Heather Hanley
San Miguel de Allende

You must have been exhausted!

Jackie in Louisville

Beginning of post:

I have decided to respond to the whole CL because I see that this info is
requested quite often. I am a former full timer in SMA, living in Dallas
now, my hometown. There is a “non-stop” bus from Dallas to SMA, Transportes SMA. Let me stress, this is the only bus that I, or my family, would ever take from Dallas to SMA. It leaves Dallas around 5pm, of course times can vary, and usually pulls into SMA around 2pm. The charge from Dallas to SMA is approx. $99.00, fees subject to change.

They have always been very flexible with baggage, sometimes weighing it, but once they do, they don’t seem to do anything about it. I have seen people bring large plastic/rubber trash bins and plastic buns from Walmart, taped shut, of course along with your usual suitcases and such.

I usually make a reservation, and you pay when you get there. The garage is south of downtown Dallas, nothing fancy, and is sufficient with a bathroom and a 7/Eleven across the street for last minute snacks. The bus will make stops in Austin and San Antonio if there are passengers.

We always bring a small cooler for drinks and food, but the bus will make stops along the way, both in Texas and once in Mexico. We also always bring a pillow and perhaps a small blanket. We are not Spanish speakers, knowing just enough to get by, yet we have always felt at ease while on the bus. I usually drive my new Suburban, yet over the years, my kids have often preferred to take the bus, they think it is “cool” and more fun than driving with Mom, even though the SUV has 5 TV screens in it and they can watch movies or play video games along the way!!! Figure that one out????

There have been varying experiences while crossing the border, and a stop is made for those that need to get a turista visa. You might try to be
charged for this turista visa, but do not pay, as it is no longer required.
Also, on a few occasions, a “person of authority” has board the bus and
requested a “donation” in order to cross. This, we have discovered, is so
that the luggage is not pulled off of the bus and gone through and
inspected. This is fairly unusual, but I have given a few dollars along
with the rest of the passengers and off we go, with no luggage or bags
having been removed from the bus. Basically, a bribe to leave everything
alone!!!!! Nothing to worry about, just wanted to make a note of that just
in case this situation might present itself to another first time passenger.

The stops that are made in Mexico, I feel, are all safe, and are at
locations that I normally stop at myself when I make my 3 to 4 times a year drive myself. There are 2 drivers and this route is all that they drive and believe me, they know what they are doing. They keep in contact with Dallas and SMA via cell phones, and make this trip 365 days a year. The return fee from SMA to Dallas is slightly less, around $90 last time the kids took the bus. I have let them take this bus by themselves over the years, always feeling that they have been placed on the best bus possible to make the trip. Checking fares today, it is more than $700 to fly RT from Dallas to SMA, that is why we take the bus or drive on most trips.

The bus is received at the SMA station up near the old Gigante, again not a fancy office, but it works for all. Transportes SMA has 2 buses, and I know that near the holidays, they sometimes use both buses on the same day, that is why it is always a good idea to make a reservation. The Dallas phone number is 214-946-2022 and a Spanish speaker will answer, probably later in the day. There may not be an English speaker available, so do the best you can to make a reservation, they try their best to help.

I am a former leisure travel agent with Neiman Marcus travel, and therefore have a great deal of experience in trying to help people with their travel plans and to give as much info as I can. Please contact me is someone should have any questions. I am a “straight shooter” as we say here in Texas and I give info exactly as it is, not just my opinion. I hope I have been of some help and please excuse the long message, just wanted to try and give all info at once.

> Blessings to the animals and their keepers.
>
> Amy Cox
> The Paws Cause