45 replies to this topic

[cstone]

Hi Folks,

Can anyone advise me on the best/easiest/most efficient way to get to CostCo via bus ? I am hoping someone has made this trip themselves, and can let me know their experiences.

I know about the LCS trips and Lakeside Express, but want to be able to go at my own convenience, using public transportation. My Spanish is sufficient to ask questions and understand most responses, so that worry is out of the way.

Am also aware that is it best to go to the bus office in Ajijic to get the best seat selection. Learned that the hard way !

We aren't buying much, just a "scouting expedition" you might say.

Is there a GDL City bus bus that goes towards CostCo or Galerias from anywhere near the bus terminal in GDL ?

If not, any ideas about how much should I expect to pay for a taxi to/from CostCo and the bus terminal in GDL ?

Thanks so much for any suggestions or information.

C. Stone

[johanson]

I just drove to the closer Costco store (#730) today, 37.5 miles each way from central Ajijicl via Joco and all of the topes. If you have a car, consider driving. It's quite simple. If you don't, check with the Red Cross at the LCS I think they still go via bus to Costco in Guadalajara for a fee.

[HelperGuy]

Pete, you read her post, right?

[johanson]

I guess I didn't read it as well as I should have Mike Sorry about thst.

[Travis]

If you take the bus from Ajijic (or Chapala) to the old bus station in Guadalajara, you can then access lots of city busses. It is undoubtedly possible to get to the Costco (near the Galerias Mall) via busses within the city, but I don't know how. I don't know which routes/numbers/connections, etc. ("Galerias" would be the magic word, I think. How much do you want to exercise your Spanish?)

I have never been interested in figuring out how the Guadalajara bus system works. It looks painful. And I have navigated my way through a lot of Mexican cities by bus and other public transport while on vacations.

A cab from the old/central Guadalajara bus station to Expo costs about $70 pesos, so Costco, since it's further would be a bit more, I guess. Maybe $100 at the most, one-way.

All very painful when you add up the time and money. Good luck.

[hensley]

Because they don't have a car!

[hensley]

With the new bridges and tunnels much faster to go to Galerias via the airport way, takes us less than 45 minutes.

[lakeside7]

Just wondering what you do with all the goodies you purchased...I always need to use two hands to get on and off the buses...or is this just a sight sightseeing trip ???

[Puddles]

I think Hensley and Travis may be the only ones who read the OP!!!

[simpsca]

The city buses can be crowded and you may not get a seat. If it were my only choice I would take a bus which drops you at the old bus station on the east side of Guadalajara, then take a taxi to the the Galerias which is on the west side and them back to the bus station. Don't know how much it would cost but otherwise with public transportation you have to buy only enough to carry on the bus with one hand and hold on with the other if you don't get a seat. And unless you are fluent in Spanish I don't know how you will figure out which local bus to take in Guadalajara.

[rjkveton]

Take the Chapala bus to Guadalajara and from the Central Vieja walk one long block west via Calle Estadio to Independencia and take the Macrobus north. Get off at the San Juan de Dios stop and catch the Tren Ligero line that runs west eventually along Av. Vallarta where at some point you will transition to a bus that is an extension of the Tren Ligero line that should have a stop close to the Costco/Gallerias area. Take plenty of change. I think you have to purchase cards but kiosks are there to guide you through that process and dispense the cards and also explained on this website.

http://www.siteur.gob.mx/

[Mad_Max]

As I recall, taxi fare was about 80 pesos each way from the old bus station to the mall - but this is before last year's taxi increase.

[cstone]

Thanks for the good advice, rjkveton. I will give it a try.

I am used to changing subways in one of the most densely populated cities in the world, walking up to 3 flights of stairs to change platforms, going from bus to train and back again, then walking in between. I think I can manage a GDL City bus.

Mostly it is NOT a shopping mission, but I always carry a backpack, and and am agile enough to get on/off the bus.

If I can master the route, and it turns out to not be too $$$, I have freedom to travel when I want. People are kind, and offer a "go along" when they can, but it is our choice to live without a car, and I want to learn how to do this.

I am sufficiently fluent to read signs, maps, ask questions and request more information if I do not understand.

My hope is to learn to access a variety of places in GDL via bus.

Thanks,

C. Stone

[bostonfrog2012]

Yes, it seems several people simply do not read the original post, i.e. the OP does not have a car or does want to drive! Because you will be carrying food, it is probably best that you take a taxi BOTH WAYS from the Central Vieja, because it will be cumbersome on local any bus carrying food. Still, between the cost of the round-trip fare of 100-110 pesos to GDL from Chapala, and the two taxis each way, it will probably run around 160 to 200 pesos round trip, That will be around 300 pesos. Aren't you still better of using Lakeside's service?

[cstone]

I am not as interested in saving a few hundred pesos as I am in discovering new ways to get around and see things.

I don't plan to spend all my days in Ajijic or Chapala, and I like freedom to come/go, be a tourist, etc. I have none of the expenses of a car,
by choice, as we have lived without one in Asia for the last 10 years. This means I can easily afford the occasional taxi. GDL has so much to offer,
and I want to take advantage of that while I am still young enough and physically able to do so.

CostCo was just my first foray out, because we need to look at what is available in appliances, electronics, etc. Have to start somewhere.

I can avail myself of the services of LCS Bus Trips and Lakeside Express, and will probably do so once I know what TV,
Vacuum Cleaner, Patio Set, Power Washer, and various other items I want. As for food, I won't be carrying too much back, as we shop locally for most
of our food and drink. Wine, now that's another story ! Can't wait to see their selection.

Thanks again to rjkveton for the link to the website. http://www.siteur.gob.mx/ It is an excellent one, and gives all the major bus routes. I will spend quite
some time there.

It is in Spanish, but I accidentally discovered that at the bottom L corner, there is a way to translate into English if you need that.

[johanson]

I want to say how stupid I feel. I speed read what was originally posted, figured that everyone had a car (not true) and answered as if you had a car. I will try to do a better job reading the original post before trying to respond in the future.

I wish you luck getting around without a car. I understand the bus system is better now than it was in 1997, when I first arrived lakeside.

Me? I guess I'm too spoiled and could never live without a car. Not that I drive that much. I average about 2,500 miles per year.

A big trip to me is driving to Costco and back every month or two and filling it to the brim with those big bundles of TP, paper towels, several cases of pop, a box of Milk, I could go on. My point is when I go to Costco, I buy so much that my smaller SUV is almost full with supplies. I can't imagine going there, if I were shopping, without a car. but that's just me

[bostonfrog2012]

Wine, now that's another story ! Can't wait to see their selection.

They do sell some excellent wines in the area where there are the wooden cases in Costco, but generally starting from 250 pesos and as much as 1000 pesos or even more. Unfortunately, most of the other wines on the metal shelves are generally quite bad as far as I am concerned. There may be a few Ok whites, but I drink only red, some I can´t say for sure. If you want to find some good wines,
I would suggest you go to LA PLAYA on the main road in Ajijic or to Superlake, and even Walmart! Largely forget Costco for decent, reasonably-priced wines, unless you want the higher-priced ones. Another store in Guadalajara is La Europea that has 2 or maybe 3 branches. But for wines, you wll do just fine with at any of the three places I mentioned in Ajijic.

[ohjoni]

Take the Chapala bus to Guadalajara and from the Central Vieja walk one long block west via Calle Estadio to Independencia and take the Macrobus north. Get off at the San Juan de Dios stop and catch the Tren Ligero line that runs west eventually along Av. Vallarta where at some point you will transition to a bus that is an extension of the Tren Ligero line that should have a stop close to the Costco/Gallerias area. Take plenty of change. I think you have to purchase cards but kiosks are there to guide you through that process and dispense the cards and also explained on this website.

http://www.siteur.gob.mx/

Ohhhhhh. That does sound painful to me

[bournemouth]

Liqores Paz, next to Super Lake, has an amazing selection of wines for Mexico, which is a country without a strong wine culture. We are lucky to have this store here.