Hi. I will be in LA from Toronto and was thinking to spend 5-6 days in Mexico with a friend. She lives in Mexico City. Now I have to decide whether it's best to 1) just fly to Mexico City and hang out in the city or 2) fly to another destination like Los Cabos, Huatulco, or any other (except Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco) and buy her a ticket to meet me there. The second option sounds more enjoyable because it will give me a chance to relax, enjoy the beach, and feel like a vacation. But I am not sure. Another option could be flying to Mexico City, stay for 2 days and then spend the rest going to Oaxaca/Huatulco and back. Airline tickets with Mexicana and aeromexico seems to be expensive.

Help:
- How far is Huatulco from Mexico City with bus? is it safe and recommended instead of flying??
- Which option seems better from you expert travelers?
- Do you have any suggestions for destinations, cheap airfares, accomodations?
- Is Los Cabos more like the teenage scene I saw in Cancun or Huatulco is better choice?

I have to book immediately so all help is appreciated. going in early August.
Thanks.

Personally I wouldn't want to take a bus from Mexico City to Huatulco - it's over 14 hours, so a very long trip (even though the bus may be very comfortable, it's just too long).

Also, I don't know how keen I'd be to visit the beach at this time of year. You know how hot it's been here in Toronto lately? It's going to be like that or worse on a beach in Mexico. I know that I'd find it hard to do anything other than lie by the pool (if there was one at the hotel) or by the ocean. It sounds odd - but in the mountains you might be a little cooler.

I could easily find enough to do in Mexico City or one of the surrounding areas for 5 or 6 days. It's a fascinating city! Next winter, we're planning to visit Cuernavaca and Puebla - both are supposed to be great to visit, and they are quite close to DF. Another possibility is to fly or take a bus (only 6 hours) to Oaxaca. It's a fabulous city to visit - lots to see and do. Nice restaurants, some great places to stay, good shopping, etc.

I guess it all depends on what you want to do on a holiday.

Thanks for your feedback Susan. You made sense. I decided to only go to Mexico City and explore surroundings. Now, any ideas what are the best things to do in MC and surroundings for 5 days? And where should I stay that will have a nice pool so I can relax a bit?

Thanks alot.

Good choice IMO. If you don't want to go to Cancun, PV or Acapulco, I can't imagine why you'd want to go to Cabo.

If you want to add Oaxaca from the DF I would definitely fly, not go by bus, especially with such a short number of days.

Or visit a couple of the colonial cities which are nearest Mexico City maybe?

Travel within Mexico by air is generally not cheap. So the prices you were finding on Aeromexico and Mexicana are typical.

We have been to Mexico City a few times. I enjoyed visiting Frida Kahlo's house, also seeing the Archeological Museum (which is very impressive). You could also visit Teotihuacan (the pyramids outside of DF), but it will be very hot and there's really no shade there. Near the zocalo, there's a building for the Ministry of Education (or something along those lines) - it has many impressive murals, some by Diego Rivera. There are some pretty good markets as well in Mexico City. I've always wanted to go to the one in San Angel on Saturday, but it's never worked out when we've been there.

We had dinner last time in Izote, which is a restaurant in Polanco - very upscale area. It looked like it might be fun to wander around for an afternoon. I think Condesa is supposed to be an interesting neighbourhood as well - it's apparently kind of a 'cool' area to visit, and there are a few interesting restaurants apparently.

When we were there the last time, we stopped for churros and hot chocolate early in the day - it was at a place that has apparently been around forever and it's open 24 hours a day. It's called El Moro, I think, and it's on Lazaro Cardenas, I think (historic area).

It's just such an interesting city to visit - there's always something to do or see.

emerald4ever,

If I can throw in my two cents, we have found the operative rule of thumb for travel in Mexico in the Summer is: "Never go below 5,000 feet!"

My wife was a teacher, and we could only travel during her vactions. We found that a day in Mecico City smog would be enough to see the main sites and then we would escape to the mountain towns such as Cuernavaca, Taxco, or San Miguel de Allende.

We once went to Puerto Vallarta in August. I can recall the shoulders of my shirt being wet from perspiration dripping from my earlobes. No exageration! We headed for the hills after only two days.

Why don't you rely on the good advice of your friend who lives in Mexico City to decide on where to go.

Have a good trip, whatever you decide.

Good points everyone. I will rely on their advise and stop getting ahead of myself. Thanks a lot for your feedbacks.

Emerald.