Help for SSSuzy and her Mexico Adventure

[Mr Steam Turbine]

After a full year of steady effort, my roomate SSSuzy is actually leaving for Mexico on her KLR a week fom next Monday for a 50 day dream adventure. I've been helping her with planning and have a few questions I'm hoping you experianced riders can answer:

1. Is a detailed road atlas availible in Mexico at major gas stations or someplace like WalMart. A rider reading her post was gracious enough to send excellant PDF maps, but a detailed paper atlas would be great if she can find one after crossing the border.

2. Will a Sprint cell phone work in Mexico with roaming charges in an emergency?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Shes a great person and absolutly estatic about making this adventure.

[bigalsmith101]

I too am headed to Mexico very soon. You made mention of excellent PDF maps. Would it be too much to ask for you to email those to me?

That would be greatly appreciated.

--Alex

[Mr Steam Turbine]

Originally Posted by bigalsmith101

I too am headed to Mexico very soon. You made mention of excellent PDF maps. Would it be too much to ask for you to email those to me?

That would be greatly appreciated.

--Alex

Sure Alex, if you can send me your email address. When are you planning on crossing into Mexico and which routes? Maybe you two can cross paths and meet for a .

[Booysen]

Tell Suzy to use Guia Roli, it is a full comprehensive map of Mexico with city maps and route planning as well. I am not sure if she can buy it outside of Mexico but should be able to get one at the first OXO she comes across.
Booysen

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by Booysen

Tell Suzy to use Guia Roli, it is a full comprehensive map of Mexico with city maps and route planning as well. I am not sure if she can buy it outside of Mexico but should be able to get one at the first OXO she comes across.
Booysen

Most USA road atlases also include North Mexico, just rip out those pages and use them until a Guia Roja is found.

As to the cell phone question, this may come as a surprise, but the best people to ask are the cell phone provider.

:-)

[MikeMike]

Is she leaving from Michigan?
If so, did she get the maps I sent for all of Mexico?

[RickMcD]

Originally Posted by Mr Steam Turbine

1. Is a detailed road atlas availible in Mexico at major gas stations or someplace like WalMart. A rider reading her post was gracious enough to send excellant PDF maps, but a detailed paper atlas would be great if she can find one after crossing the border.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Shes a great person and absolutly estatic about making this adventure.

Is she taking a GPS? If so this place has excellent street level/routable maps that I used on my "Lap of Mexico" but they also sell a paper "atlas" that is probably excellent also. Mexico GPS Maps
Rick

[Dr. Benny]

The Guia Roji is great. The New National Geographic map just came out and it comes highly recommended too (much better than previous versions). Map info here.

If time is running short, you'll find Mexico maps in the southern US gas stations as well as the OXXO stores (similar to a 7-11, they are all over Mexico).

Check with Sprint about the phone. Most major carriers will work but you'll pay through the nose on roaming charges. Another option is to purchase a phone in Mexico for cheap. No "2-year" plan required. You'll see them sold in lots of places. Maybe $20 for the phone and then buy $20 worth of minutes. Don't sweat it too much, if something happens on the road, you'll meet lots of friendly locals who will offer to help. Internet (and skype) are everywhere too.

Hope she has a great ride!!!