3 Questions about Travelling to Mexico

August 13, 2009 4:59 AM

I am traveling to Mexico with my significant other (who is from Mexico), and I have three questions about our trip! Whats a good website to book flights, where shouldn't I miss seeing and can I buy an engagement ring cheaper there than in Australia?

So I am lucky enough to have an awesome girlfriend, who is from Monterrey in Mexico. We are going together from the 5th of Dec to the 5th of Jan. We already have a bit of a plan worked out:

Monterrey
Zacetecas
Guadalajara
San Miguel de Allende
Mexico City (with day trips to Pachucha de Soto and Taxco)
Then back to Monterrey for Xmas

After that we have a few days and I'm not sure where to go, I was thinking we could fly to Oaxaca or somewhere else, but not sure where. Any recommendations? Neither of us is into hanging out at the beach, adventure holidaying (bungee jumping etc), or partying like crazy animals (so no Tijuana). I'm definitely into the history and any naturally beautiful parts of the world.

Also any recommendations for a website for checking flight prices? Spanish or English is fine!

Lastly... and the reason this is anonymous... I'd like to propose to my girlfriend while there. I was going to buy a ring here (Australia) but thought better of it, thinking perhaps the quality will be better, or the prices lower in Mexico? Am I insane for thinking this, and given my limited abilities in Spanish and blonde hair and blue eyes, will I be able to get good quality and a good price?

Muchas gracias por todo!

posted by anonymous to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

Oh, if you're going to be there in December, I really, really encourage you to see the butterflies in Michoacan. Hostels in the little towns near Angangueo usually have an owner who will pack you in his truck for $20 and drive you up the mountain, where you can then get on horseback, go another hour, and see millions of migrated monarch butterflies. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. And would be a great spot for a proposal, if I may make a suggestion.

Also, you said "fly to Oaxaca" -- the Mexican bus system is really great... cheap, safe, and convenient. I'd personally recommend that over flying anywhere.
posted by olinerd at 5:15 AM on August 13, 2009

dont miss morelia and patzcuaro sea when youre in michoacan!
posted by freddymetz at 5:41 AM on August 13, 2009

You are so lucky to have a Monterrey girl as girlfriend!

The bus system is great, but it still takes a long time to get to places as across the county. There is a Mexican budget airline based in Monterrey called vivaAerobus that can quickly and cheaply get you around Mexico. It a tie-in between one of the members of the Ryan family of the Europe RyanAir and a major Mexican bus line. The rates can be quite cheap to get quickly from Monterrey to Oaxaca City. I've flow on it many times and it is no-frills -- no assigned seats, pay extra for food and drinks, you can pay extra for boarding group one, pay extra for checked luggage, using a credit card to buy tickets, etc. Like some of the discounted carriers they will advertise fares w/o taxes and fees so the 150 peso flight from Monterrey to Oaxaca ends up being closer to 900 pesos. But 900 pesos is $70 US right now. It would be hard to even take a bus for that. And the flight is only two hours.

When you're in Cd Mexico, you may wish to take a day trip to the pyramids at Teotihuacan. I love that kind of stuff.
posted by birdherder at 6:42 AM on August 13, 2009

Oaxaca in December is really really nice. The Night of the Radishes has turned into a tourist-infested mess, but it's still quite a thing to see. The local craft villages are easy to get to. Plus Monte Alban, which is pretty spectacular.

I would recommend a few days there.
posted by Danf at 7:58 AM on August 13, 2009

Just a tiny point, but jewelry is one of the few things I have noticed is usually less expensive in Mexico than in the USA. (Clothing is another). But most manufactured goods are more expensive in Mexico, whether they're exported from China or the USA.... even if they're manufactured in Mexico by US and Japanese corporations.

Mexico has a very strong artisan community and tradition, too (think: Italy), so your odds on finding a unique and hand-made ring will be much, much better. Of course, it will also take much more legwork and negotiating.
posted by rokusan at 8:51 AM on August 13, 2009

The silver jewelry industry is huge in Mexico. Gold, not so much. Taxco is ground zero for silver, you and your darling will spend the whole day looking at rings there.

BTW...posting anonymously is not going to fool your girlfriend. If she comes across this post, she will figure it out in a heartbeat given all the info you provided.
posted by randomstriker at 11:43 AM on August 13, 2009

I would hit Merida, the capital city of the Yucatan, but that's a personal bias. I love the tenor of the city and it's close enough to the water to spend the day there and still head back to the city at night.
posted by FlamingBore at 8:34 PM on August 14, 2009

The problem with buying diamonds in either Australia or Mexico (as compared to the US) is that both countries charge VAT & Customs on import and sales of diamond jewelry. If you can make a day trip to the USA, you'll save a lot of money. 10-20% on a diamond ring is a lot of money, so it might be worth the extra aggravation of traveling.
posted by TruthAboutDiamonds at 3:00 AM on September 8, 2009