Moving my stuff from Laredo TX to Lake Chapala

I am planning to move from Saint Louis MO to Lake Chapala in August. I do not want to move my car there but am trying to find out if there is a service or someone trustworthy who could meet me in Laredo, load my stuff and drive to lake Chapala. I have a Honda Fit so I can take no furniture with me. I also have a trailer hitch bike rack to carry my bike that I would like keep. I don't know if I should bring my desk top computer, printer and monitor with me or just buy a laptop PC at lake Chapala. Also have almost new 39" TV to consider bringing.
I would like to drive the Honda to Laredo, transfer my items (and me) to another vehicle then have them drive on to lake Chapala. I plan to sell the Honda in Laredo.
I thought of flying but golf clubs count as 1 bag, I guess I could see how many bags I can bring and pay extra. That means I can't bring the 300 golf balls with me!

I would greatly appreciate any advice/assistance you folks who have been through a move can provide.
Best Regards, Bill Bogey

You might consider putting your stuff into a public storage locker in Laredo, as we did. That gives you the option of using a UHaul if the quantity justifies it. Then, after you get settled, and buy a Mexican vehicle, you can pick up items at your convenience; perhaps on visits north, etc.

You don't have much stuff. For less than the cost of a 1 month storage locker you can ship your things with Estafeta from Nuevo Laredo to Lakeside.

Bill, I sent you a Private Message, PM. Please check.

Do not try to fly into GDL with excess baggage or boxes during the summer or Christmas holidays. There are box and excess baggage embargoes every year.

joyfull wrote:Do not try to fly into GDL with excess baggage or boxes during the summer or Christmas holidays. There are box and excess baggage embargoes every year.

If I take 1 carry-on, 1 briefcase for under seat, 1 golf club bag and 1 checked bag, which I have to pay extra for, when I get to GDL I will not be able to retrieve these bags? I have not done much checking on airlines except for fares and extra bag costs. I will not ship box on the plane, just suitcase. I guess I am a little puzzeled here.
Thanks for your response, Bill
For anyone reading this, please note I have to use the computer at the local library, so I may not reply fast.

Playaboy wrote:You don't have much stuff.  For less than the cost of a 1 month storage locker you can ship your things with Estafeta from Nuevo Laredo to Lakeside.  

Thanks, I have no idea if Estafeta is an individual or company. They have a vehicle that will take me and my stuff to Lake Chapala from Nuevo laredo. Do they load my stuff in Mexico or can we do that in Laredo, USA? I will check my Lake Chapala books tonite on this for info.
Thanks for your help, Bill

Bill, Estafeta is Mexico's UPS. I have used them many times including making a move. It will be much easier to drive across and personally clear everything with Aduana at the border, get your clearance receipt, then go to the local Estafeta store to ship. You MUST have clearance from Aduana before Estafeta will ship.

Or take one of the 1st class buses to GDL. They have freight rates for shipping.

Playaboy wrote:Bill, Estafeta is Mexico's UPS.  I have used them many times including making a move.  It will be much easier to drive across and personally clear everything with Aduana at the border, get your clearance receipt, then go to the local Estafeta store to ship.  You MUST have clearance from Aduana before Estafeta will ship.

Or take one of the 1st class buses to GDL.  They have freight rates for shipping.

If I understand this, I can pack my golf clubs in travel bag, pack clothes in suitcase, pack golfballs, supplies and shoes in 1 box, books, dvd's Toshiba tablet in another box. Make list of what is in each container, have Aduana check and issue clearance document for each container. I will have briefcase with important documents, blood pressure pills, passport (and need to get visa?) that I can take on bus. Also take suitcase on Bus, The bus will go to GDL and my other packages to address in Lake Chapala, or I will pick up at Estafeta office in Lake Chapala. I know I need to find bus to Lake Chapala from GDL. Do I have this figured out? I know no Spanish, Is there help available. Thank you very much for explaining some options. Bill

Bill, while Playaboy has suggested that it might be easier to go to see Aduana inside N. Laredo and then back into Laredo to the Estafeta shipping office, it is not required. I tought Estefeta 'could' provide that total service for you so I called them in Laredo just now. Yes, they can handle it all without you going into N. Laredo. They can also provide the service to box-up your goods (for a small fee) but it sounds like you may have that covered.

Also, Bill, I sent you a Private Message (PM) here on Insidelakeside.com Did you get it? If you need some help with 'retrieving' that PM let us know here.

RickS

RickS wrote:Bill, while Playaboy has suggested that it might be easier to go to see Aduana inside N. Laredo and then back into Laredo to the Estafeta shipping office, it is not required. I tought Estefeta 'could' provide that total service for you so I called them in Laredo just now. Yes, they can handle it all without you going into N. Laredo. They can also provide the service to box-up your goods (for a small fee) but it sounds like you may have that covered.

Also, Bill, I sent you a Private Message (PM) here on Insidelakeside.com  Did you get it? If you need some help with 'retrieving' that PM let us know here.

RickS

Thanks Rick, I finally got your PM and replied, I am still at the library. need to leave pretty soon. If you prefer I call you, pls let me know good time. Bill

Rick, I am not suggesting shipping from Laredo. I am suggesting shipping from an Estafeta store in N. Laredo. I have heard of many horror stories of people using movers and shippers getting things stuck at Aduana.

Bill, Rick has a lot of experience crossing the border.

Why don't you just drive yourself and your stuff and deal with the car issue after you get settled. OR Sell all. Pack favorite clothes, books, photos, music, etc and drive to the border, sell car, taxi to border, walk across, Mexican taxi to bus station, ETN bus to Guad, taxi to lake.

There's lots to think about, keep it simple.

bring a laptop....computers are expensive in Mexico

Yeah. Bring laptop and bike. MX is very bicycle friendly, you can always get it stashed somewhere. If it's nice, you can always get it stolen somewhere too. . .

Trailrunner wrote:Why don't you just drive yourself and your stuff and deal with the car issue after you get settled. OR Sell all. Pack favorite clothes, books, photos, music, etc and drive to the border, sell car, taxi to border, walk across, Mexican taxi to bus station, ETN bus to Guad, taxi to lake.

There's lots to think about, keep it simple.

Thanks Trailrunner, You raise a good point. I want to take more than i could carry across the border. I think I would be OK driving in the Lake Chapala area, my Honda FIT is a small vehicle. Being hearing impaired with the added bonus of speech impediment I have enough problems in english communication. I went to a Saint Louis McDonalds drive through, ordered a cheeseburger and fries, go to pick up window and they gave me 8 burgers and fries. So, I can just imagine trying to communicate with the MX authorities trying to drive from Laredo to Chapala.
It does make sense to just take may car and be able to bring my bike, it is a nice TREK 7100 which would be great to ride lakeside.
If I decide Lake Chapala is not for me, I just pack the car and move back stateside. Need to do more thinking on this, it ain't simple.
Bill

Well, I had some conversation and emails with Rick Steadman on how to do this move. Rick is a conscientious,honest guy who provided me several options to accomplish this move. I now realize my best plan to get the items I want to lake Chapala is to drive my car to lake Chapala. So I now go back to my books on moving to Lake Chapala to see what needs to be done. I have clear title to my car so no problem there.
The one thing I know is I do not feel comfortable and confident driving through Mexico to Lake Chapala. I have read there are people who do this as a business and hope someone here can give me some advice or experience they have in doing this.
I don't know if there was a previous thread on this subject or should I start a new one? I have to leave the library so i will not have computer access until tomorrow. Thanks, Bill

I agree. Loved the McDonalds story. That is a nice bike, you should bring it down for sure.

So, you haven't said what visa you plan on coming here on, Tourist? Temporario? Permanente? Your car will be foreign plated so you will have to drive it back to the states after you make the move.

Ideally, you need an escort to help you with the move - driving and speaking Spanish. There are people who will do that. Maybe the best scenario is to get an escort with a pickup truck and you can sell your car and transfer your stuff to the pickup and drive down together. You could probably find someone to do that. You will be expected to pay them and all their expenses as well - gas, tolls, meals, hotel one night both ways, probably wouldn't amount to as much as it sounds. Don't forget to figure in the cost of returning your car to the US - same expenses.

Try FB pages Mexpat Lake Chapala, Expats in Mexico, Expats Guadalajara. . .maybe a nice trustworthy Mexican man with some English and a pickup . . . There's a few in my village if you decide to do that I could ask around. So many people here need work.

if I were you I'd drive myself down. I did that the first time I came to Chapala on a friend's advice in about 2005, and have driven alone many times since then. Sometimes even hauling dogs and a horse. Never had a problem. Sure you will have a hard time getting people to understand you, but that is perfectly normal here -- they don't expect to understand us whether we are speaking English or Spanish so they pretty much always reply "huh?" usually several times. A smile and patience will work out nearly anything.

If you're not in a terrible rush you may look for someone experienced to carpool with you. People are always going back and forth from Laredo to Chapala.

Good luck to you!

Merry

I agree, Merry, but then he'll have to drive the car all the way back up and come back again. And he doesn't sound very confident. I think you're right and that's what I did, with dog and friend and stuff. He'll be by himself. So. . .

I changed my mind. Bill, I think you should sell out. All but the bike. Box the bike, pack a few favorite things, buy an IPad or large tablet with wifi and 3 or 4G (that will get you along until you can buy a laptop when you get here. TV is nothing, Walmart. Fly from St Louis to Guad. OR get to the border, walk across, luxury bus (TV, wifi, internet, bathrooms, AC) 24 to 27 hrs and you're here with more of your stuff. No car to return, buy a Mexican plated car after you get here.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The cure for lack of confidence is experience, not avoidance. I've done the drive so many times I don't even think about it. It's not like the olden days when the road wound from town to town, plaza to plaza! When it took 25 hours of watching for cattle on the road, cars driving with no headlights in the night... Kids these days have it so cushy.

So maybe rather than telling ole Bill to just 'man up' and do it, or do it the way I would do it, maybe someone can address his stated desire and question/need: Bill is looking a 'someone' who can help him drive/get he and his car to Lake Chapala from Laredo. If I knew someone(s) who could help him I would pass it along to him, but alas I do not.

Try Alex Petersen. For a fee I'm certain he would drive to the border and provide an escort. He can be reached at 333 577 7765. When calling a Mexican cell from the US you need to dial 011 52 1 and then the number.

Bill, you have been offered a lot of information and advice. There really are many different ways of making the move here. All of them will get you here.
You will sift through all this and come up with the plan that works best for you. People can tell you what they would do if they were you, but you are the only one who actually is you.