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ian Kerr

Jun 5, 2002, 4:50 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1202 views)

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Driving in Northern Mexico

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We are planning to fly to brownsville and then cross the border to hire a car to drive south , is it best to hire the car in mexico and is it safe for us English to drive in northern mexico , someone said we will get stopped all the time and will need bail bonds ect .
Are there interesting places to visit in this area , say up to 100 miles south of brownsville .
Thanking you ,
Ian Kerr , Birmingham , England .
ian@awentsbury.com

Rolly

Jun 5, 2002, 7:35 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1198 views)

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Driving in Northern Mexico

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Welcome Ian,Yes, rent the car in Mexico. You cannot bring a US rental car into Mexico.Yes, it is safe for you to drive and enjoy your visit in Mexico. No, you will not be bothered by the police unless you do some wrong traffic thing. Be sure to have Mexican insurance.Are you up to driving on the 'right' side of the road that also has lots of trucks, buses, bicycles, people walking, animals and ...well it is sometimes an adventure in itself.Car rentals tend to be expensive here. Gas is expensive vis-à-vis the USA, but probably not to you from GB.Give some thought to this idea: Search out a taxi owner/driver who speaks English. Hire him by the day to be your tour guide. If you can find the right guy, it might cost you no more than the car rental and be a lot more fun. I have done that and loved it.Enjoy your trip.

Russell Kveton

Jun 6, 2002, 6:55 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1200 views)

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Area South of Brownsville, Texas

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Ian, there is absolutely nothing to see within 100 miles south of Brownsville, zero, zip, nada, forget it. If someone tells you differently, don't believe them. I'm not kidding, nothing but flat desolate coastal plains with no redeeming value. You would be better off sightseeing in southern Texas, and just visiting the Mexican border towns. Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Progreso, south of Weslaco, and Reynosa, south of McAllen, are the choices here. If you love the beach, South Padre Island, which you reach by going to Port Isabel, is one of the nicest around. Lots to do there, and the beach, especially if you drive north of the developed area, is really beautiful.I would rent a car in Texas and take Mexican cabs in the border towns. If you go to Progreso, there are parking lots on the US side, and only a short walk across the bridge. It is considered one of the friendliest and easiest border towns to visit. If you insist on venturing into Mexico, I think you will need to go at least a far as Monterrey to find anything worth seeing.