Monterrey Advice

[Annie]

Laredoalltheway: Outside of Nuevo Laredo, there are NO dangers (As a matter of fact cross NL in broad daylight... I know NL is violent right now, but if you want to feel secure, do it in the daytime).
Please take the toll highway to Monterrey, do not use the free one.
Have in mind that you are NOT driving into your wild wild west epoch, you are driving into Monterrey, third largest city in Mexico with 3.5 Million and one of the safest in the country. You can walk at night in the club area with no problem at all.
Have in mind, there is NO Zona, clubs are spread all over.
And corrupt traffic cops in Monterrey... At least you CAN bribe them here, as opposed to the speed trap towns in the USA where the victims there are Americans, with no possibility of bribing the cop.
Regular police will not bother you at ALL. As a matter of fact, they'll help you out first instead of a local if something happens.
Bad news comes to you from a diffrent part.
Crowne Plaza, Hilton Inn are NOT girlfriendly. I can not vouch for the Hampton Inn althugh I have had guys from the States getting their girls into their rooms with out any problem (this aplies to the Hampton Inn Galerias only).
The only 5 star hotel that is girl friendly is the Sheraton Ambassador and maybe the Howard Johnson Monterrey.
Radisson Ancira, Fista Inn, Holiday Inn, Safi, Intercontinental... all those are big "no's".

And, If you take I-35... it's all due South to Monterrey. It'll get you smack into the downtown area.

 

[SJG]

But what if I'm driving in on I-35 from Houston?...if you know anything about that route.

 

[Honeyeyes]

Make sure that you cross from Laredo at the right bridge. One of them leads to a Mexican immigration and customs station while the other one just takes you into town. You'll need an import sticker for your vehicle when you go further into the interior and you can only get them at the station. Even though it's expensive take the autopista to Monterrey - it's like a US interstate and cuts the drive time considerably. Be careful in Monterrey. They like to have one way streets meet at a cross street and change directions on the other side! I got nailed by a corrupt Mexican cop just when I had realized my mistake (I had not even entered the street - instead I stopped and backed up to make a three point turn). The guy was drinking a beer in his car and wanted $50. Fortunately I was with a Mexicana who read him the riot act and she bargained him down to $10. She said she could have gotten him down even further but it would have taken more time reaming him out to the passers-by. We gave him the 10 and went on our way. Check out the HEB in San Pedro Garza Garcia (Monterrey suburb) on Avenida Gomez Morin (intersection with El Roble). There's nice movieplex nearby as well which matches anything up here. San Pedro Garza Garcia is the wealthiest city in all of Mexico. Also check out Chipinque, a beautiful park in the mountains overlooking the city.

 

[kathy_is_a_nurse]

A group of guys going to Monterrey for the weekend next month to unwind. As far as hotels are concerned, how are Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, and Crowne Plaza in terms of bringing girls back to? Also, how is the drive there from the USA? Any dangers?