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lancetailor

Jul 24, 2011, 8:06 PM

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Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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HELP! My wife and I are planning on driving from Dallas Texas to Puerto Vallarta in November 2011 and need some advice. First of all, we are planning on staying down there for 6 months and so we figured it would be the most economical to have our car there than to try and rent a car for that long. Neither of us know any Spanish. We do have friends that speak fluently so we were thinking of at least having a phone with us so that we could call them and have them translate if need be for us. We need help knowing where the safest crossing is at in Texas and what highways we should plan to travel. Does anyone have any suggestions as to safe places to stay along the way. Looks like we will probably stay overnight at least twice on the way down. Any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks!!

Altahabana

Jul 25, 2011, 6:31 PM

Post #2 of 12 (3655 views)

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Re: [lancetailor] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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The two most direct routes are:

Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras--Puerto Vallarta (970 miles)

Laredo/Nuevo Laredo--Puerto Vallarta (875 miles)

This online site is a good resource.

http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta&eligeIdioma=si

Crossing at Eagle Pass saves a few miles in Texas but adds about 95 in Mexico. But the route also bypasses Monterrey which is experiencing a high level of violence now.Not a great deal of risk to tourists in transit on the periferico/autopista/loop but some people may feel more comfortable avoiding the metro area entirely. There are probably alternate routes once you get past the area of Matehuela on Highway 57 so others may have suggestions. I would add though that there has been an increase in cartel activity in Zacatecas over the past month.

Camille

Jul 25, 2011, 11:14 PM

Post #3 of 12 (3625 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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The Zacatecas route is free road which appears shorter on the map, but is two lane. The cuota is a much better route IMO because the Green Angels patrol it. You get car trouble, these guys will come along and help you change a flat, sell you emergency gas, get other help if nescessary.
Cross the border at dawn if at all possible. And whatever else happens, DO NOT try hwy 200, which is the last leg of your journey to Pv, after dark. I would stay in Matehuala or San Luis Potosi the first night, Guad the second, and arrive in PV very early afternoon, well rested and ready to unpack.
And the hot sheet hotels are definitely preferable for their secure parking.
I've done this route at least a dozen times in the last five years and never a problem. Breathe.

donemry

Jul 26, 2011, 8:26 AM

Post #4 of 12 (3588 views)

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Re: [lancetailor] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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We stay in Laredo and cross in the morning. That night, we stay in Lagos de Moreno at the Hotel Casa Grande. That puts us in PV the next afternoon. We stay on the toll roads for most of the trip, beginning when we reach the toll road south of Laredo until we finally catch 200 at Compestella.

Altahabana

Jul 26, 2011, 10:02 AM

Post #5 of 12 (3566 views)

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Re: [donemry] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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I think it is a good idea to spend the night in Laredo and cross early or you could cross and stay at the Holiday Inn Express which is on Coloso---the loop road around Nuevo Laredo.

I would not advise driving beyond Laredo/Nuevo Laredo or trying to stay somewhere between NL and Monterrey. The army seized a carload of heavy weapons and took down five Zs around Sabinas Hidalgo near the Autopista on Monday. And for the skeptical this incident made the Monterrey papers and the evening TV news.

http://monterrey.milenio.com/...5a7d529744fdab58e049

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Jul 26, 2011, 10:29 AM)

jerezano

Jul 26, 2011, 11:20 AM

Post #6 of 12 (3549 views)

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Re: [Camille] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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Hello all,

Camille posted on the 25 th:>>The Zacatecas route is free road which appears shorter on the map, but is two lane.

This is no longer true. There are only about 70 KMs which are two lane. It is now four lane divided highway from Zacatecas City (Town of Morelos) to Concepción del Oro and two lane under improvement from Concepción del Oro to the Coahuila border at Rocky Monte. From the Coahuila border to Ramos Arizpe (suburb north of Saltillo) it is all extra-wide two lane with wide shoulders or in a couple short spots under improvement. It also remains free of charge. It is also patrolled by the Green Angels. Time Zacataecas to Ramos Arizpe is now less than 4-1/2 hours.

It is now an easy, enjoyable, and somewhat boring trip all the way to Aguascalientes. (Zacatecas to Aguascalientes is cuota and about 45 minutes). The bypass around Aguascalientes is about an hour and from then on it is is all cuota to Guadalajara (about 4-1/2 to five hours to the exit to Tepic, Nogales and PV which is on the opposite side of Guadalajara from where you enter).

It is, in my opinion the preferable way to go to Puerto Vallarta from anywhere in South Texas or Dallas.

As ever, jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Jul 26, 2011, 11:26 AM)

lancetailor

Jul 26, 2011, 4:45 PM

Post #7 of 12 (3513 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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Thank all of you SO much for your input on this. I will take all the precautions offered and hope for a safe trip! Thanks again....Gracias!!

RickS

Jul 26, 2011, 5:15 PM

Post #8 of 12 (3507 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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I more or less agree with jerazano..... I took this route in the Spring. The only 'problem' with this route is getting through Saltillo.... there is no good way to bypass downtown to get to Hiway 57 towards Monclova . Saltillo has been under construction for several years and this route takes one right through the middle of it all. I consider myself pretty moxie in getting from A to Z but getting through Saltillo took asking twice (and still having to go on intuition to make it through downtown).

Since I am aware that this construction has generally been going on for 2 years and doesn't look like it is nearing completion, I would hesitate to send anyone over highway 54 quite yet. Otherwise, I agree that highway 54 is now a good route (great free road) to get from the border to the Guadalajara area. Now if 'someone' would just develop a way around Aguascalientes!

Camille

Jul 26, 2011, 5:54 PM

Post #9 of 12 (3496 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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Wow! Great to know.... my report was based on my last Zacatecan experience, which was a couple of years ago, maybe more. Next time I have to face the slog to Texas I believe I'll try it again!

chinagringo

Jul 26, 2011, 7:52 PM

Post #10 of 12 (3471 views)

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Re: [Camille] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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I will suggest that before one makes a decision to travel through the Zacatecas area, they may want to do some due diligence as to what is happening at that particular time. As of late, Zacatecas has been a "hotspot"! I recently saw a report on a pretty much all day shootout on the section of the highway between Zacatecas and Fresnillo. The photos in the article were such that we recognized the intersection that we typically drove through coming or going to the New Mexico border. That was a real eye opener!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Rolly

Jul 26, 2011, 9:59 PM

Post #11 of 12 (3457 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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...we recognized the intersection...
Every time I go over to Torreón, I pass by the place where they found four bodies by the bridge where there were two headless bodies hanging. There is the Sam's store down the street from my house where they found the four heads. And on and on.
Yes, Neil, the cartel wars do become much more up close and personal when you know the spots where it happened.
But I ain't leaving.

Rolly Pirate

chinagringo

Jul 27, 2011, 8:25 AM

Post #12 of 12 (3423 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Driving from Texas to Puerto Vallarta

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Not an alarmist report from the NOB press but an interesting internal document from inside Mexico:
"MORELIA, Mich., July 25, 2011 .- In the violence linked to organized crime that have occurred in Mexico, the Banco del Bajio developed a manual to guide employees and executives on high-risk road sections in the center of the country, according to a note of the Millennium.
The manual, which Milenio Diariohas a copy, contains five-state road maps and a guide with 12 recommendations for safer travel.According to the study, the states most affected by violence are Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas............."

The remainder of the article follows:

http://www.quadratin.com.mx/...dantes-con-Michoacan
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM