Spring Break 09 Driving from Houston Mexico?

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rhino72032

Don't drive at night--bad things happen at night (horses and burros on the road, trucks running with no lights). These are bad when you come around a bend at 60 mph and there they are). This make the trip three or four days. And expect several hours at the border getting Mexican auto insurance, your tourist cards and your temporary vehicle import stickers, and going through customs.
I hope you speak Spanish.
But it's not "TOOOO dangerous".

Charlie

Once you get across the border and the 20 mile checkpoint it is perfectly safe. I have driven that route as far as Veracruz before, and my friends just did it 2 days ago. I know others who have continued on to Cancun. The highway is much better after Tampico and stays good after that. I have heard of no problems on the highways in this part of Mexico...I live in Veracruz state. The only thing is...it is a TERRIBLY long trip. I hope you speak Spanish. The unexpected can and does happen...just had other friends come down a few weeks ago and they were involved in a serious accident. With no language skills, that would be very difficult to deal with. You would have to stay overnite 3 nites at least. It is about 36 hrs driving time. It would actually be far better to take a Greyhound to Brownsville, then a taxi across the bridge, then an ADO bus to Mex. city , then another ADO bus to Cancun...there are other lines too, but ADO is the best.....and, yes, they all make connections thru Mexico City. They are super nice, you could sleep at nite, get there faster, and be very safe. Would probably be cheaper too. Or you can check out flights from Austin on Vivaaerobus ... they have great bargains at times. I really would advise a single adult not to make that trip...no one to help you drive...I am afraid you would regret it. Look around for a good price on flights. Road signs in Mexico are NOT like in the U.S....they are scant, often hard to find or just plain missing. Easy to get lost driving thru Tampico...I have done it several times...and the highways are very complex and often have no signs there. Once you add up the gas, tolls, hotels and food expenses, you will find it not so cheap to drive. So...it is not the danger of crime i would worry about...it is the challenges and length of the trip. You would also need a Mexican car permit and car insurance and a Mexican Road atlas...the Guia Roji ( avail. at large bookstores or on Amazon.com). Better to choose a closer vacation or to fly.
Edit: just saw other answers and have to tell you... I live just outside Xalapa...it is NOT on the route to Cancun...about 75 miles inland from the coastal highway you would be on...and there is NO rafting in Xalapa...the rafting is about an hour from Xalapa in a little town you would never find unless you stop and pick me up...I live on the road that leads there !

Martha Y

driving in the US and driving in Mexico is a different thing let me tell you people don't believe the danger that is affecting Mexico at this moment the drug cartel is kidnapping tourist they are killing them for any reason
the US department are telling people not to travel to Mexico but if you want to go and
take the kids to? think please

gemini237828

i won't say that it will be dangerous...remember alot of people have their minds poisoned by the media in this country..i am a american citizen and people said i would have problems...5 months later..not one person has messed with me. It will however be a LONG drive...and the roads are sometimes not the best..be sure you plan your route really well...

sloopy

We drive down to Puerto Vallarta about once a year and stay for several months.
We (my wife and I) do not stop and do it like a team of drivers, going 24/7. When I get tired,I climb in the back seat of our 3/4 ton pickup and sleep.
We stay as much as possible on the Toll Roads, get our Import Permit, Insurance, etc.
We've been stopped at Federales Road Checks twice. Once for a thorough check of the truck. Never had any problems, though.
Your being a solo driver, I wouldn't drive at night because of various hazards that you may not be fully aware of.
Once we get about 30 miles south of the border, we relax a bit. Once we get into Nayarit, we relax some more.
When getting gas, be sure they reset the dials to ZERO before they pump the gas, though. Otherwise, you'll end up paying for your gas and the last customers gas!!! Happened to me once!!
Get a good map (Guia) and plan your route.
We bring along a lot of those Snackables for munchies and lunch. Your kids might like them, also.
You'll need a notarized letter from the other parent authorizing your taking the children out of the country. Otherwise, you'll be either refused entry or delayed someplace until you do get it. If you're real lucky, it might not be an issue but it is something I'd certainly look into before leaving.
It happened to us years ago.

big bubba

first get a god map once you cross the border, try GUIA ROJI in any convenience store like OXXO or others.

You can also try Garmin , they will send you the card with maps of mexico.

The highways are not always good, so picture roads away from inter-estate highways, not too wide and often with only two lanes but with heavy traffic.

Once there the deeper you go south the more often you could find bumpers while entering towns, also the carpet is not in the best conditions all the time.

For the same reason try to drive by day and stay in a motel or hotel in a major city by night.

You also will need a permit to drive truw Mexico, you will obtain that at the border once you reach mexican customs station.

Use common sense, donÂ´t give a ride to anyone, donÂ´t drive on lonesome roads and if you find something weird that make you stop, like a log in the middle of the road, do not stop.

Here is a site where you can mark your route, is spanish but easy to understand

http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdSolRutas

Now be sure to make a stop at Jalapa or Xalapa (same city), and do some rafting.

Charro

no becuase if u enter from brownsville tx and go matamoros tamaulipas in matamoros is kinda bad the crime but no that bad like news says if u drive all the shoreline from tx to cancun you got no problem but in tamaulips u find alot of military presence becuase of crime but after crossing tamaulipas u get to veracruz in veracruz is ok not crime is done there veracruz is acuallty the saffest state in mexico after veracruz u get to tabasco in that state u free becase u passed all the bad ok its about 2 day trip ok good luck need anymore info email charro80@yahoo.com.sg i am from mexico city and use common sence when driving ok

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