Top 10 Mexican Vacation Questions

by Bookit.com Staff
Is Traveling to Mexico Safe?
Yes. Overall Mexico is considered very safe, and one should feel comfortable traveling to any part of this extensively diverse and interesting country. Popular destinations such as Cancun and Cozumel have low crime rates and are sensitive to security issues for visitors. That said, act just as you would at home, locking doors and windows, putting valuables away and not bringing unnecessary attention to yourself. If you use your common sense and take the same precautions you would at home, then you will enjoy your Mexican vacation, like the millions of visitors that never have a problem.

Do I Need a Passport to Travel to Mexico?
Effective January 23rd, 2007, citizens of the U.S. or Canada are required to present a valid passport to enter Mexico by air.
Effective January 31st, 2008, if you are traveling to Mexico by land or sea, you will be required to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Beginning summer 2008, (on a date yet to be determined by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative), a valid passport will be required when traveling to Mexico by land, air, or sea.
A valid passport is the best form of identification and some airlines already require a passport for travel to Mexico. If you don’t have a passport, a certified birth certificate and a picture ID such as drivers’ license may also work depending on which airline you wish to use.

The United States government also suggests its citizens register travel outside of the country with the U.S. State Department.

Prior to entering Mexico, visitors must fill out two forms; a migratory form and a customs form. These will usually be supplied by airline staff before your flight arrives, or you can obtain a copy from the nearest Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country. If you are a single parent, parent traveling alone with children, or parents with children bearing a different last name, you will be required to provide a signed, notarized letter from the legal parent or guardian consenting to the child leaving your home country.

Do I Need to Bring Money or Credit Cards on My Mexican Vacation?
You will no doubt want to have some spending money while traveling in order to go to a restaurant, take in a tour or shop for that special gift, as well as tipping. Pesos is the currency of Mexico and is accepted everywhere. Although the currency rate is constantly changing, the generally accepted rate is 10 pesos to a U.S. dollar. The sign for pesos is also "$",so if your bill seems unreasonably high, it is most likely being quoted in pesos.

U.S. dollars are accepted at many businesses. In fact, there are some businesses that quote their prices in US dollars. Canadian dollars, Euros and British Pounds are accepted at most money exchange booths and many of the banks, but not at many businesses. Traveler's checks are rarely accepted by businesses but will be taken at most banks and money exchange booths, as well as most hotel front desks. Some places will require a passport to exchange them.

There are ATM machines across Mexico where you can use your bank debit card to receive pesos. The ATM’s are handy because you don’t have to bring as much cash and they usually have the best exchange rates. Note that ATM receipts are in pesos, not dollars. It is not very common for businesses to have point-of-sale equipment for you to pay with a Bank Debit Card. As for credit cards, the larger businesses that cater to tourists are more likely to accept your card than the smaller ones. Plan to bring as much cash as you feel comfortable carrying, then offset this with either your credit card, bank debit card or travelers checks.

Do I Need to Learn Spanish to Travel to Mexico?
No. English is spoken quite extensively throughout most Mexican tourist destinations. However, do not expect everyone to speak fluent English or to understand you, especially in the smaller stores and restaurants. It is recommended that you pick up a small Spanish phrase book before leaving home. You will have some fun learning a few words and win the respect of the locals no matter how limited your vocabulary or poor your pronunciation. If you make the effort to speak some limited phrases, the locals will be more than glad to help you with words that you don't know.

Is It Safe to Drink the Water in Mexico?
Large resorts and hotels all along the Riviera Maya and the Pacific Coast resort areas advertise purified water. Most resorts do have their own water purification systems in the hotels. Many people who drink tap water at their hotel have no problems, but to play it safe use bottled water. Ice at resorts and hotels is normally purchased from bottled water companies, so go ahead and have that margarita. Most restaurants, seeking to rid themselves of bad reputations, also use bottled water for cooking and ice. In many restaurants in Mexico, you will see hand washing stations. Use them, as it is a Mexican custom to wash your hands before a meal.

What Does "All Inclusive" Mean?
All Inclusive Resorts offer travelers a single priced vacation that includes the room, meals, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), entertainment, sports activities, tours and even taxes and gratuities. There are no hidden costs, so you don't have to budget once you get there. It's economical, and makes for a worry-free vacation. There are All Inclusive resorts tailored to families, honeymooners and adults only. The bottom line is that All Inclusive hotels and resorts offer tremendous value to consumers who want carefree luxury, but also want to know at what cost.

What About Tipping?
Most workers in the Mexican service industry rely heavily on tips for their livelihood. Tipping insures proper service and is expected from restaurant servers, baggage handlers and housecleaning. As in the United States, tipping for restaurant servers should be between 10-20% of the total bill depending on quality of service and experience. Baggage handlers typically receive $1-$2 per bag or more depending on the number of bags and time spent. Hotel and resort housekeepers generally receive between $1 -$2 for each day of service. If you stay in an All-Inclusive resort, the tips are included in your package, although a little extra is always appreciated.

What Should I Bring with Me on My Mexico Vacation?
Half of what you think you need. The weather is most often warm, and the dress is casual even at the best restaurants. You might want one light pair of pants and a light sweater or sweat shirt just in case it is cool in the evening. Likely, you will purchase a nice sun dress, or a few t-shirts and some souvenirs while you are here so leave room in your suitcase, or pack an empty duffel bag to take along.

Don’t forget the sunscreen. Make sure to bring a bio-degradable type to help preserve the coral, aquatic life and to keep the swimming pool clean and clear. You should have a hat to protect your head, sunglasses, a good book, your camera and some insect repellant, the non-aerosol kind with DEET. All of these items are available locally if you forget them or don’t want to carry them with you. You should also bring your prescription medicines and a copy of your prescriptions with your important papers.

If you are going to visit the ruins along the Riviera Maya, comfortable walking shoes are important, and a day-pack is nice to have along to carry water and a snack. Water shoes are a good idea as some of the beaches may have coral outcrops.

It is a good idea to have a list of all your credit/debit cards, emergency health care card, and the contact numbers listed, should you lose one. Include a copy of passports and other important documents. You can leave this information with someone at home that you know you will be able to reach in case of an emergency, or carry a copy with you in a safe place different than your cards. Many larger hotels have in-room safes to store important documents and other valuables.

Will I Have Cell Phone Coverage and Internet Access in Mexico?
Mobile cell phone coverage is pretty good in the entire Riviera Maya, as well as the Pacific Coast. Some U.S. and Canadian cell phone providers have agreements with the two Mexican mobile phone companies to provide service to their customers. However, in most cases you must contact your service provider at home before leaving to have this feature activated on your cell phone. Cell phones are also available to rent at the airport or your hotel concierge can help you find one. Most hotels offer internet access, however some hotels will require you to buy access in 30 minute minimum increments. There are many internet cafes throughout Mexico. Keep in mind that you are in Mexico, so many of the keyboards will contain Spanish characters even though the letters are the same. Most important to note is the lack of the "@" symbol on the keyboard (Hint: to type the "@" symbol, hold the ALT key, then 64).

What Else Should I Know About Traveling to Mexico?
-Electrical outlets are the same in Mexico as in the U.S. Not all hotels have polarized outlets (one prong bigger than the other), so check with your hotel and see if you need an adaptor.

-You can buy a pre-paid phone card nearly anywhere in Mexico for making calls from your hotel or a pay phone, and the rates are fairly inexpensive.

-Gasoline prices are uniform throughout Mexico, regardless of your location.

-The minimum age to rent a car in mexico is 21, but expect to pay a higher price than drivers over 25.

-The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. However, it is always a good idea to carry your ID with you, if asked to present it at a club or bar.

-The Caribbean Coast operates on Central Time, while the Pacific Coast is on Mountain Time. Mexico utilizes daylight savings time.