• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Mexico travel advice- historical/hiking-oriented trip on the fly

Svenn

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
1,614
Reaction score
52
We're (Americans) thinking of doing a quick 1 week trip to Mexico later this month, and because it's such late notice at the peak travel time, we realize we're not gonna get a perfect beach getaway or anything.

All we really want is to get into a warmer sunnier climate and do some hiking in interesting national parks and see some old colonial towns. Beaches would be fine too if any aren't packed this time of year. We'd get a rental car. We were thinking of Oaxaca, but flights there are like $1200 ! The deserty areas in Northern Sonora are alright, just they can be kinda chilly albeit sunny and there's not a lot of history...

Any tips?
 

Gus

Stylish Dinosaur
Dubiously Honored
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
18,576
Reaction score
8,072
Don't do northern Mexico this time of year, it will be cold. Head south, far south at least to Zihutanejo, then head inland to the small cities that make crafts. Or head to San Miguel but you will see a lot of ex pats and Canadian retirees. San Miguel will give you a dose of classic colonial charm.
 

scarphe

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
4,943
Reaction score
114
coastl veracruz would fit want you are are seeking. it has colonial towns, a fair number fo precolombian sites to visit and of course mangrovees waterfalls and beaches.
 

Svenn

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
1,614
Reaction score
52
^thanks guys. our trip is limited to arriving in Mexico City now (since flights to all other mexican cities are like $1000+
eek.gif
, mexico city is just $700 ) ... so we're thinking of renting a car and we can't decide if we should drive to Puerto Escondido via Puebla and Oaxaca, or go to Veracruz instead. The weather doesn't look that warm, it looks like highs of 65 in the mountainous areas, but hey the sun will be out and a lot brighter than up here in the pacific northwest. I've never been clear on the safety of renting your own car in mexico- some people say it's an insane thing to do, but then i hear about 70 year old grannies doing it in their RVs. I've rented a car and driven around rural Thailand if it makes a difference.
 

Gus

Stylish Dinosaur
Dubiously Honored
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
18,576
Reaction score
8,072
If you drive, just never, ever hesitate. And don't stop on a yellow light. Macho rules apply. You might want to read more about it especially if driving in rural areas. Also read up on Mexican police shake downs/bribes, if pulled over.

If you know what to expect and how to play the game you should be OK.

Have fun. I love Mexican hospitality.
 

Svenn

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
1,614
Reaction score
52
Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy
If you drive, just never, ever hesitate. And don't stop on a yellow light. Macho rules apply. You might want to read more about it especially if driving in rural areas. Also read up on Mexican police shake downs/bribes, if pulled over.

If you know what to expect and how to play the game you should be OK.

Have fun. I love Mexican hospitality.


Any tips on how to deal with bribes? I've had to pay them in Thailand before. What kind of car should I get to not stick out? will it need to be 4wd on the route i suggested?
 

texas_jack

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2006
Messages
9,507
Reaction score
397
You're going to get pulled over in Mexico city. That's just how it is. Keep a 20 in your shirt pocket and when they say you need to go downtown tell them you want to pay the fine there, not downtown. From Mexico I'd go to Palenque and Tulum. I don't know why you wouldn't take the bus though. It's soo much easier and safer.
 

Outlet_cherry_picker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
89
Reaction score
1
Originally Posted by Svenn
^thanks guys. our trip is limited to arriving in Mexico City now (since flights to all other mexican cities are like $1000+
eek.gif
, mexico city is just $700 ) ... so we're thinking of renting a car and we can't decide if we should drive to Puerto Escondido via Puebla and Oaxaca, or go to Veracruz instead. The weather doesn't look that warm, it looks like highs of 65 in the mountainous areas, but hey the sun will be out and a lot brighter than up here in the pacific northwest. I've never been clear on the safety of renting your own car in mexico- some people say it's an insane thing to do, but then i hear about 70 year old grannies doing it in their RVs. I've rented a car and driven around rural Thailand if it makes a difference.


Puerto Escondido is far from Mexico City and the road sucks I recomend go to Veracruz, especially the northern part, where you will find the most amazing piramids in Mexico (El Tajin). I don´t think that driving in the main roads of Veracruz could be dangerous, in this time of the year the roads are full of families. One more thing, the seafood near El Tajin, in towns like Poza Riza and Tuxpan is amazing.
 

Svenn

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
1,614
Reaction score
52
argh, well the flights appear to be a minimum of $700 roundtrip... that just seems obscene to me... is there any trick native mexicans use to get around this holiday madness besides booking early?
 

Duff_Man

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
653
Reaction score
13
Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy
Don't do northern Mexico, period.
FTFY. And get a policy with ISOS or something.
 

Threak

Distinguished Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2009
Messages
1,073
Reaction score
4
The reason flights are so expensive this season is that Mexicana, Mexico's biggest airline, filed bankruptcy a few months ago. Destinations are much more limited now, and often require multiple layovers.

I did some traveling in Mexico this past summer and my airfare came out to $530 (One-way ticket from SFO to Oaxaca, and another one-way ticket from Guadalajara to SFO a few weeks later.) Christmas is always more expensive, though.

I wouldn't rent a car, especially for traveling long distances and since you only have a week. Most destination cities are 4-9 hours apart. Luxury bus tickets come out to about $5-7/hr, sleep on the way.
 

erdawe

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
2,084
Reaction score
15
Renting a car seems like a PITA, especially in and around Mexico City. It may just be an unnecesary stress unless eventually going to a rather tiny town. The luxury chartered buses mentioned are clean, relatively cheap, and efficient. They have reclining seats, baggage help and usually an included snack. Taxis are plentiful many places too, and not too expensive.
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 35.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 60 38.7%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 11.0%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 27 17.4%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 28 18.1%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,173
Messages
10,579,194
Members
223,887
Latest member
collywily
Top