I am posting in this section as the question is aimed at those who normally snowbird in Az.I have been snow-birding in Mexico now for 8 years after having done it in the SW for the first couple of years. Personally, I would never go back to spending the winter in Az, but maybe that is just me. I driven all over Mexico for 5 months a year, even led caravans, and never have had, nor seen, an "incident".I have some questions, I am contacting some tourism officials in Mexico and trying to get them to promote the RV industry a bit more, so I have some questions.1) Are you scared to take your RV into Mexico?2) Do you think there are no modern RV parks in Mexico?3) Does the lack of ULSD diesel deter you?4) Are you simply just happy with Az?5) Are you worried about drug cartels?6) Are you too wary to do it on your own, or with a caravan, or buddying with others who have done it before?7) Does the language barrier deter you?8) Have you ever considered going less than one day south, like Rocky Point, Kino Bay or San Carlos, all of which have modern RV parks?9) Do you perceive Baja as safer?10) Are you worried about road conditions?Please no lectures on Mexico being a war zone, I have heard them all before.

A very interesting topic since my wife and I plan on heading to Yuma, Arizona and hopefully pushing it into Mexico this fall. This is our first attempt at going full time on the road. The Baja I like,we have visited RV parks there when we were on a vacation (flew down and took the local buses). It would be great to have more information about their parks that was up to date. We are thinking it would be great to go into Mexico with other RV owners who know their way around unfamiliar territory to us.

I drive a gasser so the diesel is not an issue. Likewise we would not be too worried about modern RV parks, as long as there was something decent. We are used to dry-camping, although I would want to start out at RV parks down there. For us, the whole thing is about the safety.My DW is a lot less adventurous than I am, so it would/will be hard to talk her into trying Mexico. The general concern is crime, be it drug cartel or otherwise. Including problems with police. If I did not have these concerns, I could convince my wife to at least try it, and we would be down there in a heartbeat. I like new places, new experiences. Just not with a lot of crime risk.

Snowman9000 wrote:...My DW is a lot less adventurous than I am, so it would/will be hard to talk her into trying Mexico. The general concern is crime, be it drug cartel or otherwise...X2

DOTLDaddy wrote:Snowman9000 wrote:...My DW is a lot less adventurous than I am, so it would/will be hard to talk her into trying Mexico. The general concern is crime, be it drug cartel or otherwise...X2X3 here, but I have about 10 years to try to convince her.

Same problem..Az, NM, Texas, Cali no problem...but wait on the Mexico run..We have a year or two before we can take off for the winter..the exchange sucks.. West coast of Mexico was heaven for until until Canadians started dying...been going to Cuba lately (not the resorts) but not the same...would like to see the results of your questionnaire..when finished..Thanksyz..

Snowbirding in Mexico | Good Sam Community

jimmycrack
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
A very interesting topic since my wife and I plan on heading to Yuma, Arizona and hopefully pushing it into Mexico this fall. This is our first attempt at going full time on the road. The Baja I like,we have visited RV parks there when we were on a vacation (flew down and took the local buses). It would be great to have more information about their parks that was up to date. We are thinking it would be great to go into Mexico with other RV owners who know their way around unfamiliar territory to us.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
I drive a gasser so the diesel is not an issue. Likewise we would not be too worried about modern RV parks, as long as there was something decent. We are used to dry-camping, although I would want to start out at RV parks down there. For us, the whole thing is about the safety.

My DW is a lot less adventurous than I am, so it would/will be hard to talk her into trying Mexico. The general concern is crime, be it drug cartel or otherwise. Including problems with police. If I did not have these concerns, I could convince my wife to at least try it, and we would be down there in a heartbeat. I like new places, new experiences. Just not with a lot of crime risk.
DOTLDaddy
Nomad
Aug 18, 2015
Snowman9000 wrote:
...My DW is a lot less adventurous than I am, so it would/will be hard to talk her into trying Mexico. The general concern is crime, be it drug cartel or otherwise...

X2
dieharder
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
DOTLDaddy wrote:
Snowman9000 wrote:
...My DW is a lot less adventurous than I am, so it would/will be hard to talk her into trying Mexico. The general concern is crime, be it drug cartel or otherwise...

X2

X3 here, but I have about 10 years to try to convince her.
YZ
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
Same problem..

Az, NM, Texas, Cali no problem...but wait on the Mexico run..

We have a year or two before we can take off for the winter..the exchange sucks..

West coast of Mexico was heaven for until until Canadians started dying...been going to Cuba lately (not the resorts) but not the same...

would like to see the results of your questionnaire..when finished..

Thanks

yz..
almcc
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
Tequila wrote:
I am posting in this section as the question is aimed at those who normally snowbird in Az.

I have been snow-birding in Mexico now for 8 years after having done it in the SW for the first couple of years. Personally, I would never go back to spending the winter in Az, but maybe that is just me. I driven all over Mexico for 5 months a year, even led caravans, and never have had, nor seen, an "incident".

I have some questions, I am contacting some tourism officials in Mexico and trying to get them to promote the RV industry a bit more, so I have some questions.

1) Are you scared to take your RV into Mexico?
2) Do you think there are no modern RV parks in Mexico?
3) Does the lack of ULSD diesel deter you?
4) Are you simply just happy with Az?
5) Are you worried about drug cartels?
6) Are you too wary to do it on your own, or with a caravan, or buddying with others who have done it before?
7) Does the language barrier deter you?
8) Have you ever considered going less than one day south, like Rocky Point, Kino Bay or San Carlos, all of which have modern RV parks?
9) Do you perceive Baja as safer?
10) Are you worried about road conditions?

Please no lectures on Mexico being a war zone, I have heard them all before.

Tequila, I'll answer your questions in the order you list them. As to our Mexican experiences, we spent the winters of 2006-07 to 2009-10 on the Pacific coast in RV parks north and south of Mazatlan. we had a great time but we were close to the violence in Maz at that time (in the last year a Canadian was shot in the RV park there and we just missed the "druggie" blockade north of Maz on the toll road) and we haven't returned since. The answers reflect our experiences.

1. See above
2. No modern parks to speak of, the only NA standard park we hit was El Mirador in San Carlos, now closed. The others had 10 to 20 amp service, water that had to be treated to be safe, power correction to bring the voltage down to 120 volts to avoid RV damage and rough conditions.
3, Yes, I won't risk the truck warranty running high Sulfur Diesel. Friends that continue to go to Mex go only as far as San Carlos to minimize use of Mexican diesel.
4. We stay in S. California and like it!
5. Yes, the activity doesn't have seemed to have stopped. Last time we checked, our out-of-country top up health insurance wouldn't cover us if we were caught and injured in a situation involving the cartels because of the Canadian government warnings.
6. Not an issue, wouldn't go back there presently by ourselves or with buddies.
7, Nope, the locals bent over backwards to help us, a few words of Spanish go a long way!
8. Based on our experiences there are no modern RV parks there unless things have changed!
9. Can't comment, haven't been there.
10. Roads are rough but it's not a show stopper.

Two other "nags" that bothered us, the 2 hr. hassle and wait to process paperwork at km. 21 with no-one there speaking English to process us non-Spanish speaking folks. The other is the inconsistently applied regulations, I got dinged 900 pesos to bring an 8 ft. inflatable boat and motor into Mexico for my own use (I took it back with me, I didn't import it!).

I feel sorry for the locals who depended on our spending to help them. It seems that Mexico only caters to the fly-in, all-inclusive crowd
Tequila
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
The Canadian who was shot in the leg in the RV park was trying to resist a robbery attempt (He surprised them). He had left this RV there for several weeks in a dark corner and they had obviously noticed it. To put it into perspective, a French Canadian couple were shot dead in an RV park in Florida the same year, also during a robbery. No possession is worth getting shot over. There is however no doubt that your chances of being a property crime victim are greater in Mexico.
Tequila
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
jimmycrack wrote:
A very interesting topic since my wife and I plan on heading to Yuma, Arizona and hopefully pushing it into Mexico this fall. This is our first attempt at going full time on the road. The Baja I like,we have visited RV parks there when we were on a vacation (flew down and took the local buses). It would be great to have more information about their parks that was up to date. We are thinking it would be great to go into Mexico with other RV owners who know their way around unfamiliar territory to us.

You do have some options in that regard, if you want to spend the money, a commercial caravan like Fantasy, Caravanas de Mexico or Adventure. The first 2 run some shorter term trips at least as far as Copper Canyon and/or Mazatlan. Or try to find travel buddies on something like the Bells web site (www.ontheroadin.com). Another option is Carole Thacker who runs La Penita RV Park north of PV and takes a group down in October. Sneaky way to get customers, but it works for her.

I went cold turkey first time on my own. For about 3 years I led others for free with me from Nogales, some turned into good friends, others dropped off after about 3 weeks. For the last 3 years I have been a wagon master for a commercial caravan in Fall, returning to the US before Christmas, but still go on my own in Spring often with those same friends from other years.

As far as RV parks, the best source is still Mike & Teri Church's RV park guide, although it is now getting a bit outdated and I am not sure if they plan to do another. On the mainland, I recommend heading for Totonaka RV park in San Carlos. It is a modern park and most people going further south make a stop there. With an early start from Nogales, you can make it before dark even with the border & permit stops.
Naio
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2015
I like this topic but you do seem like you are pushing your own business.

What I would find most useful would be information or links relating to solo RV traveling in Mexico. For me, the lack of information is the biggest barrier.
rekoj71
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
X4 or whatever we are on. I know the power thing is less of an issue if the temperature is right and furnaces and A/C's aren't as needed. Water safety concerns me but I know bottled water even bought sealed there is usually safe. Drug Cartels concern my wife. RV is gas but is fairly new with one of those kinda flashy all over body paint schemes that might make it more of a target.
Unfortunately the Wife is so nervouse about these things that even though I've been camping to PV and Ensenada multiple times, I can barely convince her to take a day trip with me and the kids down there, even without the RV.
I love the food and other than keeping an eye out, I don't feel less safe than I do in a lot of places in this country.