Help with Mexico vacation please
#1
Original Poster

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Help with Mexico vacation please
2 active adults from Colorado in our mid 60's. We enjoy nature, walking, museums, people, Mexican culture, quaint places, food & drink. Traveling in February 2022.
6 nights Mexico City - Hotel Villa Condesa
2 nights Angangueo - Hotel Jardin
4 nights Morelia - Hotel de la Soledad
4 nights San Miguel De Allende - Casa de la Cuesta B & B
3 nights Guanajuato - 1850 Hotel Boutique
Please provide advice on ground transportation.
Should we line up a private driver or Uber from the airport in Mexico City? Arrival is mid day.
Do you suggest the Mexico City Metro System or Uber for touring the city?
What is the best way to get from city to city? We do not want to drive. Hire a driver? Recommendations of drivers in these cities? Public bus?
Private driver/tour guide suggestion for Teotihuacan? We would like to arrive early to avoid crowds.
Any day tour guide recommendations in these various places, especially the Butterfly Sanctuaries outside of Angangueo? Which sanctuary did you like best?
We like a 1/2 day or full day tour on the first day in a city to get our bearings. Any recommendations of guides or tours in these cities would be helpful.
Restaurants or places not to miss?
Clothing suggestions for February or what not to forget to pack? We plan on traveling light. A carry-on roller bag & backpack for each of us.
Thank you for any ideas you may have.
6 nights Mexico City - Hotel Villa Condesa
2 nights Angangueo - Hotel Jardin
4 nights Morelia - Hotel de la Soledad
4 nights San Miguel De Allende - Casa de la Cuesta B & B
3 nights Guanajuato - 1850 Hotel Boutique
Please provide advice on ground transportation.
Should we line up a private driver or Uber from the airport in Mexico City? Arrival is mid day.
Do you suggest the Mexico City Metro System or Uber for touring the city?
What is the best way to get from city to city? We do not want to drive. Hire a driver? Recommendations of drivers in these cities? Public bus?
Private driver/tour guide suggestion for Teotihuacan? We would like to arrive early to avoid crowds.
Any day tour guide recommendations in these various places, especially the Butterfly Sanctuaries outside of Angangueo? Which sanctuary did you like best?
We like a 1/2 day or full day tour on the first day in a city to get our bearings. Any recommendations of guides or tours in these cities would be helpful.
Restaurants or places not to miss?
Clothing suggestions for February or what not to forget to pack? We plan on traveling light. A carry-on roller bag & backpack for each of us.
Thank you for any ideas you may have.
#2

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,014
Likes: 3
Can't answer everything, but generally I take buses between cities, once a long as six hours (beautiful, MC to Oaxaca). The buses are clean, safe, comfortable and (reasonably) punctual. Opt for the best class ticket available.
I have taken the MC metro many times, pre-Covid. It is fast but crowded and pickpockets can be a problem.
Some people take a bus/metro combo out to Teotihuacan. I have always opted for a driver/guide. Note that they will want to take you to a mezcal or pulque tasting, conveniently located near a tourist trap trinket shop, where you will learn the wonders of agave. Once was more than enough for me, so I made clear on subsequent trips that I did not want to make the stop. Do this while arranging the trip, not while on it. When in Teotihuacan do not miss the pyramid of Quetzelcoatl in the area known as the Citadel.
When in MC I always have a meal at the old standby, Cafe de Tacuba. Good food and nice ambience. https://www.cafedetacuba.com.mx
Have a great trip.
I have taken the MC metro many times, pre-Covid. It is fast but crowded and pickpockets can be a problem.
Some people take a bus/metro combo out to Teotihuacan. I have always opted for a driver/guide. Note that they will want to take you to a mezcal or pulque tasting, conveniently located near a tourist trap trinket shop, where you will learn the wonders of agave. Once was more than enough for me, so I made clear on subsequent trips that I did not want to make the stop. Do this while arranging the trip, not while on it. When in Teotihuacan do not miss the pyramid of Quetzelcoatl in the area known as the Citadel.
When in MC I always have a meal at the old standby, Cafe de Tacuba. Good food and nice ambience. https://www.cafedetacuba.com.mx
Have a great trip.
#3
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 8
Indeed, buses are tge way to between cites. If ETN serves some of your routes, their buses are the roomiest and if you can reserve the front row seats on their double decker bus, you get the best view.
While in Morelia, I'd suggest 1 day trip to Patzcuaro & Sant Clara Del Cobre, and another to Uruapan for the falls of Tzaráracua and the national park of Cupatitzio. There is a decent restaurant above the park that serves trout. Your hotel should be able to arrange a driver.
While at Teotihuacan, you should have lunch at La Gruta. Reservations required.
From your b & b in San Miguel, it's a fairly easy uphill walk to the Botanical Gardens. If you're willing to take taxis, there's a couple of restaurants on the outskirts of town that most tourists dont get to. Rojo Vivo is set in an old hacienda, and has great burgers and steaks and some of the best Margaritas in town. Another out of town rec is Mama Mia's Campestre in Atotonilco. Beautiful garden setting and the only place with their own craft beers on tap.
Check out Tdiddy's ongoing trip report; they as well did Morelia, Guanajuato & San Miguel as well as CDMX.
While in Morelia, I'd suggest 1 day trip to Patzcuaro & Sant Clara Del Cobre, and another to Uruapan for the falls of Tzaráracua and the national park of Cupatitzio. There is a decent restaurant above the park that serves trout. Your hotel should be able to arrange a driver.
While at Teotihuacan, you should have lunch at La Gruta. Reservations required.
From your b & b in San Miguel, it's a fairly easy uphill walk to the Botanical Gardens. If you're willing to take taxis, there's a couple of restaurants on the outskirts of town that most tourists dont get to. Rojo Vivo is set in an old hacienda, and has great burgers and steaks and some of the best Margaritas in town. Another out of town rec is Mama Mia's Campestre in Atotonilco. Beautiful garden setting and the only place with their own craft beers on tap.
Check out Tdiddy's ongoing trip report; they as well did Morelia, Guanajuato & San Miguel as well as CDMX.
#4
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 8
I forgot to add a link to a walking tour in San Miguel.
Historical Walking Tour of San Miguel de Allende
Historical Walking Tour of San Miguel de Allende
#5
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 8
Ok, I re-read your query and forgot a couple of things. In Guanajuato you won't need a driver. You can pretty much walk everywhere.
From MEX, you can get a taxi by buying a ticket at the kiosk inside, just have your address/colonia handy. Or Uber is fine too. Even though cdmx is green on the stoplight, I would still avoid using the metro due to how congested both the cars and the terminals can be. It is faster than Uber or taxis, however. But I'd still do Uber with windows down. I think the hop-on/hop-off bus has an open upper deck, never taken it just seen it.
Weather here will be dry warm days and cool nights. Lows at night around 40-mid 40's F. A light sweater should suffice. Most of the open air/rooftop restaurants have heaters.
From MEX, you can get a taxi by buying a ticket at the kiosk inside, just have your address/colonia handy. Or Uber is fine too. Even though cdmx is green on the stoplight, I would still avoid using the metro due to how congested both the cars and the terminals can be. It is faster than Uber or taxis, however. But I'd still do Uber with windows down. I think the hop-on/hop-off bus has an open upper deck, never taken it just seen it.
Weather here will be dry warm days and cool nights. Lows at night around 40-mid 40's F. A light sweater should suffice. Most of the open air/rooftop restaurants have heaters.
Last edited by baldone; Dec 10th, 2021 at 12:52 PM.
#7

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
KWP - We are in Mexico for 4 months and I have been writing a trip report which is located just under your post if you filter for Mexico on the Forum. We spent the first week in La Condesa. It is beautiful. I won't go into to much detail here, but if you read the first few posts you can get an idea about La Condesa and things to do there.
I second Baldone on taking the ETN buses. They are very comfortable and pretty inexpensive, clean and pretty much on time.
You are in for a great trip!
I second Baldone on taking the ETN buses. They are very comfortable and pretty inexpensive, clean and pretty much on time.
You are in for a great trip!
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Aug 16th, 2012 05:19 AM
Please Please Please Please help me decide...will go with the london hotel that gets the most votes.
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