Mexico and .....? Itinerary advice.

[amaroo]

Around 2 months to go. Have settled on just about everything and have started to book restaurants.

Some of the views we can expect....

 

[RooFlyer]

I'll definitely do a trip Report ... not many Mexico / Central America reports on AFF.

That's true

Its funny, we practically follow each other around the globe, but you wouldn't find me in Mexico in a pink fit (I did a quick trip to Cancun to see the Mayan ruins, but that was it).

 

[straitman]

amaroo,

My daughter and family are heading to Mexico next week. Not sure if your paths cross but she/they can be found on No Set Address. They are currently housesitting their way around the world and have now been on the road for about 14 months.

Looks like we picked a decent spot to spend Xmas this year
This Is the Best City in the World to Travel to

amaroo,

If you need anything San Miguel is where our daughter and family have settled for the next six months or so. They are even running two Airbnb apartments there at the moment.

They'll happily show you around or give advice on the area. There is quite a World Schooling community around there.

 

[amaroo]

That's true

Its funny, we practically follow each other around the globe, but you wouldn't find me in Mexico in a pink fit (I did a quick trip to Cancun to see the Mayan ruins, but that was it).

What's that saying? .... lucky, we all don't like the same girl

Some tourism statistics ... top 10 destinations.

1 France 82.6 million 84.5 million

2.2

0.9
2 United States 75.6 million 77.5 million

2.4

3.3
3 Spain 75.6 million 68.5 million

10.3

5.5
4 China 59.3 million 56.9 million

4.2

2.3
5 taly 52.4 million 50.7 million

3.2

4.4
6 United Kingdom 35.8 million 34.4 million

4.0

5.6
7 Germany 35.6 million 35.0 million

1.7

6.0
8

Mexico 35.0 million 32.1 million

8.9

9.4
9 Thailand 32.6 million 29.9 million

8.9

20.6
10 Turkey 31.3 million 39.5 million

24.6 0.8

amaroo,

If you need anything San Miguel is where our daughter and family have settled for the next six months or so. They are even running two Airbnb apartments there at the moment.

They'll happily show you around or give advice on the area. There is quite a World Schooling community around there.

That's pretty exciting. Had another look at their blog however, looks like they're having too much fun to worry about typing - fair enough!

 

[LadyC]

Around 2 months to go. Have settled on just about everything and have started to book restaurants.

Some of the views we can expect....

That looks terrible - I am not at all sure how you will be able to force yourself to endure it!

 

[amaroo]

I visited Palenque too. Not sure why but Uxmal and Tikal were the stand outs for me. I do recall eating some tasty pupusas in Palenque. Some really tasty street food in Mexico in general. The salsa is so fresh - yum!

Are you going to try and visit somewhere like Quintonil or Pujol in Mexico City?

Just received confirmation on Pujol Fingers crossed with Quintonil.

 

[LadyC]

That is very exciting - I am awaiting your TR with much interest!

 

[docjames]

I'd forgotten about this thread - glad it's almost here and keen to read a TR.....

 

[amaroo]

That is very exciting - I am awaiting your TR with much interest!

Qiuntonil is dependant on opening times around NYE .... looks like the only option is the day we arrive, and we arrive latish

I'd forgotten about this thread - glad it's almost here and keen to read a TR.....

Not long now, only 5 weeks. Trip Report is guaranteed. I've spent so much time and effort on this trip ... I'm also keen to see the trip report

 

[LadyC]

I got TR fatigue when I was doing mine. The gentleman was over me taking photos of everything! With all the planning, I am sure you cannot wait to get started on your trip. I really enjoyed my time in Mexico and Guatemala so will be interested to read about your experience and enjoy some of the locations vicariously.

 

[amaroo]

I got TR fatigue when I was doing mine. The gentleman was over me taking photos of everything! With all the planning, I am sure you cannot wait to get started on your trip. I really enjoyed my time in Mexico and Guatemala so will be interested to read about your experience and enjoy some of the locations vicariously.

I work on a minimalist approach with TR's. Camera = phone, computer for posting = phone .... basically, if I can't do it with the phone = no TR. The new AFF platform is very user friendly for TR posters, 10 photos per posts helps to cut down the # of posts dramatically.

 

[UP4014]

I hired a car in Cancun and drove around the Yucatan Peninsula, rental cars there have a nice large sticker on the back so everyone knows you are from out of town. I tried to pull it off but to no avail and then could see where previous renters had also tried. If you get pulled up just pay the $50 and be done with it but be careful how you offer it. The rental car form with the little drawing of the car showed all panels had damage and I duly signed and drive off.

While driving south toward Belize the freeway has sand bagged pill boxes where all traffic comes to a stop with heavily armed police for your safety apparently. I pulled into a resort and caught up with some friends from Canada while driving through and they relayed that 5 gringos had been killed in their room there just recently in spite of the walled perimeter and armed guards at the front. Drugs and crime are everywhere.

The ruins are interesting, but I'm more interested in 20th century stuff not two stones on top of each other although I appreciate the history and challenges/beliefs they faced. So I didn't spend much time out in the heat wandering.

When I flew back out through Cancun I got to airport security and started taking my steel cap work boots off for the metal detector and the guard just waved me through and the detector didn't go off.

A separate time where I crossed from the USA into Mexico on foot, customs was an unmanned turnstyle, going the other way was the complete opposite, I'm guessing they thought whomever comes in has to raise the standard.

All in all, be careful, it's an interesting place but I wouldn't take my family there for a holiday. I felt slightly more comfortable in Johannesburg.

Matt

 

[amaroo]

Opinions on travel and safety can be interesting. Know a few people that feel it's unsafe and very dangerous travelling to places like Paris, Nice, Berlin, London, Barcelona, Brussels, Las Vegas, etc.....

Common sense is a travellers best friend....

 

[jakplus1]

That's pretty exciting. Had another look at their blog however, looks like they're having too much fun to worry about typing - fair enough!

Good news, we finally got around to writing again!!! And it's all about San Miguel! We have absolutely fallen in love with this city and would love to show you around!!!

30 Things We Love About San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - No Set Address - World Travel With Kids

 

[amaroo]

Good news, we finally got around to writing again!!! And it's all about San Miguel! We have absolutely fallen in love with this city and would love to show you around!!!

30 Things We Love About San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - No Set Address - World Travel With Kids

Thanks for posting that - lovely photos and a great read! You sound like you're having the time of your life ... what a wonderful gift you have given the kids.

6 months - is a very decent stay. Sounds like you're about to leave SM - what's the next stop on the itinerary?

 

[jakplus1]

We have a couple more months here and then we head back to Australia for a visit... The family is bugging us to come home!!

I think 2018 will have us housesitting around Australia with trips to SE Asia!

 

[amaroo]

Finalising bookings for tours in Guatemala and came across this vid of Tikal..... had some fun and told my daughter we're camping out here for night Those monkeys are impressive!

 

[karen blancfield]

They ARE impressive! But we didn’t see the sky like that!

 

[LadyC]

I stayed at the Jungle Lodge which was not far from park entrance. We had a visitor in our room - a frog - glad it wasn't a monkey!

 

[amaroo]

Are you going to try and visit somewhere like Quintonil or Pujol in Mexico City?

Quintonil is now confirmed. The only option was the night of our arrival - hopefully our flight from Palenque (VSA) is on schedule as we're arriving early evening.

Unfortunately, our booking at The Modern (NYC) has now been cancelled - they decided to close for maintenance the first week in 2018.... on the lookout for another option.