For cryin out loud! Get busy for a few days and all hell breaks loose. Let's see where do I begin........
Cell phones: For crying out loud BBIII, mankind survived without cell phones for thousands of years! Just say NO to cell phones. Surely you can survive two weeks without the damned cell phone! Seriously, one thing about Mexico - they are on a different clock than us. Things there are a LOT slower and laid back. So get into the spirit of things or prepared to be frustrated. Cell phones? We don't need no stinkin cell phones. Ok, rant over, all the above being said, IIRC, my roommate's cell phone worked at every place we stopped for the night, I think. Don't know what service provider he had, or how much that was costing him, nor do I want to even think about it. All I know was that he was pleasantly surprised that it worked. Bah humbug!
FJRambo said:
How many miles of unpaved road did you have to contend with?
ZERO. Paved the whole way. Not quite US roads mind you in that the lanes are thinner and with no shoulder generally, but pavement is in good condition. Meeting semis, especially on curves can momentarily raise your blood pressure, but traffic is generally extremely light, so it doesn't happen too often. Since we were coming from Arizona, we entered Mexico at Tecate (Where the Tecate beer brewery is - go figure) and took Route 3 passing through wine country and vineyards to Ensenda. The whole rest of the trip is was Route 1.
Skyway said:
What do things cost down there, lodging, gas, food, women. Oops, no need to reply on the latter.
I would say prices were similar to inexpensive to moderate for the U.S. I think the rooms were about $70-$90 a night for two. Meals were not dirt cheap, but generally less than $10. Gas - I have no idea. Never did get the simultaneous litres to gallons and pesos to dollars conversions down in my head. Don't think it was all that expensive. Also, no problems with the gas. They usually have two grades, normal and premium, and I think I almost always used their normal grade - without issue. As for the women - what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico!!!
Cabo San Lucas is the exception. Very commercial, and things are significantly more expensive there. Actually, Cabo was not my favorite part of the trip as after the serene beauty of most of the trip, I found the commercialism too much like the U.S. Fun, but it could almost be any tourist trap in the U.S IMHO.
Insurance
I highly recommend getting your insurance from
MEXPRO. You can do it online, or over the phone as I did it. Do it ahead of time so there are no delays while on your trip. This company may be a little more expensive than some, but according to our seasoned Mexico traveller, they are the best. They provide some coverages no other companies do apparently. IIRC, it cost me just under $100 for 9 days of coverage.
Hasta luego!