How to survive in Mexico on your first 10 days.
Mexico tips:
Mexico is an immense country with vast cultural, linguistic, gastronomic, and natural diversity. Frequently, the first days can be overwhelming, the language, the weather, the noise, but all those details are what make it so particular.
In the following article, you will find some tips that could help you before arriving or during your first few days in Mexico, and make your experience as pleasant as possible, especially if you get out of your comfort zone and move away from tourist places like Cancun or Cabo, that sometimes do not seem like Mexico.
Get a Mexican Sim card:
As soon as you arrive in Mexico, buy a Mexican SIM card. Even at the airport, you may do this. The process should be simple as long as your phone is unlocked. Once you’ve cleared customs and baggage claim, go into an Oxxo (Mexico’s version of 7-Eleven) to buy your SIM card.
Once you have set up your SIM card, you will have the facility to communicate without any problems in Mexico, use essential applications to get around, or just use google maps, also it can be essential for your apartment search if you are looking for an apartment in Mexico, if you don’t have an accommodation yet.
The weather
Most foreigners flock to Mexico for the sunny weather, assuming it is hot all year long but this is not the case. Mexico is a big country and the weather can vary from one destination to another. Mexico typically experiences two distinct seasons.
The wet season begins in May and runs through to September or October. The rest of the year there is little rain and the landscape looks dry and brown. If you will be near the coast, the climate is most often mild, and can experience months with lots of rain and then months of dryness.
If you are in Mexico City, the city has days that can be very chilly and gets very cold at night.
And also it is very important to consider that in Mexico most homes do not have air conditioning or heating, so even being indoors can be very hot or very cold. So don’t forget to pack a jacket.
Money exchanges
Mexico’s currency is the Peso. Be sure to check the exchange rates before you head down south to avoid any surprises, approximately 1 dollar is equivalent to 20 pesos, this can help you make a better budget.
The Mexican currency is the peso, and although many places accept dollars, it is always good to bring pesos with you, since the exchange rate you will get will be the one the merchant decides to apply.
A better option is to exchange dollars at the best exchange rate you can find at the airport, try to get it in a safe place to avoid falling into a scam.
Another option is to check with your bank for a preferential rate with a bank in Mexico, and withdraw pesos directly when you are in Mexico. Many transactions in Mexico can be made by card, however, smaller businesses may not accept this form of payment. It is important to always be alert when using an ATM. Pay attention to your surroundings and remember to cover the keypad when entering your access code. Consider getting an RFID wallet for your cards to reduce the risk of card cloning.
Transportation in Mexico
Mexico is a big country and some cities are better connected than others but you will always find an option for public transportation (by far the cheapest ). Some cities have subway lines, buses or “colectivos” or cabs, which can take you to your final destination.
There are also transportation platforms like UBER, DIDI, or CABIFY, present in many big cities and it is a very comfortable and not so expensive option to transport you in big cities or to make safe trips from your airport to your hotel. And if you have more sophisticated preferences, you can find luxury and high-tech transportation in a Tesla electric car in Mexico City BEAT, while contributing to a cleaner city on every trip.
Traveling between cities or regions “Top Notch Buses in Mexico”.
Mexico is a much larger country than most realize, so getting around can be a challenge. And while flights are often an economical option, traveling by bus in Mexico is an excellent choice as you can find first-class buses that are even nicer than most in the United States, with comfortable seats and on-board restrooms, plus it can be a great and affordable way to travel and you’ll get to see Mexico’s magnificent scenery. Some of these companies are ADO, ETN.
Mexico has a tiered bus system, with different classes of service offered at correspondingly higher prices. The highest classes are first (“primero”) and platinum (“platinum”). First-class buses are nicer than most in the U.S., with comfortable seats and onboard restrooms.
Be prepared because it is very common that local internet sites do not accept purchases with foreign cards, but don’t worry, most of them offer the option to pay at the OXXO, choose this option and go to the nearest convenience store you can find and pay.
Accommodation in Mexico
You need to be in Mexico to do your apartment search. Even if you see something you like online, we wouldn’t advise you to put your entire budget into it until you’ve seen it in person. Photos rarely tell the whole story of a place, and you also need to get a feel for the area where it’s located. We advise you to rent an Airbnb in a central location or in the neighborhood you expect to live in for at least two weeks, even a month if you can manage it. Once you have your Airbnb as a base, get out there an explore.
A big part of apartment hunting in Mexico whether it is with someone who is in the real estate business or is walking the streets looking for “se renta” signs.
Moctezuma Revenge
Moctezuma Revenge or traveler’s diarrhea is often due in part to your own gut’s unfamiliarity (and immunity) to local microbial communities.
To minimize the chances of suffering an attack of Moctezuma’s revenge, experts recommend eating only cooked foods served hot; do not eat raw fruits or vegetables unless they have been washed in uncontaminated water or are completely peeled.
Drink only boiled or treated/purified water, drink bottled water; do not drink tap water, in Mexico, you will see big jugs of water available for sale and refill. (these are called Garrafón in Spanish) and bottled water is sold everywhere and readily available.
You can also avoid ice cubes if you do not know their origin, and also remember to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
But, if you need to go to the doctor, in pharmacies such as Farmacias del Ahorro or Farmacias Similares, there are usually doctors who provide consultations at very affordable prices, and they can prescribe you some medication that can help you with the symptoms.
Tipping in Mexico
In Mexico as in other countries, most people working in the service sector in Mexico earn very modest wages and rely on tips to make a living. Bars and restaurants, transportation, spas, grocery stores, hotels (bellhop and housekeeping staff) among others, will always appreciate a tip, which can be between 10% or 20% of your consumption.
So if you receive good service, show your appreciation accordingly, and remember that a smile and a thank you can be just as important as a tip.
Mexican Food
Mexican food often does not resemble the version that is sold abroad, it is important to come with an open mind and venture to try dishes from the simplest like a taco to dishes as complex as the mole.
Also one of the countries that shine for its street food in Mexico, you will find food stalls on every corner, a tip that can help you is to locate places where there are many people, as it is sure that the quality is good, although it is not a rule, the important thing is to get away from that Tex-Mex version and enjoy everything that this country offers us. As a tip in any taqueria, they will always ask you if your tacos “llevan todo” that means if you want them to add onion and cilantro in your tacos.
As for Tequila, you will find many options in Mexico, for all tastes, it is time to learn to enjoy this drink, forget the endless shots and Margaritas, and try new drinks. A very traditional Mexican mix is tequila with grapefruit soda, it can be Fresca or Squirt, with which you can prepare the famous “Paloma”, a good option to try tequila differently.
Keep your visitor’s permit (FMM).
Once completed, the immigration officer at the port of entry will stamp both halves of the form and give you the smaller half, stamped with the date of entry into the country. You must keep this document, as you will need to turn it in when you leave Mexico.
If you are leaving Mexico on a flight, your airline will insist that you give them the stamped half of the Visitor’s Permit before allowing you to board.
If you have a Visitor’s Permit and are leaving the country by land, you must voluntarily surrender your form to an immigration officer before your departure. Failure to do so could result in delays the next time you attempt to enter Mexico.
If you lose your Visitors Permit (FMM) while you’re in Mexico, you will need to visit one of the local immigration offices located in towns and cities across the country, or at the airport, and apply for a replacement before you can leave. This will involve some form-filling and filing, and a trip to a local bank to pay your permit replacement fee (about US$40) before you return to the immigration office to receive your FMM replacement.
However it is important that you are always aware of updates on the migration issue to avoid bad experiences.
Convenience stores
In Mexico, there are different types of convenience stores such as Seven-Eleven or OXXO.
Pay attention to the OXXO because you can buy from your Mexican sim card, pay for different internet services, from bus tickets to airline tickets, so if your card does not work somewhere, look for the payment option.
Pay at OXXO, print or save the code, and at the OXXO you can pay without any problem with a small commission, a great solution if your card is not working. In these stores, you can also find gift cards for Amazon, Netflix, Xbox, etc, plus water, snacks, essential hygiene items, and some are open 24 hours a day.
Learn or brush up on your Spanish
One of the biggest problems you may face is the language barrier, not having any basis can complicate your adaptation to the country and to be able to understand the culture, it is true in very touristic places like Cabo or Cancun, you can move around without much problem, but the further you get away from these touristic centers, communication becomes more complex.
We recommend you to take lessons before arriving in the country, it can be very useful, since having some basics allows the transition to be easier, really speaking even a little Spanish will make your stay easier, also the local people will appreciate your effort, which translates into better treatment and even better prices in Wara-Wara Spanish you can study Spanish in Mexico from anywhere, the 21 days Spanish Challenge is a program that allows you in a month to gain the necessary knowledge for those first days if you still do not speak any Spanish.
The most important thing is to come with an open mind and be open to new experiences, Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that Mexico has only one culture or that you have seen the country just because you have spent a weekend in Cancun or Cabo. Mexico is a huge country and there is so much to do and you will enjoy it much more if you speak Spanish and immerse yourself in the culture.
