by Madeline Bell

Created on: July 20, 2007

Contrary to most, I do recommend wandering around Mexico via automobile. If you're planning a trip to one of the coastal towns, such as Cozymel or Puerta Vallarta then you're not really planning a trip to Mexico. You're planning a trip to the American Mexico.

I highly recommend hopping in one of the family vehicles and driving across the border and into REAL Mexico. However, I do advise beyond anything else that at least one person in the vehicle have a faint understanding of the language.

When crossing the Mexican border, you will need to get a driving permit for your car and a tourist visa. The tourist visa is only necessary if you are driving further than 20 miles south of the border, but if you're going to take my advice, you need one for sure. When tagging your car, stay calm. Most of the clerks will speak English, if you don't speak Spanish. It's intimidating and a bit of a lengthy process, but well worth it. Rather than describe every little detail, I'd rather list some do's and don'ts for the road trip in Mexico.

DOs and DON'Ts:
*Bring your own bottled water - LOTS of it.
*Bring a roll or two of toilet paper for the car and plenty of hand sanitizer.
*Bring maps from the U.S.
*Have your way fairly planned ahead of time.
*Do not stare at the men with machine guns - they are Mexican militia at every state border crossing and may or may not decide to search your car.
*Watch out for animals in the road and on the side of the road - cows will leave big dents.
*Speed - If everyone else is speeding, move right along with them. It's scarier to be passed in the middle of a sharp curve on a mountain than to speed up a bit.
*STAY ON THE TOLL ROADS! If you paid enough attention to your maps and planned ahead, you should be able to drive on toll roads for long periods of time. (These are the superautopistas.)
*Toppes are Mexican speed bumps and they mean business!
*Do not eat American food in Mexico.
*When pumping gas, or having it pumped, DO NOT leave your vehicle unattended. Take turns in the restroom.
*Take your own toilet paper in every gas station restroom - not the whole roll!
*Window washers LOVE to be tipped in food so load up on snacks.
*Window washers do not take no for an answer.
*The road signs are in Spanish - know what is going on.
*Do not stare.
*Do not behave like a backwoods, uneducated, uncultured greedy American.

*Take your vehicle tag back to the place you received it. If you do not, you will get a nice fine in the mail or you will have to drive back to return it.

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