I'm thinking about taking a trip down to Juarez to see the sights and work on my Spanish. I've never been to old Mexico before. Anyone have any travel tips or advice?
Find yourself a copy of "The Peoples' Guide to Mexico" from John Muir Press. Do NOT attempt to drive to Mexico City from the States. Do NOT drive at night. Do NOT carry ANY firearms or ammunition PERIOD. Do NOT carry even trace amounts of illegal drugs. Do NOT argue with a policeman, no matter HOW good your Spanish may be. DO eat the food, especially the excellent seafood! Bribery is/was common...I understand that the federales are cracking down on it...I'd like to hear from you when you get back. Remember that, outside of las zonas touristas, Mexico is a very conservative society. Be careful around young women. GO GO GO!!! Mexico is too wonderful to miss!
Oh, one more thing. Technically, Americans do not need passports even to travel into the interior. A certified copy of your birth certificate and your driver's license should b enough. I gotta tell ya, though, a passport makes things easier even if it does feel a bit silly. I always carry mine and it comes in handy at times.
Ahh - Ciudad Juarez. The one place that is worse than Mexicalli and Tiajuna combined. Why go there? There are better places in Mexico do visit. Try Cancun for one. All in all, if you want to check out central America, try Belize or Costa Rica. I have been to Mexico City on business several times. It is a very dangerous and corrupt city. Think Detroit x 4 and you get my point.
Cancun? are you kidding? That ain't Mexico... with the outrageous prices and everybody around you speaking English, it feels like you've never left the States.
I went here 15 years ago and had a great time. Very reasonably priced and professionally managed. Not just for Americans. We had people from France, Germany, Switzerland, England, Japan, etc. They work hard to take you on excursions to show you the "real Mexico." I remember one trip to an obscure village very high in the mountains where they sold authenic crafts. Nary a Coke sign or Dallas Cowboys t-shirt on a single kid. Saw burros, people in sombreros, cantinas, and all those kinds of things. They weren't phoney props for tourists. Take a light coat! Not all of Mexico is desert-like or tropical. I've actually participated in a snowball fight in Mexico (but I now think that at my age I couldn't make it to that altitude again without getting altitude sickness): http://www.uninter.edu.mx/spanish/
