10 days in Mexico: What todo?
 

My boyfriend and I are headed to Mexico for up to 10 days beginning the first week in August. This trip has a few rules: as little planning as possible (I'm the compulsive planner), as cheap as possible (and still feel human- my request), we must hit atlease one beach, and nothing too touristy.
We will be taking the bus from Dallas to Mexico City. I would like to spend a day and a night here to see the sights. Then, we head to San Miguel (from what I'm hearing this violates the "touristy" rule though). After that it is wide open. I think San Blas sounds nice, but my boyfriend wants to hit the East coast. So, any suggestions for a well laid out trip would be greatly appriciated.

Thank you.
Jenelle

Where are you staying in SMA? We are going to be there the 1-10th of Aug :)
We are staying at the LaMorada Inn.
Our plan is to stay in SMA but also to take small side trips, Guanajuato being one, not sure where else, then back early to Mex City so we can see the pyramids.

San Blas is quite aways north of Mexico City so you can make that another trip. Just check out all the villages around Mexico City and then of to SMA and villages in that area!

In only 10 days and traveling by bus ... San Blas is a LONG ways out of your way, and really not that spectacular as a beach destination (most famous for sand fleas!). Acapulco is a close beach to DF (~5 hours). If you specifically want the Pacific coast I'd recommend Puerto Vallarta and the towns immediately north (Bucerias, Sayulita, etc.) before you get as far north as San Blas but realize that'd be a full day on a bus each way.

By "East coast" are you referring to the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean?

IF you have to start and end your "up to 10 days" at Mexico City to catch your bus, I'd consider trying to choose a beach as close by as possible.

Have you ever done the bus from Dallas to Mexico City before? If not, you will be in for a shock. It is an extremely long drive, and the other passengers will be...shall we say...different.

You might look at buying air-only from one of the tour companies, like MLT or Funjet, to Cancun instead. The price won't be a whole lot differnet, but you won't lose 2 days on the bus, and you'll get to the beach a lot sooner.

If you think that SMA is going to be too touristy, try Guanajuato instead. It may not be as "cute" as SMA, but just as rewarding, or maybe even more.

Jenelleh,
If you want a cheap, un-touristy, and romantic (in an adventurous sort of way) stay at a Mexican beach, you can't get much better than San Blas, in my opinion. You can get there in a reasonable time by bus from Guadlajara or Puerto Vallarta. If your heart is set on Mexico City and San Miguel, however, might be cramming too much into one trip. (Another option you might consider would be to do Oaxaca and Puerto Escondito. Used to be a train from Mexico City (assume it's still there)then a short flight or not short bus trip to PE.) You might also look at the Mexico-San Miguel rail option -slower but much nicer than the bus, I think. I'm sure you'll have a great trip whereever you wind up!