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Oscar2

Jul 30, 2008, 4:10 PM

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Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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Planning early for Morelia seems like a good thing to do so here it goes. Early this November we plan to fly and rent a car for business and pleasure in Guad. Then we are going to Morelia and rather than having to return to Guad in order to fly back NoB, we thought maybe it would be best to fly home from Morelia.

But then there is also the alternative of keeping the rented car from Guad, drive to Morelia and use it as needed while there. But then of coarse this means we’d have to drive back to Guad to return the rented car, then fly out of Guad. Unless someone out in MC land has experienced similarities and was able to use Morelia as a car drop-off point?

I’ve read staying in the Central part of Morelia is very enjoyable and leaves little to be desired because of proximity to most things to keep it interesting and fun. If this is the case, and car drop-off isn’t possible, then perhaps it would be best to either take a bus from Guad too Morelia and rent a car there, “as needed.” Any ideas welcomed.

Gracias
Oscar

raferguson

Jul 30, 2008, 4:43 PM

Post #2 of 10 (2333 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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One-way drop offs of rental cars are problematical in Mexico, so I would probably forget that option.

I suggest you rent a car for Guadalajara, and then take a bus to Morelia, especially if you plan to fly home from Morelia. Taxis will probably serve you well in Morelia.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

Oscar2

Jul 31, 2008, 1:50 PM

Post #3 of 10 (2294 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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Richard, I also kind of felt car drop-off from Guad too Morelia would be an issue and was already anticipating a bus ride from Guad too Morelia. I did an MC search for bus lines and fares for locations and names of bus terminals near the Guad airport, which service my destinations unsuccessfully.

In back searching through MC’s previous posts, a myriad of bus suggestions surfaced, many dating back to 2003. I’ve cut and pasted a few snippets of suggestions which are sign posts giving direction but sorting can be an issue. As follows:

long-distance bus terminal in Tonalá downtown Guadalajara bus stations is called the Central de Camiones, and the one in Tonalá the Central de Viajes a central nueva la central vieja
That's why you have to know which módulo your bus arrives and departs from. It's not enough to know the name of the bus company. Nueva Central Camionera Primera Plus Parhikuni, Galeana and/or Flecha Amarilla.

Fast forward, if I returned the rental car back to the rental agency at the Guad airport, baggage in tow, I could probably catch a cab or shuttle bus to the main bus terminal where buses depart regularly for Morelia?

If so, would I rely on the cab driver, as some have suggested, who possibly knows and can take us there or is there a Main bus station and a certain módulo with a name I should go too, to get to Morelia. I know Esperanza, is our trusty Guad aficionado, maybe she can chime in here and give a few names and directions, especially now that she is a Morelia resident. Hi SP.

I’m assuming the bus arriving from Guad too Morelia stops hopefully near El Centro part of town. This way we can just hop a cab to some nice, inexpensive place to stay with an ocean view……. Laugh

We’ve been looking forward to this trip for awhile now and hope to find a nice place to stay within walking distance of places that maybe suggested.

Incidentally, Richard, as an aside, while in Bali, I bought two cell phones for $35 bucks US each with SIM cards of which allowed me to call the US for .06 cents per minute. I Mentioned it because I really enjoyed your very thorough and extensive informative article on MC regarding cell phones and other forms of comunication. Also thanks to Pete J. and Jerry for their contribution. Very good stuff. I will speak to you more about it on the Technical Forum soon.

Any assistance out there on the buss deal, would be appreciated.

Gracias

(This post was edited by Oscar2 on Jul 31, 2008, 1:51 PM)

esperanza

Jul 31, 2008, 2:23 PM

Post #4 of 10 (2285 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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Oscar, you are out of your ever-lovin' mind. You must have smoked something in Bali that affected your thinking.

Take a cab (there is no shuttle bus) from the Guadalajara airport to the central camionera nueva (the new bus station) in Tonalá. Take the ETN bus to Morelia. It's truly the most comfortable bus in Mexico. ETN is in Módulo 2--the cab driver will know. The ETN website is http://www.etn.com.mx. You can see the time table if you insert GUADALAJARA in the place of origin and MORELIA in the destination. There are many buses during the course of every day. It's worthwhile to make reservations in advance. Travel time between Guadalajara and Morelia is about 3.5 hours, so plan accordingly.

The Morelia bus station is nowhere near downtown. Take a cab from the bus station to your hotel. The cost should be around 40 pesos, maybe less. There's no real reason to rent a car in Morelia, since cab fares are so reasonable.

If you're really looking for a beachfront hotel in Morelia, you're coming to the wrong city. I think the wacky tabacky made you say that, though.

Morelia has several very nice but moderately priced hotels. Try here: http://www.auroradebelen.com/Mireya.swf and tell her Cristina sent you. Or try here: http://www.hotelvistabella.com.mx/flash.asp?lan=es. Neither is located downtown, but cab fare from either to the Centro Histórico is only 30 pesos.

Let us know when you're coming and maybe we can get together for coffee.

Just leave your mind-altering substance at home, please.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Jul 31, 2008, 2:25 PM)

tashby

Jul 31, 2008, 3:10 PM

Post #5 of 10 (2280 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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What esperanza said.

ETN is great. For some reason though, I thought they were in modulo 1, but now that I think about it I could easily be confusing bus stations in central Mexico. (I flew a red-eye into GDL and got very little sleep thanks to some SPECTACULAR lightening and thunder storms.) Regardless, I did exactly what's outlined above on a previous trip and you won't have any problem as long as you direct him to the new bus station in Tonala and ask to be dropped off at ETN.

And yes, you don't want or need the car within Morelia. It's nowhere near the worst city I've ever driven in, but it's not a lot of fun either. Why bother?

Oscar2

Aug 1, 2008, 9:40 AM

Post #6 of 10 (2243 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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My dear SP, I know, I know, believe me, I do aspire to one day reach the kind of crystal clear foresight and sense of morality which will make me less the Rasputin you hold in your eyes of me. I bide my days with terrible aspirations of good times and adventure which made my trip to Bali shameful but yet, yes, a wonderful dream never to be forgotten..... Laugh

Sheeesh…….yes, as shameful as it maybe, I promise to try and break this smile as I write to you and say, its good to hear from you again my dear SP.

If I appear to be a bit discombobulated, I guaranty you it’s a kind of jet lag like I’ve never experienced before. It was brought about by a knock down, dragged out 4 stop-over, 30 hour flight half way around the world, of which when its all said and done, believe or not my wife, would like to do it again next year……but not until I visit another sweetheart, Mexico.

I knew you’d come through with the kind of heads up bus info, your invited guest for coffee needed. In fact, talking about coffee, as an aside, if anyone out there, including yourself, has seen that new flick with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, The Bucket List, Nicholson ostentatiously (it was a riot) raves too Morgan Freeman about a particular, very rare coffee sold in some parts of the world for over $150.00 US per pound, called Kopi Luwak. In some parts of the world its sold for $30.00 US a cup.

We toured the Bali coffee factory, met another American couple there, sniffed the aroma of the Kopi Luwak, and toasted cups with pleasure while tasting the rarity of a coffee that can only be produced by what some call a cat (or civet-like animal called a Paradoxurus) of which, without it, the coffee would not be possible. It’s an anomaly. Google it, I believe you’ll not only find it interesting but if you seen the movie, you’ll also find it hilarious. I have some great pictures of this cat amongst a host of other great shots I'd love to share as comparative differences or similarities between Bali and Mexico, if there was only some easy way of doing this.....

Remember that house I rented on that lovely street in Chapalita around November of 2006, well, I found that house by vigorously scavenging through a Guad online newspaper called El Informador. Had I not done it this way, I probably wouldn’t have ever found this house I will always remember as a very special place.

I was thinking, since time is in my favor, I could possibly access a Morelia online newspaper and personally call classified ads and hopefully get lucky. I’d like to rent for at least a month or more pending circumstances. Would you happen to know which online Morelia newspaper would be best for something like that?

Hasta..

(This post was edited by Oscar2 on Aug 1, 2008, 9:44 AM)

jerezano

Aug 1, 2008, 9:46 AM

Post #7 of 10 (2239 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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Hello Oscar 2,

I haven't looked for some time but I believe if you go to the forum on houses for rent and exchange that Jennifer Rose was offering a house for rent on a short-time basis.

If not Jennifer, then perhaps somebody else in Morelia.

jerezano.

raferguson

Aug 1, 2008, 5:27 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2212 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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You have gotten lots of good advice about buses. ETN is the about the best line. However, on a recent trip I waited more than an hour in the Guad bus station for the privilege of riding ETN. In hindsight, I would have been happier, and arrived sooner, if I had just gotten on the next first class bus to the same destination.

Primera Plus also serves that route, with departures at 10,11,12,2,4,6,7, 10, and midnight. (times approximate). Primera Plus is a very good first class bus line.

Anyway, don't lock yourself into ETN, if you get there and the next departure is in 2 hours, look at the alternatives, there will be several bus lines on that route.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

tashby

Aug 2, 2008, 10:48 AM

Post #9 of 10 (2184 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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And yes to that, as well. Primera Plus is perfectly fine.

For trips like this (between two major cities with multiple departures, not very long distance, etc.) I don't even bother checking schedules ahead of time unless it's peak travel season or I'm arriving at an odd hour. Normally, I just rock on in to the bus station and grab whatever's leaving next.

In fact, on the trip I refer to above, I went to Primera Plus first, suspecting they'd have more frequent service. The man behind the counter said I'd have to wait an hour and a half, or something. I frowned, and asked if there was anything leaving earlier. He checked, called over to ETN on the phone and there was one leaving in just a couple minutes. He then told me to follow him quickly, and he personally hustled me over from Modulo 2 to Modulo 1 (or vice versa) and escorted me to the ETN bus. Above and beyond the call. Great service.

I think Primera Plus and ETN are part of the same Grupo?

Oscar2

Aug 2, 2008, 1:34 PM

Post #10 of 10 (2170 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Fly-Drive Guad too Morelia Alternatives?

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Raymond, the info Esperanza gave was right on but the additional input about departure times, waiting and quality of transportation you gave was a plus. You mentioned Primera Plus and it sounded convenient and a good alternative but not ever taken a bus long distance in Mexico or Guad for that matter, I wasn’t sure Primera Plus was in the same location and/or building. Thanks to Tashby chiming in, this was cleared up well.

One of the questions I’ve noticed Tashby has been dealing with is house/apartment rentals of which come near this November, this too will be something I too will be dealing with closer to November. I did a search for popular classifieds in Morelia newspapers through MC’s archives and found Jen came up with a very good one called Provincia.

So, once again, thanks to MC member input, we’re off and running and if all goes well, I expect to have another good trip in another few months or so. I was going to contact Jen about her house ad but November seems just a bit too far out to expect availability then. I will check the Home Exchange/Rent/Sale forum regularly, as usual, maybe something, desirable will turn up for around November.

Something found enjoyable while visiting cities like Guad, Guanajuato, Zacatecas just to name a few, and now Morelia and Patzquaro, is to take from some of the sharing/input of MC members who are resident of these cities and aren’t shy about talking about what they like about their city. Such as some of the more desirable places to live/stay, favorite reasonably priced restaurants, shopping (Mercados) nightlife (dancing, live music) great cocktails and killer ambiance of all kinds. Most on this forum have been around the block a few times while in Mexico and for many reasons, we on MC stick around and listen because we have a vested interest which starts somewhere inside.