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daniel27

Nov 29, 2001, 11:08 AM

Post #1 of 2 (567 views)

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Laredo to Playa Del Caemen

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I would like to thank everyone who helped and contributed in what was my drive From McAllen To Playa del Carmen.
After the various responses and much discussion I altered the trip to leave from Laredo. I will explain, I left from Montreal and when I made the original request I thought that this would be the best place to leave from. After some very good emails and more reasearch I decided to leave from Laredo.
My Trip Report.
My wife and crosses at Columbia just 20 miles west of Laredo. The crossing went smoothly and all the paper work is done in one building with very little fuss and generally helpful people. One Caveat, we arriverd at about 8:50 a.m. to discover thatthe imigration guy does not arrive until 9. All the other people for the car and bank were there but if you need to get an FMT do not arrive too early.
There were only 3 people ahead of us so when immigration arrived at 9:15 it only took 15 minutes to get thru.
We took highway 2 towards Laredo and then took the cutoff to Monterey via HWY 85.
At customs we got ared light( We watched everone get a red) but even with our stuffed car he only asked if it was all personal and let us thru in under 1 minute.
We took 85 until 85D the pay road. In Monterey the signage was not great. Our next goal was Ciudad Victoria but there were no signs for it. We followed the sighn for Saltillo and eventually saw a small sigh for 85 and Ciudad Victoria.The roads were not great but not too bad and only moderate topes.
We then went to Tampico, the worst part was the stretch where we left HWY85 for 81 to Tampico. No shoulder and many hills.
When 81 met 180 it became a 4 lane road and good road into Tampico.
Stayed at Hotel San Antonio clean safe parking but a little noisy.
Next day Tampico to Poza Rica slow driving many topes, misssed a turn in Poza Rica and ended up on the wrong road. Watch for a sign a bridge to the left in the centre of town.
Did get to Veracruz and toook the Cuota towards Cordoa #150. All our maps say that the cuota #180D but it is actually called 145D.An aside We were on this road and we had to make a pit stop, my wife was not feeling well. There was a Pemex station on the wrong side of the road and the retorno was on before the startion. We stopped and watched a Mexican make the U turn and back up 100 yards to the station. There was no traffic so I did the same. A police car was getting gas!!!! Afterwards he drove over to me explains in Spanish that what i did was wrong. In my very poor Spanish I admitted my error. I asked about the other cars that did the same and he said taht I had money. He tells me that it will be 200 Pesos at the station and admitting taht I was wrong
I asked if we could settle it here. After speaking only Spanish he tells me in perfect English that I should not do it again and to drive safely. After this he gave a Mexican a ticket for the same infraction.The Cuota ends at Minatitalan. The right lane has many huge pot holes that are very deep. Use the left lane except when someone wants to pass, not much traffic.
We spent the night in Acayucan at the Hotel Kinku . Very nice with underground parking just 2 minutes walk to the centre of town.
The road thru Villahermosa is good and we went to Merida on 180 very little traffic with good not too many topes.
Stayed in Merida at Maria del Carmen which is near the town sqare and also has secure parking. Ask for either a AARP or AAA discount they giveit if they are not busy.
We then took #180 and 180D to Playa Del Carmen, 3 hours, good roads.Most of the roads were good and it was a good experience overall.
We spent756 pesos on toll roads and bridges and 1250 pesos on gas for our Camry.Dan

Joe

Nov 29, 2001, 9:15 PM

Post #2 of 2 (568 views)

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Laredo to Playa Del Caemen

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Great trip report! you said you decided to cross at Laredo and not McAllen what was the reason? The trip was 3 day ? how long were the travel days in hours, will be doing same trip first of Feb. Thanks for your input. : I would like to thank everyone who helped and contributed in what was my drive From McAllen To Playa del Carmen.
: After the various responses and much discussion I altered the trip to leave from Laredo. I will explain, I left from Montreal and when I made the original request I thought that this would be the best place to leave from. After some very good emails and more reasearch I decided to leave from Laredo.
: My Trip Report.
: My wife and crosses at Columbia just 20 miles west of Laredo. The crossing went smoothly and all the paper work is done in one building with very little fuss and generally helpful people. One Caveat, we arriverd at about 8:50 a.m. to discover thatthe imigration guy does not arrive until 9. All the other people for the car and bank were there but if you need to get an FMT do not arrive too early.
: There were only 3 people ahead of us so when immigration arrived at 9:15 it only took 15 minutes to get thru.
: We took highway 2 towards Laredo and then took the cutoff to Monterey via HWY 85.
: At customs we got ared light( We watched everone get a red) but even with our stuffed car he only asked if it was all personal and let us thru in under 1 minute.
: We took 85 until 85D the pay road. In Monterey the signage was not great. Our next goal was Ciudad Victoria but there were no signs for it. We followed the sighn for Saltillo and eventually saw a small sigh for 85 and Ciudad Victoria.The roads were not great but not too bad and only moderate topes.
: We then went to Tampico, the worst part was the stretch where we left HWY85 for 81 to Tampico. No shoulder and many hills.
: When 81 met 180 it became a 4 lane road and good road into Tampico.
: Stayed at Hotel San Antonio clean safe parking but a little noisy.
: Next day Tampico to Poza Rica slow driving many topes, misssed a turn in Poza Rica and ended up on the wrong road. Watch for a sign a bridge to the left in the centre of town.
: Did get to Veracruz and toook the Cuota towards Cordoa #150. All our maps say that the cuota #180D but it is actually called 145D.: An aside We were on this road and we had to make a pit stop, my wife was not feeling well. There was a Pemex station on the wrong side of the road and the retorno was on before the startion. We stopped and watched a Mexican make the U turn and back up 100 yards to the station. There was no traffic so I did the same. A police car was getting gas!!!! Afterwards he drove over to me explains in Spanish that what i did was wrong. In my very poor Spanish I admitted my error. I asked about the other cars that did the same and he said taht I had money. He tells me that it will be 200 Pesos at the station and admitting taht I was wrong
: I asked if we could settle it here. After speaking only Spanish he tells me in perfect English that I should not do it again and to drive safely. After this he gave a Mexican a ticket for the same infraction.: The Cuota ends at Minatitalan. The right lane has many huge pot holes that are very deep. Use the left lane except when someone wants to pass, not much traffic.
: We spent the night in Acayucan at the Hotel Kinku . Very nice with underground parking just 2 minutes walk to the centre of town.
: The road thru Villahermosa is good and we went to Merida on 180 very little traffic with good not too many topes.
: Stayed in Merida at Maria del Carmen which is near the town sqare and also has secure parking. Ask for either a AARP or AAA discount they giveit if they are not busy.
: We then took #180 and 180D to Playa Del Carmen, 3 hours, good roads.: Most of the roads were good and it was a good experience overall.
: We spent756 pesos on toll roads and bridges and 1250 pesos on gas for our Camry.: Dan