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Traveling can be fun, even when crossing the border from your own country. Having taken a trip to Mexico before, I can attest that there are some tried and true tips for traveling safely and maximizing your fun simultaneously. Thanks to an online forum, we’ve come up with the top ten ways to make a trip to Mexico as memorable as possible without breaking the bank or jeopardizing safe travel.
1. Don’t Look Fancy
When traveling to Mexico, it’s essential to understand the culture of the people. One tip a user gave was to “not look fancy.” When heading to dinner or walking around the down, it’s best not to go out in your Armani dress pants and brand-new leather derby shoes.
2. Watch Your Speed
Speeding in Mexico is a quick way to get a ticket that you won’t be able to argue your way out of. One person also advised everyone not to argue with the cops as they all use handheld speed guns and always show you “first thing.” However, they may offer a discounted rate “if you acknowledge your fault and promptly pay.”
3. Pay the Toll
One individual who’s traveled to Mexico suggested that paying the toll on community highways not owned by the State is an excellent way to keep the peace with locals in the area. “In Ejidos, it’s safer to pay the tolls as it’s their right to ask for compensation to let you through.”
4. INAH
Traveling to a park or other national site is fun until you find out they’re closed. Someone suggested checking the “Instituto Nacional de Arqueologia” website before visiting a site; that way, you’re not arriving only to find it closed for the day or longer.
5. Cash Is King
In many Mexican towns, cash is still King. One participant suggested keeping around two thousand pesos on hand for emergencies and said, “The cheapest fee-based ATMs are Banbajio, Santander, and Banrejio,” in that order. They also suggested avoiding BBVA and HSBC bank ATMs and continuously declining conversion to save yourself the considerable markup.
6. Good Cheap Food
Authentic Mexican food is some of the most delicious cuisine you can get, especially compared to what passes for Mexican food in most American restaurants. Each state has a unique variety of food, so there are no suggestions on what to eat, but the food is usually cheap, and the selection is plentiful, so enjoy.
7. Hotel Wi-Fi
If you plan to stay in several hotels in different Mexican states, one interested party suggests checking for a Wi-Fi connection before staying in that hotel. You can then quickly check for 4G coverage using NPerf to see where coverage exists along the cities and roads you plan to use for travel.
8. Roach Motels
It is common to run into a hotel or other lodging in Mexico that has a problem with roaches. One experienced traveler says if you see a sign that says, “No Food in Rooms,” or won’t let you see the room before purchase, choose a different place to stay. They also recommend asking to check your Wi-Fi connection in the room before choosing a hotel to use.
9. Polite Conversation
The Mexican people love conversation; if you know any Spanish, it is easy to engage in polite conversation. A smile goes a long way, and a nod goes further. You don’t have to be fluent in Spanish to get by; their generosity will likely surprise you.
10. Real Mexico
To experience ‘real Mexico,’ you must visit the town markets and get to know the people by interacting with them. Visiting a place like Cancun won’t do it. Dig deep into the local atmosphere to find the ‘real Mexico,’ and you won’t be disappointed.
11. Coke Bottles
When I visited Mexico as a teenager, I played soccer with a young girl and enjoyed polite conversation with her grandfather. He paid for me to have a Coke, which came in a glass bottle, and then they let me keep it. I’ve had it for twenty-five years and counting.
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