Having been convinced on another thread to not rent a car in Mexico, I am now thinking about finding a nice hotel, retreat, or mid range resort within a two or three hour bus ride or car ride of Mexico City and am looking for suggestions. I am hoping for a restorative four or five nights in a small to medium sized hotel or resort - nothing too corporate. Ideally there would be a pool or other body of water. (If they had actives - art, cooking, or hiking - that would be amazing.) I would really prefer not to get on a second plane trip but my initial google searches are full of suggestions on the coasts. Thanks for any ideas!
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2312 posts
Cuernavaca. This was YEARS ago, but we stayed at Hotel Posada Quinta Las Flores. It was originally a private residence but was converted to a hotel at the time of the Mexico City Olympics in 1964. I have no idea if it's even still operating, but just had to recommend it.
Posted by
58 posts
Personally, I would not travel in Mexico.
We have several friends who grew up in Mexico (are now US citizens) and will no longer visit their relatives still living in Mexico because of the danger. Many may disagree, but I listen to their advice.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
500 posts
We have several friends who grew up in Mexico (are now US citizens) and will no longer visit their relatives still living in Mexico because of the danger.
I feel safer in Oaxaca than I do in Seattle, and I feel pretty safe in Seattle.
YMMV.
-- Mike Beebe
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2312 posts
Yes, I was in Oaxaca last January, traveling solo, and had absolutely no worries.
Posted by
Paris
7312 posts
Near Cuernavaca, I can recommend "La Buena Vibra" in Tepotzlán (not to be confused with Tepotzotlán). My partner went there for a work event for a couple of days (lucky him!) before Covid and raved about the place. Reviews are still strong, and the bus ride from Taxqueña bus station to Tepotzotlán is well below the 2-hour mark (maybe 1.5 hours?).
Posted by
Colorado Springs
3016 posts
Any of the old colonial silver mining towns of central Mexico would answer for your purposes, though our particular favorite is San Miguel de Allende - a pretty (and safe) little place with a sizeable expat community. We used to "winter over" there for several months at a time back when we lived in the Pacific Northwest. It's the land of eternal Spring.
Rather than flying into Mexico City and then taking the bus we found it easier to just fly into Guanajuato (BJX) international airport and connect to SMA or Queretaro from there. The local buses (Primera Plus) are relatively cheap. They're clean, modern, and comfortable, and are a great way to connect the various cities in the region ... including Mexico City if it's your preference to include a stop there..
Also, we never used the international airport at Queretaro (QRO) but it's supposed to be first-rate too, and would obviously be handy for the city of Queretaro itself ... another relaxing and pretty little town. As I recall there are direct flights from the US to QRO from both Houston and Dallas (United and American airlines respectively).
Also FWIW, we never enjoyed flying in or out of the Mexico City airport. Negotiating arrival processing and out the door was usually a real PIA - hot, congested, and generally rather chaotic. Using Guanajuato was always a much more pleasant experience for us. We always found it to be worth the extra cost just for the comfort and convenience involved.
Posted by
1531 posts
We flew into cancun and took the ADO bus to Merida, clean, pleasant bus experience. We rented a house w pool, but there are many lively hotels in town. We took a day trip to see the flamingos