Everything You Should Know Before You Visit Mexico (well almost everything)

What Tourists Should Know Before Visiting Mexico

Live from Chichen Itza, in Yucatan Mexico! Mexico is a fantastic country, I highly recommend it. The people are awesome, the food is great. Here are a few things you should know about the differences between American and Mexican culture.

English is Not Widely Used in Mexico

You can get by without Spanish in the tourist meccas like Cabo or Cancun, because there are so many tourists, the people have picked up a bit of English. If you’re going to venture into other areas of Mexico beyond the beach resorts and all-inclusive resorts, you will need to know some Spanish. The locals will really appreciate it if you make a little effort to speak Spanish.

Tip: You’ll be amazed at how far a “por favor” or “gracias” will get you!

Spending Money in Mexico

In Mexico, they use the peso. You will see this written out as a dollar sign, which is also the peso sign. ATM’s are a good way to get money, but in some of the tourist resorts, note that the ATM’s may give you dollars. This may seem convenient, but you will get a horrible exchange rate and high transaction fees, as high as 10% of your withdrawal. Many tourist resorts also take dollars, so you won’t need pesos at all. Pesos come in both bills (500, 200, 100, 50, 20) and coins (10, 5, 2 and 1 peso) in Mexico.

Tip: Hang on to the peso coins as you’ll need them for tipping!

Tipping in Mexico

Tipping is expected in Mexico. For waiters and bartenders, plan for 10-20% tip. The cleaning staff at the hotel really rely on tips for income. Plan to spend between 50-100 pesos per day, depending on how messy your room is.

Tip: Give a little extra if you are a messy traveler or traveling with kids!

Getting Around Mexico

There are many options for getting around Mexico. If you’re in the tourist areas, renting a car is fine. Do be careful driving at night. It’s not recommended, especially in the mountains as it can be dangerous. If you want to get around without driving, you can fly between cities. There’s also an extensive network of buses around the country. There are varying levels of buses in Mexico. There are executive buses, with more comforts such as WiFi and restrooms. The more local buses are more basic and how the locals travel. Just remember, you get what you pay for. Within the cities, taxis are readily available, but always negotiate the price up front. Ask your hotel or a local for an estimate of the cost. You can also take buses in the cities, they are cheap, but slow.

Tip: Police cars generally have their lights on all the time, so not to worry if you see them on, they’re not after you

Negotiating in Mexico

Mexico is a very affordable destination. You can eat very well at a fraction of the price you’d pay in Europe or the United States. If you visit markets, you will find yourself negotiating prices. You will also negotiate with taxis before you get in.

Tip: Paying in cash can get you a better deal. Often, the credit card fees are passed on to the customer (you!)

Is Mexico Safe?

Just like any country, Mexico has issues. The heat in Mexico is actually one of the biggest safety concerns. It gets very hot and you can get dehydrated. Make sure you drink a lot of water, but do not drink the tap water or the ice. Montezuma’s Revenge, or traveler’s diarrhea, is not a myth. Stick to bottled water. Don’t drink the ice, either! The exception is some of the beach resorts, which may have a water filter. This also applies to uncooked food, unpeeled fruits, anything washed with water, etc.

Travel scams here are similar to other tourist countries, like receiving bad or incorrect change when shopping.

Tip: It’s not recommended to go out alone at night, especially for females. Find other travelers to go out with!

Authentic Mexican Food

The food in Mexico is awesome! Tex Mex, or Americanized fast food tacos have nothing on authentic Mexican food! From seafood on the coast, to goat near the capital. The sopes, the gorditas, the tacos! You may have seen these at your local Mexican place – this is the time to try them! The pork dishes in Yucatan are fantastic. You’ll eat well, but you’ll also drink really well. You have to have a Mexican Coke, it’s made with real sugar and tastes so good! The grapefruit sodas are fantastic. You can enjoy those with tequila. Don’t slam it, savor it.

Tip: Don’t forget horchata. It’s rice water with flavoring and it’s so good!

Everyday Differences Between Mexico and the USA

The toilets in Mexico are generally fine, they are normal, sit-down toilets. Sometimes the toilet seats are missing, so double check that before you sit down!
You can’t always flush toilet paper in Mexico, sometimes you will need to throw it in the trash. Ask your hotel or guest house what is the proper etiquette, or look for signs in the bathroom.
Electrical outlets in Mexico are the same as the U.S. Your U.S. electrical plugs will work in Mexico.
For mobile phones, a lot of U.S. carriers have Mexico plans. Our AT&T plan has free coverage in Mexico.

People in Mexico

The people in Mexico are super friendly, super nice, super awesome! My favorite part of Mexico is the people. We are always meeting people in the streets, who are greeting us.

Tip: If you get a chance to hang out with locals, do it! They really are super awesome!

What to See and Do in Mexico

There is so much to do in Mexico! You have fantastic beaches and nature. Go to the cenotes, or sinkholes, by Yucatan. There are beaches all along the country and mountains. There are also great cities to visit, like Guadalajara and so many more!

Tip: Explore different areas of Mexico! The beach resorts are great, but there is so much more to see!

When Should You Visit Mexico?

High season in Mexico is December and January. Low season is May through September.

Tip: There’s never a bad time to visit Mexico! Just go!