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lreier

Jul 30, 2003, 9:36 AM

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SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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Hello, Does anyone have an thoughts on seeing Sma, Ajijic & PV all on a 10 day trip? We are planning a trip to Sma in Nov with our two teenage daughters and they are wanting to see the ocean. We are wanting to look around for possible retirement. Trying to please everyone, but I don't know if that's too much for 10 days. Any advise is appreciated. Thank you, Lisa

Brian

Jul 30, 2003, 12:48 PM

Post #2 of 7 (743 views)

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Re: [lreier] SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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That's plenty of time to get the flavor of each of those cities. You will probably make some first impressions of these diverse locales and rule one or more of them out for retirement. The next trip should probably include at least a couple of weeks to investigate further such things as housing costs, health care, climate, cultural opportunities etc. Enjoy the trip.

jennifer rose

Jul 30, 2003, 12:54 PM

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Re: [lreier] SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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That's not nearly enough time, especially when you add in transit time. (Oh course, Brian disagrees with me.) Maybe it might be enough for one person, alone, but when you add a spouse and two teenager daughters into the equation, you're pushing it making two towns in that amount of time. Why, there is hardly enough time for shopping, much less sleeping and eating.

Pick two towns. Any two.

Oh, and since you're asking for my opinion, I'd opt for San Miguel de Allende and Vallarta.

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Jul 30, 2003, 12:56 PM)

lreier

Jul 30, 2003, 1:23 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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Thank you Brian & Jennifer, How long is the bus ride to Ajijic & PV?

Lisa

gpk

Jul 30, 2003, 2:57 PM

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Re: [lreier] SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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Too much unless you fly! The bus from SMA to PV is about 10-12 hours, depending on bus line and traffic. You can go overnight, but it's pretty uncomfortable if you are over 5 feet tall. Visit SMA and PV--more than enough--these are the two "tourist" sites that your family would enjoy most on a short visit.

Estanislao

Jul 30, 2003, 3:41 PM

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Re: [lreier] SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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A couple of years ago I flew into Leon and spent seven days in SMA, then travelling by bus, spent the next seven days spending time in Guanajuato, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Chapala and Ajijic before flying out of Guadalajara. Not recommended, but I was on a mission to see them all.

Ajijic and PV are not that far apart, and would be easy in your time frame. But then you would miss SMA :-(
--
"It is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again."
John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts - The Log From The Sea Of Cortez
--
Estanislao

raferguson

Aug 1, 2003, 11:58 AM

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Re: [lreier] SMA to Ajijic to Puerto Vallarta

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A 10 day trip to see three cities that far apart is kind of a lightning tour, which I usually do not like. Let me try a trip plan:

Day 1: Fly to Mexico City or Leon (Bajio Int. Airport), bus to SMA (4 hours from Mexico City Norte bus terminal)
Day 2 & 3: Explore SMA
Day 4: Bus to Guadalajara (5 -7 hours) and then 1 hour to Ajiic by bus, or less by taxi
Day 5 & 6 Explore Ajiic
Day 7: Bus to Guadalajara (1 hour) and then bus to PV (5.5 hours)
Day 8 & 9: Explore Puerto Vallarta
Day 10: Fly home

I figure that you have four travel days in a 10 day trip, which I think is too many, but not completely crazy. Figure that you will probably spend some time in bus stations, in addition to the travel time shown. If you stick to the three city plan, buses are probably an OK way to go, but a travel agent in Mexico may be able to get you air fare for 50% more than a luxury bus. SMA is not very close to a major airport. With a bus, you see the country, but I get bored when the bus ride runs more than three hours.

Given that you have four people in your group, a taxi could be cheaper than four bus tickets, but the taxis are small, so you may not be able to get four people and all their luggage in a taxi. A taxi is a good way to go for less than a one hour trip, but not comfortable for longer trips, although I have done it.

The ETN bus line is a luxury line, a good choice where available and the schedule works out for you. You can buy your ETN bus ticket the day before at a travel agent if you look around, or take a taxi to the bus station, or buy your ticket for the next leg of the trip when you arrive at the bus station, before you leave the station. I think that the bus to Ajiic probably does not have advance ticket purchase, but the long distance buses do offer advance ticket purchase at the bus station. Take earplugs in case the bus movie is too loud. Take snacks and bottled water on the bus with you, although ETN will give you a coke and a sandwhich when you board, most likely.

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