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Mexico's
first-class busses are roomy and clean. For about $22 you can get from
Mexico City to Veracruz in 5 hours, with a bit of adventure thrown in.
 To
get to the bus station from the Airport in Mexico City you need to find,
inside the airport, the booth (caseta) that sells tickets (boletos) for
taxis. The taxi ticket booth is right by one of the exit doors from the
airport near where you exit customs in the international arrivals area.
There is another in the domestic arrivals area. Once you locate this booth
make it known that you want a taxi to La TAPO bus station (Central Camionera
La TAPO. There are 3 other bus stations in the city, be sure you go to
La TAPO). He'll sell you a ticket- might cost $10 or 15- and then someone
will lead you to, or indicate where you need to go to catch the taxi.
These taxis are usually yellow and sometimes you have to wait your turn
to get the next available taxi. The driver will take half your ticket,
you keep the other half.
About 20 minutes of Mexico
City traffic and you'll be at the edge of the bus station. It is a round
building, like a donut, and you need to get yourself into the center,
or hole, of the donut. Follow the flow of people towards the center. You
will go through a long, wide passageway that opens into the center of
the bus station. Here you will see a dozen or more bus lines. The ones
you are interested in are either Uno or ADO. Both of these offer first
class service to Veracruz. They list the departure times on boards above
the ticket windows. Check both before buying tickets, as you will want
to the line with the next leaving bus. You shouldn't have to spend more
than an hour waiting in the bus station. Departures are frequent (from
6AM-1PM). Alternately, if these buses are full, look at AU, a second class
carrier with frequent service to Veracruz.
Your ticket will cost about
$200 pesos- about $22 US. Regarding money, you should exchange at least
enough money for the taxi, bus and one day in Veracruz while you are still
in the Mexico city airport (there are many exchange booths there -casa
de cambio). The airport has the best exchange rate in the country, and
it's convenient. Just don't flash your money around there, or anywhere
else for that matter.
At the airport and bus station
there will be men with dollies who can lug your luggage if you wish. They
are usually content with a tip of 20-30 pesos.
A final note, while in Mexico
City, in the airport or the bus station, you should always use the taxi
ticket booths to arrange your taxi. There are many taxis on the street
that you can just walk out and flag down. But there have been many muggings
associated with these taxis in the last 5 years. So don't use street taxis.
If you aren't in the airport or bus station, perhaps your hotel, or a
hotel nearby can call a taxi for you (offer to pay for the call). Also,
if you don't have luggage, the best way to get around Mexico City to see
the sights is via the Metro (subway).
Once your bus gets to Veracruz,
5 hours later, you will find many taxis in front of the bus station. In
Veracruz taxis are safe. Tell them you want a ride to the Hotel Colonial
or to the Zocalo (central park where hotel is located).
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