Spanglish Mom Goes To Guadalajara: Her tips on where to stay, what to see, and how to stay safe.

 

It’s that time of the year! With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start planning trips to visit friends and family.

A few years ago, my husband and I decided to make a yearly effort to visit Guadalajara, Mexico. This decision came about because we wanted our children to experience life outside of the American bubble, and we wanted our kids to appreciate their Mexican culture.

Due to our busy schedules, the trip can be difficult to organize because I have to coordinate four schedules. As every mom knows, the travel worries multiply when you’re traveling outside the country. I worry about many things: the possibility of my kids getting sick or misbehaving on the flight, my family getting lost, and the list goes on. That’s not including the normal worries like lost luggage, or accommodations that we may not be accustomed to.

 

Traveling to Mexico can be an adventure if your organized and well prepared. In this blog, I will share my tips for both. I hope the information helps you to become less stressed so that you’re able to enjoy your next family vacation.

1.         SCHEDULES:

• Kids: If you’re going on your trip during the school season, like I do, try to coordinate schedules with your kids’ teachers a month ahead. You want to make sure they’re not missing anything that can’t be made up. I do get some slack for letting my kids miss school, but I know the experiences they gain from traveling are just as valuable.
• Work: In the past, I have bought tickets up to 6 months in advance; this forces us to commit to the trip. Make sure to turn in vacation requests at the earliest time possible. My job allows me to request vacation 3 months in advance. I’m in my boss’s office turning in the request 3 months to the date. I want to have enough time to make changes to my trip schedule should my employer not allow me the time off.  Check with your HR department for policies and procedures on vacation request.

2.         DOCUMENTATION:

• Passports: Whenever you leave the country you need your passport. Since 9/11, a birth certificate won’t cut it. Back in the day this was not the case, so don’t listen to your Mexican relatives who claim you can go back and forth without a passport. Keep in mind the 

  following:

  • It takes a couple of weeks to get your passport. You can begin the passport application process at your local post office.
  • To get children their passport, both parents need to be present. A notarized letter is required if one parent is not available; this can be a pain in the a** if both parents work.
  • Check the expiration date on the passports; you don’t want to get to the airport and find out the passports have expired.

3.         BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS:

• Flight Insurance: I purchase flight insurance when I’m planning a trip far in advance—you never know what can happen.
• Searching Flights: Even though I look for tickets on discount travel sites, I book the flights directly through the airline carrier. I like to get rid of the middle man because it eliminates having to talk to a third party if there is a problem with the flight.
• Choosing the airlines:  I’ve used both Mexican and American based airlines. Below are some of the issues I found:
• Mexican based airline: My review below is only on Volaris airlines because the rest of the Mexican based airlines were too expensive for my budget.

1. Website: My experience with Volaris has been that the English version of the website is not user friendly and promotions change sporadically. Even more confusing is that I could only pay for some things with a Mexican credit card. When I tried paying with an American credit card, I had to contact customer service if I was booking certain travel packages (hotel and flight).  The Volaris customer service representatives provide assistance in English and are very helpful.
3. Direct Flights: Volaris offers more direct flights; this makes getting to Mexico quicker and more convenient. I often spend less time on the flight than I do in line at the airport.
4. One of the downsides to Volaris is that they offer fewer flights per day—this is especially true where I live. My family missed a flight once, and we had to wait until the next day to leave.
5. Hidden fees: I’ve yet to be charged hidden fees by Volaris. The flight fare included snacks, alcoholic drinks, and beverages.
6. There was no in-flight movie, maybe because we were only in the air for 3-4 hours.  I brought toys for my kids to play with and a magazine for me. These items, including the complementary snacks and drinks, kept us entertained.
7. The plane and the flight attendants from our flight into Mexico were not as professional and clean as I would have liked. Ironically, this was the complete opposite on our return flight. Our plane was clean and the attendants were kind and helpful.

I do plan on flying with Volaris for my next trip to Guadalajara; the 3-4 hour flight duration is what appeals to me the most.

• American Based Airlines (American Based Airlines refers to all airlines based in the United States of America):

1. Cost and flight duration: Many American based airlines offer cheap flights to Mexico, but the flight durations are long because they require too many connections. This is an inconvenience for me because I travel with small children who can become impatient.
2. Schedule: There were many flights available and times to pick from, but again, I had to take into consideration the connections and the duration of the total flight.
3. Hidden fees: Beware that you might have to pay extra fees for snacks, TV, and luggage depending on which airline you fly.

4.         PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP:

• Check the airline luggage weight policy before you get to the airport because there are fees that they charge if your bags don’t make weight. After one incident, I now use my simple home scale to weigh each bag—so far it’s worked for me.
• Leave room in your luggage for souvenirs or take an empty bag. Adding items to your luggage on your return trip may cause you to go over the baggage weight limit.  I had a situation where we had to rearranging our packed clothing in the middle of the airport in front of everybody to make weight so we could avoid fees—not fun!
• Don’t pack stuff you don’t want to lose because there’s always a chance that stuff will get left behind or lost. My recommendations are to pack sample sizes of your favorite perfume or face lotions.
• I like to take one or two backpacks on the plane with us. In the carry on backpacks, I pack hand sanitizer, books, crayons, magazines, treats, protein bars, granola bars, passports, and my wallet.  I also have the kids carry their own light sweater, and I ask everyone to dress comfortably.

5.         AIRPORT:

1.  
2. Cost: Volaris offers great deals, sometimes even 50% off. Although their base rates may be pricier, I use them because I have scored great flight deals through their promotions.

• Check your airports policies on arrival time—they are no joke! If you arrive late, you will not get on the plane. I’ve paid $300+ to reschedule a missed flight, and lost a day from my trip.
• Currency: To ensure that I have Mexican cash on me, I always exchange one days worth of cash at the Mexican airport upon arrival. I don’t exchange more because the fees are higher.  The next day I go and exchange more currency at other locations in the city that offer better rates—these are easy to find. You can also get cash from a bank ATM.
  • Keep in mind that cash is king in Mexico, few local businesses accept plastic and they probably won’t accept American currency. You also don’t want to exchange more cash than you need or you may lose more of its value when you return to the U.S. and have to exchange it again.

6.     LODGING:

• Hotel: I have only stayed at 2 hotels in Guadalajara: both were very nice and what I expected for the price we paid.  There were no hidden fees at check out, and the staff offered great service; we were even offered a good Mexican breakfast.
• My most recent hotel stay in Guadalajara was at the Vista Express Plaza del Sol: A 3 star hotel which I booked through Volaris airlines as a package. The hotel is located next to a well known outside mall called Plaza del Sol. Because the weather was nice the week we were there, it was pleasant to be outside. The area was clean, and the people were friendly. I felt so comfortable, I ventured off with my kids to the plaza while my husband rested. We walked around the plaza visiting the different stores,  bought a few Chivas futbol (soccer team) souvenirs, exchanged U.S. bills at the exchange store, and had breakfast at a restaurant that reminded me of a Mexican version of Denny’s. Later in the day when my husband joined us, we were able to catch a taxi easily from the plaza.
• Staying with family: On one of our trips, we stayed with family. This was a fun experience because we were able to spend more time with them. If you’re staying with relatives in the city, be aware that some homes are compact. If you’re from a big city in the states, where spaces are small, this probably won’t be an issue.

7.         SIGHTSEEING: Because Guadalajara is a large historical metropolitan city, there are too many things to see in one trip. It has taken my family 4 separate trips within a five year period to see only a fragment of what the city has to offer. Below are just a few of our favorite attractions.

• Zoológico Guadalajara:  The zoo is dated, so it’s not as modern as the one in San Diego—but it is enormous and fun to visit. Even with the frequent tour buses and trains that shuttled us around, we still did a lot of walking.  As we entered through a downward staircase we were greeted by interesting monkey statues. My children enjoyed the playgrounds and the loose iguanas which roamed around freely; my son almost sat on one! There is also a beautiful canyon at the edge of the zoo which provided us with a nice photo opportunity.
• During one of our visits, our family invited us to a cool book fair at the Expo: a modern busy convention center. I’m not sure how often this event is held, but you can check the EXPO’s website to see what else is going on while you’re visiting.
• Downtown Guadalajara:  Downtown is all hustle and bustle; there was so much going on I actually felt dizzy. To get to downtown, on one occasion, we took the subway; it was easy to navigate and clean. Even though it was busy, the kids thought it was quiet an adventure since there is no subway at home. Another easy way to get around is by taxi.

If you are visiting downtown, consider visiting some of the following places; they are in close proximity.

• The Jalisco Regional Museum: This was one of the first places we toured; the coolest attraction was the skeleton of a mammoth.  I also enjoyed most the ancient artifacts.
• Catholic churches: Guadalajara has beautiful Catholic churches. We toured one of the many; I was awed by its history and beautiful architecture. I also took the opportunity to purchase religious gifts from vendors outside the church; their items were unique and beautiful.
• The Municipal Palace: One of Guadalajara’s landmarks; the building has notable artwork that is commonly photographed and mass distributed on post cards and other city memorabilia.
• Instituto Cultural Cabañas was once an orphanage, but is now a beautiful cultural institute full of art; it is one of my favorite places to visit. During our visit, a guide invited us and others to join him for a tour. His in depth understanding of the art and history of the building kept us entertained and intrigued throughout the entire tour.
• Double Decker City Bus Tour is a great way to see the city.  The bus took us on iconic routes and provided a narration of interesting facts for some of the more prominent buildings.  One of our favorite sights on the bus ride was passing the statute of the goddess La Minerva who is at the center of a grand roundabout.
• San Juan de Dios: This is a 3 story market that any shopaholic would be happy to get lost in. We had fun walking through the narrow walk ways and seeing the many vendors. The market has many items to choose from: I bought food, candy, gold, clothing, electronics, and souvenirs. Although this place can be quite and adventure, I don’t recommend you go alone.

Note: Overall, the attractions we visited were either free or reasonably priced. I was also pleased with the experience at each attraction

THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ARE FURTHER OUT OF THE CITY, BUT STILL WORTH VISITING IF YOU HAVE TIME:

• Tlaquepaque is a beautiful area in Guadalajara where you will find shops filled with artisan crafts and restaurants that provide a lively ambiance. I like to visit the shops to see furniture, art, and souvenirs; I could spend hours window shopping. The shops and restaurants surround a beautiful and historic town square called El Parian which we occasionally visit in the evening and linger into the early morning. We enjoy a relaxed evening talking and laughing while the men in our group request songs from the many musicians and mariachis who frequent the area. On all of our trips we make time to go Tlaquepaque because it is one of my favorite places to visit.
• Chapala is a lake about an hour away from Guadalajara. Although we only visited the lake once, I still remember how fun it was. We had lunch at one of the restaurants and walked around the many vendor stands. I bought souvenirs and my kids flew a kite on the lake shore.
• The oceans and beaches are a 3 to 4 hour drive from Guadalajara. There are buses that can take you back and forth on a daily basis. I have been to Manzanillo via bus and Colima in a family van. Due to our schedule, we could only stay a day or two. I wouldn’t mind visiting the beaches again for a longer period—that could be a whole new adventure….

8.        NIGHT LIFE: The evening life in Guadalajara is as active and stunning as the day. Buildings are well lit in busy areas. The streets are busy with music while people eat and socialize into the late night.

During our evening walks, we passed historical buildings and quaint bars which were full of locals. Our relatives were gracious enough to take us out for the evening. As a result, we felt safe being out late. Only once did my husband and I take a taxi and go out alone, but we made sure to stay in touristy areas. For the most part we noticed that the late night crowd in downtown was young.

9.         FOOD & BEVERAGES:

• Hand sanitizer: I buy small pocket size sanitizers for each person in my family and one large one for joint use at our hotel. Hand hygiene is the best way to avoid illness. Being in another country exposes my family to microbes that they we may not be familiar with; this is why I routinely remind everyone to use hand sanitizer.
• Water: The tap water in Mexico is not drinkable. So when I arrive to Mexico, one of the first things I do is buy a case of bottled water. I have the kids carry their own, not just to stay hydrated but to avoid drinking things that street vendors may offer. To stay hydrated, we all stick to bottled items. If I don’t trust it, we don’t drink it. Until now, none of us have gotten sick “knocking on wood.”
• Snacks: I carry snacks in my purse at all times. I have my kids pick their own snacks for the day. This keeps the kids from getting hungry while we are out and keeps us from eating too much street food.
• Coffee: My husband and I noticed that coffee is not easily available like it is in the United States. This is a problem for us because we are caffeine dependent. I noticed there were not many Starbucks, and the restaurant coffee was different. We learned that you have to specify that you want American style coffee. On my last trip, I took packets of instant coffee in my purse. Experiencing caffeine withdrawals while in a foreign country is not fun.
• Food is one of the best parts of the trip; we only dine at a relative’s home or at a restaurant or food stand if it comes recommended by a relative or our hotel staff.  On the few occasions that my family does eat on the street, we’re very selective.
• I use common sense, if a restaurant isn’t busy or clean we don’t eat there.

10.         SAFETY: This is always a concern for me because Guadalajara is a large city.  My biggest fears is that one of my kids will get lost. Before we land, I remind my kids that they’re in a foreign country, so they need to be cautious. To follow, are tips that I use to keep my family safe:

• I ask the kids to always stay near us and to avoid wondering far. I like to give the kids a list of phone numbers to put in their pocket. On the list, I include local numbers and addresses were we can be contacted. I let my daughter keep her cell phone on. You can contact your cell phone carrier to ensure that you have an appropriate wireless travel plan.
• While in downtown, I tell the kids not to speak English loudly. Sometimes my children bicker in English and without realizing it, they are revealing themselves as foreigners. I want them to avoid unwanted attention from individuals looking to take advantage of foreign travelers.
• I like to dress comfortable in casual clothing and not wear flashy jewelry. My husband recently started covering his arm tattoos after I noticed the odd attention he received by locals.
• I also keep an eye on my bags and avoid carrying unnecessary items. Carrying to many items can be a distraction and may make you an easy target for petty crimes.
• At night, we usually travel with family or stay in well light areas of the city. We avoid dark alleys and keep an eye on each other.
• Also, the traffic is intense and I didn’t notice seatbelts in all of the taxi cabs. If we’re walking, I remind my children to stay close and to be cautious of any moving vehicles.
• On a lighter note, Guadalajara is more relaxed regarding the alcohol drinking age. I’ve also noticed that Mexican locals look young—so young that my 13 year old daughter was mistaken to be of drinking age. She was offered complimentary margaritas on several occasions.   Keep an eye on your youngsters, or you may return to your table to find they are sipping margaritas.

I know this is a lot of information but it’s information I wish I had known when I started traveling to Guadalajara.  I hope your trips are as enjoyable as ours have been. My family’s yearly trips to Mexico usually results in wonderful memories that I’m sure my children will remember for the rest of their lives.Guadalajara is a beautiful city which I plan to continue to visit with my family.

Until later,

Maria

Disclaimer: All information, suggestions, and advice in the above blog is based on the bloggers personal experiences and is not intended to substitute for official and or professional advice. If a reader decides to follow any of the suggestions, advice, and information provided in the above blog, the reader is doing so at their own discretion.Neither the blog site nor the blogger is responsible for ANY DAMGES AND OR LOSSES that may occur because of a readers decision to follow the advice, information, and or suggestions provided in the above blog. IT IS THE READERS SOLE RESPONSIBLITY TO MANAGE AND VERIFY ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR PERSONAL TRAVEL PLANS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SCHEDULES, DOCUMENTS, BOOKING FLIGHTS, PACKING, AIRPORT, LODGING, SIGHTSEEING, NIGHTLIFE, FOOD & BEVERAGES, AND SAFETY.