Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Minerva909

Mar 7, 2012, 10:26 AM

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Traveling by bus with pets

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I have checked the search and the newest post on the topic I found was from 2004!

Next weekend I am moving from southern Belize to Playa del Carmen and - having two cats - I was wandering how.

I usually travel with them by air - easy and convenient on long trips. But this was supposed to be a relatively short one and ... there are no flights from here to there, unless I fly through either Guatemala or USA - both options unneccessarily expensive and would complicate veterinary certifications requirements.

So I thought of renting a car and taking it over the border - but nobody would let me pick it up here and leave it over there. Thus the bus.

ADO is the Mexican company that goes from Belize City to Cancun, but I found on their page that the pets can only go in the cargo, sedated. OK, I thought if it is air conditioned, otherwise they would die in the heat in a closed compartment without air.

So on a Playa del Carmen's forum I posted an inquiry if the cargo hold is air conditioned.... and this pretty straightforward question started a long, winding and partially hillarious exchange concerning a camarote, or the space for a second driver next to the cargo hold.

Someone even posted a picture of it.

Well, if there were no second driver the cats would fit there, but if they had to travel with luggage without any ventilation I would endanger their lives.
So I am still not sure I can go by bus on Mexican side.

On the Belizean side I can - they have these awfully uncomfortable chicken buses without luggage compartments, but at least cats can travel inside the bus in their transporter and once I get to Chetumal, I shall inspect the bus - and either take it or rent a car in Chetumal, since it is in the same country and only about five hours away, so that, even if they would not let me drop it off in Playa I can install my cats home, drive back to Chetumal, return the car and board the bus - since i won't have to travel with luggage.

Uff, I am getting waaay to old for that - especially travelling alone. Not a good invitation to spend time and money in Mexico. Granted, from the USA it would be a cinch - flying....but moving from a thirld world country (Belize) to a developing country (Mexico), with insufficient infrastructure makes it tough.

If I did not have a condo in Playa already arranged I would have dropped my 'visiting Mexico" plans. <sigh>

Is it still the norm all over Mexico - this pet unfriendliness?

(This post was edited by Minerva909 on Mar 7, 2012, 10:33 AM)

esperanza

Mar 7, 2012, 11:20 AM

Post #2 of 25 (3464 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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Whether it's pet unfriendliness or not, I don't know of any segunda, primera, or lujo passenger bus line in Mexico that will let you bring pets on board. YMMV.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Minerva909

Mar 7, 2012, 12:15 PM

Post #3 of 25 (3450 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Traveling by bus with pets

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I do not necessarily need to bring them on board. I just need to be SURE that the place where they can be put is safe for them. On airlines they also travel in the baggage compartment but it is a climatized part of the compartment. That's what I pay an extra US$ 200 for per two of them in one container on Delta. I would not mind to pay an extra ticket to ADO for their safety.

(This post was edited by Minerva909 on Mar 7, 2012, 12:35 PM)

Vichil

Mar 7, 2012, 4:33 PM

Post #4 of 25 (3408 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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If you can get to the border by chicken bus on the Belize side, stay in a hotel in Belize the first night and rent a car in Chetumal the next day. You probably can drop it off in Cancun, it is just a question of money, they will charge you by kms to take it back and it is a very long way . You can also figure out how much it will cost you to take it back and turn around and take a bus back to Playa.
It will cost you money and time but it is doable.

We had an accident in Tapachula and had to rent a car bak to Tuxtla and we did not want to drive the car back so we pay for the mileage to get back. You can do that.
Call a rental place in Chetumal and see how much they would charge you to get an idea ahead of time.

Minerva909

Mar 7, 2012, 6:15 PM

Post #5 of 25 (3394 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Traveling by bus with pets

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Thanks for the advice, Vichil. I can even fly a puddle jumper to Corozal from Punta Gorda, no need to endure chicken bus. Anybody knows if there are any flights from Chetumal to cancun? I could not find any, but perhaps I do not know how to look for Mexican sites...

Vichil

Mar 7, 2012, 10:09 PM

Post #6 of 25 (3372 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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google Maya Air. I do not know if they still fly since taxi type flights seem to go in and out but you may want to check them out.

Minerva909

Mar 8, 2012, 6:53 AM

Post #7 of 25 (3352 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Traveling by bus with pets

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Thanks, I checked. None of the two belizean puddle jumpers fly to Mexico right now. They suspended all flights outside Belize some time ago, then added back flights to Guatemala, added flights to Honduras, but not to Mexico. Not sure if ADO direct bus from Cancun to Belize City is too big a competition or what the reason of not resuming flights to mexico could be...

tashby

Mar 8, 2012, 7:43 AM

Post #8 of 25 (3338 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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Chetumal is the state capital, so it seems like there would almost have to be some air service between it and Cancun. Nonetheless, renting a car in Chetumal seems like the best option. Good luck.

Goyo

Mar 8, 2012, 5:35 PM

Post #9 of 25 (3285 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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could you take a boat?

Vichil

Mar 8, 2012, 7:19 PM

Post #10 of 25 (3265 views)

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Re: [Goyo] Traveling by bus with pets

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it used to be 100 dollars to go by boat from Xcalak to Belize and then you have to figure out how to get out of there.... easier to go to Chetumal and rent a car or look into the air taxis.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Mar 8, 2012, 8:05 PM)

Minerva909

Mar 8, 2012, 8:05 PM

Post #11 of 25 (3256 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Traveling by bus with pets

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Yes, there is a water taxi from San Pedro to Chetumal. One a day at 7 am. I would have to stay overnight in San Pedro. Better to take a flight to Corozal, overnight there and take a transfer van through the border (as they also help with luggage through customs etc. ) and rent a var there. Found quite good deals at both Europecar and Hertz, both chains that I use often in Europe and in US. And since I always use Amex to rent cars, I do not pay for any extra insurance.

chinagringo

Mar 9, 2012, 6:03 AM

Post #12 of 25 (3225 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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Before assuming that your AMEX insurance will work while renting a vehicle in MX, you may wish to do some serious research. I went through checking with about 70% of the car rental companies in Guadalajara and they refused to honor or accept our AMEX Premium Rental Car Insurance. They would allow one to decline the extra insurance but they would post a deposit of anywhere from $5K USD to the full vehicle value to your card at time of rental.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Vichil

Mar 9, 2012, 6:20 AM

Post #13 of 25 (3222 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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You better check if your insurrance covers you for legal aid. This is not Europe.
The fact is that if you want to be covered by insurrance in Mexico you pay quite a bit more than most other countries. You better read the fine prints and really know what you are covered for and what you should be covered for.

Maya Air is a service between Chetumal and Cancun.

I paid 70 dollars a day last time I rented a car out of Cancun and 72 dollars out of San Cristobal de las Casas. Renting is not cheap here because of the insurrance.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Mar 9, 2012, 6:34 AM)

Minerva909

Mar 9, 2012, 10:33 AM

Post #14 of 25 (3187 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Traveling by bus with pets

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In Reply To

Maya Air is a service between Chetumal and Cancun.

I checked Mexican Maya Air (there is a Belizean airline with a similar name: Maya Island Air) and their web page claims they fly to Cancun from Villahermosa and a few other cities but NOT Chetumal.

Chinagringo, Vichil thanks for advice. Of course rental companies don't want to honor Amex's insurance because the sale of their insurance is a pure profit to them. But being affiliated with international names like Hertz or Europecar they should honor Amex's insurance. I shall check with Amex.

If they don't, the idea of spending time in Mexico seems increasingly as a pretty bad idea.

At least I chose a place close to a major international airport and so far signed a condo lease only for a month, so if I find Mexico too cumbersome to be enjoyable, or a rip off, I'll go to Europe fast.

(This post was edited by Minerva909 on Mar 9, 2012, 10:35 AM)

Vichil

Mar 9, 2012, 10:52 AM

Post #15 of 25 (3181 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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Yes I just saw the run was cancelled for the lack of demand.

chinagringo

Mar 9, 2012, 11:10 AM

Post #16 of 25 (3174 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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I didn't investigate Hertz but I did actually have a reservation with Europcar that I made after communicating with their customer service reps in London (I believe). After getting their word, I had a followup communication from one of their agents in Cancun who reversed what I had previously be told. I then talked directly with their manager at their location at the Guadalajara airport. He confirmed that I could decline the insurance but that they would place a hold on our AMEX card in the amount of $385,000MXN for the rental on a Dodge Durango. Reservation was immediately cancelled!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

sandykayak

Mar 9, 2012, 11:27 AM

Post #17 of 25 (3172 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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I don't have a map in front of me, so this may be waaaaay out of the question, but could you not hire a "taxi" driver..or two? One to get you to the border and another one on the other side.
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque

Minerva909

Mar 9, 2012, 11:58 AM

Post #18 of 25 (3159 views)

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Re: [sandykayak] Traveling by bus with pets

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Sandy, the best offer from a taxi or similar was US$500 in Belize Including fuel) - and US$ 250 in Mexico (excluding fuel). Flying to the US and back to Cancun would cost me less.

And flying to the border of Mexico (3 connected puddle jumper flights) costs US $ 234. A rip off as air travel go, but not THAT MUCH of a ripoff as hiring a car and driver. It is only around 300 km, for heaven's sake. On both sides.

And to think that I chose Playa mainly because it is close to Belize and I would have taken an ADO bus for US$ 69 all the way, if not for the concern of the safety and comfort of my pets.

Another reason of choosing Playa was that it is conveniently located for my daughter, who loves the warm sand of a white beach and the turquise waters of the Caribbean, and often works from home, so that she needs only a fast and reliable internet to be able to come and visit often before I return to Europe for good and miss the chance of seeing her more often than, at best, once a year, if that often.

And I refuse to continue living in the USA, which cares only about 1% of its inhabitants. USA and the right wing repubs make me too sick, whenever I read about ther shenanigans.

Old Europe has its problems, true, but it still is a much better place to live, overall.

(This post was edited by Minerva909 on Mar 9, 2012, 12:06 PM)

sandykayak

Mar 9, 2012, 12:23 PM

Post #19 of 25 (3149 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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I have two chihuahuas and one of them is allergic to shots. Like anaphalectic (sp?) shock.

I gave him the 3-year rabies shot last time and dread when it is up - either this year or next. They give him Benadryl then they put an IV in him ($40) (he weighs 6 lbs) and he doesn't start breaking out in bumps and wanting to jump out of his skin until about 9 or 10 p.m. this requires a trip to the emergency room ($100 to walk in..total bill is usually $200-300 and he goes through a terrible time.

Not only does Mexico not accept the 3-year shot, they want it to have been administered within something like 7 days or so from crossing. I heard of one dog being given a shot at the airport in Mexico. Not an option for me.

The only way I can get him in to Mexico is by driving, but at this time I don't have time for extended travel. I wish I could take them by air.

I presume you then take the cats with you to Europe??? I admire people who are unencumbered and have more freedom, but the love and companionship I get from my doggies is priceless!
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque

Vichil

Mar 9, 2012, 1:30 PM

Post #20 of 25 (3138 views)

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Re: [Minerva909] Traveling by bus with pets

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To each it s own, I am European and will never go back so it all depends on your perspective.

Minerva909

Mar 9, 2012, 1:53 PM

Post #21 of 25 (3135 views)

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Re: [sandykayak] Traveling by bus with pets

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Sandy

You might have misunderstood. The international vet certificate needs to be as fresh as possible, but the shots are valid for a year. That's what I read about applying to Mexico. I'll let you know after crossing the border.

And if my info holds you can fly them to Mexico. You can put two chihuahuas in one pet container large enough and fly them in pressurized and climatized part of the baggage space on the plane. My cats do quite well even on overseas trips traveling that way. Delta charges $200 per pet container on international flights, but the fee varies slightly depending on a carrier.

Dreamer Blue

Mar 10, 2012, 5:43 AM

Post #22 of 25 (3085 views)

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Re: [sandykayak] Traveling by bus with pets

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Mexico only has the one year rabies shot - but there are vets who will give your dog a low-dose rabies shot, which causes much less problems. Also, Mexico requires a current health certificate, issued within 3 days of crossing the border, that includes proof of rabies shot and treatment for internal and external parasites. They only require that the rabies shot be curent - ie. within the one year period of validity.

sandykayak

Mar 11, 2012, 5:57 PM

Post #23 of 25 (3010 views)

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Re: [Dreamer Blue] Traveling by bus with pets

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Hmmmm. I have to take machi for his rabies tomorrow 3 years are up

I gomto Banfield at Petsmart. I'll ask ab low dose but they've never said anything
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque

rockydog85251

Mar 11, 2012, 6:17 PM

Post #24 of 25 (3003 views)

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Re: [sandykayak] Traveling by bus with pets

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When we had our youngest chihuahua vaccinated for rabies in Mazatlan, he received a "full" dose and nearly died! I was up with him all night....his eyes swelled shut, his head was enlarged, his breathing was shallow - thank goodness I had some benadryl on hand, which I rubbed on his gums. That seemed to help a lot. BUT, our vet did note in his records to NEVER give him another rabies shot. Now he suffers from many allergies & skin sensitivities. I have shown the vet countless websites about needing a rabies vaccine only one time in an animal's lifetime. As he pointed out, "it is the law"....at least we know the large drug manufacturers are alive in Mexico as well. We can no longer travel with him internationally.
What a crock!!!!!! Just be very careful............
Willie

sandykayak

Mar 12, 2012, 7:04 AM

Post #25 of 25 (2952 views)

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Re: [rockydog85251] Traveling by bus with pets

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I "forgot" about taking him. He was due on Feb 20 and I"ll probably get a (another!)
$65 fine from Animal Services.

I feel as if I'm doing something awful by giving him the shot again...even tho it has been 3 years.

Someone said something about getting a letter from the Vet saying that he is allergic.

But then I have another dilemma. I go camping a lot (mostly in an Aliner - aframe hard-sided popup camper) and the doggies go with me. THey all insist on rabies vaccine, plus it is for his own protection (racoons etc).

Since this is no longer very Mexico related, I would appreciate all suggestion directly to me at sandykayak at yahoo dot com.

tx
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque