Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - cheap to rent, expensive to drop off!

cheap to rent, expensive to drop off! (reply)

ZihuaRob — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:55:06 +0000

Then again I once drove a rental car free from Cincinnati to Florida because it had been stolen. I don't how you find such a service in Mexico but it may exist.

cheap to rent, expensive to drop off! (reply)

Linda from Canada — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:37:56 +0000

yup- always more expensive to drop off in a different location from where you picked up.

cheap to rent, expensive to drop off! (reply)

Gringo Viejo — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 19:10:42 +0000

Saounds a tad bit on the high side but I have seen this before. "Drop" chargews vary widely as to company and the time of year. It depends on where they need the cars. For example, if there is a high demand to rent cars and drive from DF to Z then all their cars end up in a place where they cannot rent them so they have to go thru the expense of relocating them back to DF.

Bummer!

cheap to rent, expensive to drop off! (reply)

Oeste Hermoso — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:53:52 +0000

I have found out that I will have to pay an extra $400US to "drop off" in Zihua a car I rent in DF.

DF to Zihua Drive? (reply)

mapache — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 02:09:21 +0000

i did it in a day and used my apple maps on my iphone to navigate. worked like a charm. otherwise, spend the night in morelia or patz

Just get on the bus, Oeste! (reply)

Oeste Hermoso — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:26:53 +0000

The reason I want to drive is so I can stop, look at the scenery, take pictures etc. I am in no hurry.

Am I still better off on the bus?

En El Camino! (reply)

ZihuaRob — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 23:38:52 +0000

Any thoughts on what kind of car I should rent for the DF to Zihua drive?
Do I need an SUV or would a VW Jetta etc do?
Does not appear Thrifty's has any ragtops.
Also, any hints on where to rent? I have heard best to rent outside of the DF for lower rate AND avoid driving in the DF.

A Jetta or really any sedan should be fine. Frankly, if it were me I'd take the bus and leave the driving to the pros. It makes getting to Taxco even more interesting and adventurous (because as you'll see, having a car in Taxco can be a liability) and it's a heck of a lot more fun to just sit back and enjoy the scenery with the headphones on.

http://youtu.be/EJvRLlR5-HE

En El Camino! (reply)

Oeste Hermoso — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:09:29 +0000

Any thoughts on what kind of car I should rent for the DF to Zihua drive?
Do I need an SUV or would a VW Jetta etc do?
Does not appear Thrifty's has any ragtops.
Also, any hints on where to rent? I have heard best to rent outside of the DF for lower rate AND avoid driving in the DF.

Z DF to Z Drive! (reply)

ZihuaRob — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 01:31:17 +0000

Thank you again. That is the advice I needed. Taxco to the coast and up to Zihua it is!

Truth be told, tens of thousands of folks live in that part of the state and travel to and fro daily without any incidents, but I hesitate to recommend the region as a scenic drive for foreigners who may not quite blend in or speak fluent Spanish. The area between Taxco and Coyuca de Catalán is mostly Tierra Caliente, a beautiful but often rugged region, and though there are some foreigners working in several mining operations throughout the region they are still a novelty and sometimes, like anyone who appears slightly prosperous, they appear like easy targets for bums who make a living from the fruits of other people's labors. Though the great majority of the region's residents will go out of their way to be helpful and polite to visitors.

We have a new more professional police force operating throughout the state, but they are still finding their footing and learning the territory. I'm hopeful that soon I will be able to wholeheartedly recommend the scenic backroads of Guerrero, that is if the government will also keep them properly maintained, another huge problem in our state.

Z DF to Z Drive! (reply)

Oeste Hermoso — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 21:00:47 +0000

Thank you again. That is the advice I needed. Taxco to the coast and up to Zihua it is!

Z DF to Z Drive! (reply)

ZihuaRob — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:51:09 +0000

I wish I could recommend those lovely backroads through Guerrero, but there are problems in that part of the state that preclude being able to recommend it for sightseeing at the moment.

Z DF to Z Drive! (reply)

Oeste Hermoso — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:40:06 +0000

Thank you, Rob. I would take the scenic route. Another route that shows up on a map is after Taxco take 51 through Teloloapanto to Coyuca de Catalan and 134 to Zihua. Is this recommended. Driving through mountains etc would be cool but only if recommended.

Z DF to Z Drive! (reply)

ZihuaRob — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 00:25:27 +0000

The DF to Zihuatanejo drive is about 8 hours from the southern part of Mexico City if you take the Autopista del Sol. It's an easy drive down to the coast, but the trick is not to miss the detour around Acapulco or you can easily lose another hour stuck in Acapulco traffic.

I prefer the long and scenic route myself, instead of taking the Autopista (aka 95D) I like the old Carretera 95 through Iguala, which of course begs a stop in Taxco since it's practically right on the way, and Taxco would be a terrific place to spend the evening at Hotel Agua Escondida and get a late start and still arrive in Zihuatanejo before sundown.

DF to Zihua Drive?

Oeste Hermoso — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:44:16 +0000

I have decided I probably won't drive down the coast but instead stay in Mexico City for several days ()Dec 1-18)
and then drive to Zihua.
I would probably overnight somewhere as I am in no hurry (reservations Dec 20)
and want to see the country side.
Any thoughts about
(1) which route to take
(2) renting a car and
(3)where to overnight