TravelMole Fam Blog: A Guadalajara Getaway Part 1

Mexico City-based Interjet is a low cost carrier flying new Airbus A-320 aircraft within Mexico and to leisure routes in the USA, Cuba and Costa Rica. 

TravelMole’s West Coast-based correspondent, Kieron Keady was recently invited on a fam trip focused on the airline’s new service to Guadalajara from Southern California’s John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County.

Interjet’s 2 hrs 40 minute non-stop flight to Guadalajara from John Wayne Airport started us off with starboard side windows offering clear views of the thousand-mile-long Baja California Peninsula and Sea of Cortez.   Orderly civilized boarding, free drinks in-flight, and bi-lingual Spanish and English announcements are complemented by attentive service by an energetic young crew

On arrival we found Guadalajara Airport clean, modern, uncrowded and easy to navigate.  Clearing Mexican Customs took less than five minutes and the 15-minute transfer to the ultra-modern Westin Guadalajara was equally painless.  The hotel opened in 2011 and is conveniently located across the street from the convention center Expo Guadalajara.  MICE readers take note: the hotel has 221 spacious rooms, "Heavenly Beds", ample closet and drawer space, is rated 4 Diamond by the Automobile Association of America and can accommodate groups of up to 200 people for meetings.

Most notable at the Westin is Guadalajara is the quality of food.  In a word, wonderful; far superior to what a frequent business traveler will expect from any hotel in the US or Europe.  The main restaurant, Casa de Las Rosas, features the cuisine of Mexican celebrity chef Eduardo Osuna. Dinner menus offer traditional Mexican dishes from Jalisco state, along with osso buco, local steaks and chops and fresh grilled fish from nearby Pacific waters. 

Breakfast buffets, which are not normally my cup of tea, were astounding every morning.  Platters of fresh mango, papaya, pineapple, a host of cereals, omelets made to order and a delightful array of hot food tempted me not to skip the most important meal of the day.  Don’t miss the huevos con machaca (eggs scrambled with shredded beef, onions and peppers) if you like a bit of "heat" to start off your day.  In short, it’s worth staying here just for the food; not something I normally recommend for any hotel.

Curiosity is what brought me to Guadalajara.  I wanted to see Mexico’s second largest metropolis and a Spanish colonial city with a grand reputation for beauty and quality of life.  Having traveled extensively to Mexico City and the country’s many beach resort towns, Guadalajara was a pleasant surprise for the following reasons:

•    The city is clean, safe and secure.  No worries or warnings about walking around day or night.

•    The level of affluence here is something I had not previously experienced in Mexico.  Late model Lamborghinis, Mercedes Benz and the odd Bentley are seen driving the city streets.

•    Over 40,000 retired Americans live here comfortably in the nearby Lake Chapala community a 40-minute drive away.

•    Safety and security: Guadalajara is charming and is remarkably free of normal tourism hassles like over-eager street salespeople.

Most surprising of all is the pleasant city center, with its picturesque colonial buildings, and churches.  Two building that stand out are the Government Palace and Opera House.  The latter is typical of late 19^th century elegant theaters; oval-shaped with lots of red velour seats and five levels of private boxes.  Walking is pleasant and easy.  Shoppers take note: Guadalajara is the shoe manufacturing (zapatos) capital of Mexico.  Fine dress shoes of the highest quality can be purchased here for $50 to $100 a pair.

Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco state, the area of Mexico famous for caballeros (cowboys), Mariachi music and a distilled beverage called tequila.  Much more on this in parts 2 and 3 of this report.  This colonial city is extraordinarily rich culturally.

That bounty (plus the tequila and the economical savings) is a prime reason for travelers to visit for both leisure and business travel. 

Stay tuned for the tastes and rhythms of the town…

Kieron Keady – TravelMole Staff Reporter