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Septiembre

Jan 9, 2008, 4:58 AM

Post #1 of 5 (1202 views)

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Need hotel suggestions north side San Luis Potosi

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We'll be making our first drive from McAllen to Ajijic early February. Plan on crossing McAllen early, would like to make it to the north side of San Luis Potosi first day. Looking for hotel recommendation as close to the north bypass exit as we can get. Even better, a hotel between where 80 joins 57 north of San Luis Potosi.

If nothing there, perhaps something close to where the bypass crosses 57 running south out of San Luis Potosi. Secure parking a must. I saw some reference to a Hotel Los Arcos near the south junction, how easy is that to find and is it decent?

Thanks!

donemry

Jan 9, 2008, 6:04 AM

Post #2 of 5 (1201 views)

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Re: [Septiembre] Need hotel suggestions north side San Luis Potosi

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Head back into town on the south side on 57. This is the hotel area. I would think that the Holiday Inn Express will fit your needs, but you could check out the rest of them.

jerezano

Jan 10, 2008, 9:46 AM

Post #3 of 5 (1161 views)

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Re: [donemry] Need hotel suggestions north side San Luis Potosi

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Hello Septiembre,

donemry is correct. There are no hotels or motels available along the highway on the North side of San Luis Potosí. Check the South side.

Now as to your trip from McAllen. I would suggest that if you insist on crossing at McAllen that you be sure and pick up the new (about a year old) shortcut that runs from McAllen to San Fernando where it joins the coast highway to Cd. Victoria and then the Cd. Victoria to San Luis Potosí VIA CORTA. That shortcut McA-CdV may not yet be on the maps. This route is all toll free.

McAllen to Ramos Arizpe and over the mountain pass to Matahuala and SLP costs a little over $40 in tolls.

But I personally would not cross at McAllen (Reynosa). I would drive to just north of San Benito via 83 and take the Free Trade International Bridge (Los Indios) to Cd. Victoria. If you miss the FTB signage (small sign about 1 or 2 exits after Ed Carey Drive in Harlingen), I think the exit is also labeled Paso Real. If you meet San Benito exits you have gone too far and need to turn back about 1/2 mile. It is a straight shot, good highway all the way, and only one city Valle Hermosa? (short drive through but a good place to eat breakfast at the last hotel on the right just as you are leaving the city). That would give you the advantage of highway 83 for your Eastern leg rather than the shortcut from Reynosa to San Fernando. The Los Indios entry point is also much less traveled and the check in time with immigration and the aduana for your car (side by side buildings with copy facilities) is usually less than 15 minutes even with one or two people in line before you. Be sure and do NOT put yourself into any long line of cars along the shoulder since they are special transit papers enroute to Guatamala and Nicaragua.

The check-thru point along the highway is just south of Valle Hermosa.

One word of warning: Unless the highway has been repaired, this last year, there are about 40 km of badly maintained, 2 lane, heavily traveled SLP state highway just before the VIA CORTA joins with the trucking highway south of Matahuala.

You didn't say but if you are going on to San Miguel de Allende, this is the route many SMA people recommend. Some people on Lake Chapala also recommend this route. The SMA people drive the SLP periferico without a stop in SLP.

Adiós. jerezano

carlw

Jan 14, 2008, 12:11 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1117 views)

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Re: [Septiembre] Need hotel suggestions north side San Luis Potosi

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I am not sure where the bus station is relative to the North side, but there is a great motel right next door to it. Each room has a covered carport. The rooms are very large and clean, and the bathroom are very nice. Last year when I stayed there, it was about 300 pesos for the room. Unfortunatley, I cannot remember the name of the hotel.

esperanza

Jan 26, 2008, 8:57 AM

Post #5 of 5 (1070 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Need hotel suggestions north side San Luis Potosi

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In Reply To

Now as to your trip from McAllen. I would suggest that if you insist on crossing at McAllen that you be sure and pick up the new (about a year old) shortcut that runs from McAllen to San Fernando where it joins the coast highway to Cd. Victoria and then the Cd. Victoria to San Luis Potosí VIA CORTA. That shortcut McA-CdV may not yet be on the maps. This route is all toll free.

Adiós. jerezano

Because jerezano posted this route, my partner and I drove this way to McAllen, TX, on Tuesday, January 22. Not only is the drive through the Sierra Madre Oriente spectacularly beautiful, but the route is little traveled and FREE. We made it from Morelia to McAllen in a quick 12 hours. Our only tolls were 87 pesos paid on the earliest leg of the trip, just outside Morelia. Later we looked more closely at the map and saw that we could have made the whole trip paying no tolls at all.

There's a little construction on the western route around Queretaro, but it only slowed us down for a while.

Jerezano, you get a big gold star for this recommendation.

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