipated. In fact, it was an international traveler’s worst nightmare, with only one saving grace.

The minute I landed in Mexico City, I felt an illness coming on. I met up with my colleague, and during the taxi ride to the Four Seasons, the sick feeling escalated quickly. I checked into the hotel within 10 minutes and raced to my room to rest, but that night the worst flu I ever had hit me. At about midnight, I called the concierge and asked if a doctor was on call. Fortunately, a doctor is available at the Four Seasons 24 hours a day, a service that saved me on this trip!

Guest Quarters: The property recently underwent renovations from the exterior to the guestrooms. The stunning lobby screams luxury, class and sophistication, and the guestrooms reflect that same feel.

My deluxe room measured 602 square feet and featured a king-sized bed, a full marble bathroom and a garden courtyard view. When I walked in, the bathroom was to the right and a closet to the left. The bed was comfortable, and this summed up my entire stay due to my illness. The king-sized pillows and cozy sheets/comforter made for a perfect night’s sleep.

Boasting the elegance you expect at a Four Seasons property, the room also offered a loveseat, a coffee table and an executive desk with plenty of outlets for electronics. Technology included an LCD flat-screen television, wireless high-speed Internet access, an iPod docking station, a CD and DVD player and a Web/interactive television. I also appreciated the in-room safe, a refrigerated private bar, slippers and thick terry bathrobes. The bathroom offered a deep soaking tub with separate shower and water closet.

Services/Amenities: The sun deck and outdoor pool lie adjacent to the health club, which is not open 24/7 but offers an extensive range of cardio and weight-training systems. As an exceptional business hotel, the Four Seasons provides services to meet the round-the-clock needs of busy guests. The business center offers qualified bilingual assistants and five workstations (four PCs and one Mac), high-speed Internet connections, printers, color scanners, a fax machine and a photocopier. Two boardrooms — each equipped with a television and a DVD player, Internet connections and a speaker phone — can be booked directly through the business center.

We enjoyed a breakfast meeting at Reforma 500, with seating indoors and in the perfectly landscaped courtyard. We sat outside and it was a bit chilly, but the hotel gave me a shawl to wear. Breakfast featured traditional Mexico City cuisine. I went with the chilaquiles — delicious.

The Experience: The doctor arrived within 30 minutes, dressed in a three-piece suit and carrying a vintage doctor’s bag. He spoke English well, though I tried my best to communicate in Spanish. He treated me for the flu (I had a 105-degree fever), giving me a shot and antibiotics. If it weren’t for the doctor, I would not have recovered as quickly as I did. By day three I was going to meetings and trying to enjoy my brief Mexico City experience.

The Four Seasons staff was incredibly generous in making sure I had everything I needed to recover. The entire staff seemed to know I was “the sick girl” or “patient zero.” They even sent me a note saying, “We hope you are feeling better.”

I highly recommend the Four Seasons to anyone traveling to Mexico City. Not only do they provide the luxurious experience you’d expect, they literally save lives! If you’re going to get sick abroad, posting up at the Four Seasons is the way to go.

GT CHECKLIST

Doorman/valet

Less than 10 minutes for check-in

Separate tub and shower

Large vanity

High-quality towels

Powerful, unattached hair dryer

High-quality bed linens

Large, flat-screen television

Large desk with convenient outlets

Large, complimentary laptop safe

Complimentary in-room WiFi

Complimentary bottled water

Stocked minibar

Ample lighting

In-room coffeemaker

Iron and ironing board

On-site restaurant

24-hour room service

24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center

Turn-down service