Mexico Bound

[Mountainman]

I have a friend who is going to Mexico for five months in Puerto Vallerta by November 15th, and wants to take her car. I tryed to explain that is not a good idea however she only hears what she wants to hear, so my words have little weight. She mentioned that motorcycles go there and wants me to ask what is the best way to cross the border, looking for some insight's from you all.  .... She want's to caravan with some others, saying that is the safest way to ride.


SOOOOoooo, what do you think ? I promised her I would ask, so I did. Has any one gone over safely and which crossing did you use ?

[JOCK3]

im waiting to read the answers on this one .I am going to baha mexico this Sunday,its a long flight from here in the UK,anyhow im booked in at a hotal in Caba for 4 days then im thinking of booking a car and driving around La Paz for a couple of days,is this not a good idea? I know mexico is dangerous but i thought that that was in the border areas and the more remote regions,i thought that the touristy areas were safe.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I'm from the Houston area and I wouldn't go to mexico on a bet. Don't do it. So much unrest in this country. The troubles are not just in the border towns now but goes deep into the country. A co-worker of mine is from mexico and he said he doesn't even go down there because of the lawlessness, he flew the last time because of the fear of getting his car stolen,or taken away from him. Not just drug gangs but also dishonest police will take what they want, and shoot you if you try to stop them. What you see on the news is just a small % of what is  really going on down there. Tell her way!!!!!!

[Skinhead]

The best way to cross the border is from south to north!

[JerryB]

A friend of mine went there in his car and the chief of police saw the car and the next night it was stolen.He went to report it and it was parked in the c.o.p.'s spot and was informed it was not his car and to take a hike.....FYI.....JB.

[..]

These guys will have some answers/suggestions for you

http://www.advrider.com/forums/

[the inspector]

Hey Mountian....didn't you see the police cheif's head and the dude who was shot in the head on the jet ski.....who they havent found yet??????

"the inspector"

stay in the good old USA and ride safe!

[Kidd]

I have driven through  Mexico about 30  times on down to Belize and Guatemala , there is a interstate like high way to Puerto Vallerta .
Drive in daytime only
Stay in  open areas , no dark alleys .
I mean , common sense stuff .
Is she a seasoned traveler ???????????????????????
Is she going alone ????????????????????.
If yes  to going along , she should  have a  partner  for the trip down .
Cross at Nogales .
She needs a passport , make copies and scan and email them to a yahoo mail account so she can retrieve  them from anywhere .

Kidd

[Brad]

A customer of mine went to Baja to go fishing.  Came back home without his pickup truck and fishing gear.  It now belongs to some police down there.  With all that is happening down there I would not consider going for any reason.  Lots of good jobs with wonderful pay in Iraq and Afghanistan but have no interest in my kids spending it after I do not return.

[B]

"there's no place like home ... There's no place like home" ... As f'd up as our politicians & government is ... It's still the best place on earth... And there are far too many foreign areas that view American tourists as potential ransom / payday.

[DIGGER]

You said you are going to Cabo.....I was there 2 yrs ago on a fishing trip and had a great time.  However, the guys I went with are now telling me we can't go there anymore because the Drug Cartels have moved in there in a big way.   They say it is just killing the economy there.....tourism is their only way to make a living there.

[FLAVALK]

My wife and I went to Cancun on our honeymoon 27 years ago. My wife is Cuban and speaks fluent Spainish. The Mexicans tried to rip us off coming and going, pretending they couldn'r understand my wifes Spainish. She could certainly understand them though! On our cab ride to the airport, a fat cop on a Suzukie motorcycle pulled us over and told the cabbie ( in Spainish) he was speeding, but if his clients (us) would pay a "fine" of $20 US, he would let us go. My fiesty wife lit into both of them calling them crooks and thieves ( I couldnt understand anything any of them were saying   ). The cop and cabbie looked at one another and shrugged. The cop got back on his bike and rode off . I guess most people would have paid.

Today he would have probably pulled a gun, taken our money and perhaps shot us.

NO WAY NO HOW would I go to Mexico today.

[Katmandu]

If your friend decides to take her vehicle, please suggest that she check her insurance.  Most companies will not cover her in Mexico.  It would be wise to purchase extra coverage that would.  I live in Arizona and have not been into Mexico in years and with the current state of things will not be going any time soon.  I have also heard of people that will jump or dive in front of cars to try to get the driver to pay them to not report it.  Just a little info.

[fudgie]

The best way to cross the border is from south to north!

I was gonna say something like that but held off. To funny! 

[NCGhostrider]

I would stay away.  Someone I know from near here was kidnapped a couple of years ago on a hunting trip.  Fortunately, they didn't figure out what his net worth was, the group made it home...without a lot of belongings and some money.

The native mexicans that I know here are not going home to visit anymore, they say it's too dangerous.  I can't imagine not knowing the country and trying to navigate there now...  russian roulette comes to mind.   

I have been there, and would love to go back, but until they get their problems under control, I won't even go near there.

[Bobbo]

You could check to see if there is a local chapter of LAMA (Latin American Motorcycle Association).  They usually maintain status and conditions in Mexico, and can sometimes hook you up with a group to help with safe passage to your destination.  If you are not Latino, many areas consider Gringos the enemy, so it helps to have someone explain your presence.

[Westernbiker]

I have been going to Mexico for 28 years now. It is a 4 hour drive for me and I use to go at least 6 to 8 times a year. I would NOT go now even if someone paid me and I know certain parts of Mexico like the back of my hand. Sure bet to not have trouble is to not go.

[JOCK3]

My wife and i are going to Cabo as a reward for her being top sales person for the UK,she works for a large US based software company.The company was originally going to take us all to Thailand but they decided that due to the political unrest,thailand was a bit dangerous,from the sound of it they have screwed up.We are booked into a 5 star resort at the companys expence,then the plan was to hire a car and tour for a couple of days around La Paz,from the sound of it that is not a good idea.

[Jess Tolbirt]

Many years ago i would go to mexico once evry couple years,,,today i wouldnt go not even at gunpoint!!!

[RP#62]

I live in Arizona. I don't have to go to Mexico, it comes to me.

[Dodis]

+15 or 16...

I would say don't go either! My wife is from Reynosa Mexico, and if it weren't for her parents being there, we'd probably never go back. They will only leave the house during the day, and they know what neighborhoods to avoid.

And like above, it's not just the borders anymore. Monterrey has become practically a war zone. In the past week or so, they have had street gun and grenade battles almost daily. One of my wife's brothers was kidnapped last year in Monterrey. They had him for a month, and he will probably never finish paying off the loans people gave to help get him back.

And my wife's family used to drive all over Mexico traveling during the summer. They quit that years ago, as there are some remote highway routes where local bandits will block mountain pass roads with boulders, so you HAD to stop. Then you lost everything and often that included your life, they didn't like witnesses.

Once her parents are gone, she says the only way her brothers and sisters will see her is to visit us!


If your friend still REALLY wants to bring her car (best of luck to her!  ), she should check into having it shipped there in a container on a ship.

[Valkahuna]

I live in Arizona. I don't have to go to Mexico, it comes to me.

That's a good one! If our Fed Government has its way, you'll be getting a lot more visitors too!

Sad

[Gator John]

Tell your friend to make a list of all the countries she'd like to go to, including Mexico. Then tell her to draw a line through Mexico and pick out another one.

[Mountainman]

 Thanks for all the sugestions on this subject and I'm looking for MORE then I can have her come over and read all you have said. She seem very convinced that it will be possable to do this trip for there is information she is getting that tells her it will be OK.

[Serk]

Thanks for all the sugestions on this subject and I'm looking for MORE then I can have her come over and read all you have said. She seem very convinced that it will be possable to do this trip for there is information she is getting that tells her it will be OK.

Explain it to her this way... Every time you leave your house, you're playing a game of Russian Roulette...

Now, in a safe area, you're playing it with a single chamber loaded on a gun with 100,000 chambers or so...

In Mexico, you're playing it with a single chamber loaded in a gun with 50 chambers...

In parts of Mexico, which you'll never 100% know if you're in that part or not... You're playing it with a single chamber loaded in a good old 6 shooter...

(Ratio of chambers totally non scientific and pulled outta my pre-caffeine morning brain, but ya' get the idea...)

[Hoghead]

The best way to cross the border is from south to north!

  I'm with Jabba Go north but don't cross the Red River into OK. You know how them Okies are. Damn yankees. 

[hmt81]

I have to go on business with 40 others in February to Matamoros and am dreading the thought. Only there for the day but still not feeling secure about it........

[HayHauler]

I have to go on business with 40 others in February to Matamoros and am dreading the thought. Only there for the day but still not feeling secure about it........

You should have them come across the border for the meeting.  There are some hotels with meeting rooms available.  We have meetings all the time in Brownsville and there are no problems.  But, my Mexican buddies down in Brownsville won't even go across now a days.  Just got off the phone with him.


Hay 
Jimmyt

[czuch]

Yea, Go to Mexico is so far off the radar its not even funny.
Not even on a cruise. And taking her car??? How long will she have that, any bets?
We used to go fishing in Ensenada. We were kinda known and very capable of self protection.
We lost our car,fishing gear,luggage,money,desire to go back.
All in the most nonviolent police enhanced activity I've ever had the gross displeasure to witness.
Smiles all around. Hitchhiked back to the good ol' USA.
Keep us posted. I'll pray for her.

[Alaskamike]

I am convinced the only way to be in Mexico safley is if you STAY within a block of your 4 star resort or on the beach in front of it.  Take a dinner cruise, go on a charter but do not drive around the towns. 
I've been all over Mexico, Panama, and Kenya.  All of them have their dangers, but the current climate in Mexico is very bad right now.  I would not do it even with a carload of my worst badass friends, let alone with civilized folk.  Would love to take a bunch of guys and tour Mexico on bikes, but until and unless the rule of law grabs hold there it is out of the question.
Do not take this chance.

[Gator John]

Here is an example of how serious Mexico is about cleaning up crime. A 20 yr old student police chief that won't carry a gun and is not going to go after drug criminals:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39760545/ns/today