Driving to Monterey, Mex

D

DoubleMaduro

25+ Posts
Thinking about taking Mrs Maduro down to Monterrey for a few days of sight seeing and merriment.
It's only a 2 - 3 hour drive from Laredo. I've driven to Monterrey before, but that was back in the 90's before all the drug crime
was this prominent and ugly. Anyone driven down there recently and can put my mind at ease or ???
 
We loaded up the family truckster a couple years ago and drove south of Monterrey to Villa de Santiago. Toured the mountains, visited the Cola de Caballo falls. Good trip, no issues.
 
If you go, be sure & check out the historic Ancira Hotel a block off the main Plaza (Zaragosa, I believe).
Also, a visit to the Obispado (Bishop's Palace) would be interesting - it was the site of a fierce battle in the Siege of Monterrey during the 1848 war with Mexico.
A tour of the Carta Blanca Brewery and the art glass factories would be fun too.
The Instituto Technologico (the "MIT" of Latin America) campus is on the south side of town.
 
Madura, my line of work has me driving into Juarez once or twice per month. I cannot give you any tips for Monterey, but to enter Mexico you are now required to have a passport or birth certificate. In the state of Chihuahua kidnappings are on the rise, because the cartels are looking for other revenue sources since alot of their drug and human trafficking has been cut off due to tighter border security. I freak out when I'm at a stop light and a cop pulls up next to me. I don't eat at the cafes any more because you never know who is sitting next to you. People are getting gunned down in the crossfire, in broad daylight. Again, this is in Juarez Just be very careful if you go.
 
Thanks for the replies. Leaving the little maduros with memaw. I hear/read that the toll roads are "generally"
safer. There are still check points along the highway, so plenty of "freak out" opportunities, if we go.
 
Look out for shakedowns by the cops too. Those too are less frequent for them due to less tourists due to them not wanting to die en la Frontera. Don't have all your money together and have a good amount of bribe money (don't call it that, btw) readily available and looking like your primary money available.

I suggest you bypass the driving and take the airline suggested above. Fly OVER the potential risk and be in Monterrey in no time. Seriously. I have friends in Anahuac, Laredo and in both Monterrey and Saltillo and they agree.

When I next go for a visit I am not even taking a tourbus. I am flying. I will bus in the interior but I avoid the Frontera as much as I can. Too sketchy.
 
Monterrey is a wonderful city and is generally very safe. Take the toll road for faster & safer driving & better road conditions.

Enjoy the trip! I lived in Monterrey 18 years and absolutely love that place.
 
Got permits late the night before - no waiting. With the exception of Mexican soldiers armed with automatic weapons,
going over the bridge the next morning was fast and uneventful.
We took the toll highway (85) to Monterrey - less than 2 hours and a beautiful, scenic drive.
Our time in the city was
great - just not long enough.

Thanks for all the replies.
 
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