Have you been to Monterrey?

Travelling to Monterrey Mexico?

• I'm a Canadian citizen, and I'm travelling with my family from Toronto to Monterrey, Mexico in December. I'll be driving from Georgetown/Austin to Monterrey. What is the border like? I heard the Columbia Bridge is a better option then the other border crossing, is that true? Also, is the drive to Monterrey dangerous? I'll be staying in Monterrey for about 2 days, around the downtown area, is walking around safe? Also, do I need Mexican car insurance? How much would a typical Mexican meal cost? What's a good hotel in the downtown area for $150-200 USD per night in a double room after Christmas? Thanks. 10 points for best answer

• Answer:

  Columbia Bridge is the only bridge that connects the Nuevo Leon State with Texas (Monterrey is the capital of NL). I think this bridge is the quiker and safer just because there are not populated areas surrounding and the security is reasonably good in both sides of the border. Other bridges connect the populated citis of Nuevo Laredo-Laredo, Reynosa-Mc Allen and Matamoros-Brownsville and certainly the crime rates over there are pretty high. The roads to Texas are frequently used on the weekends by the families of Monterrey to go shopping in the other side of the border, but certainly, they are used sometimes by the Drugs cartels to do their business up to the US. Just try to drive in the daylight and drive safe. Despite the drug crimes recently committed in Monterrey, the city still has some of the safety it used to have 6 years ago. You can perfeclty walk at night in the "Parque Santa Lucia", "Fundidora", or the "Barrio Antiguo"..........Monterrey was built since the begginng in order to meet the Texas towns urbanism....so the hotels you find here meets the Texas and US Standards for business travellers: Simple, Cheap, with minimum amenities..... In the hotel zone yopu may find the Crown Plaza and the Sheraton with rates between USD$100 and 200 per night. There are lots of Howrd Jhonson, Courtyard by Marriot, Fiesta Inn, Hampton inn through out the city with rates between USD$50 and 100 per night and I would say that they have enough ammenities to make your stay as good as possible for 2 days. In the San Pedro County (5minute taxi ride from Monty DOwntown...you may find an Ibis, Novotel, Radisson and a Safi Hotel with rates starting at USD$60 (as low as those in the Monterrey county) but surrounded by residential and the most exclusive communities in town. In San Pedro county you may find the best hotels in town: Quinta Real Hotel, Camino Real, Presidente Intercontinental and Habita Boutique Hotel. Rates are higher and ammenties increase as the price rise. In the Santiago County (30 minute taxi ride south of Monterrey Downtown) there is the Hotel Cola de Caballo whoch is located at the Sierra Madre Oriental Montains and next to the famous waterfall Cola de Caballo (City attraction). Great outdoors but a little far from other attractions. What to do: Parque Santa Lucia, Fundidora, Barrio Antiguo, Zocalo, Macroplaza, Obispado and the Macro, MUNE and City Museums. (MTY downtown) Where to eat: Lots of restaurants in Barrio Antiguo. For a more sophisticated menu try those restaurants in San Pedro County like: Salute (Italian), Riviera (Seafood / Oriental / Fusion), Kyo (Oriental / Fusion). Where to Shop: Valle Oriente Mall, Plaza Fiesta San Agustin Mall and Palacio de Hierro are the best malls to shop. All of them in the San Pedro county. Other attractions: Chipinque Natural Park at the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains of San Pedro County (great views and a Pine Forest just 5 minutes away from downtown). Cola de Caballo Waterfall and Santiago Magic Town (Santiago County). Garcia Grouts and underground caves (Garcia County 30 minutes from downtown) Downtown hotels are the best option and from there you can move to everywhere else. Hope it helps..