I am planning a month trip to Mexico, mid-December to mid-January.

So far my plan is to fly from San Francisco to Mexico City;

stay 5 nights;

bus down to Oaxaca for 11 nights;

bus up to San Miguel for 11 nights;

return out of the Leon airport to SFO.

I plan to explore some areas around both Oaxaca and San Miguel.

The best fare I have seen is $542.

Any particular tips for the area or suggestions on my itinerary?

Thanks for your thoughts!

While you are in San Miguel don't miss Guanajuato.

I would consider dividing things differently. Maybe a little shorter at each end and add in maybe three nights in Puebla as you head north from Oaxaca. Stay in Guanajuato instead of San Miguel and throw in a day trip to San Miguel.

Puebla does sound intersting! I will look more into staying there. Is Puebla on the same bus route to San Miguel?

And are you saying Guanajuato is a nicer base to explore from and that San Miguel may be a bit touristy for 11 days?

Also, any suggestions if I want to spend a few days at a pretty beach town? Perhaps go out from Oaxaca to the coast?

Thanks.

Puebla is on the route from Mexico City to Oaxaca so it fits right in. You can bus from Oaxaca to the beach. It will take you from 6-11 hours depending on which route you take. I'm sure others will disagree, but I would rather stay in Guanajuato and do a day trip or trips to SMA via bus. I think Guanajuato is more senic and has more to do.

Hi Rebecca -

Another vote for Guanajuato instead of San Miguel. I found (last week) that Guanajuato is much cleaner, livelier, friendlier, and much more interesting than San Miguel. And Guanajuato may be Mexico's most beautiful city.

You will also love Oaxaca. Make sure you go up to Monte Alban.

You may want to look into flying from SFO to Oaxaca and starting your trip there. Otherwise, you're backtracking. It's great that you have a whole month. But remember that the distances are vast.

SFO to OAX, bus to Puebla, bus to Mexico City, bus to Guanajuato. BJX to SFO. You could also fly from OAX to MEX and from MEX to BJX, and visit Puebla as a day trip from Mexico City.

What kind of hotels are you interested in? I could make some recommendations if I knew your price range.

Also, with a whole month, you could definitely add some beach time or another city or area. 11 days may be too much for Oaxaca or even Guanajuato.

Hi: I already have my tix booked to Mexico City for 6 nights. I have booked a room at the Red Tree House through Christmas as I don't particularly want to get into another town on Cristmas Day.

I have also booked a place just outside of Oaxaca for 7 days.

I want to stay in Puebla for a few days now and also in Guanajuato to explore and as a jump off place. I am realizing even a month, though wonderful, will just scratch the surface of wonderful places. I need to figure out how many day in San Miguel. I was thinking perhaps 3-4 in San Miguel and a week in Guanajuato. I have decided not to try to fit in the coast this time.

I have started looking but would appreciate any hotel recomendations for both Puebla and Guanajuato. I would like to keep the cost under $50US.

Thanks!

I would suggest seeing San Miguel as a day trip from Guanajuato, except then you'd miss out on a really sweet hotel called the Posada San Sebastian with is in your price range - 30 for a single, 52 for a big double. I thought the hotel was just great. Small, cozy, very Mexican. Beautiful courtyard with a fountain, and a roofdeck with panoramic views. Yeah, spend a couple of nights there. One small hitch - they do not accept reservations. As a result, it's kind of a risk just to show up, but because so many people are so risk-averse (usually including me), the hotel usually pretty empty.

In Guanajuato, I liked the Luna so much that I couldn't imagine staying anyplace else. About 120.

You might also consider stopping for a couple of days in Queretaro. It's 3 hours northwest of Mexico City and about an hour and a half southeast of San Miguel. Just about any bus from Mexico City to San Miguel will stop in Queretaro, as it is a large transportation hub. It's a big city with a really lovely charming center. And there's a nice hotel called the Hidalgo that I think is in your price range. Check it out!

Sorry - can't help with Puebla.

Hello:

Yes, the Parador San Sebastion is one of the 2 I have been considering!!

the other is:

Maricela's Home (casamaricela.com)
Maricela Campos Hernández
Jesus #41-B Centro.

Going to digest all this great info!

Thanks.