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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:
Barbeques
Photocopies of Documents
Avoiding Mexico City
Dear Dot and Bill,
We are going to buy a new small portable barbeque for our trip down south. Any recommendations?
Joan and Keith
Dear Joan and Keith,
First
off…..where’s the party and are we invited? We suggest that you get a
barbeque with as high a BTU rating as possible. It is best to invest in
a unit that will cook quickly and efficiently. Try it our before you
leave to ensure it works well. It is unlikely that parts will be
available in Mexico so you ensure it is in good working order.
Make
sure your tanks are also in good working order. Although Mexico has
lots of tanks for sale, size may be an issue. Conversion parts are
available for US and Canadian appliances but they are notcommon. It is
easiest to just have the whole set up in good working order before you
leave. The tiny cylinders are available at Wal-Mart and other large
supermarkets; elsewhere else they are fairly difficult to get.
It
is worth the trouble to ensure you have the best barbeque you can buy
and pack. We enjoy eating outside every day and our grill is out
primary cooking appliance. Good eating!
Dear Editor,
What
documents should we photocopy before we leave we heard it is good to
photocopy your drivers license in case you are stopped by police.
Linda and Ron
Dear Linda and Ron,
Before
you travel anywhere, it is best to have a photocopy of your passport,
credit cards and insurance safely stashed away at a friend's place in
your home town. If an emergency takes place or you loose your
identification for one reason or another, you will have a copy of all
the numbers. This will make your life easier.
Many
people make copies of their documents that they'll be presenting at the
border crossings. This means a few copies of your driver’s license,
registration, and passport. We personally do not do this as you must
get a copy of your tourist visa anyway and for that you must wait in
line.
Regarding
copying your driver’s license for police, it is customary for police to
take your drivers license as they lead you into the police station if
you have committed a traffic violation. While we have heard that some
people have given the police a photocopy, we have also heard that
photocopies are now rejected by most police officers. We think an
international driver’s license would be better for this purpose.
Hi Guys,
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| The Cathdral in Mexico City's Zocolo...well worth a visit but leave your RV outside the City. Bill Bell Photograph |
We
would like to visit Mexico City but have heard horror stories about
driving there. Have you ever driven your rig there? Is it crazy? Safe?
Ted and Marsha
Dear Ted and Marsha,
Mexico City
is a lot of fun to visit and there are so many things to do once you
are there. The problem is that it is the largest city in the world and
the traffic is….crazy. The city has grown out to the suburbs and the
circle roads intended to zip you around the congestion are now
congested themselves.
It
can easily take eight hours to go from the north to the south of the
city and get lost a few times in the process. Larger rigs must not
drive on many of the freeways so RVs must go through local traffic for
large portions of the circle. It is not fun.
Our
strategy is to visit a nearby RV park and store our rig for a few days
in a safe, walled RV park. We then take a bus or taxi to an inexpensive
hotel and enjoy the city.
There
are so many things to do in “The City” as the locals call it. The
Museum of Anthropology is the best in the world, Chapultepec Park is
beautiful, the galleries and architecture are awe inspiring and the
main plaza is always a great place to have a coffee and watch the world
go by. Definitely make a day trip to Teotihuacan to see the pyramids.
In other words, don’t avoid Mexico City because of the traffic. Just avoid driving in it.
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
Dot and Bill will be teaching 4 – 5 hour extensive courses in RV Travel for Mexico in Tucson October 20th 2005.
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Traveler's
Guide to Mexican Camping
Headed to Mexico? Make this your guide. Authors
Mike and Terri Church cover everything you need to know to RV in this
inexpensive, fascinating land. More than 250 campgrounds listed, too! |
Mexico
By RV
Have you ever wondered what it would be like
to stay on one of the pristine beaches pictured in all the Mexico travel
books, or explore the historic Colonial regions and visit the ancient
ruin sites. |
Frommer's
Mexico 2005
Everything a visitor to Mexico needs
to know about spending time in the country is here. This is not a camping
guide, but anyone who plans to head south will find it a wealth of necessary
information. |
