Paul Beddows
Caravan in Mexico
Once you cross the USA/MEX border, Mexican hospitality is apparent wherever you go; friendly, soft smiling people willing to help if they see a visitor in difficulties. They will appreciate your efforts to communicate in Spanish and will do their best to communicate with you in English.By Gabriel Romero
“To go or not to go, that is the question…”. A month ago I decided to do some research on this subject by sending a circular letter to my friends involved in the RV industry. This included RV Caravan organizers, wagon masters, travel agents and presidents of RV Clubs. The subject of my letter was very simple; what do you and your RV travelers feel are the top 5 benefits of travelling in a caravan to Mexico. I wanted to get valuable opinions from the the specialists in this field. Fortunately, I received some interesting answers, as seven Canadians, one American and one Mexican generously provided the information that I needed, most of them agreeing with the next few points:
SAFETY:
Safety appears at the top of the list. Actually, safety in numbers has mostly to do with the notion of having the assistance of the caravan staff in case of mechanical breakdowns, accidents or health related difficulties. Traveling alone in a country where you do not know the language, the rules and the culture can be a daunting experience for many people.
WORRY FREE:
This has to do with the organization and the logistics of the caravan as well as the comfort of the RV’ers. Caravan organizers handle making reservations in suitable RV parks and planning wonderful tours. In a well-structured RV caravan everything is predetermined in the itinerary, so that the RVers can just flow with the flow of the program, relax and enjoy the experience.
COMPANIONSHIP:
This was an important consideration for many people. Traveling in a caravan will always give you the opportunity to make good friends and share joyful moments during get-togethers, fiestas and tours.
ATTRACTIONS:
The excursions organized by the caravan company provide the opportunity to have a better understanding of the Mexican people and their culture. Professional tour guides take the participants to admire and enjoy the most fabulous attractions Mexico has to offer such as spectacular archaeological sites, beautiful colonial cities, charming pueblos mágicos, breathtaking landscapes, animated Mexican fiestas with live music and an immersive experience in Mexico’s very rich folklore.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE:
Having a nice sized group helps to reduce the price of tours and activities. You can imagine how expensive it could be for a couple to hire an English speaking guide just for themselves or contract a Mariachi band to liven up dinner at a restaurant. These savings are in addition to the savings that come from RV’ing in Mexico rather than traveling by air and staying in hotels.
CLIMATE:
A warm, sunny day by the beach is the quintessential experience that Canadian and American RV’ers have in their mind when they think of traveling to Mexico. Just the warm temperature that you find in most zones of Mexico during the winter time would be reason enough for many RV’ers to go there and Mexico has so much more to offer.
MEXICAN PEOPLE:
Once you cross the USA/MEX border, Mexican hospitality is apparent wherever you go; friendly, soft smiling people willing to help if they see a visitor in difficulties. They will appreciate your efforts to communicate in Spanish and will do their best to communicate with you in English. In general, Mexicans respond quickly to friendly attitudes, and you could certainly make long lasting friendships among the Mexican people.
Gabriel Romero is a licensed Mexican tour guide & travel agent specialist in RV caravans.
www.caravanasmexico.com