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swadad13

Jan 2, 2012, 5:41 PM

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Travel to Oaxaca

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My wife and I will be traveling to Oaxaca for the first time next week while I go to language school. We would very much like suggestions about places to go and see, resturants ect. I am also somewhat concerned about security although we have not heard anything lately about traveling problems. Any information anyone would like to share would be greatly appreciated. Jim in San antonio

rockydog85251

Jan 3, 2012, 5:00 AM

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Re: [swadad13] Travel to Oaxaca

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We just returned from spending the 1st 3 weeks of Dec. in Oaxaca and had a marvelous time....no problems with security at all. There are loads of historic places of interest to visit and you can do this with a tour, or if you are driving - explore on your own, although a guide sure makes it a lot easier to know what went on or why something is there.
Here is a website that will let you know what is going on around town:

http://oaxacacalendar.com/

Be sure to check at the theater for goings on as well....wonderful musical programs. Art galleries abound, if you enjoy those.
Many, many museums too. You will not lack for things to do and see!

Be sure to see the ususal tourist attractions and also the ruins at Cuilapan which we had never heard of until this trip.
We had such a good time this time, we are going back in March with friends!

The restaurants: OMG!!!! What can I say when coming from a dining desert? We especially loved the Thai restaurant on Indepencia, just N. of the Zocalo a bit-we ate there 3 times!!! It is almost impossible to have a bad meal in Oaxaca!!!

Have a wonderful time.
Willie

nob2sob

Jan 3, 2012, 5:51 PM

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Re: [swadad13] Travel to Oaxaca

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Life in Oaxaca is tranquil and safe. Now remember it is a "big" city and you will want to have the same awareness as you would in any big city. We walk all over Oaxaca without any fear but late at night a taxi would be appropriate. Be sure to agree on a price for your taxi ride prior to climbing in.

I agree with the recommendation of the Thai restaurant but we have to add that our favorite restaurant is La Biznaga and eat there weekly. You will find lots of info on restaraunts in Oaxaca on Chowhound.com, Thorn Tree Mexico branch and http://www.planeta.com/oaxaca.html . A quick search in any of those websites will bring up tons of restaurants.

Check with the tourist information booths for maps, they tend to serve as a clearing house for tours but they occasionally have some good information. The recommendation for Oaxaca calendar is an excellent one but keep your ears and eyes open there is always something else to do. Hopefully you will be here during the light show on the Cathedral, it is not to be missed! Planeta.com also has tons of info on how to catch local buses and collectivos to surrounding villages and sights.

Feel free to send a PM with any questions. Enjoy!

(This post was edited by nob2sob on Jan 3, 2012, 6:00 PM)

surebought

Jan 5, 2012, 9:07 AM

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Re: [swadad13] Travel to Oaxaca

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I was just in Oaxaca City 5 days ago. I was forwarned that the outskirts look just like the outskirts of Tijuana, but the historical district was really worth a look. And it was. To stay in one of the Historical small Hotels was $2000.00 pesos per day. There are lots of Euros there and they fly in and pay those prices. I was disappointed with Monte Alban. They don[t keep it up to the standards of the ruins like they do Chiapas. A guy I talked to complained that it was the Directora, whom really had no vision. Don{t bother with a place called Herve el Agua. They paint a beautiful picture of it on the internet with water falls and the whole bit, but it was really awful and we wasted a whole day getting there. There were no bargains on crafts because I think the euros bid up the prices so much. One Jeweler I talked to said he averaged around a $1000.00 US per day in sales, but he really had to work. He should be a little bit more secretive about things like that. Of all the places we have been this trip, if I was going to open a store, it would be Oaxaca.

Brian

Jan 5, 2012, 10:29 AM

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Re: [rockydog85251] Travel to Oaxaca

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"The restaurants: OMG!!!! What can I say when coming from a dining desert? "

Se comen chapulines

rockydog85251

Jan 5, 2012, 1:54 PM

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Re: [surebought] Travel to Oaxaca

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Gosh, so sorry to hear that you had less than a sterling experience when there! There are LOADS of places in Centro that do not charge anything near what you were paying for a room. Were you perhaps at the Camino Real? A little research on the internet and checking the various forums should get a very nice accommodation for way lots less.
The Hierve de Agua was absolutely fascinating to us but that was 4 yrs ago - we didn't go this year but may in Mar when we go back with friends. It is quite remote but worth bone jarring inch to get there, unless things have changed a lot.
Did you have time to check out the various museums, such as the Textile Museum, the museums of the artists, the ladies co-op handcraft shops, the mercados, etc.? Did you go to where they make the black pottery, the rugs, the aljibres, etc.?
There are bargains to be had, but remember that you get what you pay for......the artisans are not stupid and want to better their quality of life and if they can make more, so be it. That is free enterprise.
Sorry you were so disappointed but maybe another trip there in the off season might get you more of the results you want. This is their high season now. Happy trails!
Willie

jrpierce

Jan 7, 2012, 8:33 AM

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Re: [swadad13] Travel to Oaxaca

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My wife and I love Oaxaca and hope to spend a month there later this year. I suggest that you check out Tripadvisor.com for some good information on restaurants and lodgings and "attractions." I post on and use Tripadvisor frequently. The trick on Tripadvisor is to look at the individual ratings--not just the rank of the place. Often, the number one rated restaurant in town is the place where the owner has the largest number of friends willing to post. Each reviewer is identified by the number of reviews they have posted, their length of time on Tripadvisor, and where they are from. When you find a place that lots of active members from all over the world are rating highly, I have found it is almost always worth a try.

Jim