Driving from Laredo to Guadalajara

[circle110]

We just returned to Guanajuato today from San Antonio. We crossed at Colombia Bridge and then over to Mex 85 south en route to Monterrey and then took 40D over to Mex 57 near Saltillo heading south through San Luis Potosi and then on into Guanajuato. We had no incidents and saw nothing in any way alarming outside of drivers doing insanely dangerous maneuvers on the highway, but that is par for the course in Mexico.

We passed through five checkpoints on our way north last week (six if you include the permanent one where you leave the interior); three were military and two were Federal Police. They all just waved us through. There were only two checkpoints heading back south, both Federal Police. Again, we were waved right through.

When returning, we had the bad luck to get the red light at Aduana at the interior checkpoint but the inspector was very pleasant and professional. Everyone was getting the red light for some reason, which is odd since I've never seen anyone get the red light for before. Every inspection bay had a vehicle in it. The inspector was very thorough but fortunately it was only a week long trip and we had a relatively few things with us so the search didn't last long. He also checked the car's papers and my visa card and passport and, since all was in order, he wished us a safe journey and sent us on our way.

Well over a million drivers travel that route every month. I don't know statistics of how many of those vehicle encounter violence (very few I'm sure) so I'll bet your odds are much better that a million to one in that regard. However, we have seen many accidents along the roadway. I drive that route with hyper vigilance but not for fear of Narco violence. It's the bad drivers that I worry about!

[circle110]

*** Gas Scam Warning ***

I forgot to mention that a scam was attempted on us for the second time. This ties in with Ken Wood's warning.

The gas attendant gets very chatty after you tell him how much gas you want. I was asking for a fill-up this time. He does zero the pump at first but then he keeps you diverted and sometimes a second fellow starts to chat you up as well to keep your attention away from the fact that no gas is actually flowing onto your car . Then, after a short time, the attendant says, "there you go, $100 pesos just like you said!". Then you say, "I said fill it up, not a hundred pesos" and he tells you that he is sorry for the misunderstanding and he will put in the additional gas and you will pay the first $100 pesos plus what he puts in "the second time".

Well, of course he never puts in the 100 pesos to start. He rings it up but doesn't pump any gas. It's pretty obvious if you pay attention because the pump says $100 on the top register but on the bottom register where it normally says how many liters have been pumped, it is blank. But, if you are not paying attention, you may not notice. And the guys seems so "nice and friendly".

I had this attempted once before so this time, after the $100 was supposedly put in, I started my car, looked at the gas gauge while the guy was looking at me and just gave him a look to let him know I knew. He then shut up and filled it up and didn't bother to try to ask for the $100 extra.

Since it's happened to me twice recently out on the highway (in very different locations) I figure it must be a scam that the highway attendants are passing around. Pay attention and just let them know that you know the trick if they try it. They'll probably simply give up like my guy did today when they realize you are on to them.

[Ken Wood]

---When returning, we had the bad luck to get the red light at Aduana at the interior checkpoint but the inspector was very pleasant and professional. Everyone was getting the red light for some reason, which is odd since I've never seen anyone get the red light for before. Every inspection bay had a vehicle in it. The inspector was very thorough but fortunately it was only a week long trip and we had a relatively few things with us so the search didn't last long. He also checked the car's papers and my visa card and passport and, since all was in order, he wished us a safe journey and sent us on our way.---

Funny you mention this...the car ahead of us in line got a red light, the first one I have ever seen. Maybe this can be interpreted as heightened enforcement, a new selection calculation factor, manual intervention, who knows? But, what it tells me is that I should be prepared to defend my situation, as you apparently were.

[CheeseWiz]

We just drove from PV thru Guad then onto Austin 2 weeks ago and crossed at Columbia with no problems at all. We stayed in Real Catorce as I had never been there, it was awesome, otherwise stay in Matahua.

[RVGRINGO]

Matehuala?

[redraidermty]

Just passed through the Laredo border into Mexico. It is true, there is an unusual amount of red lights at the "garita" while the oficial was cheching all my stuff (of which I had to pay 1500 pesos in tax) I kind of notice that the read light would come on more often on heavy vehicles (I have an SUV) and lighter cars would get green more often, not really sure if that's really what's happening. Just an observation.

[Ken Wood]

Originally Posted by redraidermty

Just passed through the Laredo border into Mexico. It is true, there is an unusual amount of red lights at the "garita" while the oficial was cheching all my stuff (of which I had to pay 1500 pesos in tax) I kind of notice that the read light would come on more often on heavy vehicles (I have an SUV) and lighter cars would get green more often, not really sure if that's really what's happening. Just an observation.

As I have said before, a successful border crossing is one where you wind up on this side without having to leave an exhorbitant amount of money at the border. You seem to have done this, so, congratulations. I have driven Laredo-SLP, and Lagos de Moreno-Guadalajara both recently, and have had no problems. I am a stranger to SLP-Lagos de Moreno, but I would be completely confident on that stretch also. If you guys are meat eaters, there is a big, open air carnita restaurant at kilometer 133 of the Lagos de Moreno-Guadalajara cuota. Good food and reasonable prices. Even if you aren't ready for large pieces of fried pig meat, they have big, clean, free baños, and cold sodas. Best wishes for a safe, uneventful trip.

[Mikee17]

Originally Posted by redraidermty

Has anyone done this recently? Are the roads safe to drive? I will be only driving during the day and staying with some friends in Monterrey. I'll be driving with a mexican friend and my 2 little dogs. Just want to know if anyone has done this drive lately.

Thanks!

I have made the drive down twice, and I have a bunch of gringo friends who have done it multiple times. We stick to the cuotas (paid roads) and never had any issues. BUT, I would recommend having a paper map and GPS AND a navigator. The roads are changing fast so your GPS will get confused in places.

Some friends do it in one long day, we prefer to stay in Saltillo overnight and do it in 2 days. I have 3 little kiddos, so that worked for us.

I recommend the Park Inn hotel. Park Inn Saltillo: Hotel Saltillo Mexico: Accommodation in Saltillo Very reasonable, convenient, clean, and safe. They have security watching the parking lot.

[conklinwh]

Originally Posted by Mikee17

I have made the drive down twice, and I have a bunch of gringo friends who have done it multiple times. We stick to the cuotas (paid roads) and never had any issues. BUT, I would recommend having a paper map and GPS AND a navigator. The roads are changing fast so your GPS will get confused in places.

Some friends do it in one long day, we prefer to stay in Saltillo overnight and do it in 2 days. I have 3 little kiddos, so that worked for us.

I recommend the Park Inn hotel. Park Inn Saltillo: Hotel Saltillo Mexico: Accommodation in Saltillo Very reasonable, convenient, clean, and safe. They have security watching the parking lot.

Good to hear of safe place in Saltillo as the area has become a little marginal. However, why would you stay so close to the border when only 6+ hrs Nuevo Laredo to San Luis Potosi.
Even with small kids, expect that you could easily make Matehuala and these much better mid-points for drive to Lakeside.

[Ken Wood]

We returned yesterday from another road trip to Texas via Laredo. To reiterate everything that has been posted here previously, we experienced no serious problems, but we did have another attempted gas scam and were red lighted at the 20 kilometer checkpoint. We had declared at the border, so all we had to do was show the receipts and roll on through.

I realize that this has been beaten around pretty thoroughly here, but I believe them to be important issues for drivers, worthy of the rehash. I'll credit Circle110 for posting the very wise point of checking the volume register on the pump if you are faced with the 100 peso scam when you ask for a fill up. His point was that the attendant can manipulate the cost, but not the volume. That is an excellent point, but nothing is better than verifying not only that the register is zeroed, but the actual initiation of pumping the gas.