You Got Questions We Got Answers

Question

FIRST: OUR TOP TIPS

Answer

The most important thing to bring is your passport! Please make sure it is updated (safest bet: it doesn't expire within 6 months of the wedding date). San Miguel is in the desert, which means gorgeous days and cool nights. Bring: (1) comfortable walking shoes, the streets are cobblestone. Stay away from heels and flip-flops. Wedges or block heels are recommended so that you can easily walk the streets. (2) sunscreen, the sun is 3x stronger due to the thin air + high altitudes. (3) sweater/jacket for possibly cool mornings and evenings. The exchange rate is ±21 pesos/$1.00 USD. If you divide the pesos amount by 20, you’ll arrive at what it should be in US dollars. Mexico uses the $ symbol as well so don’t panic if something looks wildly expensive, it’s just in pesos. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. ATM machines are the best value for exchange @ Santander, #4 Calle Portal de Guadalupe, HSBC #31 San Francisco, & Bancomer #11 Juarez. Make sure your cell phone data plan is set up for international travel. Most providers offer unlimited data plans if you purchase ahead of time. Making Calls to the U.S.: Try dialing the number as usual or else dial 001 - area code – number. Dialing Locally in San Miguel: Try dialing the local area 7-digit number or else dial +52-415 then the local 7-digit number. Altitude: San Miguel sits at 6,400 ft above sea level (LA is 305, Houston is 105). If you feel the effects of altitude sickness (nausea, drowsiness, rapid heartbeat, headache) the best remedy is lots of water, rest & Tylenol. Taxis: It is perfectly safe to take the Green & White Cabs on the street. They do not use meters, but if you hail a taxi, fares should be between 30-40 pesos ($3-4). If you phone a taxi, the fare will be 50 pesos. Fares double after 10:00 p.m. A tip is not expected unless the driver helps with suitcases (10 pesos per parcel recommended). Tips at bars/restaurants are typically 15%. Plugs are the same as in the US.

Question

San Miguel de Allende - Huh? (Is It Safe?)

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A "Pueblo Magico," San Miguel de Allende (SMA for the lazy [us]) is extremely safe with high volumes of tourists and expats from America, Canada, and Europe who have retired or are living out their artist Plan B. SMA is known for being completely walkable and safe at night, where you won't want to miss the churches and buildings lit up in the pedestrian-friendly city center. The U.S. State Department has no restrictions on travel to SMA. The city also was endorsed with the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) "Safe Travels" seal of approval recognizing the implementation of global standardized health and hygiene protocols in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, as with even your perfect suburb, exercise common sense and don't be dumb.

Question

When should we plan to arrive and depart San Miguel?

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Short answer: Wednesday, 3.08 - Sunday morning, 03.12. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL WEEK! We will be arriving in San Miguel the weekend before the wedding, and plan to be doing all the fun things that week. Please join as and when you're able! Otherwise, we are "officially" kicking off the festivities with a Welcome Happy Hour on Wednesday, March 8, so ideally you plan to arrive in San Miguel by the afternoon on the 8th (note the 1-2 hour shuttle ride from the airport). On Thursday, Mike and Katie will be taking a few downtown photos in the morning and then hope to corral folks for a city walking/tequila tour (time permitting - but YOU should!). There's so much to take in, and walking tours are the perfect way to really see the nooks and crannies. Thursday night is the bigger welcome party hosted by the Trevathans. All are invited. There will be heavy tapas and heavier drinks. On Friday we'll do the damn thing! One note: we specifically opted for a Friday wedding with the sincere hope that all of our very hardworking/overworked friends decide to take a vacation (from everything) on Saturday. We also didn't want you all to be boarding an early morning flight the next morning because...that's not fun. Unlike most American weddings, receptions in Mexico (well, in lots of other places!) tend to go a liiiittle bit later, so it's not the beeeessst idea to book a flight home on Saturday. Our reception will end in the wee hours on Saturday. This is your warning. For all of these reasons, we'd strongly encourage you to hang around and explore, whether it's with us or solo! We will be doing one of 3 things: (1) hosting you for a brunch and pool party at either Rancho Las Sabinas or (2) Casa Carino, and/or (3) exploring one of the vineyards nearby. Feel free to come and go as you please, no matter what we get into. Sunday - departure.

Question

What should I pack? Weather?

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YOU SHOULD PACK FOR THE BEST WEATHER EVER. Mildly cool with a gentle breeze. (Similar to California: not too hot, not too cold, no humidity, you're good to go.) Some Average March Stats: - Daily highs are 81°F, rarely falling below 71°F or exceeding 87°F. - Daily lows (almost exclusively at night) are 50°F, rarely falling below 39°F or exceeding 54°F. - March is a dry month with an average of 5mm (0.2in) rain - yahoo. - The altitude is ~6,400 feet, warranting hats/sunscreen during the day, and layers at night. So what to wear? For non-wedding activities: fun, bright, bold, colorful dresses, skirts, light tops. Cotton, linen. San Miguel loves fashionable hats, but there are plenty of inexpensive, cute options there if you're having FOMO. Pack light layers for the nighttime. For men, cotton or linen shorts are good options for staying cool in case it gets an ounce outside of perfect weather for 30 seconds. As with women's garb, same fun, bright, bold, colorful theme for men that you've read on every page of this website so far. For wedding activities: the above but dressier. Attire preferences are stated on the Schedule page. To summarize: formal festive. colorful. bold patterns. bright, long dresses. The wedding on Friday is heel-friendly, but see below for the rest of the week. We recommend comfortable shoes for walking around the city (think: Veja, Superga classics, Cariuma canvas, APL, Allbirds low-top white sneaks that look good with a sundress and hat). The city's hilly cobblestone streets make wearing high heels a bit difficult -- but beauty is pain??? Nah, don't test it. Finally, Flip Flops are not a way around the no-heel dilemma!!! Unless you want to trip flip around town. We have never felt uncomfortable bringing the jewelry we want to wear and I wouldn't not bring a piece that I'd travel with to any American city. Don't forget an UPDATED PASSPORT!!!!

Question

Ok, but what does festive formal really mean, ugh

Answer

Katie compiled some inspiration to guide the ladies (Mike is, erm, working on one for the men). There are some direct links to some options as well as just general inspiration - we can't vouch for the brands/stores, but this is the theme we're aiming for if you'd be so kind to help make our wedding blindingly bright! https://pin.it/6vYoA8d

Question

How do I get around this place?

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Walking. Full Stop. The city is extremely walkable and it is safe at night. Uber. Uber in SMA works great and there's no need to exchange cash. We have even ordered Uber Eats to our Airbnb (because they all come with rooftop terraces). Taxis. Official green taxis in SMA are very safe and cash only. Flagging one down on the street is typically very easy. Super inexpensive: about $50-$90 pesos. If you'd like to call a taxi to your home/hotel, or in the event of rain, call 152-5993 or 152-4579. If you call for a pickup the price is usually double. See additional details on our Travel page! Don't. Rent. A. Car. (Unless you are traveling out of the city.)

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Pesos? U.S. Dollars? Credit Cards?

Answer

At the time of writing, our handy rule of thumb for calculating the exchange rate on the fly is to take off 1 zero and divide by 2. So, $5,000 pesos is $250 USD. We usually take out a few thousand pesos on arrival at the airport ATM. But there is no need for large amounts of U.S. dollars or pesos in SMA. Most (if not all but the corner taco stand) restaurants, bars, and hotels will accept U.S. credit card. And ATM machines are readily available throughout the city. Some smaller denominations of U.S. dollars and/or pesos are helpful for tipping, the artisanal markets (e.g., Mercado de Artesanías), and buying souvenirs, snacks, or water along the way.

Question

Will there be transportation provided to and from the venue on Friday?

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Yes! The venue is a short 15-minute ride from the city center ("Centro"). There will be shuttles provided at specific locations and times to take you to and from the venue, as well as taxi stands set up at the venue so you can depart at your leisure. See the Travel tab for more information. Pre-Wedding activities are all in Centro and are easily walkable from hotels and homes.

Question

Hydrate with Tequila or Water?

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Hmmm, that's a harder call. Probably fit good ol' H2O somewhere in your routine. The combination of altitude (more than 6,000 ft.!), walking, and mezcal drinking can leave you very dehydrated. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water before, during, and after the trip. LiquidIV and Pedialyte are your friends!

Question

Gimme some history.

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Ok. Located at the far edges of Guanajuato in Mexico's highlands is the stunning colonial town of San Miguel de Allende. Just 274 km (170 miles) from Mexico City, this seemingly unassuming town played a major role in the Chichimeca war where the Spanish empire was defeated by the Chichimeca confederation. It's a UNESCO heritage site and its quiet beauty continues to draw visitors from all over the world year-round. After nearly being wiped out by an epidemic in the early 20th century, the town had life breathed back into it by artists who moved to the town thanks to its many neoclassical and baroque style buildings. A man from Chicago visited and advertised it so well back home that he drew Americans from all over -- now, the town is full of American, Canadian, and European expats and lots of retirees. (And strangely a large population of Fort Worthians and Houstonians...) Did we mention that in July 2022, The Woodlands and San Miguel became sister cities?! Katie and Cindy happened to be there for the ribbon cutting. :) Most of the beautiful architecture in SMA was constructed in the mid-18th century around the time that the transition between neoclassical and baroque architecture was at its peak, which is evidenced in most of the buildings still standing to this day. The town boasts of art schools, boutique hotels, and a tranquillity that has attracted tons of foreigners to settle here such that it has a richly diverse culture that continues to flourish. We highly recommend getting a city tour by a local guide! We are happy to recommend some.

Question

What about the water sitch? Can I drink it?

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San Miguel is a gourmet foodie's paradise, but you should still keep a few basic precautions in mind: 1. When in doubt, drink bottled water. Most of the moderate to high-end hotels and rental homes/Airbnbs have water purification systems (as has been the case everywhere we've stayed), but check with management just in case. 2. Note a street food vendor without many customers. While we are loathe to dissuade you from street tacos in any situation, crowds usually indicate a popular, vetted vendor. Probably avoid pre-made juices, cold unsealed drinks, ice, and any fresh cut fruit or vegetable on the street (these are all okay in restaurants).

Question

I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH. IS THAT A PROBLEMO?

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No! Nearly everyone in San Miguel speaks some English. As expats make up almost 20% of the city's population, it should be easy to find an English-speaker nearby, if desparate. The only time Mike hasn't been able to communicate in English has been with the green taxi drivers, but even then they know enough to get ya where you wanna go.

Question

This Zola Website stinks. Why aren't categories better grouped?

Answer

I know, right? We summarize a few of our recommendations here. Details are in other pages. DO + SEE Doce 18 Core Meson Hidalgo Nudo Galeria Atotonilco Church Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel Instituto Allende de Arte Kanjada de la Virgen Coyote Canyon Adventures Historical Walking Tour of Downtown/Churches (options with tequila or food tours) Cooking Classes Tequila Tastings at La Casa Dragones or at the Dragones Tasting Room WATER + PAMPER La Gruta Spa and Hot Springs The Mayan Baths Escondida Hot Springs Sense Spa at the Rosewood Hotel Matilda Hotel Spa MARKETS + SHOPPING Mixta Fábrica la Aurora Condigo Postal Design Mercado Ignacio Ignacio Rameriz Market Casa R Concept Store Galeria Atotonilco VINEYARDS Santísima Trinidad Vineyard Vinedo dos Buhos GOLFING Ventanas de San Miguel Malanquín EAT - BREAKFAST/OTHER Lavanda Cafe Inside Cafe (Mike+Katie Favorite) Ki' Bok Coffee Shop Margarita's Churros Garrafa Ice Cream Parlor Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at the Rosewood Hotel (happy hour, Sunday brunch) EAT - LUNCH/DINNER Atrio (dinner) Bovine Rustica Aperi (fine dining/dinner) Quince La Unica (lunch, dinner, drinks, late night) The Restaurant (dinner) Moxi at Matilda Hotel (dinner) Fatima La Dona Cumpanio Trazo 1810 La Posadita DRINK Hank's (New Orleans themed bar) Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at the Rosewood Hotel (happy hour, Sunday brunch) Mamma Mia (drinks/late night) Bekeb (drinks) The Blue Bar at Belmond Sierra Nevada Quince La Unica La Azotea San Mezcal