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heff

Dec 17, 2005, 3:41 PM

Post #1 of 11 (2767 views)

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Driving to the Yucatan

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Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best route to drive from Texas to PlayadelCarmen? I plan on driving from upstate NY in January and would like to take the safest and quickest route. The toll routes are not the most direct but perhaps they are the best way to go. Also, where to cross the border? Anyone?

sfmacaws

Dec 17, 2005, 6:58 PM

Post #2 of 11 (2762 views)

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Re: [heff] Driving to the Yucatan

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The quickest route would be crossing around Laredo, taking the bypass around Monterrey, catching 57 just before Saltillo and taking 57 straight down through Queretaro, then go across Mexico City to Puebla, down the mountain and catch the toll road before Veracruz to Villahermosa, then to Escarcega, Chetumal and then up the 307 to Playa. Take toll roads when they are available. Going down the Gulf Coast will take much longer and going through Campeche & Merida will also take longer. If you drive hard and start early it can be done in 3 days.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bloviator

Dec 18, 2005, 5:06 AM

Post #3 of 11 (2756 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Driving to the Yucatan

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Using that route, I'm still desperately searching for lodging at or near Lago Bacalar. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated, though I already have a bunch of good ideas from several of you for lodging in that area.

Am I just living in fantasy land or is Lago Bacalar really an idealic spot. I have set up hotels all along the way, but am just going to arrive there and hope that I find something available. I have a couple of tentative possibilities, but they all take only three day reservations for the Christmas period and I'll only be there December 23.

(This post was edited by dlyman6500 on Dec 18, 2005, 5:22 AM)

sfmacaws

Dec 18, 2005, 10:18 AM

Post #4 of 11 (2748 views)

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Re: [dlyman6500] Driving to the Yucatan

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Where is Bubba with his rant about Bacalar?

Everyone sees things differently as to whether a place is perfection or not. I have stayed near Lago Bacalar several times and I have visited a resort along the shores to look around and have lunch. We traded our condo to them once for 3 nights and I was checking it out. I never used the 3 nights, I gave it to a friend when I realized I wouldn't get there.

What I remember about being on the shores of Bacalar is that it was very quiet and serene, especially for Mexico. The resort had massage, yoga, vegetarian food, meditation spots and that sort of thing so that probably is partly why I remember it as so serene. There were landscaped paths that wound through the gardens and along the lake. There was a dock you could walk out on and places to sit out there. It was almost like a lake in the game Myst, if you've seen that.

I think I would be bored out of my mind there in a matter of hours. But see, everyone is different so it's tough to tell you if this would be your paradise. Hell, it's been 3 or 4 years (and a couple hurricanes) since I had this tour so it could be all different now anyway. I personally prefer the cenote restaurant near there where they have mariachi bands and you can swim in the cenote during lunch. Different strokes <g>

If you can't get a room there and have to stay in Chetumal, Bacalar is right off the road so you could easily stop for an hour or two and look around on your way north. If you love it, then return the same way and spend some time there. That would work huh?

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

heff

Dec 18, 2005, 5:06 PM

Post #5 of 11 (2737 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Driving to the Yucatan

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Thanks for the suggested route. I will take whatever toll roads that are available but what about hotels? In the States it is better to look for a room around the bigger cities..........does that work in Mexico on this route? Also, what type of hotels/motels can we expect to find on the road? I'm not traveling with any pets, just my wife.
Heff

Bubba

Dec 19, 2005, 7:31 AM

Post #6 of 11 (2717 views)

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Re: [heff] Driving to the Yucatan

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For hotel look at www.bacalarmosaico.com
Hotel Laguna is very nice right on the Lake. It has a restaurant Phone 983 834 2206 Fax 983 834 2205. There is an eco resort where we did not stay but appeared very nice more isolated called Rancho Encantado 505 894 7074 www.encantado.com. There is a restaurant campestre at the Cenote.
If you like quiet, you will like the place.

Bubba

Dec 19, 2005, 9:55 AM

Post #7 of 11 (2710 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Driving to the Yucatan

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Actually that posting about the hotels was Ms Bubba.

There is no question that Lake Bacalar is an extrordinarily beautiful body of water. with some very attractive homes and a park-like setting. The nearby town of Bacalar is, however, rather dumpy and unattractive. You need to do any shopping in Chetumal.

Jonna is right on that Lake Bacalar would drive her crazy in short order. After a few wows and maybe a swim and a hike , it is time to move on. If you really enjoy exploring the lake or boating, plan on three days at the most.

By the way, homes on Lake Bacalar for sale are mighty expensive for such a remote area. A nice lakefront home we looked at cost $600,000USD so don't bother bargain hunting And, if you buy a home there and after you have unpacked, you may as well just roll over and kick the bucket because that's it. There is such a thing as too much serenity..

(This post was edited by Bubba on Dec 19, 2005, 9:57 AM)

sfmacaws

Dec 19, 2005, 10:22 AM

Post #8 of 11 (2707 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Driving to the Yucatan

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Thank you Sra B. Rancho Encantado is the place I had the tour and lunch at.

and Sr B., right you are, you and I would be hiking over to the cenote restaurant for a beer and some noise every afternoon.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bubba

Dec 20, 2005, 8:03 AM

Post #9 of 11 (2684 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Driving to the Yucatan

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Oops!

My wife tells me the asking price for the home in Bacalar was only around $200,000USD. It was the home between Xcalac and Majahual on the beach but off the electrical grid where the guy wanted $600,000USD telling me it would be worth over $1,000,000USD in no time. I told him I would trade him for my kudzu patch back home

Bloviator

Dec 26, 2005, 8:51 AM

Post #10 of 11 (2638 views)

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Re: [heff] Driving to the Yucatan

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We are on the road from Ajijic to Cozumel - actually in Cozumel now. Normally, we don´t get reservations in advance. Decided to do so for this trip. Thank God for Expedia. we´ve been staying in top rate hotels and are amazed at the rack rates for their rooms. At one place the "baby room" was 1200 pesos. Most room rates are 2000 to 4000 pesos. Where do they get people willing to pay those rates in Mexico? We pay about 750 to 900 pesos thanks to expedia.

We could probably check around on arrival and find cheaper places to stay, but with the dogs not along, we don´t have to and are enjoying beautiful accommodations in the heart of beautiful towns for quite inexpensive prices and no hassle in finding a place to stay after a difficult day of driving.

Most hotels in Cozumel are still closed and quite a few will have to be torn down. Basic functions have been resumed, but many people have lost everything.

Bloviator

Dec 26, 2005, 8:57 AM

Post #11 of 11 (2638 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Driving to the Yucatan

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Agreed. Exactly the feeling that we had when we spent the night there a couple of days ago. It´s pretty, but would probably get real old real fast except for stuffing yourself at Aluxes restaurant and sitting and staring at the lake, that seems to be it.