Vacation Tips

Vacationing in Mexico can be a much more enjoyable experience if you have a better understanding of the culture and the way things work. Mexico Vacation Central recommends that you visit or informational pages on Entry Requirements, Customs & Immigration, Health Tips, Money Matters and Phoning Home as there is a lot of very uself information, tips and advice which will benefit you on your travels. We did however, think of more tips to help maximize your travel experience:

Pay Day

Pay day in Mexico can cause some delays during your Mexican vacation and knowing what days they fall on can save you a lot of stress and anguish. "Quincena", or "Pay Day" falls on the 15th and 30th of each month. It is on these days or immediately before and after that a lot of establishments will be extra busy. This mostly includes, banks, the supermarket and even taxis. You can also expect restaurants, local bars and clubs to be busier than usual. So if you need to do some banking or want to do some grocery shopping while on vacation, don't plan to do it on "Quincena"!

Dining

It is not unusual for a lot of restaurants in Mexico to have "seat yourself" seating. So unless someone at the door is there to greet you or there is a sign displayed at the entrance, go on in and seat yourself. Some restaurants may have smoking sections and non-smoking sections. If they do, they will most likely have someone ask where you would like to be seated and seat you.

Don't be offended if you are waiting for the bill and never get it. It is considered rude for a waiter to bring the bill before you are ready to leave. So if you are finished your meal and would like to get going, you will have to ask for it. You can do so by simply saying, "La Cuenta" or of course "pretend like you are writing a check in the air". Buen Provecho! Good Appetite!

Please dont forget to check out our Mexican Food section for more information on the types of food you will encounter while on vacation in Mexico!

Taxis

Taxi's can be a cheap and convenient way of travelling around town and can be virtually easy if you know how they work. Here are some tips:

- Ask the locals what the taxi fare should be to travel from one place to the other, before you get in a cab.

- Negotiate the price before you get in the taxi.

- Try to have the exact fare when paying. Sometimes cab drivers will not have change, or claim to not have change.

- Taxi's at stationed areas will always charge more than taxi's you flag off the street. By walking a little farther or waiting a little longer, you can save money. -If you don't agree with the cab fare, say "No Gracias", and ask the next cab what the price is. You can try to barter but be nice and friendly about it. Remember, you are a guest in Mexico.

-If the cab driver does something extra like; open your doors for you, help with groceries, or suitcases, please tip to show appreciation.

- Catching a cab on pay day or a rainy day can be a difficult feat! - Don't be surprised if you are sharing a taxi with someone. Sometimes cab drivers will pick up a double fare either before or after you. If there is already someone in the taxi, they will drop that person off and then you. If you are in a hurry, decline the ride and wait for the next one. If it is pay day or raining, sometimes its faster to share a cab.

- Cab drivers are friendly and talkative. Don't be surprised if they want to practice their English or get you to practice your Spanish with them.

- It's always a good idea to get the number of the taxi cab driver. This way, if you have any problems, you can report them to the taxi syndicate or tourism board. Your hotel concierge can assist you with this.

Tipping

Tipping in Mexico is part of every day life as you can tip people anywhere from the parking lot, to restaurants, to supermarkets. Here are some tips on tipping in Mexico:

-Tipping in establishments such as restaurants is something we are already use to. Tipping percentages can range from 10%-20%, depending on how good you think the service was. Be sure to tip in cash. You can't be certain that your server will get their tip if it is put on a credit card.

- If are driving in Mexico, it is not uncustomary for the "flag man" to help direct you as you back your vehicle up. Often this can be helpful if you are backing into traffic. A small tip of a couple of pesos in this instance is greatly appreciated.

- At the supermarket, when you are at the cash register, your bags are often bagged by young children. These children have been approved by the government to work in the supermarket for tips as they come from underprivileged family backgrounds. If you don't have a lot of groceries, anywhere from 1-4 pesos would suffice. If you have a lot of groceries, 5-10 pesos is extremely appreciated.

- If your groceries are put into your vehicle, it is also customary to tip a few pesos.

- It is also not unheard of to tip after a tour. Anyone involved in making your tour an enjoyable one, from the bus driver, to the entertainment, to the announcer all split the tips at the end. So have a few dollars available to tip at the end of your tour if you've had a pleasurable experience.

- While we don't like this one so much, the fact is, it happens and happens often. Sometimes, with extremely busy clubs, it can be very hard to get good service. If you have a chat with a waiter or bartender and tip them upfront, this can often ensure good service for the remainder of the evening. Mexico Vacation Central agrees that you should only tip AFTER you have received good service, but sometimes, it's just not worth standing around for an hour trying to get a drink.

- All inclusive resort staff should also be tipped a few dollars here and their for their appreciated service. They will surely remember your name this way and anticipate your needs.

- Don't forget your every day normal instances where you would tip someone for making your life easier. This includes valet parking, bell boys, delivery persons, and salon and spa staff. Ten to twenty pesos goes a long way!

City Buses

Riding the city bus can be rather convenient and cheap while on vacation. Ask your concierge which buses to take, where your destination is and how much it costs before you head out on your bus trip. Here are a couple of bus riding tips:

-Have a game plan before you get on the bus. Have an idea of where you are going and how to get there.

-Confirm your destination point with the bus driver before you get on.

-Make sure you have the exact change. If you don't make sure you have SMALL bills or coins that the bus driver can change easily. If you need change, stand there with your hand held out letting the bus driver you know you should be getting change.

-Do not use any other currency besides pesos. That would just complicate a rather simple transaction.

-If you are given a ticket, keep it. It is apparently your "insurance" that you are a bus rider.

-Ask the bus driver to let you know when to get off and stay near the front so you can remind him/her where you are going.

-Hold on for dear life! Bus rides are not often smooth and relaxing. So hang on at all times!

-There are designated bus stops so if a bus driver passes your destination point, simply get off at the next stop and walk back. While bus drivers will sometimes let you off at areas that are not bus stops, don't rely on this method as there is no rhyme or reason to it.

-Sometimes you will be blessed with entertainment on the bus. Enjoy it and expect to tip as with many other things!

-To signal that you would like to get off at the next stop, there are several ways to let the bus driver know. While there are sometimes buzzers or bells on the buses that you can push (located on the poles or seat backs), sometimes they don't work. To be sure, you might want to say "La proxima parada, por favor". You can also say "Alto!" or "Aqui Señor!". Locals will sometimes rap on the ceiling of the bus or whistle to signal that they need to get off.

-If the bus driver isn't helpful, often the locals will assist in making sure you get off at the appropriate stop. You can also gain some helpful tips from them and they get a chance to practice their English.

Electricity

Mexico uses the standard 110-volt AC electrical system that the U.S. and Canada use. It is however not uncommon to have difficulties plugging in your hair dryer as some outlets are only two pronged. If you are concerned about this, you can contact the property you are staying at to confirm whether their outlets are two or three pronged (grounded). Or you can simply bring a converter along. If you can't find one back home, they carry them locally in most supermarkets should you need to purchase one while you are vacationing in Mexico.

Mexico Vacation Central