Toll boot warning
When approaching toll booths in Mexico, pay attention to where the plume or barrier is. If the barrier is before the booth, do not even go near, these are reserved for the cargo and passenger buses...
Forum Discussion
Just goes to show you that in most cases if not all, the libres are just as good and as safe in some cases better than toll roads.
When the cuota is close to 300 miles from one place we know we can stay and the next place we know we can stay - and from the same place to the same place on the libre is longer by quite a few miles - and we know it will take us most of daylight hours to cover the 300 miles - we are going to take the cuota every time. But if the distance is short and we know where we are going we will take the libre every time. Lots of variables in decision making.
Recently from Cholula to Oaxaca the cuota took almost 8 hours to cover 235 miles. The libre is about 20 miles further and we are told takes several hours longer as it travels through mountains with narrow curvy roads passing through many villages. In this case we are told the cuota is a much better road - and a better choice for most - especially those with large RVs towing a car behind - or a pickup towing a large trailer.
In other cases we know of routes we prefer to take where the libre is shorter and a better road than the cuota going from the same point A to the same point B. It all depends on where you are going and the available routes - road conditions - number and cost of tolls - type of vehicle - and any number of other factors. We took the Arco Norte around Mexico City because who wants to drive in Mexico City with a motorhome - once was enough.
