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chicagoburbs

Jun 16, 2009, 1:30 PM

Post #1 of 14 (6096 views)

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Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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We will be driving from Chicago to Puerto Vallarta mid July and was wondering if there are any clean & safe Hotel/motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas. Saltillo is too close to the border to stop and Zacatecas might be too far depending on how the crossing goes. Any suggestions ? (willing to go a little out of the way)

Kerry

sioux4noff

Jun 16, 2009, 10:42 PM

Post #2 of 14 (6066 views)

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Re: [chicagoburbs] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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This isn't answering your question, but asking another.
Why are you planning on going through Zacatecas? We have always driven around Monterrey and Saltillo, through Matehuala, San Luis Potosi and on to GDL.

chicagoburbs

Jun 17, 2009, 6:11 AM

Post #3 of 14 (6056 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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Our GPS and Yahoo maps have us going that way - because it is the shortest route (108 miles less)not necessarily the best. As this is our first time driving in Mexico, we would follow what the maps tell us because we don't know otherwise. I will look into your suggestion instead. Is this a better driving route ?

(This post was edited by chicagoburbs on Jun 17, 2009, 6:47 AM)

esperanza

Jun 17, 2009, 7:03 AM

Post #4 of 14 (6044 views)

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Re: [chicagoburbs] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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Infinitely.

Please, take route 57 as sioux4noff suggested--through Saltillo, Matehuala, and San Luis Potosí--rather than route 54 through Zacatecas. It's a far, far better route: better roads, better places to stay (Matehuala is the logical place to spend the night), much easier terrain.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

sioux4noff

Jun 17, 2009, 7:09 AM

Post #5 of 14 (6043 views)

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Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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The only route we have taken, and we've made 5 trips or so, is the one through Matehuala. We got that advise from a person we know in Vallarta who has made the drive dozens of times using various routes.
From what he told us, taking the route through Matehuala and the loop around San Luis Potosi continuing on to the toll road that ends in Ojuelas, Jalisco, is the flattest and fastest route. He avoids the other route because of some winding mountain roads.
If you've made the drive before, you know the last few hours between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta can be slow going due to the twisty, steep roads through the mountains. We try to avoid any additional roads like that when we can.
Others I'm sure have different experiences.

chicagoburbs

Jun 17, 2009, 7:13 AM

Post #6 of 14 (6042 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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This is the reason that I posted the question. I gladly take suggestions for those that know and have done this before. I would not have taken this route without your suggetions - does look to have a better options for safe stopping points. Because of this site I have changed many of my plans - hopefully for the better.
Thanks so much to everyone here that helps us newbie's - maybe I will be able to reciprocate in the future

Kerry

jimboynton

Jun 17, 2009, 1:57 PM

Post #7 of 14 (6009 views)

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Re: [chicagoburbs] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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I also recommend the Matchuala and San Luis Potosi route. There are good hotels in both Matchuala and San Luis Potosi that we have stayed at. We have made the drive to PV from the border in two days. The roads are good without heavy traffic until Guadalajara. Of course the final drive into PV on 200 can be busy on a weekend.

If going that way make sure to take the toll road around SLP. Signs are fairly easy to follow. There is also a bypass around Lagos de Moreno on 80. I have several handmade maps that I made of the route 80 section if you are interested.

Altahabana

Jun 17, 2009, 3:57 PM

Post #8 of 14 (5995 views)

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Re: [jimboynton] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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The GPS is routing you through Zacatecas on Hwy 54 because it is probably a shorter drive than taking Hwy 57 south from Saltillo, nothing more. Highway 57 through Matehuela and San Luis Potosi is a better highway than 54 and you will have a wide range of accomodation options. Other than a couple of extremely small pueblos there is literally nothing between Saltillo and Zacatecas.

However if you are staying in Laredo and planning to get to the permit station in Nuevo Laredo around 6:15 am, you should be on the road to Monterrey by 6:45. It is only 400 miles from NL to Zacatecas and I have driven it in a little under 7 hours. Even if you drive more conservatively you should have no problem getting to Zacatecas by 4 p.m. Aguascalientes is only about 90 minutes further south if you want to reduce the driving distance on the second day.

I think either route is fine although Hwy 57 through Matehuela/SLP would probably be more comfortable for a first time driver in Mexico. But Zacatecas is a delightful city and a good place to spend the night.

chicagoburbs

Jun 18, 2009, 6:32 AM

Post #9 of 14 (5968 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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I just want to thank everyone that has jumped in on this post (and other posts). We are defiantly going the San Luis Potosi route. This has greatly eased my mind in knowing that we are taking a safe route and will have many options for food, gas and lodging. This forum is great with wonderful supportive users. I truly appreciate all the help that I have been given whenever I need information. You have all helped us during our daunting endeavor and we already feel welcome to our new future home in PV.

This Site Rocks !

Kerry

jerezano

Jun 18, 2009, 7:16 AM

Post #10 of 14 (5963 views)

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Re: [chicagoburbs] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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Hello everybody,

Let me add confusion to what has been said before. That is --the route through Matehuala to San Luis Potosí is the better of the two with more possible places to stay---

I do not agree with that. The route through Zacatecas is indeed 108 miles or so shorter. It is now only 3 to 3-1/2 hours to Zacatecas from Saltillo where it used to be 4 to 5.

Too the highway from Saltillo to Zacatecas is under constant improvement. It is now 4 lane (autopista quality) from Zacatecas to San Benito, a barely distinguishable settlement which used to be half way in time between Zacatecas and Saltillo.

From Saltillo south it is also 3 or 4 lane with improvements underway (no detours) almost to the Zacatecas border. It is still two lane driving--good surfaces but not difficult nor not slower than 50-60-70 miles an hour from that border to San Benito.

All in all the improvements now make the drive possible from Saltillo to Zacatecas in 3 hours if you fly.

Saltillo is a good place to overnight. Concepción de Oro has two motels which are clean and of the family type but the water is highly mineral and horrible to bathe with.

1-1/2 to 2 hours farther south there is a new motel at Santa Caterina.
There are two trucker type motels at the Villa de Cos intersection, and of course there are all sorts of hotels and motels in Zacatecas itself.

And just as you enter Aguascalientes (completely autopista from Zacatecas to Aguascalientes) there is a no-see-no-tell motel the Don Quijote adjacent to Vips, Sams Club, etc. and with a straight shot to the South Periférico around Aguascalientes to the autopista on to Lagos de Moreno and Guadalajara.

On this trip the only cuotas you will have to pay other than those from the border to Ramos Arizpe are the cuotas from Zacatecas to Aguas ($30? pesos) and then the cuotas from Aguas on to Guadalajara but then on the other route you would still have to pay those coutas from Lagos de Mareno on to Guadalajara unless you follow the non-cuota route which Bubba and Esperanza? have posted here before.

If you leave the border McAllen, Tx at 7 AM you will arrive in Aguascalientes about 3:30 to 4:00 PM and you could actually overnight in Lagos de Moreno 7 PM or earlier which has several very good and clean hotels in the city center. This would make an easy drive to Guadalajara and the Lake Chapala area for the next day.

I don't like driving more than 10 hours a day so I personally would stay in Aguascalientes.

Now getting back to Saltillo itself. At Ramos Arizpe you will make the choice to go to Matehuala or Zacatecas. If you choose Zacatecas be sure and follow the Zacatecas signs--well marked--which will put you on the now almost complete periférico through Saltillo. There are as yet two intersections where work is being done but no delays.

jerezano

(This post was edited by jerezano on Jun 18, 2009, 8:23 AM)

Altahabana

Jun 18, 2009, 10:08 AM

Post #11 of 14 (5939 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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If the OP overnights at the border and gets on the road early he can easily make Zacatecas (or beyond) in a day. I think he was unsure of how far he could safely get in a single day which may have prompted his concern about the route.

There is nothing unsafe about either route and I think most people are simply recommending the routes they prefer or know best. I would opt for the shorter route and stay in Zacatecas simply because it is about half way between the border and PV and is an attraction in itself.

Camille

Jun 18, 2009, 10:46 AM

Post #12 of 14 (5933 views)

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Re: [chicagoburbs] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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Don't miss the best road food of the trip at Las Sevillanas in Matehuala. It's a huge place, the kind that caters to lots of travellers at one time. Their torta de pierna is absolutely delicious! You may want them to hold the mayo, as they do slather it on, which appears to be a Mexican custom. Other than that, it is perfection! Meltingly tender pork, a fresh baked bun, a couple of avocado slices, a bit of lettuce.... I would kill for one right now!
Their store sells artisanal cheeses, sausages, cookies, and other snacks. I always re-stock the ice chest there. I once bought a jar of pickled agave buds, something you sure don't see every day! And if by chance they have the queso de canasta, a superb white cheese in a woven basket, go for it!

donemry

Jun 20, 2009, 7:31 AM

Post #13 of 14 (5887 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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We stay overnight in Laredo and then leave around 8, cross at Colombia and stay overnight at Casa Grande in Lagos de Moreno. We use the the San Luis Potosi route.

normamc288

Jun 20, 2009, 9:20 AM

Post #14 of 14 (5877 views)

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Re: [chicagoburbs] Any Hotel/Motels between Saltillo & Zacatecas ?

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I've done the Zacatecas route many times and never had a problem. Norma