I have been exploring Mexico and sharing experiences since 1984. I have been recognized as an authority on “ex-pat” living and adventure tourism to Mexico since 1986.
Since 1983, Millions of first-time and return drivers to Mexico have trusted me to point them in the right direction. For 13 years, I wrote the Sanborn’s Travelog – the preeminent guidebook for self-driving tours to Mexico.
I am also known as “Mexico” Mike Nelson, and at one time, I was Mexico’s media spokesman promoting surface tourism and a founding member of the Mexico Writer’s Alliance. MSNBC interviewed me about border safety after seeing one of my blog posts. I was an early adopter of the Internet, with one of the first websites devoted to promoting tourism to Mexico.
Edelman Worldwide Public Relations and an ABC news trainer professionally media-trained me. I appeared on more than a dozen of the top TV stations in the United States, as well as hundreds of radio interview shows promoting Mexico tourism and expat living.
He has published 16 books about Mexico and social issues. His anecdotal, personal writing has gained many thousands of loyal fans over the years.
I am one of the few authors about Mexico who writes extensively about driving Mexico. I like to find little-known destinations as well as beach resorts. I grew up (and still live) on the Texas/Mexico border, keeping my pulse on the true safety situation instead of repeating sensationalist stories. MSNBC interviewed him because of his unique perspective. I have lived all over the United States, Puerto Escondido, and Oaxaca. I have spent half my life in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and half in Mexico.
Mike’s love affair with Mexico began way back in 1957 when his father drove the family from McAllen, TX to Cd. Valles, San Luis Potosí to look at farmland in hopes of resettling there. Little Mike, unfortunately, saw his dad act rude and unappreciative to the locals. Yet, despite his dad’s bad behavior, the Mexican people were still polite and kind, and this intrigued seven-year-old Mike.
On that trip, the Nelsons stayed at a hacienda-type hotel, the Hotel Valles. At the hotel’s posh dining room, the little boy expressed a desire (which in hindsight was more like a tantrum) for Dr. Pepper, a drink only sold in Texas, Oklahoma, and NW Louisiana at the time. Needless to say, no Dr. Pepper was served at that meal.
At the next meal, a dignified white-coated, black-slack-suited waiter marched towards little Mike. Lo and behold, on his upraised right palm, balanced a shining silver serving tray. With a grave flourish, as if presenting vintage champagne, he lowered the plate to the table. On it was an ornate silver ice bucket with a single bottle of Dr. Pepper standing like a monument atop a sweating bed of ice. “Your Dr. Pepper, Caballero,” the waiter said. The intrigue immediately turned into a full-blown romance.
Young Mike didn’t quite understand the difficulties the waiter went to, but he knew that this was something special. Even without understanding trading partners and international trade, he knew that the waiter had gone to extraordinary lengths for him. It was this sense of friendship that the boy intuitively understood and always remembered.
Mike has since learned that calling someone caballero (gentleman in the old-fashioned sense) is a high tribute for an adult and beyond polite for a kid (it’s special tips and insights like this that Mike passes on in his road logs) making the story that much sweeter.
The: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Denver Post, American Way, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Contenido (a Mexican news magazine), Mexico City News, Atencion (San Miguel de Allende) and others have profiled Mexico Mike. They called him an expert on Mexico. Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, San Antonio Express-News, Mexico Business Magazine and many others have quoted him as an expert.
He’s written for several major guidebooks (Frommer’s, Fodor’s, Insight) to Mexico as well as the Sanborn’s Travelogs (until 1998).
He was the media spokesman for the Mexican Tourism Department (Surface Tourism) from 1996-7 and was professionally media-trained by Edelman Public Relations. During his stint as a talking head, he was interviewed by dozens of TV, radio and newspaper interviews, nationwide.
He worked for MTV as a Mexico consultant and location scout during the filming of episodes of Road Rules set in Mexico. But he recovered. He moved to Hollywood, but soon came to his senses and returned to Texas.
Joe ” King” Carrasco, the king of Tex-Mex rock & roll, in his song, Mexico Mike, said ” he’s kind of poco loco/ but he’s bueno all right.”
He’s written for, or been mentioned by: Dallas Morning News, Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Associated Press, Mexico Business, New Orleans Times-Picayune, London (England) Observer, The Guardian (UK), Irish Times and others.
Mike is pretty busy enjoying stress free time at home with his wife and his animals. He checks his emails occasionally but he has no commitment to respond to anyone.
Fortunately, much like Santa Claus in the North Pole, Mike has a bunch of elves that work on this website for him. So shoot us a question here! If you have a direct inquiry for Mike, you can send mail to him here:
