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RV in Mexico
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| Bill and Dot Bell |
Dot and Bill Bell are Mexican RV experts and have taught and led seminars about camping in Mexico throughout Canada and the US. Their website, is considered the most up-to-date source about camping and RVing south of the border.
Questions this issue:
Column 18
Going to Acapulco
Money
Courses in Florida
Dear Bill and Dot,
I am taking my trailer down to Acapulco to meet my son and daughter-in-law for the winter season. I have driven alone (I am a 65 year young woman) to Puerto Vallarta before and thought I should make a detour through the interior so I could see some real Mexico. I will be entering Mexico in Nogales. What do you think?
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| Acapulco cliff divers are a must see while rving in the area. Bill Bell Photograph |
I have heard that I should avoid Mexico City so am looking for a way to get me to my destination with the least hassle. I will have a companion this time. -- Faye, NY
Hi Faye,
We always love going to the interior to visit Colonial cities and small towns. Many things, food, restaurants and accommodations are usually far cheaper there too! But we think your plan is flawed. It is difficult but do-able to negotiate a long trailer through many interior cities and towns. It frazzles your nerves.
Mexico City, the largest city in the world, is a nightmare to get through and, truly, it is impossible to avoid going to Acapulco from the interior without touching on the capital. While there are ring roads that are supposed to lead you around the city without traffic, you will find that the urban sprawl has caught up and consumed what was once countryside. It is like driving in a city three times the size of Los Angeles, and it's bumper-to-bumper for hours on end. It is confusing and difficult to negotiate.
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| There are lots of RV camping spots near Acapulco including this one right on the Pacific. The Acapulco Trailer park |
We recommend that you take your time and drive down the West Coast. When you reach a place such as Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan and feel secure in an RV park, unhitch and take a week or so to explore the northern interior by car or bus. Return after your visit unscathed. Or you can drive your rig to your interior destination and return without having to go through Mexico City.
The West Coast of Mexico has lots of good camping. The roads are not confusing and the route is straightforward. Remember that the high season, Christmas to the beginning of March, will be very crowded, so avoid traveling during these times.
When you reach Acapulco you can relax and unhitch again. Take a ride up to the Southern Interior and visit places at your leisure.
In Acapulco there are three campgrounds. We prefer a small town just to the North, Pie de Cuesta. It's relaxed and easy living and accessible to Acapulco within 10 minutes.
Have a great trip Faye and enjoy your time with your kids.
Dot and Bill
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| Just down the road from the Acapulco Trailer Park is the Playa Luces that comes with a hot tub and palapa at each site |
Hi Guys,
I am planning on using travelers checks and my Visa card to travel down to Mexico this year. How much cash should I take? -- Brad, New Westminster
Hi Brad,
Mexico is a cash society. We used to use travelers cheques extensively but we have found that they are getting harder to cash. Credit cards can be used in large grocery stores, expensive hotels and larger establishments.
We carry a few hundred dollars in travelers cheques for emergencies. They're tucked away in a safe spot in our RV. We have two different bank accounts with bank cards for each. Both Bill and I have cards for each account. We use our credit cards when we are in Wal-Mart's, Sam's or other large department and food stores. We also have a hundred dollars or so in small denominations of American dollars as back-up if there is nowhere to cash our traveler cheques.
Before you travel, find out what if any affiliation your bank has to a Mexican bank. Your goal is to determine the total cost of withdrawing your money. We have a bank card that lets us withdraw up to $300 each day and the transaction fee is about $1. If you don't use an affiliated bank, the transactions can cost $5 or more. That doesn't sound like much but it really adds up if you are staying for a long time.
Travel days can be expensive, so plan on them accordingly. Gas and toll fees must be paid in pesos, so determine the amount of fuel you vehicle will use that day and the likely amount it will cost to fill up. If you'll be driving a toll road, have $50 to $80 to cover your drive. Once you get to your destination, find a bank and withdraw cash as you need it.
You will find Mexico to still be a bargain for most items. The Cabo corridor, Puerto Vallarta area, and the Cancun / Tulum corridor are the exception. Resort communities cater to people on vacation where the sky is the limit on prices. We like to avoid these areas and prefer to live outside the hustle and bustle of time-shares and expensive restaurants. Fun for a day, but tough on your pocketbook.
If you write back and tell us where you are going, what vehicle you are driving and what your mileage is we will be able to advise you in detail.
We currently live on far less than what we did back home, but then we don't have a big house, three phones, a house full of appliances and other expenses that are often "required" when you live north of the border. A dinner on the town is about one-third of a comparable restaurant back home.
It only takes a few days before you become used to the money and can calculate your needs for the next few days or weeks. Relax and enjoy your visit. Money is the simple part.
Dear Dot and Bill,
I love your website and thank you for all your free information. I would love to attend one of your courses. Do you have any plans to teach in Florida? -- Cathy, Orlando
Hi Cathy,
We love to teach courses and talk about traveling in Mexico. It's a lot of fun and we get to make friends, sometimes for life, that we wouldn't have likely met otherwise. Our first commitment, however, is to our family and to travel. If we taught all the time we would never get an opportunity to experience all those things that we write about. We are holding our courses in Vancouver, Seattle (Edmonds) and Tucson because we will be visiting these areas as we travel through on leisure and business. The courses keep us on our toes.
While we have no plans to go to Florida in the near future, you never know. In the interim, read everything on our website under planning and preparation, ask us any question you have on RV Travel in Mexico and talk extensively to any experienced travelers you run into. Plan and prepare -- that's the key.
For more information about RVing and exploring Mexico, go to The Bell's Website or to ask your question about RVing in Mexico write editor@ontheroadin.com .
For a big selection of books about RVing in Mexico visit RVbookstore.com.com
Dot and Bill will be teaching 4 1/2 hour extensive courses in RV travel to Mexico in in Seattle (Edmonds), Vancouver and Tucson areas in the fall 2005. Email them for information or to reserve a space.
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