Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Ruth

Aug 20, 2002, 8:41 AM

Post #1 of 7 (374 views)

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getting to Leon or Guanajuato

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I have a passionate desire to get from Portland, Or. to Leon or Guanajuato to join some people I went to high school with. However, I have been unable to find affordable airfares. I need to be in Guanajuato around noon on Sept 26 and I need to return to Portland about a week later. Someone suggested that I fly to Puerto Vallerta since fares to there are cheaper and then make my way to Guanajuato by bus or rented car. I am now trying to decide whether this is cheaper, given the need for additional overnights and the hassle factor. I speak very very little Spanish (shamefully, given how many years of Spanish classes I took when I was in high school...but boy can I conjugate verbs!)
Can anyone offer advice about the best way to do this? Be as specific as possible, since I don't know names of the bus companies, etc. I would like to look at bus rates and schedules.
Muchas gracias.

gpk

Aug 20, 2002, 9:11 AM

Post #2 of 7 (370 views)

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getting to Leon or Guanajuato

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If you fly to PV, you'll have to go back through Guadalajara to get to Leon/San Miguel, so if the plane stops in Guadalajara, get off if you can. Anyway, the best bus--ETN--costs 640 pesos (about US$70.00) from PV to Leon. This is a one-way fare. It costs about another 100+ pesos to get from Leon to San Miguel. It will take an entire day of travel, although you can take an overnight bus from PV to Leon. The second best bus--Primera Plus--is a little cheaper, maybe 10% cheaper. The hassle is enormous for all this if you don't speak Spanish and only have a few days.

Roger

Aug 20, 2002, 2:08 PM

Post #3 of 7 (368 views)

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getting to Leon or Guanajuato

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Portland to Mexico City on America West for the approximate dates you requested is $453 rt.

$453
Per Adult 8:30am
Wed, Sep 25 569 Portland, OR
Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ
On Time: 70 - 80% 11:03am
Wed, Sep 25
2:47pm
Wed, Sep 25 175 Phoenix, AZ
Aircraft: Airbus A319 Mexico City, Mexico 7:55pm
Wed, Sep 25
3:26pm
Thu, Oct 03 493 Mexico City, Mexico
Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ 4:36pm
Thu, Oct 03
7:12pm
Thu, Oct 03 794 Phoenix, AZ
Aircraft: Airbus A320 Portland, OR
On Time: 50 - 60% 9:49pm
Thu,

I have a passionate desire to get from Portland, Or. to Leon or Guanajuato to join some people I went to high school with. However, I have been unable to find affordable airfares. I need to be in Guanajuato around noon on Sept 26 and I need to return to Portland about a week later. Someone suggested that I fly to Puerto Vallerta since fares to there are cheaper and then make my way to Guanajuato by bus or rented car. I am now trying to decide whether this is cheaper, given the need for additional overnights and the hassle factor. I speak very very little Spanish (shamefully, given how many years of Spanish classes I took when I was in high school...but boy can I conjugate verbs!)
: Can anyone offer advice about the best way to do this? Be as specific as possible, since I don't know names of the bus companies, etc. I would like to look at bus rates and schedules.
: Muchas gracias.

Andy in Aguas

Aug 20, 2002, 2:36 PM

Post #4 of 7 (368 views)

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Yes, going via Mexico City would be the best bet, timewise...

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...however, more caution is needed. You will have to take a cab to the "Central Camionera Norte" from the airport. Make sure that you take an authorized taxi cab, that is, a taxi where you can purchase the ticket from within the airport or a taxi from an authorized taxi stand. From the northern Mexico City bus station (there are four long-distance bus stations in Mexico City), you can either take a "Flecha Amarilla" (possibly a "Primera Plus") or an ETN bus from this bus terminal directly to SMA. Since Mexico City is reported to be the most dangerous city in Mexico, it might be a good idea to have a friend meet you at the airport. If not, at least at this Mexico City bus station. Do your friends in SMA love you enough to come down to Mexico City to meet you there? According to the Flecha Amarilla web site, the bus trip is only 3 hours and 50 minutes from SMA to Mexico City. The web site address of ETN is www.etn.com.mx. The address of the Flecha Amarilla web site is in the link below. Both of these are in Spanish. They do have an English version, but I have not been able to get them to work. Hope this helps!
: Portland to Mexico City on America West for the approximate dates you requested is $453 rt.
:
: $453
: Per Adult 8:30am
: Wed, Sep 25 569 Portland, OR
: Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ
: On Time: 70 - 80% 11:03am
: Wed, Sep 25
: 2:47pm
: Wed, Sep 25 175 Phoenix, AZ
: Aircraft: Airbus A319 Mexico City, Mexico 7:55pm
: Wed, Sep 25
: 3:26pm
: Thu, Oct 03 493 Mexico City, Mexico
: Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ 4:36pm
: Thu, Oct 03
: 7:12pm
: Thu, Oct 03 794 Phoenix, AZ
: Aircraft: Airbus A320 Portland, OR
: On Time: 50 - 60% 9:49pm
: Thu,
: :
: I have a passionate desire to get from Portland, Or. to Leon or Guanajuato to join some people I went to high school with. However, I have been unable to find affordable airfares. I need to be in Guanajuato around noon on Sept 26 and I need to return to Portland about a week later. Someone suggested that I fly to Puerto Vallerta since fares to there are cheaper and then make my way to Guanajuato by bus or rented car. I am now trying to decide whether this is cheaper, given the need for additional overnights and the hassle factor. I speak very very little Spanish (shamefully, given how many years of Spanish classes I took when I was in high school...but boy can I conjugate verbs!)
: : Can anyone offer advice about the best way to do this? Be as specific as possible, since I don't know names of the bus companies, etc. I would like to look at bus rates and schedules.
: : Muchas gracias.

Andy in Aguas

Aug 20, 2002, 2:53 PM

Post #5 of 7 (372 views)

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Possibly a better option from Mexico City

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In checking the Flecha Amarilla and ETN web sites, I noticed that they had no bus from the Mexico City airport to SMA. (I was thinking that it would be nice if you wouldn't have to catch a cab to the northern Mexico City bus station.) However, there is a Flecha Amarilla bus from this airport to Queretero, which is on the way to SMA. More than likely, there is a bus from Queretero to SMA, but I don't know what it would be. Perhaps someone on this web site knows what bus it would be? At any rate, perhaps a friend of yours in SMA can come to the Queretero bus station to meet you. It can't be more than a few hours away.: ...however, more caution is needed. : You will have to take a cab to the "Central Camionera Norte" from the airport. Make sure that you take an authorized taxi cab, that is, a taxi where you can purchase the ticket from within the airport or a taxi from an authorized taxi stand. : From the northern Mexico City bus station (there are four long-distance bus stations in Mexico City), you can either take a "Flecha Amarilla" (possibly a "Primera Plus") or an ETN bus from this bus terminal directly to SMA. Since Mexico City is reported to be the most dangerous city in Mexico, it might be a good idea to have a friend meet you at the airport. If not, at least at this Mexico City bus station. Do your friends in SMA love you enough to come down to Mexico City to meet you there? According to the Flecha Amarilla web site, the bus trip is only 3 hours and 50 minutes from SMA to Mexico City. : The web site address of ETN is www.etn.com.mx. The address of the Flecha Amarilla web site is in the link below. Both of these are in Spanish. They do have an English version, but I have not been able to get them to work. : Hope this helps!:
: : Portland to Mexico City on America West for the approximate dates you requested is $453 rt.
: :
: : $453
: : Per Adult 8:30am
: : Wed, Sep 25 569 Portland, OR
: : Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ
: : On Time: 70 - 80% 11:03am
: : Wed, Sep 25
: : 2:47pm
: : Wed, Sep 25 175 Phoenix, AZ
: : Aircraft: Airbus A319 Mexico City, Mexico 7:55pm
: : Wed, Sep 25
: : 3:26pm
: : Thu, Oct 03 493 Mexico City, Mexico
: : Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ 4:36pm
: : Thu, Oct 03
: : 7:12pm
: : Thu, Oct 03 794 Phoenix, AZ
: : Aircraft: Airbus A320 Portland, OR
: : On Time: 50 - 60% 9:49pm
: : Thu,
: : : :
: : I have a passionate desire to get from Portland, Or. to Leon or Guanajuato to join some people I went to high school with. However, I have been unable to find affordable airfares. I need to be in Guanajuato around noon on Sept 26 and I need to return to Portland about a week later. Someone suggested that I fly to Puerto Vallerta since fares to there are cheaper and then make my way to Guanajuato by bus or rented car. I am now trying to decide whether this is cheaper, given the need for additional overnights and the hassle factor. I speak very very little Spanish (shamefully, given how many years of Spanish classes I took when I was in high school...but boy can I conjugate verbs!)
: : : Can anyone offer advice about the best way to do this? Be as specific as possible, since I don't know names of the bus companies, etc. I would like to look at bus rates and schedules.
: : : Muchas gracias.

Andy in Aguas

Aug 20, 2002, 3:07 PM

Post #6 of 7 (373 views)

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Sorry, I goofed! However, I still have some good news.

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I guess since there are so many Americans living in San Miguel Allende, I had it on my mind and forgot that you had asked about getting to Guanajuato (where I was yesterday) or León (where I was also yesterday). The good news is that there is a Flecha Amarilla bus leaving directly from the Mexico City airport to León. The cost is 280 pesos (about $30 U.S.) and it takes about 5 1/2 hours. From there, there are many buses that go to Guanajuato. They usually take no more than an hour to get there from León. Therefore, ignore my advise about asking someone from León or Guanajuato to come to the airport to meet you. Just ask, "¿Donde está el camión para León?" or "¿Donde está el sitio para el camión Flecha Amarilla?", or find someone who works for the airlines or for the airport who can speak English to help you. (However, never leave your bags out of your sight after you retrieve them from the airlines. I would suggest that you have, or buy if necessary, luggage that you can easily push or carry.) : In checking the Flecha Amarilla and ETN web sites, I noticed that they had no bus from the Mexico City airport to SMA. (I was thinking that it would be nice if you wouldn't have to catch a cab to the northern Mexico City bus station.) However, there is a Flecha Amarilla bus from this airport to Queretero, which is on the way to SMA. More than likely, there is a bus from Queretero to SMA, but I don't know what it would be. Perhaps someone on this web site knows what bus it would be? At any rate, perhaps a friend of yours in SMA can come to the Queretero bus station to meet you. It can't be more than a few hours away.: : ...however, more caution is needed. : : You will have to take a cab to the "Central Camionera Norte" from the airport. Make sure that you take an authorized taxi cab, that is, a taxi where you can purchase the ticket from within the airport or a taxi from an authorized taxi stand. : : From the northern Mexico City bus station (there are four long-distance bus stations in Mexico City), you can either take a "Flecha Amarilla" (possibly a "Primera Plus") or an ETN bus from this bus terminal directly to SMA. Since Mexico City is reported to be the most dangerous city in Mexico, it might be a good idea to have a friend meet you at the airport. If not, at least at this Mexico City bus station. Do your friends in SMA love you enough to come down to Mexico City to meet you there? According to the Flecha Amarilla web site, the bus trip is only 3 hours and 50 minutes from SMA to Mexico City. : : The web site address of ETN is www.etn.com.mx. The address of the Flecha Amarilla web site is in the link below. Both of these are in Spanish. They do have an English version, but I have not been able to get them to work. : : Hope this helps!: :
: : : Portland to Mexico City on America West for the approximate dates you requested is $453 rt.
: : :
: : : $453
: : : Per Adult 8:30am
: : : Wed, Sep 25 569 Portland, OR
: : : Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ
: : : On Time: 70 - 80% 11:03am
: : : Wed, Sep 25
: : : 2:47pm
: : : Wed, Sep 25 175 Phoenix, AZ
: : : Aircraft: Airbus A319 Mexico City, Mexico 7:55pm
: : : Wed, Sep 25
: : : 3:26pm
: : : Thu, Oct 03 493 Mexico City, Mexico
: : : Aircraft: Airbus A320 Phoenix, AZ 4:36pm
: : : Thu, Oct 03
: : : 7:12pm
: : : Thu, Oct 03 794 Phoenix, AZ
: : : Aircraft: Airbus A320 Portland, OR
: : : On Time: 50 - 60% 9:49pm
: : : Thu,
: : : : : :
: : : I have a passionate desire to get from Portland, Or. to Leon or Guanajuato to join some people I went to high school with. However, I have been unable to find affordable airfares. I need to be in Guanajuato around noon on Sept 26 and I need to return to Portland about a week later. Someone suggested that I fly to Puerto Vallerta since fares to there are cheaper and then make my way to Guanajuato by bus or rented car. I am now trying to decide whether this is cheaper, given the need for additional overnights and the hassle factor. I speak very very little Spanish (shamefully, given how many years of Spanish classes I took when I was in high school...but boy can I conjugate verbs!)
: : : : Can anyone offer advice about the best way to do this? Be as specific as possible, since I don't know names of the bus companies, etc. I would like to look at bus rates and schedules.
: : : : Muchas gracias.

Liz

Aug 23, 2002, 9:03 AM

Post #7 of 7 (365 views)

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We have to fly north in spring so I've been looking at this

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I have seen the best airfares out of LA to Leon. They go through Monterrey. Usually there are good fares on Alaska from Portland to LA. This way youget very close and don't have to mess with a bus from Mexico City or Guadalajara. If your plans are flexible subscribe to farewatcher on www.travelocity.com. Recently there was a $204 r/t LA to Leon. It has doubled now but if youw atch and wait they come from time to time. Another option os flying into Guadalajara and taking a bus. Dallas is a big hub for flights to Mexico so that is another option to look at. I also like www.expedia.com. If you have tons of time driving is another way to come down. That was the least expensive option for our family since we are 5 people and a dog.