Snowbirding in Mexico

dkilley wrote:
Here is my penny's worth

1. Not scared at all, but we do make sure we do not get into the wrong place at the wrong time same as we do anywhere we travel. We do not stay in the Pemex's alone any longer.
2. Yes, lots of modern RV parks, none I have found have 50 amp service, but I am good with 30amp.
3. I have the particulate burner which needs the ULSD (2008 model year engine), but have used the Mexican diesel enough now to not be concerned. I would NOT take a diesel engine into Mexico and use their fuel that needs the additive (DEF) in the fuel.
4. I am not happy with AZ. Sorry I do not mean to offend anyone who stays there, it is just not for me after going to Mexico.
5. Drug Cartels certainly need to be respected. I watch out for any druggie looking vehicles and keep my distance. I drive into the back country on a quad and in a truck exploring the countryside and have never came across anything bad.
6. We do stuff on our own certainly and have no problem going around alone. Certainly we like to travel with others more for the social aspect than security.
7. The language barrier at times can be a real set back. It would be so much more fun if we knew Spanish and could communicate with the Mexicans. Yes, the barrier does deter us.
8.Those places are great and we hear lots of good things, but as happens a lot, the first place RV'ers hang their hat for a season is always what they may call their favorite place to go.
9. I was in the Baja only once in the year 2001. It was a great trip down and back. I cannot speak from experience which if any, is safer.
8. Coming out of the Puerto Vallarta area last year we hit terrible rough roads. It was the worst I have ever seen. But they were redoing the road with new pavement, so hopefully it will make it a great ride this fall making it all worth it.

Could I add...the garmin gps that has Mexico maps is a great asset to travel with and I suggest anyone wanting to travel any distance in Mexico purchase one of these. It could save you a lot of aggravation.
Great topic and hope more people will chime in.

People do have to realize that GPS maps in Mexico are not quite up to those in Canada & The US. You shoudl not entirely rely on them as they can tend to take you down streets that are hardly RV friendly. Unless you are traveling with somebody who knows a particular town, it is best to try and check it out first on a bike or whatever or follow a bus through, especially if you have a large rig.

Google street view has mapped a very large portion of Mexico, including city streets. I have passed their cars several times over the last couple of years. If my route is goign to take me over unfamiliar territory I will bring up Google street view and follow my intended route using that to make sure there are no issues.

Even if the route has not been street viewed, viewing it from above using Google earth can work. Last March the road from Melaque to Puerto Vallarta was washed out by an unusual March storm. I had a caravan to get over that stretch and it looked like the only alternative was a 2 day detour up to Guadalajara and back down to PV. I went onto Google earth and saw a 40 km long secondary road joining the Melaque-Guadalajara road and the Guadalajara-PV road. It saved hundred of Kms. I followed it using Google Earth and it looked OK. So I took 10 rigs, some of them large Class A's over it, sight unseen. It worked out fine and the scenery was breathtaking. Plus we got to visit the birthplace of Carlos Santana.