Comments on: Tips on Mexican travel from the Buses in Zamora travellers http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/ Trip in Vanagons through Mexico including Zamora and the Beach Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:17:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: jerry & Sofie http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-461 jerry & Sofie Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:12:31 +0000 http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/#comment-461 Frank's right the phone service is pretty iffy with bell phones. I had a good connection about 30% of the time. The cost was terrible it's good to have a phone for emergencies but a better option is Skype on your computer. We all used it and it was a great way to keep in touch. It's great to have a computer with you but you might want to pick up a cheap used one to keep in touch, the salt air is very hard on computers. Have a good first aid kit with any thing you think you might need, most things are available but sometimes a little hard to find. Learning a little Spanish before you go, will be a great help. A good Spanish phrase book is a must. It will save a lot of frustration until you settle in a bit. If your traveling with another van or a group of vans Walkie Talkies are a good idea. but check them out ahead of time to see that they will all work together. When your separated and lost you don't want to find out they don't work (as I did ) Make sure you allow enough time to get where you want and time to relax. For the most part your not going to get any where fast in Mexico, so slow down and enjoy the ride. The same thing goes for restaurants, nothing is made ahead so your meal isn't started at all until you order. Have a drink sit back and relax, your on Mexican time now Frank’s right the phone service is pretty iffy with bell phones. I had a good connection about 30% of the time. The cost was terrible it’s good to have a phone for emergencies but a better option is Skype on your computer. We all used it and it was a great way to keep in touch.

It’s great to have a computer with you but you might want to pick up a cheap used one to keep in touch, the salt air is very hard on computers.

Have a good first aid kit with any thing you think you might need, most things are available but sometimes a little hard to find.

Learning a little Spanish before you go, will be a great help. A good Spanish phrase book is a must. It will save a lot of frustration until you settle in a bit.

If your traveling with another van or a group of vans Walkie Talkies are a good idea. but check them out ahead of time to see that they will all work together. When your separated and lost you don’t want to find out they don’t work (as I did )

Make sure you allow enough time to get where you want and time to relax. For the most part your not going to get any where fast in Mexico, so slow down and enjoy the ride.

The same thing goes for restaurants, nothing is made ahead so your meal isn’t started at all until you order. Have a drink sit back and relax, your on Mexican time now

]]> By: pedro http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-460 pedro Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:12:12 +0000 http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/#comment-460 Frank that is a very good idea to write about what we have learned on this trip.Here is my experience with the Pemex,I've used my Visa credit to purchase fuel/diesel from Mazanillo to the US border.What you have to do is prepay the amount that you want to buy. Lets say 300$,but if you're gas tank only needs 250$,they refund you the rest.As for my stick shift bushing problem VW dealer had a part ,but for a 1995 model,that is slightly different from mine.The corner mechanic fixed so good that I have not tuched it since. Peter Frank that is a very good idea to write about what we have learned on this trip.Here is my experience with the Pemex,I’ve used my Visa credit to purchase fuel/diesel from Mazanillo to the US border.What you have to do is prepay the amount that you want to buy. Lets say 300$,but if you’re gas tank only needs 250$,they refund you the rest.As for my stick shift bushing problem VW dealer had a part ,but for a 1995 model,that is slightly different from mine.The corner mechanic fixed so good that I have not tuched it since.
Peter

]]> By: Poolio http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Poolio Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:08:12 +0000 http://poolio.net/zamorablog/some-important-notes-we-have-learned-about-travelling-in-mexico/#comment-458 Frank, this is a good idea I think and you have a great start on it. I'll try to think of items for the list. A few come to mind now though: Camping at Pemex stations is typically O.K. when outside of cities and at Pemex stations with larger parking lots. Always ask if it is alright to stay, and where to park. You shouldn't drink the tap water but purified water is readily available. Most grocery type stores have the 20 liter bottles of drinking water and in many areas trucks circulate to sell them daily. The bottles are the same as the ones used on water coolers north of the border. In many parts of the country many bathrooms are missing one or all of the following: toilet paper, toilet seats, running water, soap, lighting. At least travel with toilet paper. Look out for one way streets. Sometimes there are signs but usually there are parked and driving cars (if they are all facing you don't turn in). Propane is readily available at the gas (propane) stations across Mexico. Avoid buying gasoline from the resellers (not straight from a Pemex) as they may be selling dirty gas or have added water to it. If you are friendly they are more likely to be friendly (put on your smile at checkpoints and act like you are glad that they have waved you over ;). Feigning ignorance can come in handy when someone is trying to take advantage of you. You can pretend to not know that they want a bribe or "accidentally" pay too little or keep saying "no gracias" or my favorite "no intiendo" while walking/driving away. If the situation is very serious or you are in a dangerous position cooperation is probably best. Jonathan Frank, this is a good idea I think and you have a great start on it. I’ll try to think of items for the list. A few come to mind now though:

Camping at Pemex stations is typically O.K. when outside of cities and at Pemex stations with larger parking lots. Always ask if it is alright to stay, and where to park.

You shouldn’t drink the tap water but purified water is readily available. Most grocery type stores have the 20 liter bottles of drinking water and in many areas trucks circulate to sell them daily. The bottles are the same as the ones used on water coolers north of the border.

In many parts of the country many bathrooms are missing one or all of the following: toilet paper, toilet seats, running water, soap, lighting. At least travel with toilet paper.

Look out for one way streets. Sometimes there are signs but usually there are parked and driving cars (if they are all facing you don’t turn in).

Propane is readily available at the gas (propane) stations across Mexico.

Avoid buying gasoline from the resellers (not straight from a Pemex) as they may be selling dirty gas or have added water to it.

If you are friendly they are more likely to be friendly (put on your smile at checkpoints and act like you are glad that they have waved you over ;) .

Feigning ignorance can come in handy when someone is trying to take advantage of you. You can pretend to not know that they want a bribe or “accidentally” pay too little or keep saying “no gracias” or my favorite “no intiendo” while walking/driving away. If the situation is very serious or you are in a dangerous position cooperation is probably best.

Jonathan

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