Flying vs Taking the ADO Bus with Kids in Mexico
Traveling around Mexico with young kids isn’t exactly cheap or easy—especially if you’re used to budget flights like Southwest in the U.S. We spent two months in Mexico, hopping around to different cities, and let’s just say we learned a lot. Every time we flew somewhere, we paid around $1,000, even on short flights. Here’s what to know about flying vs taking the ADO Bus with kids while traveling around Mexico.
The Reality of Flying in Mexico with Kids
Flying in Mexico isn’t like flying across the U.S., where you can often find budget-friendly options. Here’s what we experienced:
-
High Costs: We flew Aeroméxico three times and Volaris once. Even with Volaris, a “budget” airline, the tickets cost $900, plus an extra $61 for our car seat (which isn’t free on Volaris). Heads up: book ahead if you need extras like car seats; we had to pay airport fees, which doubled the cost.
-
Inflight Entertainment (Sort Of): On two of our Aeroméxico flights, we had free drinks, snacks, and inflight entertainment. Unfortunately, one of our screens stopped working on both flights, so one of us had to go without entertainment. If you have an iPad, we definitely recommend downloading Netflix or Disney movies as a backup. There’s nothing worse than realizing the inflight entertainment doesn’t work when you’ve got little ones.
-
Airport Hassles: Getting kids through security, finding the gate, waiting, and finally boarding can make it feel like you’re spending a whole day on the go. All that effort for a short flight? Not always worth it.
Tip: Keep extra snacks and entertainment handy to ease the waiting time and inflight struggles.
The ADO Bus: Our Family-Friendly Travel Hack
After multiple flights, we finally tried the ADO bus from Oaxaca to Mexico City. We were a bit nervous about an eight-hour bus ride, but it turned out to be a fantastic, budget-friendly experience for our family. Here’s what made it work so well:
-
Cost: For our family of four, we paid $138 USD, while a flight would’ve been three times as much the normal cost due to the holiday season. Budget-wise, this option was a game changer.
-
Easy Boarding & Assigned Seating: ADO’s boarding process was a breeze. We selected our seats ahead of time online, so there was no stress about finding space together. Each row has overhead and under-seat storage, making it easy to stow essentials and your larger bags go under the bus.
-
Comfort & Entertainment:
-
Each seated area has two USB chargers—two for us, two for the kids—so everyone’s devices stayed charged.
-
The bus plays movies in Spanish, but you can bring your own entertainment. Our kids watched movies on an iPads, I listened to music, and my husband read a book.
-
Plenty of legroom, reclined seats, and a clean, flushable toilet on board made it comfortable for the entire journey.
-
-
Food & Breaks: We brought snacks, but the bus also had stops where food was brought onboard for passengers, and we had a ten-minute break to stretch and get off the bus.
When to Fly vs. When to Take the Bus
While I now love the ADO bus, it might not be perfect for every situation. Here’s how I’d decide between flying and taking the bus:
-
Choose Flying When:
-
You’re covering a very long distance in limited time.
-
The extra cost isn’t a concern, or you’ve found a reasonably priced ticket.
-
The kids are well-rested, and the trip will be quick.
-
-
Choose the ADO Bus When:
-
You’re looking to save money, especially for short-to-medium distances.
-
You prefer a smoother boarding and traveling experience.
-
You’re ready for a more relaxed journey with built-in entertainment and breaks.
-
Family Travel Tips: How to Make Long-Distance Travel in Mexico Easier
If you’re planning a long-distance journey in Mexico with kids, here are our top tips:
-
Check airline policies on car seats before you travel to avoid surprise fees.
-
Download extra entertainment on iPads or devices before flights.
-
Bring portable chargers for extra battery power, especially for longer trips on buses.
-
Pack snacks and drinks for both flights and bus journeys—better to have options when the kids get hungry.
-
Use ADO’s seating selection to ensure you’re sitting together as a family and can keep an eye on everything.
