Hi Nancy,

I don't know anything about renting a car or driver...sorry.

Why don't you consider taking the bus from place to place? The first-class buses are very comfortable and inexpensive. Riding the bus in Mexico is not like riding the bus in the USA.

Have a great time!

Cindi

Nancy

Cindi gave you an excellent alternative with the Luxury bus lines like ETN, Primera Plus and others in Mexico. They have comfortable, roomy airplane like seats, TV movies and on board restrooms. For long trips between your destinations they usually stop at some very nice roadside restaurants.

Also, most bus depots in the larger cities are located close to centro with hotel accomodations close by.

Use the Trip Advisor search engine and type in "bus travel" or "ETN" and you'll get a lot of info I'm sure.

A couple years back I traveled from San Miguel to the Yucatan Peninsula and back and thoroughly enjoyed someone else doing the driving plus the comfy seats and views of the country.

Enjoy Mexico!

I think whether you drive yourself has a lot more to do with your comfort level driving in unfamiliar situations than any real danger. I've driven quite a lot in many parts of Mexico and never had a problem at all. It's great to be able to stop whereever you want. Also, Especially in the countryside, people tend to be more friendly and willing to help than in the US.

A few things to be aware of:

Make sure you have insurance and can prove it. If not and you have an accident, Mexican authorities can hold you until things are straightened out.

There are often large farm animals in the road. Be especially catreful ar night.

Road conditions vary much more widely than in the US especially in mountains and deserts but if you stay on major routes will likely be OK.

Mexico City is tough driving. No doubt about it. Confusing, agressive drivers, bad traffic, huge. I would say it's equiv. to driving in a major European city like Paris or worse.

All that being said, I've done some bus travel in Mexico as well. It's much more available and made use of than is typical in the US. More fun too.

If you take note of schedules and ride second class busses, you can have the driver let you off anywhere, do what you want, then wait for the next one going to your destination and just wave them down.