Bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca
Posted by Tilpy on June 23, 1997:
I need to arrange for bus tickets for 7 people from Mexico City to Oaxaca on the morning of the 21st of December. I've heard that the "Uno" is the one to take and I'd like to make reservations for the 7 of us in advance. Is it possible to do this and if so, how? And if you're really familiar with the buses, how much? thanks. Tilpy
Posted by Bruce McGovern on June 24, 1997:
After I posted my other comment, I was thinking about what you said. I have spent a lot of time at Benito Juarez Airport in Mexico City. Several years ago, after they opened the new international section I had a family reunion in the City, and made 8 trips to the airport, picking up people and seeing them off. I noticed you said 'morning' bus trip. There can be tremendous time spent getting off the plane, through immigration, down to pick up your luggage, especially with 7 people, through customs, changing money if you need that, finding the several taxis needed for 7 people (unless you find a van - the authorized taxis charge extra for more than 4, or large amounts of luggage, and they certainly can't take 7.
Many of them are Nissan Tsuru II, similar to Nissan Sentras in the States), drive through traffic, unload at TAPO and work your way through the terminal, with 7 people and their luggage, and their "I gotta' go now; I'm thirsty now's". The airport seems to be relatively quiet in the early day hours. Planes from close places like McAllen, Texas, come in early. Morning planes from the farther places naturally arrive after noon, and things start heating up. What I am trying to say: Be sure not to underestimate how long it will take you to arrive at a bus station. You will have to get to Mexico pretty early to make a UNO bus at TAPO before early or middle afternoon. As always, I will respond to further questions via my e-mail address that is most convenient irlandes@juno.com Bruce McGovern
Posted by Bruce McGovern on June 23, 1997:
I have typed in bus info several times, and at the end of the month, it gets deleted. I am going to type it once more, with a word processor, then will send it via e-mail to those who need it. If you want it, send me a request at irlandes@juno.com and I will try to type it again, within 24 hours and send it to you. I go to Mexico one month a year, and that's about Christmas time, and I do travel on the buses. I especially love UNO's lujos class, but ETN is good, too, if it goes where you are going. Mexican yellow pages per Dumois are:
http://www.seccion.amarilla.com.mx/
Usually, with several buses per day (per Frommer's Frugal travel guides) you can walk into the station, and not have to wait long, even on UNO. HOWEVER, the Christmas season in Mexico is sort of like the Mardis Gras in New Orleans, except much more so. Almost everything shuts down, like factories, and the local libraries, (but not restaurants, and night places or resorts - it is their harvest time) and the TV gives hourly reports, starting several days before Christmas, on how many hundreds of thousands an hour are leaving the City to go back to their home villages, and resort places, etc. Ordinary people save their money for Christmas, also the law requires employers to pay extra money in December, I think it's a month's salary, (be aware, those who hire servants) and they spend a lot of it for the holidays. So, yes, you should be concerned about bus service on December 21, in Mexico City.
