Mexico Travel Forum

My wife and I will be staying in a resort not far from Playa Del Carmen. We want to take a taxi to 5th Avenue, walk around and have some Mexican food. I have been to Playa before (I love this town). Obviously, there are lots of restaurants along 5th Avenue, but wanted to get people's recommendations on the good one since some of these restaurants are the typical tourist traps (bad food, high prices).

we are a few vt members meeting up in mexico city on november 25.
come and join us if you like.
you can sign up for the meeting on this link:

http://meetings.virtualtourist.com/2/meeting-5038-1-0-0-World-1257528839906-1289061239906-meeting.html?wosid=IAkSQpBm2ToA7bwTptjAFg

I am thinking about holiday in Mexico with our 2 years son. But i would like to know, how big is a risk that he will get a diarrhea there - because i have heard that many tourists get it there. We will be only in good hotels and only on Mayan riviera (and Chichen itza), eat in good restaurants, drink bottled water and try to have clean hands. But i dont know if it is enough and if there isnt still big risk of diarrhea for our son (for example if he escapes our attention and eat with dirty hands)... Is it real to avoid (or fade to minimum) the diarrhea risk to our son ? What our your experience, how big risk of Montezuma revenge is in good resorts?

If a person wanted to go to Mexico (the Pacific side) for a long weekend, what's the best place to go for snorkeling. Is there anyplace where you can snorkel from the hotel without taking a tour?

i am planing to visit guadalajara for a month and visit the nearby cities for short stays in july 2010.i have a two questions
how much is an budget self catering apartment? are they charged daily or monthly?
how mcuh would bus fare to mexico city? i understand its about 8 hrs journey?

We are frequent cruisers and will be making our fourth cruise down the Pacific side of Mexico this winter that will include a day in Manzanillo, which is one of the few major Pacific ports we've not visited. We understand that the city itself is rather unspectacular, but we also hear good things about the beaches and region around Manzanillo.

Has anyone on this forum been to the turtle sanctuary near Cuyutlan? Is it worth the six-hour excursion through the cruise line?

I'm going to be traveling in Mexico with a friend in late December/early January. We are starting in Mexico City on December 20 and want to be in San Miguel de Allende by New Years Eve.

I'll state up front that we're experienced budget travelers very comfortable with overnight buses and modest accommodation. We'd like to avoid flying and definitely want to avoid huge hotels and tourist traps (like Ixtapa, for instance).

We want to spend just a couple days in Mexico City, then head down to the coast for about a week, then head back up to San Miguel de Allende. Coast-wise, we're thinking the area around Zihuatanejo, and possibly the coast between Zihuatanejo and Acapulco. So I have a bunch of questions:

1) How long is the bus from Mexico City to Zihuatanejo? I've read 8-9 hours, but it's supposed to be 4 hours from Mexico City to Acapulco and it looks to be about the same distance.

2) If we wanted to make a loop, is there any reason to go Mexico City -> Acapulco -> Zihuatanejo -> San Miguel de Allende vs. the other direction (Mexico City -> Zihua -> Aca -> SMA)? Our goal in choosing a direction would be to minimize hours on the bus and bus transfers.

3) What's the best way to reserve/buy bus tickets before we get to Mexico? The websites for Estrella de Oro and Estrella Blanca (the two lines that I know serve the coastal region) either won't show schedules that far in advance or don't list the destinations I want (even though I know they go there). Is it possible to buy these through a travel agent in the US? We'll be traveling during the holidays so we'd like to get this sorted out ahead of time.

4) What are some nice (chill, smallish, beachy, no huge hotels) places to visit between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo? Are the nicer places clustered closer to one city or the other, or spread out in between?

5) Related to #2, what's the most direct way to get from either Zihuatanejo or Acapulco back up to San Miguel de Allende by bus? We've heard that we might have to go through Queretaro, but looking at the map that doesn't make a ton of sense (not that it has to...).

Very excited for our trip. Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hi in two weeks I go to Mexico. We are planning on travelling by bus from Merida to Chitzen Itza, then Chitzen to Tulum, and Tulum to Playa Del Carmen. I was advised to book bus tickets in advance on the Ticket Bus website but it doesn't work very well from outside Mexico - half the time it says there are no buses available, and then when you do find a bus, it throws you out of the website just after i try to enter payment information. So, my question is does anyone have any ideas on whether it's necessary to book buses in advance or can we just turn up and get on a bus? I don't want to be waiting around all day for an available bus as our time is short.
thanks
Jane

Hi,
Has anyone any experience driving in the Merida/Cancun area using a TomTom for navigation. Understand the TomTom maps are somewhat sketchy in some parts of Mexico. Can anyone also recommend a reliable map of the area and where to obtain.
Any other tips re driving would be greatly appreciated. We are considering renting a car from "Cancun Car rental".

Every year we take a King David bus to the Golden Zone when we arrive at the airport from Chicago for Christmas and New Years. I do not enjoy the half hour wait, then hour plus ride stopping at all the other resorts...for the 5th time! If I want to see other resorts, I will let someone pay me $250 with a free breakfast! About how much are the taxis? We have 4 adults, less than average luggage amounts (laundry service is soooo cheap) and a wheelchair, so not sure if a single taxi would work. Any ideas?

Just curious if I should feel comfortable visiting Tiajuana with small children. Any advice would be great.

Can someone please give me some advice how to choose a place for snorkeling around Playa del Carmen, Mexico? We do not have guys with us this time so we want to be somewhere safe. We are not sissies but we do not want to get ripped off just because we are blond. How much is it supposed to cost? Also what is the best way to see the Chichen Itza ruins? We do not want to rent a car. I have been to Tulum before and it was awesome so we are going back.

My husband and I will be renting a car at Guadalajara airport and driving to Mazatlan in the next few weeks.

We would appreciate it if anyone could give us any information regarding the road conditions, toll fees, driving times, etc., as we have never done this trip by car before. Any info would be most helpful.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Anne

Will be visiting PV for the first time over Thanksgiving, and staying at the Westin Resort. We are curious about gay life and hangouts that would be good to visit. Thanks for any feedback provided.

I hope to make a trip with my family of eleven (includes five kids) to Manzanillo and Guadalajara. We intend to rent a van and divide our time between the two places. What do you think of that plan? Any suggestions about hotels in Manzanillo? Any places that are particularly interesting between the two cities? What is the weather like at the end of August? I am an independent traveler and speak decent Spanish. Thanks.

I am wanting to travel to Mexico in Feb 2010 for a week. I am not excited about an all inclusive type setting. I rather fly down and grab a hotel or a hostel. However I do want to see a bunch of sights, history, real Mexican life not areas dressed for tourists. I want to experience my destination not the hotel/resort.
So with that being said - where in Mexico is a good place to sight see? Looking at mid range price range as well. All advice will be very very helpful as there is so much information on the net is is hard to figure out where to start.
Cheers!

Does anyone know if the dotted "track" noted on maps of the Yucatan between Las Coloradas and El Cuyo denote some kind of road connecting the two? I have traveled about 12 miles on this sand track before heading back to Las Coloradas. Don't want to repeat the trip if the sand "road" degrades into a walking path

Just curious to know if anyone has been to the Nestle chocolate museum in Mexico City? Is it interesting? The building looks incredible.

Is there a bus in the Centro Historico that goes to the Aeropuerto International in Queretaro? I want to go to meet a friend and do not want to pay $25 in taxi to get there, undertanding that we will take taxi back since there will be luggage on the return trip. What street does the bus run down?
Or must I go to the Bus Station outside of town to get an airport bus? Thanks for any help.

Does any one know where to get ADO or other bus schedules and stops
Taking bus from McAllen Tx. to Tulum Mx Wanting to stop 2 places on the journey
Thinking about Vera Cruz and Villahermosa But would prefer smaller pueblo or colonial on the bus route Any info will be helpful

Going to be in Mexico on tourist visa, but planning to stay for several months. I want to take a lot of food items, bulk grains, nuts, seeds. I also want to take some kitchen tools and some computer related equipment. My understanding is that some food items are not allowed and whatever is taken is limited to $300 per person. Does anyone know what food items will be confiscated and also about what items they add into the value limit (how they figure the limit, too) and what happens if you are over the limit.

can anyone please tell me how the drive from cancun to belize is (safety wise)??

is this a recommended drive?

trying to save on air fair, planning to go in january '10

are there ever weddings on the beach in the arch when the water is low? Just heard every four years the water is low enough that there is a beach there

Is Coco Bongo a nightclub for adults only? I saw there are several shows. I am going to be coming to Canun in December with my children, ages 15 and 12. Would this be an appropriate place to visit with them? Thank you.

Hi, im sure this a highly irregular question to ask but please bear with me..
A large party are about to descend on Cancun to attend a wedding there, and i have been reluctantly put in charge of organising the inevitable stag do.
The Groom is adamant that it be as wacky and 'far out' as possible, and i have heard of a mexican wrestling league in which the protaganists are 'little people' (trying to make this as politically correct as i can)!
I have also heard that said league is popular among the locals and highly entertaining..In short (pardon), I could'nt think of a better way to spend an alcohol induced evening!!
Any info would be really appreciated, or indeed any other suggestions you may have on how to entertain 25 inebriated Welshmen!! Cheers..

Is there a English speaking BUS TOUR of Merida and surrounding tourist places?
Also from Merida I want to go on BUS TOUR to Campeche, Uxmal, Progreso, Chichen Itza etc...
Is there a bus tour I can take from my hotel in Merida to all these places and then back to my hotel @ night? (PS: I don't know what hotel I am staying yet).
I have 1.5 (a day and half) to explore these places and then another 1.5 (day and half) to go explore Playa, Tulum and Chetumal. What is a inexpensive BUS Tour I can take?

Thanks in advance.
Bansi

Can anybody tell me the price of bus ticket( in US $) from Mexico city's Norte terminal to San Miguel de Allende ?

I checked the primersplus website. It shows one way fare of $ 235
Is that true.Does the $ sign means US dollars or local currency??

Can anyone give me a lead on a local vendor (name and phone/email contact info)with whom bride and groom may contract for a wedding tent or canopy? Wedding is May 22, The Royal Playa del Carmen. Hotel does not have/supply tent or canopy. Wedding is for 100+/- guests. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
Mary

We are planning to visit SMA in December. How can we reach this town from mexico City airport. How many days should we allow to see different areas of the town??Are there better hotels near the bus station?

Are most of the places in walking distance. If not how is the public transportation..

Any general information will be greatly appreciated.

I will be in Oaxaca shortly and need to purchase a low end dslr (preferably Canon) or high end point and shoot. Can anyone recommend a decent camera store or even a discount electronic place with a selection?
Thanks,
Lucifer