khof Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Is there another bus shopping trip to TX planned in the near future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adolphsj Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 Yikes! If you haven't already, on the ajijic/chapala/guadalajara forum read the locked thread on pg 5 titled "did the bus trip to McAllen happen?" I don't think they have decided when or if they're doing the next one as some additional advanced planning probably needs to take place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khof Posted October 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 I talked to a couple of people who went on it and they liked it for the most part. Nothing a person couldn't cope with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Ronnfeldt Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 I certainly hope there's another one. I was in the states when this one happened, or I would have been on that bus! The folks I actually talked to that went really liked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstone Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 I was on the bus trip, and I would encourage others to go. I had fun, met nice people, and was prepared for the few glitches. The trip is long, the bus is as comfy as you would like, but anything of 14+ hour duration requires that you be prepared with a pillow for your head and maybe even your tushie, food and drink, and a set of earplugs and or/iPod or DVD player to help pass the time. Take your patience, sense of humour and consideration of others along with you and you will be fine. Be prepared to tip and to wait for others and have others wait for you. Save all of your receipts and be prepared to declare what you bought and be willing to pay any rightfully owed duty. Keep your passport and FM with you at all times. I'd do it again, but I would definitely bring a seat cushion !! C. Stone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted October 27, 2012 Report Share Posted October 27, 2012 Next time, instead of going to Monterrey and then backtracking, take the direct and easy route to Pharr, stay at the travellodge that is 15 minutes from the border and right next to all the shopping. It sure as heck shouldn't take 14 hours to get there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doberwoman Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Count us in! (2) We want to go if next trip happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doberwoman Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I was on the bus trip, and I would encourage others to go. I had fun, met nice people, and was prepared for the few glitches. The trip is long, the bus is as comfy as you would like, but anything of 14+ hour duration requires that you be prepared with a pillow for your head and maybe even your tushie, food and drink, and a set of earplugs and or/iPod or DVD player to help pass the time. Take your patience, sense of humour and consideration of others along with you and you will be fine. Be prepared to tip and to wait for others and have others wait for you. Save all of your receipts and be prepared to declare what you bought and be willing to pay any rightfully owed duty. Keep your passport and FM with you at all times. I'd do it again, but I would definitely bring a seat cushion !! C. Stone and maybe we will have to set apart $200 peso tip for some officers.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aden65 Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Hi everyone, I'm new. I wish there's another one. I was in the states when this one occurred, or I would have been on that bus! The people I actually discussed to that went really liked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstone Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Mainecoons, You wrote ... Next time, instead of going to Monterrey and then backtracking, take the direct and easy route to Pharr, stay at the travellodge that is 15 minutes from the border and right next to all the shopping. It sure as heck shouldn't take 14 hours to get there! I have no car, but would certainly be willing to make the trip by ETN or Primera Plus. What/where is Pharr ? A town, a crossing location ? How do you cross the border to shop if you are not driving ? Just thinking for future reference. C. Stone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Mainecoons, You wrote ... Next time, instead of going to Monterrey and then backtracking, take the direct and easy route to Pharr, stay at the travellodge that is 15 minutes from the border and right next to all the shopping. It sure as heck shouldn't take 14 hours to get there! I have no car, but would certainly be willing to make the trip by ETN or Primera Plus. What/where is Pharr ? A town, a crossing location ? How do you cross the border to shop if you are not driving ? Just thinking for future reference. C. Stone Indeed the bus did use Pharr for both directions. However, Mainecoons as I know you just returned from the states - do you realize that the bus had to be "emptied" upon entering the U.S. - all people and packages - in the bus and underneath. Luggage hand carried carried thru U.S. security by the individual passengers and the bus was xrayed. U.S. customs and security advised that it would take longer for the bus to be xrayed than for the passengers. It did - this stop was an hour and 20 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 The bus used Pharr but they took a very long way round to get there. That was the point. June has the direct route instructions now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 We hope to possibly come down to Aijijic this fall by bus out of Pharr Tx, does anyone know the cost and procedure etc. Thanks in advance for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVGRINGO Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Some time ago, we took an hourly Grupo Senda bus from the McAllen bus station at 8:30 AM to Monterrey; a three hour ride and they gave us the old folks half price tickets. When we saw the Monterrey Airport signs, we got off the bus at a suburban stop and took a taxi to the airport. There, we got on an Interjet flight to Guadalajara, which took just an hour. We were home in Chapala by 3PM and the cost was only slightly more than the long, long bus trip all the way. We even had time for a light lunch at the Monterrey airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstone Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 I wish there would be another trip, too. Remember that the one (probably only ) of the major reasons for putting yourself through the long and tiresome ride is the ability to bring back bulky items in the luggage compartment of the bus. These are items that would be "uncheckable" on a plane ... vacuums, fans, who knows what else. Otherwise, I agree that it is as quick and about the same pricewise to fly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyfull Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I wish there would be another trip, too. Remember that the one (probably only ) of the major reasons for putting yourself through the long and tiresome ride is the ability to bring back bulky items in the luggage compartment of the bus. These are items that would be "uncheckable" on a plane ... vacuums, fans, who knows what else. Otherwise, I agree that it is as quick and about the same pricewise to fly. I have checked the following items in their original boxes as a piece of luggage: upright vacuum, lawn mower, patio lounge chair (folding), 5x7 carpet. None of them at the same time and never had to pay excess or oversized baggage fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstone Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Good for you, Joyfull. That, however, has not been my experience. In the past, I have had to empty a few items from my checked luggage to make the magic number on weight, and I would not trust the airlines to take good care of any items purchased like the vacuum cleaner, or any item with sensitive electronics or breakable parts. I think the most important part of your reply is "None of them at the same time..." If we went on the bus again, several of those items could be brought back at the same time. Of course, one would have to be willing to schlep it all out for customs inspections, but one has to do that at the airport, as well. It's a tradeoff I'm willing to take, should the opportunity arise again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Indeed the bus did use Pharr for both directions. However, Mainecoons as I know you just returned from the states - do you realize that the bus had to be "emptied" upon entering the U.S. - all people and packages - in the bus and underneath. Luggage hand carried carried thru U.S. security by the individual passengers and the bus was xrayed. U.S. customs and security advised that it would take longer for the bus to be xrayed than for the passengers. It did - this stop was an hour and 20 minutes. Yeah but you are going to go through this no matter where you cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Tell ya something else--if you want to use the Travelodge you better book REAL early. We tried to book in there a few weeks in advance of our trip NOB and couldn't get a room there going either direction. The Mexicans have discovered it as the go to place to sleep and shop next door at Costco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcscats Posted May 14, 2013 Report Share Posted May 14, 2013 Who knows if LCS/Cruz Roja will do a trip like this again. It is not easy to do something like this and you end up with every ones complaints which gets old especially when people get cranky. You noticed the trip has not been repeated and I wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole as a volunteer unless I get a taser LOL. Would you want to be in charge of a group of gringoes like us in a situation like this with issues of customs and such??I think the answer is no at least for us mostly sane volunteers LOL. Update: I asked around LCS and they might do another shopping trip but now everybody is busy. Maybe later in year... Remember I said maybe LOL. Don't shoot the messenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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