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BoogaJuice · Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 21

Has anyone done this? Do you think I'm crazy? I've heard of someone who did this, but that was it, i just heard of him. I'm looking for someone who did actually arrive in Mexico by train, how did you do it?

I've searched around on my own, and have found (through American companies) that I can only arrive as far as the Mexico/Texas border and they actually told me I was on my own from there.

Alright everyone, what are your thoughts?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

There are virtually no passenger trains in Mexico any more.

You could take AmTrak through the US if you really want to see some scenery. Personally I think it will be a lot cheaper to fly.

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

It was possible years ago. Back in Feb 1997, I took the train all the way from Juarez to Mexico City. It was quite an experience, the train was very slow, but the scenery was awesome. I would love to do it again. But when I went down to the Mexico City train station in 2000, it was locked up, shuttered up, and deserted.

It is hardly suprising, it took more than 40 hours to get from Juarez to Mexico City vs 24 hours on the bus.

BoogaJuice · Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 21

Well I guess that explains why I was told I would be on my own from Texas. I'm a little nervous about flying. It's funny how I'm about to embark on an adventure in a foreign country for the first time, and all by myself, but the part that scares me is flying.

Do you know anyting about taking a bus from Texas to Mexico? Should I just suck it up and fly?

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Flying would be the practical option. It will take days and days for the journey from Canada to the deep south of Mexico. Whatever you decide, travel safely and enjoy your adventure in Mexico.

snorklequeen · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject: Bus to DF

hi, Booga,

i've taken the bus from Houston, Texas to Mexico City round trip, twice.

Greyhound offers service. it's been two or three years. you probably have your choice of border crossing; i crossed at Nuevo Laredo. now there are drug/gang turf wars in that area, so i'd avoid that area now, just to be supersafe. you can cross at other areas, like Matamoros/ Brownsville, Texas.

in Houston there's a Hispanic company called El Expreso. Spanish is the primary language and the driver translates the instructions into English, but not the jokes! this is the one i used both times. it helps to know at least a little Spanish, in case problems arise.

note that the Mexican bus companies will sell you a ticket even if they are overselling; if you have the moolah, you'll get a ticket. if you travel around a holiday with heavy traffic, you can spend a lot of time waiting for a connecting bus at the border crossing inside Mexico. that happened to me around C'mas. we arrived in Nuevo Laredo at 2 a.m. and departed at 4 p.m.; one family from New York had been there for 2 days already. there was some paperwork involved in getting onto another bus, so that's why it helps to know some Spanish. also at these times of heavy passenger load, the buses may not be in the best shape. again, if they can sell a ticket, they will. i was in a seat two back from the bus driver, so i heard a bit of their conversations about how to cope with this older bus and the excess weight from the luggage -- so i prayed along the way. the border crossing was the only hassle. normally you wouldn't encounter that if the demand for seats is not extremely high.

it took about 23 hours of actual bus time, including stops. i got off at the northern DF bus station.

it was uneventful the second time. it was great to see the scenery. cost from Houston was $110 each way USD. i paid extra for business class ($120 one way) and it was worth it cuz there was a wooden footrest which made it much more comfy to sleep.

free movies, too. in Spanish on the Mexican buses with English subtitles. in English on Greyhound with Spanish subtitles.

cheers, j

the people were very pleasant. it took

snorklequeen · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject: Bus to DF

to continue . . . [ha!]

it took 23 hours on the road including a stop for a meal in Texas and for one in Mexico, plus the 14 hour layover in Nuevo Laredo; the border crossing coming back to the US [at a low peak travel time where they didn't oversell tickets and there were connecting buses available] took about 2 hours

cheers,

Queenie

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

Another option is to take the train to san Antonio. There are direct buses from San Antonio to Monterrey with no need of a long layover in Nuevo Laredo. From Monterrey, you can catch a bus leaving for anywhere in Mexico quite easily.

Bus travel is nice in Mexico and like bus travel in the US, you are sure yo meet interesting people, the only difference is that you will enjoy the people you meet on the Mexican buses.

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

take the bus if you're worried about flying. it's cheap and comfortable and easy.

you do realize that both the train and the bus are much more dangerous than flying, don't you?

snorklequeen · Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:54 pm Post subject: bus travel

the normal layover in Nuevo Laredo on the bus was 1-1/2 hours the time i traveled into Mexico City from Houston NOT during a holiday season; it turned into a 14 hour layover at Christmas time because the bus companies oversold tickets; apparently this is not unusual in Mexico, for those who haven't taken the bus in Mexico before

good to know about the route from SA to Monterrey

cheers,

Queenie

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

snorklequeen · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:34 am Post subject: travel to Mexico

i've flown from Houston to Mexico City three or four times on Aviacsa Airlines, the Mexican airline, and i really like them -- the people are friendly, they are on time, the food is decent and the planes are comfy

i've flown on Continental in the past from Houston to Cozumel a few times and it was fine, also

Aviacsa is usually cheaper than Continental, when i've flown, using Orbitz or one of the other online discounters

the exciting parts of flying, imho, are the landings and take-offs; the actual flying itself, in between, seems kind of dull

honestly, i'm always tired when i arrive after taking the bus, tho the process was enjoyable, and that's just 23 hours from Houston, Texas to Mexico City-- and i can sleep very well on the buses; if you don't sleep well on buses, you will likely just feel totally like an 18-wheeler ran over you, deposited cigar ashes in your mouth, and then came back and made another run at you, Booga; i agree with the others -- fly, then take buses around Mexico once you're in-country

cheers, j

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

BoogaJuice · Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 21

Lozwich,
I've just never flown before, so I'm nervous about it. I agree that it is safer to fly than anything else, but it's just so finite if anything goes wrong on an airplane. As well, customs and boarder officials are very intimidating. It's not like I'm planning to smuggle anything or do anything wrong, but when I cross boarders I choke over my words while talking to people. Increased airport security can make a girl paranoid, especially since my suitcase is in my sister's room, where a bit of weed smoking takes place.