No doubt, when looking into traveling to Mexico you will come across many different tips and tricks for getting the most out of your trip. Some of these pieces of advice will be worth listening to and some won’t, but the bottom line is that getting advice from the experts (people who actually spend significant portions of their lives residing and working in Mexico) is probably your safest bet. That’s why we’ve written this post, to give our visitors a better idea of what they should, and shouldn’t do when deciding to travel to Mexico.
What should you Do When Traveling to Mexico?
- Do research your destination. No matter where you’re going it’s a good idea to understand the area before you arrive. Not only can this help you get a better understanding of the culture and environment you’ll be traveling into but it also helps ensure you won’t miss any of the area’s highlights!
- Do learn the language. If you’re traveling to Mexico, why not take a few hours to learn some common Spanish words and phrases? Locals will appreciate that you’ve taken the time to try and learn more about their culture, and it can help if you end up in an area where it’s not as easy to communicate in your native tongue.
- Do bring along necessities. After researching Mexico, you’ll probably have a good idea of what you’re going to do once you’re there. Bring along the necessities that you’ll require for your trip based on what you’d like to see. Things like sunscreen, hiking boots and bug spray, can be quite expensive in Mexico, so it’s safe (and less expensive) to bring them with you from home.
- Do understand safety precautions and travel advisories. There have been a lot of stories spread around lately that traveling to Mexico is unsafe. In Mexico, like most countries, there are always going to be areas that are safer than others, and doing your research and looking into travel advisories can help you ensure which areas are the best to travel to (like Zihuatanejo) and which are not as safe for travelers.
- Do keep an open mind! There’s no point in traveling to another country if you’re not going to keep an open mind about the culture you’re going to experience. We encourage all visitors to Mexico to try out the local food, visit as many cities as possible, talk to the residents of the area your visiting and in general just immerse yourself in Mexican culture!
What shouldn’t you do when traveling to Mexico?
- Don’t plan your trip down to the last minute. Mexico tends to have a very laid-back mentality and as a result we often try to go with the flow. Planning every last detail of your journey down to the minute means that you may miss out on some great experiences that come your way!
- Don’t drink water from the tap. This is probably a piece of advice you’ve heard before and it’s one of the few that is 100% true. Drink water from a bottle, not from the tap, but don’t be concerned about things like ice cubs, or food in restaurants. Most restaurants wash their food and veggies in purified water so they should be safe. If there’s a particular restaurant you would like to go to and you’re not sure, remember, you can always ask our friendly staff for advice!
- Don’t arrive with preconceived notions. We find that the people that travel to Mexico and don’t enjoy it are the ones who arrived with firm ideas of what they would find. Being open to new ideas and experiences is the best way to enjoy all that Mexico has to offer.
- Don’t exchange currency anywhere other than an official currency exchange or a bank. Sure, the local shops and stores can exchange your money for you, but will it be the current exchange rate the bank is offering? In most situations the answer to that is no.
Traveling to Mexico (especially the Zihuatanejo area) can be a very rewarding experience. If you take our advice above we’re sure that you’ll love visiting our country and like most of our happy visitors you’ll return, year after year. The Casa Cuitlateca hotel in Zihuatanejo, is the ideal place to stay if you want to get a taste of all the luxury, beauty and culture that Mexico has to offer. Contact our Zihuatanejo hotel staff today to learn more about how we can help you have your best vacation yet.
