Anyone looking for an exotic culture and exceptional foods should consider Mexico as their next travel destination. With a rich history and outdoor attractions, this country will surely make great memories and inspiration. While planning and preparing your trip, consider following these tips below to make your trip more enjoyable and trouble-free.
1. Use a VPN and Improve Your Internet Cautiousness
Cybercrimes are prevalent in Mexico, so you must be extra careful with your internet activities. Any free wifi with an unknown source is a big red flag. Even the legit free wifi might have some malware lurking behind. Using a VPN is advisable to keep your connection more secure. Avoid opening links or files sent to you from questionable sources.
2. Cash is Your Mexican King
Only a few places, mostly large-scale business establishments, accept credit and debit cards. In most places, you have to pay in cash only. It is easy to find vendors that allow you to withdraw Mexican pesos. Alternatively, you can also use a prepaid travel card with preloaded Mexican pesos to reduce the amount of hard cash to carry.
3. Beware of Overcharged and Overpriced Items
Foods and beverages in touristy areas are way more expensive. Taxi drivers may overcharge you unless you ask for the rate in advance. Many shops and street vendors accept dollars but at a ridiculous conversion rate. Even ATMs offer automatic conversion at steep rates.
4. Eating and Snacking to Your Heart’s Content, But Mind the Chili
You can’t go to Mexico without eating as much local cuisine as possible. Not only hearty and unique, foods in Mexico are also affordable. Even more, snacking is a part of the friendly Mexican culture. It is how people connect and interact, so feel free to eat to your heart’s content. However, know that most Mexican foods use chilli or any capsicum. If your digestive system is not familiar with that much spiciness, ask for a non-chilli version of anything you order.
5. Have A Lot Of Patience
Punctuality is not Mexican’s best quality, and it becomes a problem not only when you have appointments with locals. Sometimes, restaurants take a long time to process your order and then your order comes out slightly wrong. Public transportation may make you wait longer. Be mentally prepared for such cases. It is also advisable to have a Plan B on your itinerary.
6. Explore Out of Town
The capital, Mexico City, is indeed fun with its ancient Aztec temples, Frida Kahlo, vibrant nightlife, and more. But, it is not the only city worth visiting. Why don’t you give Cancun a try if you are a fan of beach activities and Mayan ruins? You can also consider visiting Oaxaca to explore indigenous culture and exotic festivals. Guadalajara is also a fascinating option, especially for experiencing mariachi music, tequila, charreria, and the rodeo.
7. Stay Safe
Mexico is fun, yet it can be unsafe unless you know how to navigate your way through it. Here are some tips to get by:
- Do not wear flashy and expensive clothing and jewelry.
- Be cautious with your food and drinks. Never leave them out of your sight when in a bar.
- Avoid confrontations with locals.
- Use only official and registered taxis.
Bonus Tips: Get Your Mexico Local Number from MySecondLine
Keeping in touch with your Mexican friends requires a lot of calling, which can be crazy expensive if you use a mobile number from your home country. As a solution, you need to download MySecondLine and register an account.
MySecondLine can give you a very affordable Mexico local number that you can instantly activate with an ID and proof of address. With super low calling rates, you will barely pay anything for the endless calls you receive and make with your Mexican peers.