Mexican buses embrace opulence

Good story, I think. Though, I sense the writer is confused about what services are (or aren't) available in "regular" first-class service. The "de lujo" service level doesn't provide value to me, but I know it does to others who've posted to TTMB about it (particularly to people who, unlike me, can sleep on an overnight bus). I enjoy looking out the window as a bus travels to my destination(s), and the thought of other passengers wanting to darken the cabin by drawing curtains becomes an annoyance (for me or for them - when I pull back the curtains next to where I'm sitting). It's always good to have several travel options.

I have ridden the bus all over Mexico and taken both first class and "de lujo" buses. I tend to agree with Longford that the extra cost for the "de lujo" service isn't worth it, for all the reasons he cited. First class buses offer comfortable reclining seats, movies, drinks, etc. However, I would caution the rider to bring a sweater, warm jacket, or a blanket. The air conditioning on first class and de lujo buses is often set to such a low temperature that the cabin becomes uncomfortably cold. I once took an overnight "ejecutivo" (another term for "de lujo") service from Mazatlan to Guadalajara, and it was very cold all the way. There was no way to communicate with the driver, who was in a sealed compartment. Luckily, there was a seat in the refreshment area in the back, wich was not air conditioned. I wound up sitting back there to warm up.

#2 I know what you mean. Sometimes the driver is "sealed off," but even if not sealed off, NO MEXICAN in my 10 years of traveling first class, has ever asked for the A/C to be lower, even when the driver wasn't sealed off. Maybe they want the driver to be "cold and therefore alert?" Savvy Mexicans are wrapped in blankets and wear Gortex jackets on luxe night buses.

Anyway, if you want to travel at night and can sleep, you can't beat luxe/lujo/executivo buses in Mexico. But if you can't sleep and you want to see the countryside, by all means travel during the day. Most of the luxury buses, not all, go only at night and cater to Mexican executive types who are snoring before the bus pulls out of the station. They arrive at their morning business meeting all fresh from a good night's sleep! I take the night luxury buses from Oaxaca to DF when I have an early morning flight from DF. (beats the hell out of airfare). I, too, arrive fresh enough to face the check-in procedure and bruhaha of Mexico City airport. But...I'm only 5'2" tall!!! A consideration.

The daytime first class buses and second class buses offer a different experience. It's your choice. No movies on the night buses....that might be a plus for some people.

Aside from the comfort, what I like most about ETN, and what the article didn't mention, is that the buses have headphones for those who want to see the movie (or listen to music), meaning that those of us who don't want to see the movie aren't compelled to listen to the movie.

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<hr>Anyway, if you want to travel at night and can sleep, you can't beat luxe/lujo/executivo buses in Mexico<hr></blockquote>

That's the value of 'delujo' service. The seats recline further to a lying position then those on the first class service as a result more leg room and less seats hence why it cost more because they have to make up the differences in the number of seats between delujo and first class. The seating rows across are 2-1 on delujo whereas first & second class is 2-2. So for an all night trip it may be worth it, depending on how well you sleep in a moving vehicle.

To bad they don't have actual bunks on buses like they do in China. That could be a money maker in Mexico.

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<hr> (beats the hell out of airfare). <hr></blockquote>

Right now the airfare between Mexico and Oaxaca are still expensive but it has came down some for longer distances like Mexico & Cancun or Mexico & Tijuana as the Citra monopoly has broken up and Mexico is beginning to adopt an open sky policy in air travel. So it could be a matter of time that the airfare could be compareable or even cheaper to bus btwn Mexico & Oaxaca..

The article was interesting but he is behind the time in one area! With the new low cost airlines, airfares are cheaper than the bus in many cases. I am using a new airline next week, Cancun to Monterrey, and paying about 120 dollars roundtrip for the trip. The bus would be at least 2 1/2 times that fare.
I often use one of ADOs upscale services in this area , ADO GL , for several reasons. First, I like the addtional leg room. Then, it usually carries far fewer children since families usually dont want to pay the additional cost over first class. A real plus at night. And the cost is not that much more than first class.
But thats the good thing about Mexicos bus system--something for everyone!

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<hr>I often use one of ADOs upscale services in this area , ADO GL , for several reasons. First, I like the addtional leg room. Then, it usually carries far fewer children since families usually dont want to pay the additional cost over first class. A real plus at night.<hr></blockquote>
Yes, one of the challenges for me when traveling on overnight busses - noise/distractions, from children . . . and snoring adults! (not to mention the sometimes loud music coming from the radio by the driver, the often frigid air, etc., etc.) It's not going to be too long in the future when some of us talk about "I remember when" bus travel in Mexico . . . "like it was in the old days."

" Savvy Mexicans are wrapped in blankets and wear Gortex jackets on luxe night buses."
Does it rain on those busses?
What nonsense!

Speaking of which so is much of that patronising article.

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<hr>It's not going to be too long in the future when some of us talk about "I remember when" bus travel in Mexico . . . "like it was in the old days."
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Could be true but bus travel won't totally go away the way of the train. It just may not be as opulent as it is now and could become like Greyhound in the USA with cramped seating. If anything bus travel could evolved to shorter routes like Mexico-Puebla so for one to travel from Mexico-TAPO to Cancun may end up having to actaully change buses at least twice or more.