LIFE IN MEXICO: Transportation within Mexico - affordable bus and air travel

[losguerra]

Experts - Can offer your advice on these or any other issues related to this topic?

Which bus lines do you recommend, and what are their websites?

Which budget airlines are good for traveling within Mexico and what are their websites?

Any tips for getting a good deal on bus or air travel?


Have questions or advice about a different topic related to life in Mexico? Check the master list (http://immigrate2us.net/forum/showpost.php?p=148907&postcount=1) for all the threads about life in Mexico!

[Auntlily]

Cheap flights try www.vivaaerobus.com (http://www.vivaaerobus.com)

[IBMMuseum]

Experts - Can offer your advice on these or any other issues related to this topic?

Which bus lines do you recommend, and what are their websites?...

I used Limousines Express (the website was ellalimo.com before, but dead now) strickly because they had a route (at one time, two trips per day; I didn't like it reduced to just one) between El Paso and Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico (as far south as they travelled). About $100 round trip for an adult. Usually comfortable enough (what can you expect on bumpy Mexican highways?), in Winter either too hot (heater on) or too cold (heater off).

Bring a pillow and blanket in a Mal-Wart bag, you'll fit right in...

A flight going the same way was five times as much, on a double-prop commuter plane, and long layover in Chihuahua...

[losguerra]

While the bus is usually the cheapest way to travel through Mexico, there plenty of budget airlines, and at certain times, on certain routes, a plane can be almost equally affordable as the bus!

Here are Mexico's main budget airlines:
Alma de Mexico (http://www.alma.com.mx/ing_default.php) (main hub in Guadalajara)
Aviacsa (http://www.aviacsa.com/english/tickets/discount_packages/web.cfm) (main hubs in DF, Monterrey, and Tijuana, also flies to Las Vegas)
Avolar (http://www.avolar.com.mx/) (hub in Tijuana)
Interjet (http://www.interjet.com.mx/) (main hub in Toluca/DF)
Viva Aerobus (http://www.vivaaerobus.com/) (main hub in Monterrey, soon offering service to Austin, TX)
Volaris (http://www.volaris.com.mx/Inicio.aspx?culture=en-US) (main hubs in Tijuana and Toluca)

This site (http://www.whichbudget.com/#from63) can help you figure out which airlines fly between your departure and destination cities. It doesn't include Aviacsa, though, so make sure to check them on your own.

[IBMMuseum]

While the bus is usually the cheapest way to travel through Mexico, there plenty of budget airlines, and at certain times, on certain routes, a plane can be almost equally affordable as the bus!...

Yes, even for me by bus (an adult that has patience, and not travelling with a cranky child) to go any further (12 hour trip) would be hard. But there was so long of wait to change planes in Chihuahua (and an uncomfortable waiting area) that it almost took as "long" as the bus trip in the end. Going up to our whole family (5) it is cheaper to drive ourselves (again, I don't mind driving that long with a cruise control, but longer would definately be much harder) and pay car insurance and casetas.

I always thought ourselves lucky to be a close enough of drive from the U.S., and my GPS map for the United States ended just south of Torreon (because it has to cover the southern tip of Texas, at the same latitude as Torreon). The drive usually is pleasant enough. Let's hope it stays that way.

[Laura]

SFGate article on the budget airlines in Mexico including their hubs and popular destinations (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/05/07/mexicomix050708.DTL&type=travel).

[Family]

We used Estrella de Oro in Guerrero. I loved the bus system. We went from Acapulco to Mexico City using the system. Cheap, but not too cheap. Air conditioning that you feel, new movies to watch, comfortable chairs and depending on your ticket- it could include a soda and chips. Oh, and the bathrooms on the bus are clean!

[gecko123]

I'm trying to find a cheap bus route from CDJ to Mexico city. Anyone?

[raquel]

Is there a sticky with Mexican Airline and bus company links/names? That would be very cool to have as reference. :D

I traveled on Omnibus from CDJ to Torreon, Coahuila. They are reliable and safe, but I'm sure there are other bus lines that are also reliable and safe. I had mixed traveling stories on Omnibus, but it was the passengers and there isn't much a bus service can do with bad passengers. Anyway, I found a website that has some bigger names of bus lines, but keep in mind, at bus terminals, there are others that aren't listed. Plus Omnibus is first class, not deluxe, so whatever your preference is. If I ever need to travel by bus again (and I would rather fly), I would vote for a deluxe line although at the Juarez bus station (keep your belongings close!), my husband and I didn't notice any deluxe lines, although we could have been under-educated about Mexican bus travel at that time. :)

http://www.surf-mexico.com/states/national/bus_lines.php

[sotelos]

You can fly Interjet from Juarez to Toulca www.interjet.com/mx

it is supposed to be one of Mexico's low cost carriers. Depending on your date. I have been looking at intra Mexico travel and found that airfare is not always more expensive. Especially when I consider there is a 2 year old involved.

[losguerra]

I think Interjet even operates a bus/shuttle from the Toluca airport straight into downtown DF (some hotel).

[gecko123]

I just found this website... Its kind of like Kayak, but it searches all the mexican airlines too! http://www.momondo.com/ Check it out

[gecko123]

I found another great website today. I bought a map of the D.F. today and the company that made it also has maps available online. :cheerful: I love maps!
Guia Roji maps (http://www.guiaroji.com.mx/index.php?f=1)

[nineten]

Why in the world would somebody tell me that Mexicana is the only airline from D.F. to Juarez?

[slvjvm922000]

well there is also interjet and a few other airlines also that fly from mexico df to cdj.

[Chapital]

We've always used aviacsa from CDJ to DF....