Mexico
Ask Dot and Bill about Mexico RVing
By Bill and Dot Bell

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:

Dog and Cat supplies

Reservations

Baja Gas Stations

Dear Dot and Bill,

Are there any special recommendations that you have for us bringing our pets (a small dog and cat) into Mexico? The dog is a very picky eater and is stuck on his “brand” of dog food as well as leftovers from “people food.”

Cindy and Ron

Hi Cindy and Ron,

RVers sure love their pets. It is estimated that over one-third of RVers take them with them on vacations! Make sure you have all your animals’ shots up to date. Get an international health certificate from your vet and tags if they are available. Do these as close to your departure date as possible. While it is rare that the Mexican authorities will ask for the papers, you will have them just in case. Authorities will specifically ask about rabies vaccinations.

On the return side, Mexico into the U.S., it is likely that you WILL be asked. American custom agents are usually concerned about rabies but are also concerned that your animal is in good health.

Dog and cat food is available in Mexico. Some brands are different and others are the same as back home. You didn’t mention your dog’s favorite so I cannot comment further. Just to mention that even with “People food” the same brands at home, for example mayonnaise, can taste completely different in Mexico. If your dog is extremely food sensitive we suggest you bring your own supply and augment it with table scraps once as you would at home. Experiment with a few brands of Mexican pet food once you are there. Canned tuna is plentiful and cheap. One couple we know spoils their cat daily.

Note that on the U.S. international border dog and cat food has been confiscated when entering the States if it has beef. We call this Mad Bureaucrat Disease.

Cat litter is available but different in Mexico. Hope your feline buddy can adapt.

Vets are plentiful throughout the country in case there is a health issue. We loved taking our dog throughout the country. We would encourage you to take your pets with you and to be a good responsible owner once you are there.

Dear Editor,

Can you please help us make a reservation in Mazatlan? We have been trying to reach some trailer parks but they don’t seem to answer the phone or get back to us when we leave a message. We have heard the West coast will be inundated so are concerned about traveling without a reservation.

Vern and Carla

Dear Vern and Carla,

We have no inside reservation pull with any of the RV parks and we are not a reservation service so we don’t have a way of contacting them individually. We do not receive advertising revenue from them nor do we have alternative phone numbers. We gather information for our website when we travel though the area but this can go out of date from season to season.

You should be concerned this year about availability of RV sites on the West Coast from Mazatlan to Ixtapa from January to mid-March. People have reserved a year in advance when they visited the year before. This is not to say that spots will not be available, but it will be harder to find them.

Another problem you will encounter is that many RV parks are NOT OPEN until November or are running on maintenance staff only. That means no one is there to take messages or can speak English. They are even more reluctant to call you back because long distance calls are expensive. We suggest you call early November and try then. Do not be concerned if your travel dates fall outside of the busy season.

Dear Dot and Bill,

We are planning our first trip down the Baja and have heard that gas stations can run out of gas. We have also heard that there are areas without gas stations for hundreds of miles. Are we being paranoid?

Janice and Mark

Gasoline vendors on the Baja Bill Bell Photograph

Dear Janice and Mark,

Congratulations on your upcoming trip. Now relax and take it easy. Gas stations can and do run out of gas only infrequently. We found that this was common 15 years ago but is less so now. The rule of thumb is to fill up your tanks when they are half full.

The stretch of highway that has NO gas stations is between El Rosario and Guerrero Negro. Fill up with gas at either of these towns when you pass through regardless of what level your tanks read. It is over 200 miles of desert highway with no gas stations. While there are usually a few Mexicans selling fuel out of barrels for inflated prices, the quality of gas or diesel is suspect. Best to ride comfortably with a full tank.

Ensure you are well fueled for any off-road travel and to inquire locally about availability before you leave. Other than that it is all good.

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 20^th 2005.

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.