Thanks for the reply, Dennis, and the helpful advice. I'm feeling more
comfortable with 'winging' the itinerary and learning the bus and taxi
scene. For the record, I speak a little Spanish and have been studying
a lot lately and going to places where I might hablar un poco with
native speakers. Which reminds me, if the people I encounter in Mexico
are anything like the Mexicans I've met here in Minnesota, it will be
a good time indeed.
regards,
kz
"Technobarbarian" wrote in message
news:bv6gla01914@enews1.newsguy.com...
>
> "Kenny-Z" wrote in message
> news:QqcRb.29$O71.36917@news.uswest.net...
>
> > 1. I understand I need proof of US citizenship and ID. I have no
> > passport and don't plan on needing one in the near future again
(and
> > may be running out of time for application), so an alternate proof
of
> > citizenship would be my preference if possible. What can I do?
> > Something with a birth certificate, I hear? What is the process?
>
> My girlfriend and I recently flew into Cancun and back to the
States.
> She used her birth certificate because of technical problems with
her
> passport (a very long story I won't be telling here). She didn't
have any
> problems and it didn't take her any longer to clear customs than it
did for
> me. However, there are advantages to having a passport. For example,
while
> traveler's checks are mostly a waste of time, if you were trying to
use
> them, every bank that I've ever been in required a passport for
cashing
> them.
> >
> > 2. Is it truly not recommended to drive/rent a car?
>
> Other than the expense, I don't know why not. Thousands of
tourists do
> it everyday. While it's preferable to know at least a little spanish
all you
> really have to know is: "lleno por favor". Which means fill it up
please.
> (The double ll is pronounced as 'y', so lleno is pronounced yay-no.)
I've
> driven thousands of miles in Mexico with no more spanish than that.
You'll
> get more out of your trip with at least a little spanish, but I
don't see
> how bus travel will be any easier than driving yourself if you don't
speak
> any. Even now my limited spanish is best at reading road
signs--there aren't
> that many different ones to learn--and menus. While I don't agree
with this
> guy 100% here's a link to a good article on driving in Mexico:
> http://www.rversonline.org/ArtMexDrive.html
> >
> > 3. Following up on #3, how about the bus system? This sounds like
> > planning an itinerary could be a challenge without knowing bus
> > schedules in advance. For instance, how long should one allow from
DF
> > to Oaxaca, or Acapulco, etc... Any suggestions on finding schedule
> > info/travel times between cities?
> >
> > 4. I also wonder about accommodations. I'm tempted to reserve only
> > first and last nights and wing the rest in between in favor of a
> > flexible itinerary/bus schedule concerns.
>
> Except for Christmas holidays and high season on the Mayan
Riviera
> reservations aren't generally needed. I usually wing it because it
allows me
> a lot more flexability. As for "reputable" hotels: I've stayed in
everything
> from Club Med to some tiny $10 a night place I found along the
highway
> without problems. I once checked into a no-tell motel without
realizing what
> it was until I started reading the signs on the walls--again no
problem.
> When selecting a hotel my only concerns are that it be clean and
comfortable
> and have a safe place to park the car.
> >
> > 5. Would anyone suggest an airport entry point other than Mexico
City
> > for a trip that may include Mexico City to Oaxaca to Acapulco and
> > maybe even Veracruz....
>
> You could fly into either Oaxaca or Acapulco. If you want to fly
with a
> US carrier you would only be able to fly into Veracruz certain times
of the
> year. Check with American Airlines or Alaskan, depending on where
you want
> to go.
>
>
> Dennis
>
>
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