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| | Mexico
Traveler Review |
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| | Destination:
San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato Write
your own review |
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| | Written
By : Tony & Adrienne |
| | A
little info about yourself (where are you from / retired / line of work):
San
Antonio, Texas/
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| | Date
of your trip: December 2003 - Christmas Week |
| | How
many days were you in Mexico? 9 Days |
| | What
was your destination / what part of Mexico were you traveling in?
Our destination
was San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato with a overnight rest in
the city of Matehuala.
See information on motel that will accept any size
dog below. |
| | What
was the purpose of your trip (recreation / work related / other)?
Our travel
was recreation/holiday related, have family that retired and now lives in San
Miguel de Allende. |
| | How
many people did you travel with?
My husband and I and two large dogs |
| | What
kind of vehicle were you driving (Make / Model / etc.)?
1991 Chevrolet
Cavalier with 109,000 miles on it and still going strong |
| | How
did the vehicle handle the trip?
Car was great but have also learned to
travel prepared - brought 5 gallon jug of oil, bottle of antifreeze, replacement
engine belts, power steering and brake fluids. Though the drive is beautiful there
are some stretches of more than 60 miles between gas stations (PEMEX) or even
small town mechanics. We did pass a total of four Green Angel (government sponsored
roadside assistance) trucks in the almost 800 miles we drove into the interior
of Mexico. |
| | How
were the road conditions? Any specific areas to be aware of?
Mexican police
officers now have speed radars and use them. Though we drive the speed limit which
averages 110 km (about 70mph), my understanding from locals is that it is a flat
$250.00 fine for speeding that has to be paid immediately. Road conditions of
the CUOTA (toll roads) were fantastic - better than most in the U.S. Have taken
the LIBRE (free) roads on other trips and good for sightseeing some of the smaller
towns but the volume of trucks and other slow-moving vehicles that are difficult
to pass on a two-lane road can be aggrivating. For anyone traveling with a heavy
truckload or towing a trailer beware of the steep mountains around and south of
Saltillo on the highway to Matehuala. The freezing night temps this time of year
have caused a lot of the mountain rocks to fall onto the road in that far right
lane. |
| | Did
you have a good time?
We always have a wonderful time in Mexico. The people
are very friendly and always eager to help as long as you are willing to try and
speak a little of their language. Culturally, San Miguel de Allende is so diverse
- there is something for everyone! |
| | Would
you drive to Mexico again?
We plan on returning again in May 2004. I think
that once you realize that city driving is a game of the brave you can drive anywhere.
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| | What
would you do differently next time?
I would have preferred to bring our
larger extended cab full-size truck for the additional room during the drive but
found that my cavalier actually let us venture out into town and down the narrow
cobblestone roads that the truck never would have fit down. |
| | What
words of advice do you have for others driving to Mexico / or others who are driving
to a particular destination?
Bring plenty of water, sodas and snacks for
the road. If you are traveling the weekend before Christmas be prepared for long
lines at all the roadside restaurants and gas stations. Boarder delays going into
Mexico from Laredo were under 30 minutes (if you already have your car permit)
around 11am, much longer waits the earlier you go. Times to get car permits during
this time of year can stretch into 3+ hours. We drove down 2 weeks ahead of time
to get our car permit and still waited 1+ hours. There is a Casa de Cambio (house
to change money) with drive-thru facilities immediately on the left after crossing
over International Bridge #2. This change house was much more convenient than
trying to change money on the US side. Last bit of advice for first time travelers.
You will encounter several federal military police stops on these roads. Make
sure that you stop and are polite even if you don't speak the language. If you
have an SUV/truck or even a car with dark tinted windows, odds are they will search
it. Be prepared to stop unless you are certain that they have waived you through.
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| | What
were some of the highlights of the trip? We would really like to hear about these!
The more descriptions and details, the better!
Christmas Eve in Mexico
sounds a lot like fourth of July in the states. Everyone was shooting off fireworks
and guns in celebration of the holiday. The people in this part of Mexico are
so kind and genuine that they don't mind you joining into their culture for a
week, a month or even the rest of our life. One of the highlights of our trip
was talking with one of my family's neighbors as I watched her 6 year old son
tugging this large bull, tied with a piece of twine around his enormous horns,
preparing the heard to head down to the lake for grazing and watering. The amazement
at the skill and confidence exhibited by such a young child was equally matched
when we left the campo (countryside) to return to the city and found ourselves
running a snail pace of 1 mph behind a heard of about 50 goats being corraled
by three young boys ranging from about 6 to 9 years of age. |
| | Where
did you sleep? Can you recommend a place to stay?
We slept the first night
in Matehuala in a cute little motel called El Dorado - that accepts dogs of any
size. The El Dorado Motel (decorated circa 1950s) has EXTREMELY clean rooms and
friendly staff. There is also a nice park next door for those necessary walks
It's about 2 miles down on the right after Highway 57 narrows to one lane entering
the town.
They have a tourism office right next to the check-in desk and
are a close walk to the heart of town. For those of you without pets, the Palms
Mid-Way Inn is the nicest resort type hotel in town - its on the left before you
get to the El Dorado. We rented a house with beautiful gardens in San Miguel de
Allende. Recommend that if you plan on going to San Miguel during the Christmas
holidays or during Semana Santa (Easter week) you make your reservations far in
advance. Our house was in a part of town called Rancho Atascadero and was a short
5 minute walk down a cobblestone street to the square in the center of town. |
| | Can
you recommend any restaurants?
Restaurants in San Miguel de Allende are
abundant and as diverse as the culture in this city. Some of our favorites are...
THE MARKET BISTRO (casual indoor garden setting) - their french onion soup
and fresh smoked salmon is the best we have had in years as is almost everything
on their menu. Restaurant is 2 blocks from the town square on Jesus between Quadrante
and Umaran. TIO LUCAS RESTAURANT (casual dress to dressy) has a friendly environment
and great foods as well. Best steak in town and a truly gourmet caesar salad.
Two blocks from the town square at the corner of Mesones and Hernandez Macias
by the Instituto de Bellas Artes. |
| | Any
other comments...feel free to ramble!
San Miguel de Allende is a fantastic
town with shops, restaurants and art galleries around every corner. It isn't far
to anywhere so getting around on foot, by cab (15 pesos to anywhere in town) or
by the local buses (3 pesos-and an experience worth living at least once). The
architecture and old churches in this town are phenomenal and a true testament
to the history of the this city. At 7,000 feet it is high enough in elevation
that it may take a little acclimating before you aren't winded just walking down
the street. The city is just a short 25 minute drive to Delores Hidalgo (where
they make all the beautiful pottery that is seen for sale throughout Mexico and
Baja). Queretaro is also only a 40 drive away and has a beautiful colonial district
along with stateside ammenities like a Sam's Club, Walmart and Office Depot. We
DO NOT recommend this town to anyone with young children or those that have difficulty
walking. There isn't much to keep young children entertained and trying to get
a stroller down the sidewalk is almost completely impossible. The sidewalks are
narrow and as uneven as the cobblestone streets and make for some uneven footing.
Some of the curbs stand almost 18 inches from the street and some of the street
climb at almost 45 degree angles. Sturdy rubber sole shoes are a must.
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Note:
The Mexico Reviews posted on this website are not written by Adventure Mexican
Insurance Services, Inc. These reviews are posted by Mexico travelers who wish
to share their experiences with others, but they should not be considered as professional
advice or information.
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