jetsetj

i am still on the fence between oaxaca and guanjuato.
airfair about $600-700 depending. if i could just find it for under $500 from SEA i would purchase today!!

smcgown

How about SEA to Mexico City then bus to Oaxaca? Dont forget to include transfers from airport & bus fare! Take the most delux bus you can find, ETN probably. The trip is really nice if it is daylight as the scenery is wonderful. You might find a deal to Puebla & could do an overnight there, it is a great Colonial city & a lot easier than Mexico City.

emd3

Puebla is only a 2 hr first class bus ride ($17 each way) from the Mexico City airport. I paid for and caught the bus literally inside the airport area. And it is a nice bus w/free drink and snacks and movies. So you can definitely get there cheaply. And a day trip to Cholula is great from Puebla. Puebla is a lovely town for a few days; if you are interested I can fill you in on what I did there. I think you can also do a trip to Tlaxcala from there also.

pdx

I'm with Robertino and would suggest both Oaxaca and Guanajuato but if it came to a decision between the two it's Oaxaca, hands down. Oaxaca has incredible food, truly truly incredible food. Everywhere! Beautiful mole and lovely relleños unlike anything most of us have ever experienced here in the U.S. Simple soups that are little pieces of art.
Guanajuato is a beautiful city and has a wonderful vibe (lots of international students at the university there) and lots of political history but it doesn't have the food vibe like Oaxaca. Plus Oaxaca has the ruins which are not to be missed. Be sure to get a guide to take you around the ruins because they are a wealth of information.

emd3

I love Oaxaca too, and was just there for a week at the end of Oct. 2009. But there are other places in Mexico that are magical in their own way. If jetset can't afford to get to Oaxaca, I think she can get to a place she can afford to get to and not be disappointed. Air cost is a big concern to her.

bon_voyage

I was very interested to see this thread because I'm contemplating a trip to Oaxaca. It seems to have all the elements I love--history, culture, art, ruins, sacred sites, high quality crafts, excellent food. I've been to Mexico twice--many years ago to Acapulco, Taxco, and Mexico City, and then a later trip to the Yucatan. I got sick on the first trip and pretty much ate everything on the second trip and was fine. My question to the Oaxaca veterans: How much care do you have to take with what you eat and drink?

Dude

In Oaxaca- my opinion anyway, is you do have to be a bit more careful than many places, e.g. Guanajuato food wise. I don't know why, but I have been going to Oaxaca for 20 years and more people I talk to at various language schools tell me they have gotten sick than have others at various destinations in Mexico. Maybe because some of the food is a bit more exotic, I don't know. Having said that, if you eat at the normal well trafficked restaurants you will probably not have any trouble and it is certainly worth it. The only time I was sick In Oaxaca or or Mexico for that matter, I was really sick. I believe there was some tap water on the just washed plates. My friends that live there say you need to be careful as one drop will do you in. So, be at bit careful and it should be fine. I don't want to discourage travel to OAX it is certainly my favorite place in Mexico and I would go today if I could. I have managed to bring two groups with no one getting sick. Just be a bit cautious. Also in the event you do get sick go to the Dr. I have been to Dr.s for sinus infections and such in Mexico and if anything gotten better treatment than in the U.S.

bon_voyage

Thanks, Dude!

jetsetj

i word of caution is always well taken and needed.

Junejuly

Oaxaca is certainly one of my favorite places, but I just returned from a trip to the colonial towns and loved it. We flew into Guadalajara, stayed there for 1 night, then went to Patzcuaro - it truly is a magical city. We spent a full day there, then went to Morelia. It was fascinating to see these two contrasting towns. We saw the butterflies, then returned to Guadalajara. Next day, we went to San Pancho (little town just north of Sayulita) where we stayed for 2 days, then on to PV for 2 days before flying out.
I see that the airfare to Guadalajara is currently only $295 if you go before Feb. 11 from NYC - I suggest checking that out, as most places mentioned in my trip are within a 4 hour drive from there. I took my husband and 2 friends from Switzerland with me - it was their first trip to mexico, and they already want to go back! Here are our pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/heymanis...QE&feat=email#

pdx

great photos of what looks like a fabulous trip.
i NEED those monkeys!!!
how did you get from city to city (mode of transportation)?

sandy_b

I echo pdx! Those are fantastic photos! I've been to all those places and your pictures brought back wonderful memories.

Thanks for posting them.
Sandy (in Denton)

pdx

now you've got me going.....i'm starting to research a mexico trip vs. the europe trip that was lurking in the back of my mind. even with $800 airfare we can make a fairly budget trip if we get $60 hotel rooms. i would consider other places (that have cheaper airfare) but the food is so elegant and outstanding in oaxaca and i want my husband to experience it. maybe an open-jaw flight that will get us into oaxaca and out of a beach city?

BeniciaChris

jetsetj-You do know that if you have an Alaska Airlines credit card you buy one ticket & get a companion ticket for 50$-new ones went up to $99 companion. Can't beat it.Use them all the time

jetsetj

hi again
loved the photos..
no i didnt know about the alaska credit card. i will see if that would work for us as we dont use cards.

we dont want to be on a 4 hour bus trip once we get to mexico and would rather spend more $$ not to have to take bus to Oaxaca.

still watching and waiting for below $500 airfair SEA to OAX.
we cant go until April.

plumboy

Thanks junejuly for the photos and the itinerary ideas. Never been to Mexico, but I've been toying with the idea. Oaxaca is definitely up there, but I like the Guadalajara/Morelia/Patzcuaro idea - with the butterflies thrown in! Might help to get me off my monkey kick.

Junejuly

Thanks for the positive feedback on the photos - mostly hubby's doing, but some were mine.
We rented a car for the trip - with the toll roads, we found the driving to be very easy, even without our GPS. The avenues are pretty much designed to run to other cities, and hotel can tell you how to get to the right one with a straight shot from there.
I just saw that if you leave before Jan 11, they have round trip flights to Guadalajara for only $295 - such a bargain!
I can't recommend our trip enough.
Oaxaca has amazing food, but so does Michoacan and Jalisco. Our favorite restaraunt in Guad was el Sacremonte, and El Arrayan in Puerto Vallarta.
Best of luck!

Barney2009

Found $674 (all taxes and fees included) to Oaxaca or $334 to Mexico City. I think I would consider a 4 hour bus trip. Look at it this way, you also get to view the countryside between destinations for little or nothing.

jetsetj

barney,
i dont want a 4 hour each way bus trip. even though it would be scenic, one way might be ok but having to travel 4 hours to catch the plane home would be no fun at all.

i have a few fare alerts in affect. I pray for something good soon..