Mexico Travel Tips: Here are the Best Things to Know Before Your Trip to Mexico

Ahh Mexico – one of the most underrated countries I’ve been to. Mexico is a diverse and vibrant country, filled with stunning natural landscapes, rich history, and a unique cultural heritage. Thinking of planning a trip to Mexico? It’s important to be prepared and informed to ensure you have the best possible experience. So follow along as I offer some of the best Mexico travel tips to help you make the most of your trip.

Don’t Drink the Tap Water

Starting off with a super important Mexico travel tip: drinking from the tap is risky anywhere you go in Mexico. Although the country has made significant strides in improving its water infrastructure over the last few years, there is still some ways to go before the tap water is potable. In order to get around this, you will need to buy all your drinking water from the grocery or convenience store. Bringing a filtered water bottle is also an option and can help cut down on costs and plastic.

Another thing to look out for – is the ice in drinks at bars, clubs and restaurants. Although some places do, in fact, use filtered water for their ice cubes, it’s almost impossible to tell unless you out right ask. So either forgo the ice in your drink or check with your waiter where the water for their ice is from.

Wander Away From the Tourist Areas

I know it can be tempting to want to stay near the comfort and familiarity of areas with more tourism, but venturing out and seeing other parts of Mexico is truly a rewarding experience. Don’t miss some of the incredible things that Mexico has to offer. Some of my favorite cities and towns in Mexico are Merida, Valladolid and San Cristobal. You can experience colonial history, Mayan history, and eat some of the best food of your life in these towns. Remember, Mexico is so much more than just beaches and resorts!

Learn Some Basic Spanish

Here’s another super helpful Mexico travel tip – It will definitely benefit you in some way to learn basic Spanish phrases before you visit Mexico, even if you are only visiting the resort areas that speak English. Even if your accent isn’t perfect (like mine) locals will appreciate the effort!

Here are some helpful words and phrases you can practice:

• Where is the bathroom? — ¿Dónde está el baño?
• How much is it? — ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• Thank you — Gracias
• Please — Por favor
• Can I pay with card? — ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
• I have cash — Tengo efectivo
• Check please — La cuenta, por favor
• I am lost — Estoy perdido/a

Don’t Stress Too Much About Safety

Okay, being from America, the amount of friends and family I had tell me to be careful, ask me if I was sure I wanted to travel to Mexico, and flat out questioned if I had a death wish was laughable. I think films, TV shows and our American media like to project embellished scenes of crime and violence in Mexico. But as anyone knows, Mexico is HUGE. While there are certain areas to avoid (as with anywhere you go), the country is so much more than that… Filled with vibrant cities, incredible culture, stunning natural scenery, and delicious cuisine.

In recent years, Mexico has taken significant steps to improve safety for visitors and tourists. The government has implemented different measures to enhance security and reduce crime, including increasing police presence in tourist areas, investing in advanced technology to monitor crime, and strengthening laws to combat drug trafficking.

The country is also home to many popular tourist destinations that are considered safe, including Cancún, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Riviera Maya. These areas have a strong focus on tourism, which has led to increased safety measures and more resources being dedicated to ensuring visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Beware of Scams

This Mexico travel tip might just save you some serious headaches. I have many stories of times people have tried to scam me on my travels and Mexico is no different. Here are some scams to look out for:

• Cancún Airport Taxi: The taxis at Cancún airport are aggressive af. I recommend booking a rental car or transportation ahead of time. It can be a bit overwhelming stepping out of the airport especially during peak seasons with taxi services everywhere yelling at you to come with them. Even when you do have transportation booked and taxi drivers come up and offer to help find your service, a lot of the time they’ll tell you they can give you a cheaper deal or say they know the service and it already left without you so you’ll have no choice but to ride with them. Just ignore them the best you can.

• Rental Car Scams: If you find a rate for a rental car online for a super low price (like $1 or $2 dollars a day) it is too good to be true. Usually when you show up to get the car, the agents will insist you need to buy their outrageously overpriced insurance. In order to avoid this scam and other hidden fees, make sure you do enough research on rental car companies. Discover Cars is a great one to check out.

• Pickpockets: Okay, any populated city is going to have pickpockets, and many big cities in Mexico are no different. As the routine goes, make sure your bag is zipped up and strapped around your shoulder. Don’t leave valuables like wallets and phones sticking out of your pocket. Be aware of your surroundings and constantly check that all your items are still with you.

• Fake Tour Guides: Fake tour guides may offer to take tourists on guided tours and then charge exorbitant fees or take them to tourist traps where they are pressured to buy souvenirs. Use reputable tour companies that are recommended by hostels, hotels or other travelers.

• Currency Exchange Scams: Some currency exchange services may offer rates that are too good to be true, only to give tourists counterfeit or outdated bills. Make sure to use reputable currency exchange services or withdraw money from ATMs at banks, not random ATMs you see on the street.

Pay With Pesos

If you only stick to the tourist areas, you shouldn’t have a problem paying with card. But when you venture outside of these areas, then you’ll want to carry some cash. Many of the markets, street food vendors, and local restaurants in places off the beaten path will only accept cash.

Of course there is an option to pay with USD in many tourist destinations in Mexico, but I wouldn’t recommend this. When paying with US dollars, merchants will often use an unfavorable exchange rate that can result in you paying more than necessary. Pesos also make it much easier to make smaller purchases such as snacks, bottles of water, and public transportation.

Look at the Weather Ahead of Time

You just booked your trip to Mexico – You hurry to pack your swimsuit, sunscreen, and flip flops, right? Well… even at the beach resorts, the weather can be pretty unpredictable. The best time to visit Mexico largely depends on the region and the activities that you plan on doing during your visit. However, in general, the ideal weather in most parts of Mexico is during the dry season, which runs from November to April.

In the northern parts of Mexico, the climate is arid, with hot summers and cool winters. In these regions, the best time to visit is during the winter months, when temperatures are cooler and more pleasant. Cities like Tijuana, Mexicali, and Monterrey are known for their hot summers, but mild and comfortable winters.

The central region of Mexico, including Mexico City, has a temperate climate with mild temperatures year-round. The best time to visit this region is during the dry season, from November to April, when temperatures are cooler and there is less rainfall.

The southern part of Mexico, including the Yucatan Peninsula and the Pacific coast, has a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. The best time to visit this region is during the dry season, from November to April, when the weather is cooler and drier.

Be Prepared for Seaweed if You’re Traveling to the East Coast

When I traveled to Playa del Carmen a few weeks ago, I didn’t expect to see the mountains of seaweed that lined the entire coastline. I also visited the same location last year in January/February with little to no seaweed, so the intrusion was quite a shock, although I had heard how bad the seaweed can be this time of year. The seaweed season can last from spring until hurricane season in the fall.

If you want to avoid the seaweed and are planning on traveling between the spring and fall months, consider visiting Isla Mujeres or Cozumel. Both are islands off the Carribean coast and typically have much less seaweed than the mainland. You should also consider the beaches of the west coast like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas.

I hope you were able to take some value from these Mexico travel tips to help you have an amazing time on your trip to this incredible country! Remember to pack your sunscreen, cash, and your sense of adventure – you’re going to need them! Whether you’re sipping margaritas on the beach or trekking through ancient ruins, I hope these Mexico travel tips have helped you feel more confident and prepared for your upcoming journey. So go forth and make some amazing memories in Mexico.

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