If you’re flying in to Mexico, regardless of how long you plan on staying, even if it’s just a week or two; try to get your Mexico Tourist Card, or FMT as it’s often called, to be validated for 180 days. Taxis:
Most taxi drivers even if they plan on overbilling you are actually quite friendly and would be more than happy to fill the ride with questions, conversation, and English practice. Driving in Mexico:
On the federal 4 lane highways, use the right lane unless passing a snail’s pace semi trailer or occasional tractor. On two lane state highways, similar rules apply, if you’re going slow, move as far to the right as you safely can if someone is signaling that they’ll be passing. Signal the same if you’re passing slower traffic. Police
Cell phones:
Brought your American/Canadian/whatever cell phone? Most cell phones in Mexico are maintained by prepaid cards that you can by damn near anywhere. Buy one of the cheaper phones, register your name and an address (provide a friends address or even the address of your hostel if you like) and buy yourself a prepaid card (100 pesos, 200 pesos, and 500 pesos) and you’re good to go. Credit cards? Debit? If you’re Canadian, open an account with HSBC in Canada, I recommend a savings account so you don’t get all the little monthly usage fees shoved down your throat. HSBC IS one of the major banks in Mexico, thus the ATM fees are very small per transaction. Take every opportunity that comes your way to practice your Spanish with people; friends you meet, taxi drivers, store clerks, hotel clerks, family of friends, are all fair game.
There you go, a little bit of what I’ve learned during my time spent traveling around Mexico.
Travelling to Mexico: 9 Need to Know Tips
In Mexico, the international real estate industry is closely tied into the international tourism industry, which attracts the cash flow and investment for services, activities and conveniences, such as restaurants, golf courses, marinas, shopping areas, excellent roads, and much more.
The tourism recovery can best be noted in the statistics from the month of March, a high point in tourism traffic. During this month 7.87 million international tourists (largely Americans and Canadians) visited Mexico, each spending an average of $169 dollars, for a total of $1.3 billion of tourism revenue, an increase of 6.6 % over March 2009.
Real estate buyers in Cozumel and Costa Maya especially, but also in the Pacific coast locations, will benefit from the increase of cruises to Mexico, as passenger numbers increased significantly, reaching 720 000, an increase of 13.6%.
I am originally from Ohio but spent substantial time living in Mexico, studying the nature and history of this beautiful place. If you are looking for cheaper transportation to and from the airport, take the bus to downtown Playa del Carmen or Cancun. There are bus schedules posted for local travel or throughout the country. The nicest buses when I was there were the plush tour buses for longer trips, called ADO. Really nice buses that cost more but are worth it.
The drug war. Even the most pro-Mexico natives in San Diego are staying on the north side of the border.