Looking for suggestions for 7-8 days in Mexico
Sep 1st, 2014, 11:49 AM
#21
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Hi Helen! If you will need airport transfers to your hotel or the place where you will be staying I recommend you Discovery Mundo Shuttle, is very comfortable, good service, at time and good price... They have shuttle for the places youre going 
www.discoverymundo.com
www.discoverymundo.com
Sep 1st, 2014, 01:38 PM
#22
We often do overnights in Queretaro, and have stayed at a number of hotels. Probably our favorite, for the location as much as anything, is http://www.hosteriadospatios.com/index.html.
It doesn't come up under hotels on Tripadvisor as a hotel, but it should. There are 2 sections, the newer is actually more motel like than the rooms near reception, which are more quaint. It's located on Cinco de Mayo, just up from the Plaza de Armas, a very quiet area. Dona Urraca is in the same area.
I don't really have too much recent experience with SMA hotels, as we live here. But generally, the closer to the Jardin, the noisier, and more expensive. But there are certainly many options. Your budget will probably dictate where you end up.
It doesn't come up under hotels on Tripadvisor as a hotel, but it should. There are 2 sections, the newer is actually more motel like than the rooms near reception, which are more quaint. It's located on Cinco de Mayo, just up from the Plaza de Armas, a very quiet area. Dona Urraca is in the same area.
I don't really have too much recent experience with SMA hotels, as we live here. But generally, the closer to the Jardin, the noisier, and more expensive. But there are certainly many options. Your budget will probably dictate where you end up.
Sep 1st, 2014, 05:10 PM
#23
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Kja, apologies for using abbreviations (a habit picked up on various travel forums). We will be visiting Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, and Queretaro.
Yestravel, Baldone, Johanna, Stewbear, than you so much for ideas on side trips, transportation and accommodations!
Yestravel, we will be only 3 nights in SMA, so I think we are better off with a hotel.
Yestravel, Baldone, Johanna, Stewbear, than you so much for ideas on side trips, transportation and accommodations!
Yestravel, we will be only 3 nights in SMA, so I think we are better off with a hotel.
Sep 1st, 2014, 05:19 PM
#24
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@ helen63 -- absolutely no need for you to apologize to me! I hope your response means that you accepted my apology. I haven't been to Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, or Queretaro, and so can't offer any helpful input. (In the absence of clarification, I had wondered whether QRO indicated a new airport somewhere in <u><b>Q</u></b>uintano <u><b>Ro</u></b>o, for which I might have had something helpful to contribute.) Thanks for your forbearance.
Sep 3rd, 2014, 09:54 AM
#25
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Helen--do take two days to see Mexico City--one of our favorite places in the world and an historical and gastronomic capitol. You would have ample time to see the rest.
We've been to all that you are thinking of visiting except SMA, which we have heard is a little touristy for our taste.
We've been to all that you are thinking of visiting except SMA, which we have heard is a little touristy for our taste.
Sep 3rd, 2014, 12:16 PM
#26
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Hello,
Everyone here helped me with my itinerary when we went there in late May early June and their input was invaluable. So thanks all of you, we had a fantastic time!
We were in Mexico City, Queretaro, Guanajuato, a day in San Miguel and a day in Leon. We loved all the cities we went to except Leon but then I hate shopping and wasn't expecting it to be so overwhelming. Mexico City we stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites it was very central. The pyramids were worth seeing. Queretaro stayed at La Casa de la Marquesa and cant say enough about this hotel, it was exceptional, beautiful! We took Baldon's advice and went to the aquaduct in the day and night and was not disappointed. By the way the weather was wonderful too! Guanajuato we stayed at Hotel Quinta las Alondras which I wouldn't recommend unless you wanted an inexpensive hotel. We took the local bus into town which was fun but staying in the midst of things would be better. Each town had its own uniqueness. We enjoyed them all. We were there for 13 days and still could of stayed longer. Don't try to fit it all in give yourself time to explore. I think 2 days in Queretaro and a daytrip or 2 in San Miguel would be good. I felt we didn't have enough time in Guanajuato. If you can do Mexico City that would be good too but like us you will be hooked and will probably want to explore some other places at another time! We took the buses and they were 1st class probably much nicer and more comfortable than a taxi.
Everyone here helped me with my itinerary when we went there in late May early June and their input was invaluable. So thanks all of you, we had a fantastic time!
We were in Mexico City, Queretaro, Guanajuato, a day in San Miguel and a day in Leon. We loved all the cities we went to except Leon but then I hate shopping and wasn't expecting it to be so overwhelming. Mexico City we stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites it was very central. The pyramids were worth seeing. Queretaro stayed at La Casa de la Marquesa and cant say enough about this hotel, it was exceptional, beautiful! We took Baldon's advice and went to the aquaduct in the day and night and was not disappointed. By the way the weather was wonderful too! Guanajuato we stayed at Hotel Quinta las Alondras which I wouldn't recommend unless you wanted an inexpensive hotel. We took the local bus into town which was fun but staying in the midst of things would be better. Each town had its own uniqueness. We enjoyed them all. We were there for 13 days and still could of stayed longer. Don't try to fit it all in give yourself time to explore. I think 2 days in Queretaro and a daytrip or 2 in San Miguel would be good. I felt we didn't have enough time in Guanajuato. If you can do Mexico City that would be good too but like us you will be hooked and will probably want to explore some other places at another time! We took the buses and they were 1st class probably much nicer and more comfortable than a taxi.
Sep 3rd, 2014, 09:04 PM
#27
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Kja, no worries . I enjoyed your posts and suggestions on numerous other topics.
Dwdvagamundo, Mexico City will be next time I booked my air tickets already directly to Guanajuato. We only really have 7 days, and one of them, my husband needs to work, so it would be too hectic. We will combine a trip to Mexico City with Oaxaca next time.
Mirasia, thank you for your review! We will stay 3.5 days (this include half a day on arrival) in Guanajuato, 3 days in San Miguel, and 1 day in Queretaro. I wanted 2 days in Queretaro, but it is easier if my husband stay put in SMA and works from there (while I walk around or go go hot springs). I hope this works.
. I enjoyed your posts and suggestions on numerous other topics.Dwdvagamundo, Mexico City will be next time
I booked my air tickets already directly to Guanajuato. We only really have 7 days, and one of them, my husband needs to work, so it would be too hectic. We will combine a trip to Mexico City with Oaxaca next time.Mirasia, thank you for your review! We will stay 3.5 days (this include half a day on arrival) in Guanajuato, 3 days in San Miguel, and 1 day in Queretaro. I wanted 2 days in Queretaro, but it is easier if my husband stay put in SMA and works from there (while I walk around or go go hot springs). I hope this works.
Sep 5th, 2014, 10:55 AM
#28
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Just beginning to plan a trip to this area and found this thread VERY helpful to get my thinking/planning going. I'm sure I'll be back to post questions separately but just wanted to thank everyone who posted here---seems like a great summary of options for places to see in a relatively limited time
Sep 6th, 2014, 06:43 PM
#29
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All hotels are booked (a bit pricier that I thought it would be, but it is OK). So, we have, 3.5 days in GTO, 3 days in SMA, and 1 full day in QRO.
Now looking for restaurants recommendations, and what not to miss. I really like mariachi music (even went to their concerts a couple of times, here in Chicago). Where can we listen to them? Do they perform on streets, in restaurants?
Also, I have been reading about walking tours - Callejoneadas. Are those fun? Unfortunately, we speak no Spanish.
Thank you again for all your helpful recommendations!
Now looking for restaurants recommendations, and what not to miss. I really like mariachi music (even went to their concerts a couple of times, here in Chicago). Where can we listen to them? Do they perform on streets, in restaurants?
Also, I have been reading about walking tours - Callejoneadas. Are those fun? Unfortunately, we speak no Spanish.
Thank you again for all your helpful recommendations!
Sep 7th, 2014, 03:06 PM
#30
For me, at least in San Miguel, these would be faves:
Rosewood Hotel rooftop bar for sunset/views and drinks. They have tapas, too. A tad pricey, but worth a visit. The hotel itself is beautiful. It should be for $500 US a night.
La Posadita (on Cuna de Allende), another rooftop restaurant right off the jardin, behind the parroquia. Good food, good service. Lunch or dinner, closed Wednesday.
Hecho en Mexico, on Ancha de San Antonio. Mexican/American comfort food. Pedro Cartas and his band play Fridays and Saturdays for $150 peso minimum, no cover. Check out his you tube videos. His rendition of Gabriel's Oboe will bring tears to your eyes.
La Mezcalaria (on Correo)for mezcal, cucumber, & cilantro margaritas with a white chili infusion. Tapas, too. but kinda pricey.
Mi Casa restaurant at Instituto Allende, a couple of doors up from Hecho's on Ancha. Currently, Doc Severinsen and Gil Gutierrez are playing W-T-F. I don't know for how long, though. Even if Doc's not playing, Gil usually is and worth it. Mama Mia's has live music w/no cover TWTF. Average Italian & pizza. Fish bowl margaritas, but lots of ice.
Mariachis are pretty much always in the jardin, except Mondays. Weekends get pretty crazy, with 2 or more playing at the same time. Kinda confusing. Better during the week when there's less competition.
Typically, there are a couple of trios that walk the restaurant scene and will play at your table.
Breakfast, if not included in your hotel, would be La Parroquia, (on Jesus), Media Naranja (on Hidalgo), Juan's Cafe (on Relox), Muro (Loreto), & Posada de Carmen, on Cuna de Allende near the jardin.
All the above restaurants are within an easy walk from the jardin area.
In Queretaro, we usually like 1810 and Chucho Roto, right next to each other in the Plaza de Armas. Probably the nicest restaurants with outdoor seating. Others no doubt have their favorites. Avoid the places on 16 de Septiembre where the hawkers pester you.
Have a taxi take you around the aqueducto at night.
Here's a link to walking tours, in English, in SMA: www.patronatoproninos.org
If you have time, (and transportation) a half day trip to Mineral de Pozos is kinda interesting. Lunch at Posada de Las Minas. 40 minutes from San Miguel, an abandoned silver mine/semi-ghost town.
Rosewood Hotel rooftop bar for sunset/views and drinks. They have tapas, too. A tad pricey, but worth a visit. The hotel itself is beautiful. It should be for $500 US a night.
La Posadita (on Cuna de Allende), another rooftop restaurant right off the jardin, behind the parroquia. Good food, good service. Lunch or dinner, closed Wednesday.
Hecho en Mexico, on Ancha de San Antonio. Mexican/American comfort food. Pedro Cartas and his band play Fridays and Saturdays for $150 peso minimum, no cover. Check out his you tube videos. His rendition of Gabriel's Oboe will bring tears to your eyes.
La Mezcalaria (on Correo)for mezcal, cucumber, & cilantro margaritas with a white chili infusion. Tapas, too. but kinda pricey.
Mi Casa restaurant at Instituto Allende, a couple of doors up from Hecho's on Ancha. Currently, Doc Severinsen and Gil Gutierrez are playing W-T-F. I don't know for how long, though. Even if Doc's not playing, Gil usually is and worth it. Mama Mia's has live music w/no cover TWTF. Average Italian & pizza. Fish bowl margaritas, but lots of ice.
Mariachis are pretty much always in the jardin, except Mondays. Weekends get pretty crazy, with 2 or more playing at the same time. Kinda confusing. Better during the week when there's less competition.
Typically, there are a couple of trios that walk the restaurant scene and will play at your table.
Breakfast, if not included in your hotel, would be La Parroquia, (on Jesus), Media Naranja (on Hidalgo), Juan's Cafe (on Relox), Muro (Loreto), & Posada de Carmen, on Cuna de Allende near the jardin.
All the above restaurants are within an easy walk from the jardin area.
In Queretaro, we usually like 1810 and Chucho Roto, right next to each other in the Plaza de Armas. Probably the nicest restaurants with outdoor seating. Others no doubt have their favorites. Avoid the places on 16 de Septiembre where the hawkers pester you.
Have a taxi take you around the aqueducto at night.
Here's a link to walking tours, in English, in SMA: www.patronatoproninos.org
If you have time, (and transportation) a half day trip to Mineral de Pozos is kinda interesting. Lunch at Posada de Las Minas. 40 minutes from San Miguel, an abandoned silver mine/semi-ghost town.
Sep 7th, 2014, 05:21 PM
#31
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Baldone, this is amazing! Thank you so much for all this great info!
I am glad we will be there on Friday night for Pedro Cartas. It looks like we have our choice of music for each day we are there (Wed - Fri).
Your breakfast recommendations are very much appreciated. I booked Belmond Casa De Sierra Nevada, and breakfast is not included.
Mineral de Pozos was mentioned earlier, and sounds very interesting. I assume we can just take a taxi. Not sure if we can just arrange a ride there, and then ask the same taxi to pick us up later on (or better just take a taxi back in Mineral de Pozos).
A walking tour sounds great as well.
I am glad we will be there on Friday night for Pedro Cartas. It looks like we have our choice of music for each day we are there (Wed - Fri).
Your breakfast recommendations are very much appreciated. I booked Belmond Casa De Sierra Nevada, and breakfast is not included.
Mineral de Pozos was mentioned earlier, and sounds very interesting. I assume we can just take a taxi. Not sure if we can just arrange a ride there, and then ask the same taxi to pick us up later on (or better just take a taxi back in Mineral de Pozos).
A walking tour sounds great as well.
Sep 8th, 2014, 01:38 PM
#33
Sierra Nevada is a lovely hotel in a great location. The hotel is spread out among 3 or 4 old colonial homes. Some rooms may face the street, which is generally deserted at night. What traffic it does have moves very slow. I believe that street-side rooms have double paned windows.
As far as Pozos goes, I don't know if they even have taxis there. It is a small enough town where locals walk everywhere and take the local bus to SJ Iturbide or SL de la Paz, nearby larger towns. If you decide to go, I would suggest asking your hotel about a driver/guide, or renting a car, instead of having a taxi drop you off. It's quite an uphill walk from the main road to the ruins, so you'll need wheels. The ruins do make for some good photos; a number of movies have been filmed there. Some of them are fenced off these days, as are most of the mine shafts, for good reason. A car in San Miguel rents for about $100 a day, and should be reserved in advance.
As far as Pozos goes, I don't know if they even have taxis there. It is a small enough town where locals walk everywhere and take the local bus to SJ Iturbide or SL de la Paz, nearby larger towns. If you decide to go, I would suggest asking your hotel about a driver/guide, or renting a car, instead of having a taxi drop you off. It's quite an uphill walk from the main road to the ruins, so you'll need wheels. The ruins do make for some good photos; a number of movies have been filmed there. Some of them are fenced off these days, as are most of the mine shafts, for good reason. A car in San Miguel rents for about $100 a day, and should be reserved in advance.
Sep 9th, 2014, 06:22 PM
#34
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I am glad I picked out a good hotel.
I will look into renting a car or hiring a driver. I was looking at SMA tours/transportation sites, and it looks like, we can hire a car with a driver for about $20/hour, so this maybe an option vs. driving.
I will look into renting a car or hiring a driver. I was looking at SMA tours/transportation sites, and it looks like, we can hire a car with a driver for about $20/hour, so this maybe an option vs. driving.
Sep 10th, 2014, 03:34 PM
#35
If it were me, costs being the same, I'd hire a driver, as long as he knows Pozos as I'm sure most in SMA do. It's not terribly difficult to find, but at the same time, signage in Mexico leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, the road out of San Miguel is a little tricky; narrow with no shoulders and not-so-safe buses. Plus, its kinda fun to sight-see and let someone else do the driving. If you do, have him take you to Posada de Las Minas for lunch and treat him as a tip.
Here's a driver you might contact: http://www.sanmigueldriver.com/
BTW, if you do go see Pedro Cartas, have your hotel get you a reservation maybe the day before. Chances are you could walk in without one, but with one you'll get a better table.
Here's a driver you might contact: http://www.sanmigueldriver.com/
BTW, if you do go see Pedro Cartas, have your hotel get you a reservation maybe the day before. Chances are you could walk in without one, but with one you'll get a better table.
Sep 13th, 2014, 08:42 PM
#37
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Baldone, I just heard Pedro Cartas on youtube, and really hope we do not miss him. How wonderful! His gypsy violin music made me nostalgic (these melodies were popular from where I am from).
What time does he normally start playing at night? Just want to make sure we get right reservation.
Doc Severinsen is great as well.
Is there any recommended restaurants/live music in Guanajuato?
What time does he normally start playing at night? Just want to make sure we get right reservation.
Doc Severinsen is great as well.
Is there any recommended restaurants/live music in Guanajuato?
Sep 14th, 2014, 09:42 AM
#38
Music generally starts at 730. He pretty much has a standing gig at Hecho's, unless he's on tour or something.
I'm not too up to speed on night life/restaurants in GTO as when we're there it's usually just for the day.
I'm not too up to speed on night life/restaurants in GTO as when we're there it's usually just for the day.
Sep 15th, 2014, 03:34 AM
#40
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Helen, a friend of mine who lives in Playa del Carmen had a great trip to Guanajuato last spring.
She has a blog and did some good posts on their favorite restaurants of the trip and how they spent their time. She is an occasional poster her on fodors also, as "michelleinplaya"
Here are her blog entries on Guanajuato:
http://www.buyplaya.net/blogs/rob_ki...e/2014/04.aspx
She has a blog and did some good posts on their favorite restaurants of the trip and how they spent their time. She is an occasional poster her on fodors also, as "michelleinplaya"
Here are her blog entries on Guanajuato:
http://www.buyplaya.net/blogs/rob_ki...e/2014/04.aspx
