BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: windtrader on August 09, 2023, 09:21:21 PM
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There is much experience amongst the BCM crowd that heads south across the border, especially in the winter. Finally, might have time to do something like that is winter (Dec-Feb).
Gary and Mel mentioned rocky point. It has come up in conversations with other RV friends. It is very near the border yet along the sea so maybe it's a good first trip down south?
Seems like lots of gringos head there so language with shops is hopefully not a barrier. Given the road is probably well travelled, can one assume a safe trip? Do you take Mexico insurance, even though it isn't very far?
What is the crowd like during this time and how about the weather?
thanks
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I never did with my car nor would I recommend it especially now. I remember on an extended charter bus trip someone asked our tour conductor if they ever had or will offer trips to Mexico. They said they used to long ago but they found it got to be more risky for any number of reasons and less people expressed an interest to make it worthwhile.
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I know there's people on here who love Rocky Point. I'm not among them and I wouldn't go back there. We drove the bus as far south as Manzanillo and I've dragged a 5th wheel all over the Pacific coast. We drive the car down now for a couple of months. There's better groups than this one to get Mexican travel advice. Other than the fact that there's still plenty of 2 stroke Mexican mechanics there's not much that's bus-specific about Mexican travel.
Get ready for narrower roads, non-existent shoulders and more aggressive driving styles. Our general rule is to travel as early in the day as possible and ideally be off the road by 1 or 2 PM. The toll roads are plentiful and they aren't cheap. Often they are somewhat better than the free roads but not always. RV parks are an endangered species. iOverlander is the current resource for park information. Many of the ones we used are condos or hotels now. Some new ones have appeared but not as many as have disappeared. RVing is not a lifestyle of the Mexican middle class so the parks largely have to survive on a few months of gringo traffic.
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We go to Rocky Point twice a year typically. We go spring and fall. We have gone in the winter however we find that it is not as warm as we would like. When I tell that to friends they wonder what I'm talking about. At Christmas and New Years it is not much more that in the sixties. I is nicer than the colder climates. One Christmas we went to Keno Bay and it was a lot farther and a lttle warmer but more hassle at the border. Lukeville to Rocky Point is a nice one hour drive that we are used to. I feel safer there than I have is some cities in the United States. Follow all the rules and be sure to get Mexico Insurance. We even spent some time with BOTN and Marylin in Rocky Point.
Just what we do.
Melbo and Billie
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We go to Rocky Point twice a year typically. We go spring and fall. We have gone in the winter however we find that it is not as warm as we would like. When I tell that to friends they wonder what I'm talking about. At Christmas and New Years it is not much more that in the sixties. I is nicer than the colder climates. One Christmas we went to Keno Bay and it was a lot farther and a lttle warmer but more hassle at the border. Lukeville to Rocky Point is a nice one hour drive that we are used to. I feel safer there than I have is some cities in the United States. Follow all the rules and be sure to get Mexico Insurance. We even spent some time with BOTN and Marylin in Rocky Point.
Just what we do.
Melbo and Billie
I got to eat the shrimp Botn brought back :^
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We even spent some time with BOTN and Marylin in Rocky Point.
I should have clarified that we were in Rocky Point at Mel/Billie's invitation and the company was wonderful. We just weren't wild about the location.
To Mel's comments about Mexican winter weather: Our experience has been that you need to get south of Mazatlan to be sure of the weather. Even Maz can be nippy in January. If I'm going that far to get out of the Canuckian deep freeze the last thing I want is "long sleeves and long pants" weather when I get there. Puerto Vallarta has been weather safe for us. We spent last winter in Melaque - shorts and t-shirts every day.
And now for your viewing pleasure, I never miss an opportunity to attach the following photo from that visit to Rocky Point.
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I should have clarified that we were in Rocky Point at Mel/Billie's invitation and the company was wonderful. We just weren't wild about the location.
To Mel's comments about Mexican winter weather: Our experience has been that you need to get south of Mazatlan to be sure of the weather. Even Maz can be nippy in January. If I'm going that far to get out of the Canuckian deep freeze the last thing I want is "long sleeves and long pants" weather when I get there. Puerto Vallarta has been weather safe for us. We spent last winter in Melaque - shorts and t-shirts every day.
And now for your viewing pleasure, I never miss an opportunity to attach the following photo from that visit to Rocky Point.
In all my years Bob I never saw you in long pants even in cold weather,every body freezing in Quartzsite and you in shorts pants
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Thanks for the insights. We've been on the fence about heading toward Puerto Vallarta area for the winter escape or taking the bus south across the border. Leaning toward going to PV this winter as friends have a timeshare there and many years around and about. With diesel prices these days, it a tossup with airfares.
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Thanks for the insights. We've been on the fence about heading toward Puerto Vallarta area for the winter escape or taking the bus south across the border. Leaning toward going to PV this winter as friends have a timeshare there and many years around and about. With diesel prices these days, it a tossup with airfares.
Maybe fuel will be lower I doubt it though it reached $4.07 here yesterday. Only 3.3 % inflation rate lol what a joke
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Mexican fuel is no bargain anymore either. It used to be but now its basically the same overpriced number that we pay here in the frozen north. I still see US fuel as a bargain. Maybe not a great bargain but a bargain compared to the taxes we pay. "Carbon" tax is our latest one. Apparently if I'm taxed enough it will help the climate. I'm puzzled though because its the 2nd week of August and its so cold here I'm wearing a fall jacket and still shivering. Maybe all those taxes are actually working.
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I go down there every winter and I feel safer there than in downtown Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York City. The people there are very friendly and if you break down on the road, practically every car will stop to help. That no longer happens up here in the States.
It is easy to find an RV Park on the water for $30/night with full hookups and the seafood is great and prices are half what I pay in SoCal.
Here is an article about the trip.
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/bcm-blogs/traveling-in-mexico/
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Here is a video of a presentation I gave last year at the Tuscon Escapees Rally. It has some great information in it.
https://youtu.be/kF715Z1UQiI
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Thanks Gary. I went through all the info except for the livestream from last week. Just curious how many BCM or bus conversions are there as opposed to other RV? Are the others mostly Class A or do trailers go too? I recognized a couple names associated with this community. What is the general expectation that travellers attend trips and events? Is it common for folks to just hang out, do their own thing? What about meals, is there a general expectation to join up and be together or is it fine to drift off and explore town on your own? thanks don
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Thanks Gary. I went through all the info except for the livestream from last week. Just curious how many BCM or bus conversions are there as opposed to other RV? Are the others mostly Class A or do trailers go too? I recognized a couple names associated with this community. What is the general expectation that travellers attend trips and events? Is it common for folks to just hang out, do their own thing? What about meals, is there a general expectation to join up and be together or is it fine to drift off and explore town on your own? thanks don
There are only a couple of bus conversions on these trips. This is the Escapees group which is mostly manufactured RVs including motorhomes, 5th Wheel, and Travel Trailers. These are tightly coordinated trips and involve some charity work. People will also however have a lot of free time to do what they want. The purpose of the trip is to introduce people to Mexico so they can travel down there on their own after this trip. They teach you everything you want to know bout traveling in Mexico in an RV.
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You guys are braver than me. Haven't been to Mexico, LA, or Chicago since the '70s. Only been back to NYC on business a hand full of times since then and it certainly was not a pleasure. I don't get time to travel for pleasure much but when I do, it's gonna be to somewhere that has folks that say howdy, yes sir, no mam, sug, and hon. :)
TOM
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You guys are braver than me. Haven't been to Mexico, LA, or Chicago since the '70s. Only been back to NYC on business a hand full of times since then and it certainly was not a pleasure. I don't get time to travel for pleasure much but when I do, it's gonna be to somewhere that has folks that say howdy, yes sir, no mam, sug, and hon. :)
TOM
I wouldn't go to Mexico now our government has open the gates of hell paying 6 billion in ransom to free some Americans ,it's open season for kidnapping Americans in foreign countries
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I wouldn't go to Mexico now our government has open the gates of hell paying 6 billion in ransom to free some Americans ,it's open season for kidnapping Americans in foreign countries
I understand the sentiment but I have the advantage that my vehicles aren't worth stealing and I'm not worth kidnapping. Seriously though, I think flashier vehicles probably increase the risk. We have family friends (Mexicans) who had their late model Escalade carjacked in broad daylight on a toll road close to Monterrey taking the family home for Christmas. It definitely happens but people get mugged in Regina and Winnipeg too - even Yorkton.
I think the biggest risk of foreign travel is that we have an innate radar for danger in familiar environments but that "sixth sense" doesn't necessarily work in a foreign location. I can recognize dangerous locations in Saskatoon but I may not recognize them in San Francisco or San Luis.
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Crimes were the worst here in the 80's but the last couple of years the crime rate makes the 80's seem like a Chruch picinic,it's bad when preachers are CWC in chruch
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You should go sometime, the Cocktails make the trip all worthwhile in themselves.
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I completed reviewing the links Gary provided and find going as a group has a number of benefits and some negatives, each are personal leaning of course.
As Gary states, one big benefit is there is expertise to guide you through the process of entr/exit and increasing confidence and safety when travelling in a pack, always in real-time communication. At least for we busnuts driving half century old vehicles, it is comforting to know there are some pairs of hands to help out if needed.
Having the trip planned means you don't have to do that - deciding where to stay, what to see and eat, etc. Yet, it seems to offer great latitutde and time to do as you please. The organized aspects seem pretty like and offer a structure to guide without impinging on one's own wishes.
For three weeks, the price of a thousand for a couple seems quite reasonable. Fee includes all campsites, some meals, etc. Pretty bare bones but that can be a benefit or negative. Personally, we travel quite inependently so the minimum is fine.
Another aspect, benefit or negative, is travelling in a group of 50-100 people and getting to make new friends and avoid some too. LOL I think what is nice is having the option to go solo around or connect with a few others amd name a group day trip.
As to safety, the routes this group takes are as safe as possible. Major well-travelled routes and again safety in numbers. Given the proximity to the border and tourist filled cities, English should not be a problem.
Probably the most concerning after reading and watching it all is the weather. There was mention of it being cold and lots of jackets. It seems during the day it's shorts and tees but evenings might get chilly.
If anyone is seriously considering this trip, read up and be prepared to sign up on the first day. Last trip got sold out in 90 minutes.
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I completed reviewing the links Gary provided and find going as a group has a number of benefits and some negatives, each are personal leaning of course.
As Gary states, one big benefit is there is expertise to guide you through the process of entr/exit and increasing confidence and safety when travelling in a pack, always in real-time communication. At least for we busnuts driving half century old vehicles, it is comforting to know there are some pairs of hands to help out if needed.
Having the trip planned means you don't have to do that - deciding where to stay, what to see and eat, etc. Yet, it seems to offer great latitutde and time to do as you please. The organized aspects seem pretty like and offer a structure to guide without impinging on one's own wishes.
For three weeks, the price of a thousand for a couple seems quite reasonable. Fee includes all campsites, some meals, etc. Pretty bare bones but that can be a benefit or negative. Personally, we travel quite inependently so the minimum is fine.
Another aspect, benefit or negative, is travelling in a group of 50-100 people and getting to make new friends and avoid some too. LOL I think what is nice is having the option to go solo around or connect with a few others amd name a group day trip.
As to safety, the routes this group takes are as safe as possible. Major well-travelled routes and again safety in numbers. Given the proximity to the border and tourist filled cities, English should not be a problem.
Probably the most concerning after reading and watching it all is the weather. There was mention of it being cold and lots of jackets. It seems during the day it's shorts and tees but evenings might get chilly.
If anyone is seriously considering this trip, read up and be prepared to sign up on the first day. Last trip got sold out in 90 minutes.
That is exactly why I joined this group. I had never driven my RV to Mexico before, but this group gave me the opportunity to travel with a group that has done all of the legwork upfront and I knew they would teach me everything I need to know to make this trip, with a lot of hand-holding along the way.
This group will teach you everything regarding insurance, border crossing, Mexican etiquette etc. so you will be very well prepared before you cross the border. I did a 3-hour presentation last year on what to look out for and the customs of the country, such as not flushing TP at the meeting point on this side of the border where we spent 3 days getting prepared and quelling any concerns of issues in Mexico, which are mostly misinformation. These are great people and it reminds me of back in the 60s when I grew up in a small town.
As for driving an old vehicle, my bus is over 50 years old, and once you get there, you will quickly realize that Mexicans are just like mechanics of old here in the U.S. They can fix ANYTHING, and they will do it for a fraction of the cost of what it will cost you up here. So you don't have to be worried about getting repairs done. You actually be shocked when you see their bill in most places. You will think you are living in the 60's again. Also when traveling with this outfit, you are broken up into groups of 5-9 rigs, and there is a leader and a Tail Gunner in each group. If you break down or get stopped by the police, everyone will stop to wait for you and assist. We try to have one Spanish speaker in each group as well.
The price is cheap. This is a non-profit organization. Every penny you pay goes toward the rally and to charity causes there. Most other groups charge over $3,000 for the same experience, and can run up to $9,000.
It can get chilly at night, or even in the day. The average temperature in February is in the 70's during the day, and most Canadians wear shorts at that time, but a short sleeve shirt will be fine most days. At night, you may want to join the group campfire. Don't plan to swim in the ocean at that time, but you can wade in. The problem this year, is that we usually have a nice sandy beach, but the campground this year is a bit dumpy and is not on the beach, and it is not a sandy beach anyway.
Last year the rally sold out in 1 hr 18 minutes, but I was the Wagonmaster and did a well-received presentation about the upcoming rally at the big event in Tuscon and in Rock Springs before that, and put out weekly notices starting in May about the upcoming rally, and I pretty much taught everyone what to expect long before we met at our starting place.
This year however, the leaders are more laid back, and are not putting much information about this rally out like I did, so I expect this years rally to be more like the norm, which usually does not sell out until around December, or January. But we will see.
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Gary - I tried to get more info on the trip but it is part of Chapter 8 of Escapees. Apparently, one must join both organizations to be "in". What does Escapees offer these days that one can not easily find on the internet between Facebook groups, other forums, to numerous blogs and social media sites?
The Ecapees membership is only 50 bucks but I could not find any value in the listed benefits.
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Gary - I tried to get more info on the trip but it is part of Chapter 8 of Escapees. Apparently, one must join both organizations to be "in". What does Escapees offer these days that one can not easily find on the internet between Facebook groups, other forums, to numerous blogs and social media sites?
The Ecapees membership is only 50 bucks but I could not find any value in the listed benefits.
Yes, you must join the Escapees club then pay another $10 to join the Mexican Connection group. I do not attend any Escapees functions except to go to the national rally the past two years to give a presentation on the upcoming Mexican Connection trip. They have a lot of members, mostly stick-n-staple units and many people enjoy their rallies. They have several different mini-groups called Birds of a Feather for particular interest as they cover almost everything. I recommend you join for a year and see what may interest you and if you do not see anything of interest to you, do not renew your membership another year.
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Escapees work good for full timers that is what is geared towards. Not for the average RV user
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Escapees work good for full timers that is what is geared towards. Not for the average RV user
Sure as long as you don't want to go on a group trip. Then you need to pay to play.
I'm just feeling like the recent repeated hits for money to join this or that does start adding up. I joined Thousand Trails with Trails Collection ($875), Harvest Host ($140 inc. Bookdockers), Coach-net($250), insurance($850). That nearly two grand just to get on the road the first mile and a place to stay.
Funny, maybe I just talked myself into throwing in another 60, chump change. lol
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I belonged to group for a year,they had nothing to offer for me,lol then I waste money on FMCA for over 25 years what a deal>If Sonja health was better and they would let you sleep in your RV now I would to the complete Alaska Marine Hiway on the ferry. We did the Bellingham WA to Ketchikan AK in the 90's it was a fun trip and then you could sleep in your RV.I didn't like Copper Canyon Mexico train ride she booked us on 1 year it sucked to me
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As I was scanning through the Escapee forum, it was feeling like a bunch of old folk moaning and bitching about just about everything, not much positive until one post mentioned Xscapers? Somehow related to Escapees?
It is like the new generations of RV travelers form a RV lifestyle group under the Escapees umbrella. Lots of enthusiasm, interesting people, varying interests, and desire to be on the road. https://xscapers.com/about/ https://bash.xscapers.com/about-us/ (https://bash.xscapers.com/about-us/)
They have numerous meetups throughout the year, mostly in the southwest. Here is a link to the big annual gathering. https://bash.xscapers.com (https://bash.xscapers.com)
Taking part in this group makes joining Escapees a simple decision now. Like Chapter 8, these sub groups need to be promoted in a way to attract new members.
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Gary - you were right, the winter trip is sold out. That is a big group, pluses and minuses. Understand there is safety in numbers and group wisdom but a small group is able to stay in smaller parks. But until one experiences it first hand, it's very difficult to know what you like the best. I'm on the wait list, will see.
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I am signed up for a one bus caravan and rally to Rocky Point. I have the bus and didn't have to pay a membership fee. No rally fee and I get to plan what the meal is and what time it is served. We take daily excursions to special activities all planned and arranged by me and the rally coordinator. However we will be staying at Playa De Oro and will have to put up with the bad cell and internet service.
Melbo and Billie
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Mel does Starlink work down south ?
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Gary - you were right, the winter trip is sold out. That is a big group, pluses and minuses. Understand there is safety in numbers and group wisdom but a small group is able to stay in smaller parks. But until one experiences it first hand, it's very difficult to know what you like the best. I'm on the wait list, will see.
It didn't really sell out but they closed Registration prematurely and we don't understand why. Last year when I was Wagonmaster, it sold out in 1 hr and 18 minutes but this year there was not very much promotion for the trip, so not as many people got excited about the trip and some people that had planned to go, did not like the way it was set up. Generally Registration stays open into January or until it fills up. They expected 70 rigs this year, but they closed down Registration at 45 rigs and they do not have a wait list this year, which is very unusual as well.
70 rigs is a lot, but I always tried to take as many people as the places we were visiting could hold as more and more people want to experience traveling in Mexico. Smaller groups are prefered by many. But several groups go to Mexico every spring, so there are a lot of options.
If you want to go on the Chapter 8 trip, you can try again next year. Like I said, you should be able to sign up until December or January as a rule.
There is safety in numbers, but I have no problem traveling in Mexico alone and several of my friends do as well, and we never have any problems. I feel safer in most places in Baja, then I do in some parts of big cities in this country. I feel safe walking around in Encenada, Puerto Penasco, Puerto Vallarta, etc. at night alone, but I would never dare to walk around downtown NYC, some parts of LA, Boston, or Chicago alone at night.
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LOL now Americans are worth a billion each ,you may be in bad shape with bus people coming up with a billion to bail your @$# out,only Biden has that kind of money
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Clifford,
I have talked to people that use it so it must be fine. We don't have starlink just Verizon and it treats us pretty well. Some times the connection is a little slow but I'm ALWAYS a little slow.
Melbo
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I am signed up for a one bus caravan and rally to Rocky Point. I have the bus and didn't have to pay a membership fee. No rally fee and I get to plan what the meal is and what time it is served. We take daily excursions to special activities all planned and arranged by me and the rally coordinator. However we will be staying at Playa De Oro and will have to put up with the bad cell and internet service.
Melbo and Billie
I'm looking into going solo. It seems Rocky Point is an easy cruise and likely uneventful. Lots of gringos and services catering to americans. This destination seems easy on the scale.
What would be really nice is finding dry camping along the coast, places with good access and parking where a bus is not going to get stuck. I've seen videos of places where they go solo but I'd feel way safer if there were at least a few others to have some sense of increased security in numbers.
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Mel does Starlink work down south ?
It worked great at our house in Melaque last winter. I don't like the price but the service is wonderful.
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I really enjoyed this thread, especially your comments, Gary.
I've always wanted to RV in Mexico but never have. Thanks to this thread I plan to do it with the Escapees someday.
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I returned from Puerto Penasco just last week and while I was down there I had three sides of my bus paint touched up. They will paint a bus in the RV park for $6,000, much less than you will pay up here and you can sit on the beach and drink Margaritas while they are working on it. They also have a shop where they will paint it for less, as they do not have to pay a portion to the RV Park. But it is nice to be able to sit on the beach front RV park while you are there.
A friend of mine is leaving there today after paying $3,800 to have the blistering paint and clear coat redone on 60% of his motorhome and the entire roof painted and two stress cracks repaired. He also had four places on his coach repaired that were damaged. He is very happy with the job.
This is something to consider if you need your rig painted and they are only about an hour and a half south of the border of Arizona.
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I returned from Puerto Penasco just last week and while I was down there I had three sides of my bus paint touched up. They will paint a bus in the RV park for $6,000, much less than you will pay up here and you can sit on the beach and drink Margaritas while they are working on it. They also have a shop where they will paint it for less, as they do not have to pay a portion to the RV Park. But it is nice to be able to sit on the beach front RV park while you are there.
A friend of mine is leaving there today after paying $3,800 to have the blistering paint and clear coat redone on 60% of his motorhome and the entire roof painted and two stress cracks repaired. He also had four places on his coach repaired that were damaged. He is very happy with the job.
This is something to consider if you need your rig painted and they are only about an hour and a half south of the border of Arizona.
LOL and I thought I was going to have to take you to the ER for buying 3 =G-31 batteries
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LOL and I thought I was going to have to take you to the ER for buying 3 =G-31 batteries
Did Gary get the good ones? Or did he opt for the bargain basement Playschool batteries? Lol!🤣🤣🤣
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Did Gary get the good ones? Or did he opt for the bargain basement Playschool batteries? Lol!🤣🤣🤣
He sprung for the good ones after the guy gave him a deal for buying 3 .He did complain about the weight of the new batteries compared to his $68.00 each batteries he purchased a few years ago, he paid almost as much for 1 as he did for the 3 he replaced
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He sprung for the good ones after the guy gave him a deal for buying 3 .He did complain about the weight of the new batteries compared to his $68.00 each batteries he purchased a few years ago, he paid almost as much for 1 as he did for the 3 he replaced
Atta boy Gary ;) :^
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LOL and I thought I was going to have to take you to the ER for buying 3 =G-31 batteries
Well Clifford ya know a man has to have PRIORITIES!
And for Gary that means margaritas on the beach trumps having batteries that lastlonger than the time it takes to install them! LOL!
;D BK ;D
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Well Clifford ya know a man has to have PRIORITIES!
And for Gary that means margaritas on the beach trumps having batteries that lastlonger than the time it takes to install them! LOL!
;D BK ;D
No making fun of me drinking Margaritas on the beach in Mexico with an armful of Chicitas around me aye? ;D
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No making fun of me drinking Margaritas on the beach in Mexico with an armful of Chicitas around me aye? ;D
Yeah just show them chicas your high dollar no exspense spared battery collection lol!
https://youtu.be/leqHnUM64HU?si=dUVw6reeA7magni-
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No making fun of me drinking Margaritas on the beach in Mexico with an armful of Chicitas around me aye? ;D
OH No Gary I wasn't making fun of you, I was just pointing out that you have PRIORITIES!
:D BK :D
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OH No Gary I wasn't making fun of you, I was just pointing out that you have PRIORITIES!
:D BK :D
Yes, you would be correct there. ;D