BajaNomad - guide book for the main land?

guide book for the main land?

joerover - 10-2-2012 at 04:06 PM

Are there any online guide books for mainland Mexico? We all have paper back lonely Planet gide books to look at, but are there any on line resources so we dont have to drag a 4 inch thick book 4,875 kilometers or more?

Or perhaps forums for other states in Mx?

It is time to set out for Chipas and zona de maya

mcfez - 10-2-2012 at 04:09 PM

Moon Books
http://www.moon.com/search/node/Mexico%2Btype%3Amoon_book_ma...

Excellent travel guild

[Edited on 10-2-2012 by mcfez]

Mula - 10-2-2012 at 04:22 PM

yahoo groups Mazinfo for Mazatlan info.

DavidE - 10-2-2012 at 04:27 PM

What's wrong with "winging it"? Never used a "guide"book in almost half a century. Let your nose be your guide. Every guide book has different "recommendations" for lodging and food. Why? They don't dare follow, they must "lead". Choose your budget and then seek info from experienced travelers. I guarantee you ten people who have spent an aggregate total of ten years or more in one area know a heck of a lot more than a guidebook researcher who spends three or four days. You can bet your sweet bippy they mine this forum for information as well.

Go to.....

bajaguy - 10-2-2012 at 04:40 PM

a bookstore and browse around..............Guide Books are for general knowledge.......do as DaveE suggests, follow your nose, ask around and refer to the book

Udo - 10-2-2012 at 04:45 PM

GUIA ROJI,

Available @ Amazon.

Mula - 10-2-2012 at 06:36 PM

They don't want to carry around a 4 inch thick book. . . .

joerover - 10-2-2012 at 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
They don't want to carry around a 4 inch thick book. . . .

Mula just proved that a nomad has comprehension skills

YEA

to the others, I want to check computers for information along the way, any ideas for web pages that provide info on traveling in Mexico.
What's wrong with "winging it"? I might not bump into a Mayan pyramid, other than that I winging it works. Where was the Mayan calendar perfected. It was a single Mayan that elevated this calendar to the most accurate in the world, where was he when he did that? Why did he have a misshaped head? Need a book?

GUIA ROJI, hum, do they sell those in San Ysidro, TJ, Chula Vista?
I have a stack of books, Don't want to lug them a few thousand miles

[Edited on 10-3-2012 by joerover]

Hook - 10-3-2012 at 08:19 AM

I'd have to say there are many things less important that you could ditch, rather than an excellent guide book like Lonely PLanet. So much usefulness and entertainment in four inches. No power or connection needed.

And no wondering if the website you are browsing has an agenda and is impartial. That's the way Mazinfo is, IMO. The moderators make sure that submissions that treat Mazatlan in a realistic manner (a pretty crime ridden town, now) arent allowed. All submissions have to be approved by a moderator who is a business owner in Maz. Anything that might limit business in Maz is often rejected.

I submitted a incident where a person who lived in San Carlos had their ATV and trailer stolen. It was legally in Mexico by virtue of the refundable bond that is required of all vehicles traveling below Empalme and this bond included the person's tow vehicle in one document. After filing the police report on the theft and going to Aduana to see what to do about the bond, he was informed that he would have to pay for IMPORTING his tow vehicle and ATV/trailer, now that the bond certificate would not be returned in a timely manner to qualify for the bond refund. In effect, he was forced to "import" the ATV and trailer for the thieves. It ran about 1600.00 US.

This would certainly be of interest to ANY non-national who drove their foreign plated car to Mazatlan. The bond is mandatory. But the moderator of Mazinfo said it had nothing to do with Mazatlan. Yeah, right..............

This website used to have pretty good info on three states: http://www.tomzap.com/

I still think the LP and Moon guidebooks are the best and essential.

I suppose you will find my comprehension skills worthy of scorn, too. So be it. Others will read this post, that may be asking the same question you are.

[Edited on 10-3-2012 by Hook]

Mula - 10-3-2012 at 08:41 AM

I agree, the Lonely Planet and Moon are definitely worth their weight in gold on a long cross country trip. I have used them since the 1970's when traveling.

Edit: "They are the first things I buy and pack when planning a trip."

The forums and internet are very frustrating and biased - ie; people selling their area, businesses, etc.

To me anyway.

[Edited on 10-3-2012 by Mula]

weebray - 10-3-2012 at 09:11 AM

http://thepeoplesguidetomexico.com/
It's most entertaining and now current again. My favorite, always has been.

Udo - 10-3-2012 at 09:15 AM

The book is 9X12 and only 5//8" :spingrin:

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
They don't want to carry around a 4 inch thick book. . . .

Udo - 10-3-2012 at 09:18 AM

Barnes & Noble has them, but can't tell you if they have them down in South County.

Quote:

Originally posted by joerover

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
They don't want to carry around a 4 inch thick book. . . .

Hook - 10-3-2012 at 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
I agree, the Lonely Planet and Moon are definitely worth their weight in gold on a long cross country trip. I have used them since the 1970's when traveling.

Edit: "They are the first things I buy and pack when planning a trip."

The forums and internet are very frustrating and biased - ie; people selling their area, businesses, etc.

To me anyway.

[Edited on 10-3-2012 by Mula]

Amen to that, Mula.

BajaBlanca - 10-3-2012 at 06:45 PM

also, tell us where you are going - some of us have traveled Mexico extensively and you can get some wonderful tips.

lonely planet and moon are really good books, but my absolute favorite (photos and up to date amazing info) is DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL MEXICO. I found it to be awesome because I would recognize places from the pics in the book. I highlighted the places that sounded most interesting. I believe I was only disaappointed once in the thousands of places we went to.

I think the People's Guide is really great if you have never traveled to Mexico. It has down to earth recommendations - for us, since we live here and know most customs, I found it too simplified. Just my opinion.

Mula - 10-3-2012 at 07:02 PM

I have also used the Eyewitness guide books, but found they weren't too good for rural areas.

If you are going city to city, they are wonderful!

DavidE - 10-3-2012 at 07:28 PM

tomzap.com

zihua robs forum for that area

It's hard to beat the People's Guide to Mexico. When Carl and Steve started traveling together and I started my first sojourns (both in 1964) there were no guidebooks per se. And none that guided the way we wanted to travel. The hotels recommended in the formal guidebooks usually have a rooster on the roof, the place sold and the new owners have a get rich scheme, or you'll end up being entertaining by the stud next door telling his new novia how much he loves her. Remember guide book writers travel by bus. They are experts on sleeping and dining in a two block radius of the bus station. The handiest "guide" book I ever had was a brick that I brained a yapping dog with from the 4th floor of the Hotel Jalisco in Barra de Navidad.

Of course if a person is not a real traveler but a "It's Monday, therefore I must be in Mérida" precision clockwork tripper then none of the above can apply. Organization and Mexico don't do so hot together.

For instance in Mazatlán, exit the cuota for the 'Playas Norte". This will take you on a 13 mile tour past a few dozen hotels. Keep going, on and on, and on all the way to Playa Olas Altas the one with all the rocks. In Puerto Vallarta, cross the Rio Cuale to the south side of the city and hotels will pop up everywhere. Remember in out of the way places 90% of the hotels will be within a block or so of the central plaza, plaza principál, zocalo. The remainder will be stuffed up against the open air market and loud Dina cargo trucks with no muffler start arriving at 0500. TAKE RUBBER DOOR WEDGES, plural. Better than any lock known to man. Parking is ESTACIONANMIENTO, write these words down. Estacionamiento con velador is parking with a watchman.

I take toll roads. The cuotas are patrolled by the army, marinas, PFP, SSP, and Angeles Verdes.

Further down you'll often see women and girls selling tamales and empanadas near gas stations. I stuffed myself tonight with 4 empanadas purchased from a smiling woman. A hundred times better food than what a restaurant will churn out. Pollo Feliz, is a huge barbecue chicken chain and one of my favorites.

I avoid secondary roads in rural areas, even in my Michoacán because of criminal activity. Keep three eyes on the road for poorly marked topes, ESPECIALLY when you get south of Mazatlán or Ciudad de México. There is supposed to be 182 topes between Agua Azul and San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas. I lose track after the first dozen or so.

daveB - 10-3-2012 at 11:29 PM

As Hook stated keep track of your vehicles. If one is stolen the regulations in effect take no note of that, so you WILL be charged importation duties once you show up at the border again. Friends had a car stolen off the beach and the next year when they showed up it cost them 1,100 to get back into the country, even with reams of official reports from 3 police offices, and their paperwork from their insurance company whch had covered the theft.

motoged - 10-4-2012 at 12:38 AM

Joerover,
I am planning a month on the mainland and went out and bought the most recent Lonely Planet book for Mexico....(my other one was 22 years old and I figured they might have a more current edition). I poured over it for several hours and became a bit disappointed as I found their books more helpful in previous years....

So, as I began my Googling, I was led from one link to another with a stunning amount of old and current information on everything I was asking it. With a few windows open (tripadvisor, Google maps, and another for general questions), I was inundated with way more information than I could ever get from a single source, never mind a 3 lb. book I didn't want to carry.

My suggestion is "Google it !"

A 10 year old taught me a while back the best way to do a search on Google:

"Enter the question as you would ask a person the question instead of trying to think what key words are best for the search!"

Works for me.....have a good trip....follow your nose and carry some extra TP.

BajaBlanca - 10-4-2012 at 07:23 AM

My sister gave me the exact same advice about wording a question as one would ask it in a conversation - it is amazing how well it works.

I just reread and realized that you said online book and I have no idea if eyewitness does produce one or not.

topes will drive you nuts. esp when they appear out of nowhere and for no good reason (not a cross street in sight). It was easiest to find hotels around the main squares or zocalos. food is very inexpensive throughout the mainland. the native Indian handicraft is very inexpensive. once we ended up on a secondary rod, by accident, BIG MISTAKE. They take 3 times longer and have way too much traffic.

in towns, there is always parking in private guarded lots. the entrances are not always easy to spot, narrow and not well identified. Basically, you will see a lof cars inside. Go around the block and enter.

distances between one town and another are quite long, bring water and something to eat as there are often NO RESTAURANTS nor any HOTEL at all for miles and miles.

someof the cheapest andsafest places to stay, we found, were the notel hotels. They are immaculate (sheets washed quite often , right ?) and you can pak with the garage door closed. they all have air conditioning. they all have room service for cheap.

enjoy your trip.

Hook - 10-4-2012 at 07:45 AM

If you insist on online, dont forget Lonely Planet's Thorn tree forum, although it is not that well organized. The search function is only OK.

mcfez - 10-4-2012 at 09:05 AM

:light:

Great info shared. I do research before going anywhere. Google maps is GREAT to bring up to see a hiking trail or dirt road......

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
Joerover,
I am planning a month on the mainland and went out and bought the most recent Lonely Planet book for Mexico....(my other one was 22 years old and I figured they might have a more current edition). I poured over it for several hours and became a bit disappointed as I found their books more helpful in previous years....

So, as I began my Googling, I was led from one link to another with a stunning amount of old and current information on everything I was asking it. With a few windows open (tripadvisor, Google maps, and another for general questions), I was inundated with way more information than I could ever get from a single source, never mind a 3 lb. book I didn't want to carry.

My suggestion is "Google it !"

A 10 year old taught me a while back the best way to do a search on Google:

"Enter the question as you would ask a person the question instead of trying to think what key words are best for the search!"

Works for me.....have a good trip....follow your nose and carry some extra TP.

joerover - 10-4-2012 at 10:57 AM

I am going to Chiapas or Zona de Maya. Perhaps Belize Guatemala or even Honduras.

I plan to be sitting on a Mayan pyramid on 12 21 12.

There is a lot of Mexico between here and there. Oaxaca is on the way, perhaps I will stay there a little while.

After all that is where the finest Mexican coffee comes from.

So far 5 out of 6 Mexican people voted for traveling down the main land and not the ferry in La Paz. The guy in the Migration office yawned and refused to vote, he motioned in a southerly direction as he yawned. Puebla might be on the way because they seem to grow cuter girls there, ( how is that for winging it.)

I am riding a bicycle to southern Mexico. I have 2 1/2 months to get there. I may take a couple of buses her and there. I have wide tires I can avoid the main highway and take dirt, gravel and sand roads.

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
also, tell us where you are going - some of us have traveled Mexico extensively and you can get some wonderful tips.

lonely planet and moon are really good books, but my absolute favorite (photos and up to date amazing info) is DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL MEXICO. I found it to be awesome because I would recognize places from the pics in the book. I highlighted the places that sounded most interesting. I believe I was only disaappointed once in the thousands of places we went to.

I think the People's Guide is really great if you have never traveled to Mexico. It has down to earth recommendations - for us, since we live here and know most customs, I found it too simplified. Just my opinion.

motoged - 10-4-2012 at 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by joerover
I am going to Chiapas or Zona de Maya. ...
I am riding a bicycle to southern Mexico. I have 2 1/2 months to get there. I may take a couple of buses her and there. I have wide tires I can avoid the main highway and take dirt, gravel and sand roads.

Joe,
Have you ridden that bike much in sand....really?

Sounds like a good trip, but don't let adventure and wanderlust set up unrealistic expectations.....

Or maybe you know something about pedaling in sand that I haven't learned yet in 56 years of bicycling :?:

good luck.....the top of a Mayan temple is a good idea.....I did that in Tikal overnight once....watched the sun set and then rise.....VERRRRRY trippy experience :cool:

joerover - 10-4-2012 at 11:25 AM

I can make it through the sand buy pedaling and pushing with a 2.1 inch tire and a light load. With a 2.55 inch tire I can ride through 1/2 ish of the sand or on a hard sand beach like playa Ensenada. They make a 3.8 inch tire which goes through sand and snow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXcRfhcScKQ

Mula - 10-4-2012 at 11:28 AM

Now the reason for not wanting to carry guide books comes out . . . finally.

motoged - 10-4-2012 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joerover
I can make it through the sand buy pedaling and pushing with a 2.1 inch tire and a light load. With a 2.55 inch tire I can ride through 1/2 ish of the sand or on a hard sand beach like playa Ensenada. They make a 3.8 inch tire which goes through sand and snow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXcRfhcScKQ

Key word here is "pushing" :biggrin:

Best of luck to you and your dream. :coolup:

BajaBlanca - 10-5-2012 at 07:36 AM

puebla is really cool. there is a feeling of air and art everywhere. and a great ice cream shop run by 5 brothers, who make their own ice cream.

oaxaca is old and amazing. someof the smaller villages around it have natives who don't speak Spanish. the local weaves are really amazing.

the pyramids are everywhere. I mean everywhere.

my next suggestion is going to be that you write on nomads right before you head to the next place and we can give suggestions ....

your trip will be excellent.