Expert: Linda Leonard - 8/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Linda, my wife and I will be coming to the Xalapa/Coatepec/Veracruz area this winter for a couple of months to check out wintering (or maybe more)in Mexico.  We have an Aliner pop-up which we may be driving as far as Corpus Christy (maybe another trip we will get set up to drive it into MX); from Corpus we hope to be able to get a thru bus ticket to Veracruz which will include transferring to a Mexican "luxury" bus at Matamoros.  Plan B is to fly from Atlanta to Cancun, bus to Merida for a couple of days to see that, then luxury bus to Veracruz.  Any comments/recommendations you have on any of this would be appreciated.  We're open to staying in hostels (with private bath) or small hotels and would like to find a small, clean, inexpensive 1 BR apt/house in the Coatepec/Xalapa area for a month or so.  Thanks in advance.  Jim and Laura, Asheville, NCuawx4

ANSWER: Hi Jim,  Sounds like a great trip!  Busing in Mexico is easy and inexpensive.  You will have no problems getting schedules/connections, etc. since they all run freuqently.  They are also very comfortable.  I am not much help regarding accomodations, since we have been RVing in Mexico for the last 5 winters and always have our accomodations with us.  However, any time we have stayed other than in our RV, or have helped others, I have found that there is much to chose from.  Most places owned/run by Mexican families are not on the internet & can best be found once you get there.  Just check the local bulletin boards, stores, and talk to people.  It won't take long.  There are lots of really neat places to stay, and they are very reasonable.  Of course, resort areas are a different story, but it looks like you are not interested in that sort of package.  I guess all I can do is encourage you- I am sure you will find everything you are looking for with no problems at all.  Sorry I can't make any specific recommendations.  I know you will have a wonderful time.  Best of luck- please write back if you have any specific questions I might be able to help with.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Linda, thanks for the quick and informative reply. Re RVing in MX, do they have a lot of campgrounds/RV parks throughout the country?  Typical cost/night?  Standard 110 elect hookup?  Safe?  Insurance source for car and camper?  
Re (non-RV)places to stay:  where would one typically find these "local bulletin boards"?
Have you been to Xalapa?  Your impressions-specifically of the weather?
What are a couple of your favorite places in MX-especially in the winter?

Tks for your help,

Jim66iuq

Answer
Hi again Jim,  Thanks for the kind words.  Re: rving in Mex- tons of rV parks, thousands of Canadians/Americans spending their winters in this way.  The best source for RV park info is a book by Mike & Terri Church called Travellers Guide to Mexican Camping- it is the bible for all RVers.  Costs/night range from 100 pesos to 500 pesos on average.  All with good & complete hookups for elect., water & sewer- most with WIFI.  We use Mex-pro for insurance for truck & RV.  Safety has never been an issue for us nor for anyone we have met- & over our 5 RVing years, that includes literally thousands of fellow RVers.
Bulletin boards- usually at both small & large grocery stores.  Xalapa- we haven't stayed there- only passed through & looked around for an hour or 2.  Spent quite a bit of time on that coast though- at Paamul- just south of Playa del Carmen, & also at Chetumal (closer to Xalapa).  We find the weather on that coast too unpredictible for us to spend the winter there.  Visiting for shorter periods is fine, but for us, it could not be home for 6 months.  We prefer the warmer, more consistent temps of the southern Pacific area- Zihuatanejo, mostly for arthitic reasons- we just feel better there.  We found we had to put down our awning on the caribean side almost everyday due to high winds, it frequestly rained on us, & the temp often dipped to 18 celcius- that would be about 65 Far.  Our all time favorite is Zihuatanejo- so much so that we bought a condo there.    Hope all that is helpful to you.