I'd like to drive to a Mexican city that has tourist attractions within 4 hours driving distance of US Border.

Question

I am a single female and would like to know the following:

-What is the best time to travel to Mexico in terms of prices

and weather?

-What are the best tourist attractions to visit that are safe and

within 6 hours driving distance from the US Border?

-What are the immigration rules and whether I need a passport

to travel as a US Citizen?

-Do I need a visa?

-What place along the US border should I rent a car to drive to

Mexico and whether my regular insurance will cover any

damage like accidents or theft. If not, could someone please

suggest something?

-What are the least congested border crossings?

-How long can I stay in Mexico as a tourist?

-Who can I contact for more information?

-Which website can I go to to mapquest the distance and

routes i.e.: form the US to Mexico?

-Any recommendations for cheap, safe, and comfortable

hotels and places to visit?

-Anyone interested in traveling together?

-Any other tips?

Answer 1

I can answer some of your questions.  You would be best off to travel to Baja California...there are no other areas with good cities to visit in northern Mexico.  You can get a tourist card at the border for about $22.00, good for up to 180 days.  You do not need  a visa.  Passports are not needed for LAND travel to Mexico yet...the date for this has not yet been set , but will be after next summer.  If you rent a car in the U.s. before crossing the border, they will discuss insurance with you. Your American insurance will NOT cover you.  SInce I think you should just stick going to Baja, you will cross the border at Tijuana.  Could rent a car in San Diego.    Driving in Mexico is qutie an adventure.  Never drive at nite , and stick to going to the cities close to border that other answerer mentioned.  Weather..in Baja, hot, all the time.  No season is substantially different, prices usualy same year round.  You CANNOT get to any good cities if you cross into Mexico from Texas...they are too far south.  Northern areas of Mexico are NOT attractive, and sorry to say, not safe.  You cannot even go to southern Baja...way to long a drive.  Money-wise, I think you would spend no more to FLY to a resort area like Puerta Vallarta than you will spend renting a car.

Answer 2

You can get to Monterrey from the border of Texas in about 2 1/2 hours, great toll road the entire way. We love that city enough that we got married there in '97! It is a very industrial city, but there are great museums, resturants, shopping and a hopping nightlife. Go up to the Bishops Palace at night, walk the macro plaza, tour the brewery and the glass factory. A short drive out of town and there is a world class fishing lake, horsetail falls, and the caverns. When you cross the border you can get your tourist papers and they can be good up to 180 days. You will need a passport to reenter the states. In my opinion it is best to take a bus. The ejecitivo lines are very nice, and cabs in Monterrey are inexpensive. In fact we usually hire one for the entire day and it costs us about 35 USD. We also like to stay at Hotel Plaza del Oro on Ave Hidalgo. It is right between the Macro Plaza and the Micro Plaza, reasonable prices and it is an extremely nice facility.

Answer 3

Ensenda...Rosarito Beach are only a few hours past the border from California.

Yes, you need a passport to go anywhere outside the United States now except Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.