It’s important to be informed before you go anywhere. Things that may be customary in the United States may be out of the ordinary somewhere else. If you’re looking to travel south of the border, check out these tips for what to know before going on vacation to Mexico.
Convert Your Currency
It’s one of the easiest things to forget when preparing to travel internationally: not every country uses the American dollar as its currency. While there are a number of countries in Latin and South America that do use it as their official currency, Mexico does not. While there are places that will accept the dollar or the peso, there is often a fee attached and an inflated conversion rate. The safest bet is to convert your budgeted amount before you go to make transactions go smoothly.
Learn Simple Phrases
Locals that live in popular touristy areas can often become frustrated with the thousands of people that come through daily that make no attempt to speak to them in a language they understand. These areas typically will have a heavily bilingual population, but they appreciate when they can tell effort is being put into interactions. It goes a long way toward painting you in a favorable light and setting you apart from other tourists.
Research Local Cuisine
Just like in the United States, different areas of Mexico are known for their different cuisines. Before choosing a destination, investigate the types of food each region is known for. You can plan your trip according to the types of foods you want to try, or you can look into local hot spots where they serve signature dishes. This is a great thing to know before going on vacation to Mexico.
You should always do your research before traveling somewhere unfamiliar. You should know what kind of currency you need, a few easy phrases so you won’t be completely lost, and what kind of foods are popular wherever you decide to go. If you’re able to do all of these, you should be well-prepared to have a great time and stay in the good graces of locals.