Robin's Mexico Independent Travel Guide

Our lifelong pursuit of independent travel has brought us so much pleasure that we are publishing our experiences to encourage others to follow in our footsteps.

Package Holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to visit new destinations in a safe and controlled environment. However, for those of us who need to explore and experience the local culture this is not always enough.

The first time we travelled to Mexico independently we stepped out of the airport and took a cab to the bus station, 2km away. Mistake #1, the cab cost 130 Peso and by catching a bus around the corner we would have paid only 4 Peso each.

Inter-City Bus Service
Mistake #2, instead of going directly to the ticket counter inside the bus terminal I walked up to the first bus I saw with the destination on it. The bus looked like an express so we boarded it only to discover that it bus stopped very frequently and had no washroom. The trip took six hours. An express bus makes the same trip in 4 ½ hrs and has a washroom.

Bus Frequency
Express buses to smaller destinations may only make 2 trips per day, while a regular bus leaves every hour. The cost is about the same but the express will save you hours on a long trip. Read more... on public transportation.

Traveling Light
We have discovered that backpacks are both light and convenient for hoping on and off public transportation. Your hands are free and you are not dragging a case over uneven terrain. Only pack what you need, leave your winter coat back home in the car, always have a second smaller backpack for carry-on.

It is very important that you have a complete change of clothes in your carry-on. If you are traveling in the winter this is particularly important as you could find yourself stranded at an airport with your checked luggage already back home.

Quick Dry None-Iron Clothing
We only take quick-dry clothes that we can roll up in our packs as we never know when we will see the next washing machine. Our clothes will dry in the sun in just a few hours and can be washed in a wash basin if necessary. Plan for the worst case scenario and enjoy laundry service when it is offered.

Travelling on a Modest Budget
By saving money on transportation you can splurge once in awhile on upscale accommodation or if you prefer you can make more trips each year. Just back from Mexico, we are on our way to Asia soon and Europe to follow.

We trust that you will find the website helpful and that your experience travelling this way will be most enjoyable and that you to will become ambassadors for this kind of travel.