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Se�or Murphy · Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 5

Hey folks!

For some reason I can't quite explain, my fiance and I are interested in going to Guadalajara for our honeymoon. I guess we're looking for something off the beaten path in Mexico. I thought from there we could also take a bus to Puerto Vallarta for a day and maybe take a trip on the Tequila Express, but spend most of our time in Guadalajara. I thought I would ask the people who have been there and/or who live there now their opinions. Is June 18-28 a good time to visit Guadalajara? If so, is there anything we should definitely see or do while we are there? Also, we aren't looking for the nicest hotels in the city, but something decent. Any advice in that area would be appreciated!

Aabra · Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 64

Hrmm... Guadalajara isn't your typical honeymoon location. I'm sure you can still have fun though. I have to be honest in that I've never actually stayed in a hotel here. (When I came to visit before moving here my grandmother already had a place down in Ajijic.)

That being said there's a really nice Holiday Inn near my place. It's at the intersection of Ninos Heroes and Lopez Mateos. Again, I've never stayed there but it looks like a nice place. It's also in the heart of the city which could make getting around easier. It's about 2 blocks south of the Minerva if you want a good point of reference.

If you're doing the whole tourist thing then you can't miss the historical centre. Don't go at night as it can be a bit shady depending upon what part you're in, but there are lots of old museums etc down there. There's also the infamous San Juan de Dios (or Libertad) although I'm not entirely sure that would be a good place to go on a honeymoon! haha

Hrmmm.... most of the places worth visiting are in the historical centre which isn't exactly super close (although it's not far either... about 15 minutes away depending on traffic which can be heavy going into that area) from the Minerva - it might be better to get a hotel closer to there but you'll probably be sacrificing quality as the area is poor. Plus I wouldn't want to walk around there at night. Jardines del Bosque (where I live) is infinitely safer.

Maybe some of the others can give you some better ideas. Again, this isn't your typical honeymoon location.

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

First and formost before reading what I'm about to write you must know that I've never been to Guadalajara Surprised

But there are lots of cities in Mexico that I would choose as an "unusual" honeymoon over Guadalajara. You're right that Guadalajara is not too far from the beach, for a day or two day get away, and there is the tequlia region. But if you want to do sightseeing and activities, there are I think I'd even take Mexico City over Guadalajara. If you want to do the typical honeymoon things, I went to Huatulco on my honeymoon (we only had 3 days) which I'd highly recommend. But if you want a city I'd recommend Mexico City, there's the Teotihuacan ruins, the folkloric ballet, museums, shopping, food, Xochilmilco, etc. etc. etc.
Also Oaxaca City is VERY nice in June, you could do the beach (But not as a day trip) ruins, FANTASTIC shopping, village tours, ruins, natural wonders and dynamite food!!!
Next I'd say San Cristobal, Chiapas, but it's much smaller. But a must see place with lots of natural daytrip excursions.
Morelia, Michoacan is another of Mexico's jewels.
Then there is Veracruz.
Even Puebla strikes me as a better choice, but what to I know, I've never been to Guadalajara! Laughing

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

Last year my boyfriend and I met for a romantic 4 day weekend in Guadalajara. We stayed two nights in Guadalajara and two nights in Tlaquepaque (a suburb of Guad).

If you have visited any of the other colonial cities in Mexico and are expecting something along those lines, you will be disappointed. While there are some lovely historical buildings remaining downtown, there is not an intact "centro historico." Most of the original buildings have been replaced with a lot of ugly modern architecture. We felt like it was mostly just crowded and dirty, not very romantic.

Tlaquepaque does have a somewhat charming area around the central plaza, but it is very small and we felt like we'd seen it in a day. However, we stayed in a truly lovely and romantic B&B there, which I can highly recommend, called Casa de Las Flores. www.casadelasflores.com I would go back just to stay in this B&B.

I have never actually taken the bus from Guadalajara to Puerta Vallarta, but I understand that it is about 4 hours (on ETN, which makes no stops) so I think you'd need to stay the night to make it worth it.

Se�or Murphy · Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 5

I really appreciate the feedback so far. I want my fiancee and I to have a good time, but I know we would get restless at a beach resort pretty quickly. We'd want to eat and drink with some locals. I'll admit my experience in Mexico is very limited. I'll research more of the towns being mentioned here. I suppose a town close to the beach would be nice. I know my fiancee would like to go snorkeling. I don't want to end up somewhere too "tourist-y" and isolated from something close to real "Mexico", though. It would be cool if I could surprise her with the perfect combination of Mexican "vacation" and Mexican "adventure", if that makes any sense. Any other input is welcome!

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

I agree with MamaOaxaca about choosing some other locations over Guadalajara.

Mexico City is big, crowded, and dirty too, but it has so much more to offer than Guadalajara. It really is a magnificent city and you would not run out of things to do there.

You might also consider Guanajuato if you only have a short time. It is absurdly beautiful and romantic. I can't think of a better place to wander around with my sweetie. You can keep busy for two days seeing the sites and you could also take a day or overnight trip to San Miguel de Allende.

Morelia would be good too. The beaches are about 3 hours away and there are many interesting places nearby for day or overnight trips.

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

Well, here is another thought. Maybe you should go to Puerta Vallarte. I once paid for a young couple to go on a honeymoon there. This was their first trip to Mexico, so they didn't want anything too authentically Mexico, but they also didn't want to spend all their time at a resort on the beach. They did stay at a resort on the beach (because it was cheap and easy), but they also enjoyed the picturesque cobble-stoned streets of the old part of the city and the walk along the malecon. They also went horseback riding and took a jeep tour farther inland so see some small pueblos. You could make a weekend trip to Guadalajara as well.

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

People from Mazatlan often go to Guadalajara for shopping trips and get-aways, especially during Easter time (Semana Santa) and Carnaval. We have friends there and love the city. I can recommend the Hotel San Franciso Plaza as well-located, reasonably priced, and comfortable. Ask for an inside room away from the street and you will have more sleep.

You can walk to the big market as well as the plaza with the Cathedral without any problems. We never feel unsafe in Guadalajara except for the buses that fly around corners aiming for pedestrians!

http://www.sanfranciscohotel.com.mx/

Another location to consider is Queretaro. It's nice. And if you go to Morelia, don't overlook a visit to the village of Patzcuaro. It's still quaint and artsy, though don't know for how long that will last.

Schools let out near the end of June and the beach areas get quite busy with national toursts, so don't worry about it being tourists from the north. The budget hotels book up quickly for the summer months at the beach. Good luck and have a great time!

Aabra · Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 64

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Must be springtime...lookit all the romantics in here...

I think...

Mariachis are very conducive to romance, so Guadalajara would be good being the home of such things.

Jacarandas are pretty romantic when in springtime bloom...and DF streets are right now raining jacaranda blossoms. Everything smells like purple chocolate. Won't be like that in June however...

Being utterly pampered somewhere backdropped by swaying palms and gentle surf would make a nice honeymoon for me...Cancun? Playa del Carmen?

Poetry read aloud in Spanish is pretty romantic...but keep that secret weapon to yourselves...

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

We have always found there to be plenty to do in Guadalajara, both day and night. It's a lovely city steeped in culture. The horse-drawn carriages are very romantic and you can hire them for a tour of the historic area. I actually prefer Guadalajara to Guanajuato since the streets are soooo narrow for both cars and pedestrians in GTO. You are always bumping into someone. While Guanajuato is pretty, perched on the hillside, there isn't a ton of stuff to do there and those driving tunnels are something else. If you get caught in a car in heavy traffic (the usual) the fumes are very strong. For me, Guanajuato was a let-down because I didn't enjoy the mummie tombs or the house of torture that was on the same tour. We found the restaurants and decent hotels on the expensive side.

Check out this informative website to see just how much there is to do in Guadalajara. This link contains great information as well as a little map. The state tourism department supplies a walking tour map of the historic center, as well. Click on individual headings such as "restaurant" for a look at the types of food being served and the locations. The nightclub link shows what sort of entertainment is showcased and also contains information on restaurants with entertainment. There are phone numbers provided for various events and you can call and check what sort of performances will be happening when you are visiting the city.

http://www.allaboutguadalajara.com/allaboutguadalajara.htm

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

As Samantha says, you would definately not want to try to drive in Guanajuato, but you don't need a car anyway. Take a cab from the airport to town and then you can walk most places and take the bus the rest, including to San Miguel. The mummy museum is creepy and the other museum that is next to it is hoaky and not worth the price. Also, I agree there isn't a ton of stuff to do there so you wouldn't want to make a long trip of it.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

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