Are you considering traveling to Mexico or are you already packing your bags? We consult the best travel agents at MexicoDestinos.com and we want to share the 5 best tips for traveling to Mexico based on the most frequent questions they receive from foreign visitors, these tips will surely help you better plan your trip to one of the most beautiful countries in the world: Mexico.
1. What currency is recommended to take?
First, don’t buy Mexican pesos in your country. Most of the time is better to buy dollars and when you arrive in Mexico exchange them for pesos.
As for the amount you will need, it will depend on the duration of your stay, the activities and the needs you have when traveling. But about 2,000 Mexican pesos per day will be enough in most cases. But remember that we are talking about the expenses of the day, not about the payment for hotels or tours.
The dollar is accepted practically all over Mexico, but no law establishes the exchange rate on the street, so they can take your dollar at a lower price than what you can find in exchange houses or banks. For this reason, it is advisable to bring enough Mexican pesos to pay for buses, taxis, tips, cravings, souvenirs, and clothing or to cover expenses that do not exceed 40 usd. In that case, it may be convenient for you to pay with your debit or credit card to get a bank exchange rate. In the case of taxis, you can use UBER if the city you will visit has the service. Try not to pay directly with dollars on the establishments because normally they apply you a bad exchange rate.
Finally, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with bills and coins because for example the 20 and 500 pesos bill are very similar and you can get confused. With coins there is not so much problem, the size can guide you about the value.
2. Where can I find the best exchange rate?
Well, now that you know that you must bring dollars, where is it better to change them for mexican pesos? In tourist destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta or Los Cabos, you will find exchange houses throughout the city and hotel zones. The exchange rate is variable, it depends on the competition and obviously on the bank exchange rate. What we can tell you for sure is where NOT to BUY or exchange dollars: At the Airports.
At airports, you will always find travelers eager to buy or sell pesos, so they will never give you a competitive exchange rate as you could find in a bank branch or in exchange houses where their competition is very close.
Conclusion: You can buy pesos or dollars at any exchange house or bank, but never at airports. You can monitor exchange rates online or through currency conversion apps to get an idea of what a fair rate should be.
3. Where can I buy a SIM card to use my mobile phone in Mexico?
This is one of the most requested tips for traveling to Mexico. We know that you don’t want to stop showing off your trip to Mexico and you want to be connected to your social networks to share with your friends. To have internet access and not disconnect from the world you can buy SIM cards at OXXO or department stores. There are several telephone companies, but the best known is TELCEL. They can sell you the SIM card or chip for approximately 60 pesos and the package you want to put on for internet access.
I would recommend a TELCEL 200 Unlimited Package, which is approximately 1.5 G of data, which would be enough to even make live broadcasts. But if you need to recharge it, you can either go back to the store where you bought the SIM or do it online at the website of the carrier of your choice.
But before you travel, make sure your phone is rooted or jailbroken so that it can work with any SIM card of any company. Take it to a trusted cell phone technician to help you with this.
4. Is it safe to travel by road in Mexico?
Mexico is a large country with many different regions, and safety can vary depending on where you are traveling. While there are certain areas of Mexico where travel can be risky, there are also many areas where travel is safe and enjoyable.
Highways in Mexico are generally safe. But in states like Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Chiapas, Tabasco and Veracruz, it is best to travel by day and use main roads and paid highways. This is because in some areas there are insecurity problems due to drug trafficking or because they are so far away from population centers that they lend themselves to committing some kind of crime. We recommend you in any case, always tell a family member about the places you will be visiting or share your itinerary with someone you trust in real-time.
If you will use some kind of transportation, use reputable transportation services like licensed taxis or buses, and avoid accepting rides from strangers. Keep valuables such as cash and electronics out of sight to avoid attracting thieves.
5. What are the most reliable travel agencies in Mexico?
There are well-known travel portals such as Booking and Expedia. But the best way to travel to Mexico is to hire a travel agency specialized in Mexico. In addition, you will be attended by Mexicans and you will get the best travel tips to Mexico firsthand.
Therefore, although there are travel agencies such as PriceTravel, Bestday (the latter was recently acquired by Despegar), we recommend you book your first trip to Mexico with MexicoDestinos.com.
If you want more tips for traveling to Mexico, browse this blog and discover more ideas to make your trip unforgettable.