Car WITH driver hire.

Hello,
we, a couple of two, wish to visit MEXICO for approx. 4 weeks/about 28 FULL days there.
I looked CAR HIRE up, but only could find: HERTZ, AVIS... self drive.
The destinations are from Mexico DF, to Vera Cruz, Yucatan, Chiapas, Guadalajara..; back to Mexico DF.
What would a vehicle, with driver's accommodation, his meals, unlimited mileage and petrol cost per day, in US Dollars?
Thank You!
Willy

I have always hired per day through my hotel for the most part but on occasion have hired "off the street". Paid anywhere from $15 to $100 per day US plus lunch. Cheapest was Patzcuaro and Colima. Most was in Puerto Vallarta. In some cases our driver would drop us off at various attractions with a set time of pick up so the driver can get other fares.

PS Take luxury buses between cities. Nothing like our lousy system in the US but real comfort with reclining seats, treats, snacks and movies plus rest rooms.

As I recall, such a arrangement runs afoul of local taxi or limo drivers union rules ... You, most likely, be renting a vehicle then, finding a "driver" with nation wide "rubber on the road" skills ... I have no knowledge of any agency offering such service ... Any related costs would depend on your, bargaining skills. Google might, be your friend here ... good luck ... For in Mexico you will, be made to drive not merely steer ... carracar

You will likely be paying "developed world" prices for such a service, not perhaps what you might be accustomed to in Laos. You must be quite wealthy to be considering this for such a long length of time. IMO, take the advice above and use the buses, or rent a car to drive yourself (not as complicated as some make it out to be), or fly between base points and try to find a driver locally for each.

ADO will rent you a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van and driver. Check their website, which also has prices and schedules for firsts class bus departures in southeastern Mexico, including the destinations you mention (except Guadalajara).

Hello,
thank you ALL for your instant response which I have carefully read/absorbed.
The MAIN reasons for often having hired a vehicle with driver is:
I am a hobby photographer for over 50 years. Still on film (Dias/Reversal Positives). Hence, with an own vehicle, with the driver who concentrates on driving, I have the outmost opportunity (in addition to places a driver/guide know how to get to) to stop anywhere. This is not possible by bus/public transport. Going (by bus...) from one to another location with a considerable distance in between, requires often lots of "back trekking". Return to the hotel's-location with taxis, on the very same day(s). This "chews" up lots of time, especially with heavy traffic out and in from ones city-hotel location.
Ending up in a large bus-terminal and, (not always at noon/daylight too) trusting "any" taxis to find/choose and to elect an acceptable hotel, isn't the most comfortable choice either. With your own car and "knowledgeable" driver-guide, this is eliminated.
We have hired cars for the last 20 years, with driver-guide in: PERU, BOLIVIA, MADAGASCAR, INDIA, CHINA (TIBET) and in most S.E. Asian countries, for up to 4 weeks at the time. Yes, prices differed, with MADAGASCAR and TIBET (heavy, very high ground clearance 4WD's needed) the most expensive, for about US 160 pd, whilst in INDONESIA, about half this amount.
Since I checked hotel and food prices in the L.P. Book, they were, as an average, for "Midrange" places, pretty similar in MEXICO as in these countries I pointed out above. Hence, this was leading me to believe, car with driver hire, would be as affordable too.
As "BAHIANA77" pointed out in this topic above, I would have to consider "developed world"-prices. This would mean EUROS 300+ pd; which isn't our budget either.
Regards,
Willy

So rent a compact car for about $45 per day with full insurance (for example: http://www.easywayrentacar.com/) and let the other part of the "we" mentioned above do the driving when you want to take photos. The only city in which you may encounter confusing traffic is Mexico City. Do you seriously claim to take good photos out of the window of a moving car while the hired driver is at the wheel? Use booking.com or another similar site to find hotels/posadas. Do your due diligence regarding where you want to go, rather than be carted around blindly by someone who may not know the whole extent of the country that you wish to cover any better than you.

Also, just FYI, most travel forums have a character of their own, a certain type of traveler who posts and to whom the tone of the forum appeals. This TT forum mostly has "independent" travelers posting, those who for enjoyment or budget do their own planning/research and travel on their own, so the information base may not be ideal for you.

Yo Willy, when do you want to hit the road? Do you have a budget?

I would have to consider "developed world"-prices. This would mean EUROS 300+ pd

I missed that post. Who told you that it would cost 300 EUR per day for a car and driver? Did you get a quote from ADO as I suggested?

Thank you ALL again for your advise.
a) mclarjh. I have not as yet contacted ADO, but will do so.

b) badjadude. The plan is from mid Sept to mid Oct 2018. As for our budget, about US 350 pd.

c) bahiana77. Well, firstly, I don't take photos out of a moving vehicle, car, bus, train.. Hence, its imperative to have you own vehicle, with which you can elect as to WHERE to stop, (traffic rules permitting) in addition to the usual places of tourist interest.
As for self-drive, my partner doesn't drive, whilst "I" would be fully occupied at the Road/Traffic in a unknown place. I could not much look out the side window to the countryside!
I am aware that Mexico is a large country of approx. 2 Mill.km2. However, these parts we wish to visit would be, max. ONE THIRD of it.
Obviously, not each and every driver/guide would/can know ALL of Mexico.
I compare it with INDIA, CHINA, MADAGASCAR..; (for such a driver/guide service only) where matured, experienced driver/guides do know very large sections of their country, since it is, finally in "their" interest to earn money. Plus the fact, that for the majority of such a trip, will be to the usual tourist places.
But, one has the choice to add or omit places and durations, without the parking headaches and safety of the vehicle for which I would be responsible when self-driving.
As for accommodation: in all countries we had a car with driver/guide, they knew a number of suitable hotels. Most of these, provided a free
room (in fact a room with a number of beds) complimentary for such drivers/guides, since "they" took business to them. It is nothing unusual and I thought, MEXICO could not be an exemption.
Regards,
Willy

I am sure you know mid Sept to mid Oct is the hottest time of the year in most places you want to visit, the Yucatan area and Gulf will be about 88 degrees and 100% humidity, this is the height of the rain and hurricane season with a chance of 52% chance of rain in a 24 hour period...Chances of flooding in the Minatitlan to Vilalahermosa and closing the main highway for up to 3 weeks are common yearly...

Thank You bajadude,
you for this advise. No, I didn't know these weather conditions. I was thinking June to mid Sept would be the hottest months in the Northern Hemisphere, although, Yucatan is in the sub/tropical region. I know what 37C and 100% humidity means, very unpleasant.
Will have to elect other months, we are, time wise, also agreeable with our obligations at home.
Regards,
Willy

In the Yucatan, April and May are the hottest months but dry. As said, Sept is very humid. The days start hot but the afternoon rains cool things down. The weather turns more pleasant in late October. Of course, there is tremendous variation around these generalities.

Well, obviously you have a fixed idea of how Mexico should be that you do not want to give up. Whether your idea and the reality have any relationship is a question.

An alternative is to take public transport between cities, and then hire a private taxi (approx 150 MXN per hr) for day trips. This wouldn´t give you as much flexibility as your original plan, but worth considering.

Yes, you could......

........ fly between base points and try to find a driver locally for each.

Oops, I´d forgotten about your earlier post. Oh well, I thought it was a good idea too.

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