The Adventure Gal

Going to Mexico can seem daunting at first, like it is with traveling to any new country. After spending a week in Mexico, I want to share with you what I wish I did and didn’t do.

1. Bring Pesos or Dollars

Luckily in Mexico US dollars are just as usable as Pesos. In fact, they sometimes prefer to have US dollars. One mistake I made was not bringing enough money, especially smaller bills. Food, drinks, souvenirs, etc. don’t cost much there and you don’t want to always have large bills in case they don’t have change for US dollars.

2. Know How Much a Peso is Worth

Whenever you’re traveling to a country with a different exchange rate, it is always important to know how much their currency is worth in your currency. For example, when I went to Mexico I was surprised that 1 peso is only 5 cents in the US. Therefore, when you see something for 500 pesos, it’s only 5 US Dollars.

3. Bring your own sunscreen and aloe

This might seem obvious, but sunscreen is always more expensive at a resort. We also ran into the problem of not having aloe when we got to Mexico and we ended up paying about $20 for a bottle of that magical stuff.

4. Watch your belongings

Mexico is pretty safe, but you should still be cautious of your personal items like you do in other countries. Watch your wallet and always have an eye out.

5. Be sure to tip

One thing to always check before you travel is tipping customs. In Mexico, tipping is greatly appreciated, just as it is in the U.S.

6. Don’t drink the tap water

One thing to watch in Mexico is the tap water. I wasn’t aware of this until my family told me. This is because there may be parasites in the water that you aren’t used to. Just be cautious when it comes to water, no matter what country you are traveling to.

7. You don’t need to know Spanish

When in Mexico, don’t be worried about not knowing Spanish. If you are at a resort or restaurant, the chances are that the people who work there speak English. But just in case, download a translation app.

8. It’s ok to explore!

It’s ok to explore, as long as people know where you are going. My sister and I went to San Jose Los Cabos and were just fine. We were asked questions by the locals and striked up conversation, but nothing out of the ordinary happened.

I hope you can enjoy your time in Mexico and these tips helped! Be sure to share your adventures with us by using #TheAdventureGal!