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Travel Tips |
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A few words about money in Mexico. Much as you
would never flash large amounts of currency on a busy street in the U.S., the
same cautions should apply when you are in another country. Since personal
checks are useless in Mexico, we all carry more cash than we are accustomed to
when we're back home. You can minimize the amount of cash you carry through
judicious use of your bank cash card in the Automated Teller Machines found at
the banks in most cities. Some places where you will NOT find ATMs are Puerto
Angel, Zipolite, Mazunte, Montepio, Playa del Oro, and Playa Hermosa. The use of these "Cajas
Automáticas" will enable you to obtain the Interbank rates for your currency
exchange. In a pinch, you can usually change money at your hotel or some other
local business. You will probably lose about 15% in the transaction though. Be
careful!When
pricing goods and services in Mexico, be sure that you remember that
there are nearly always three prices for everything. You can't generally bargain
with a cab driver nor expect a discount from posted prices in a restaurant, but
beyond that, it's all open. Use your flea-market and garage sale skills to
haggle! If you are ever quoted a price in US dollars, ask for the peso price.
Paying for any goods or services in dollars is a privilege that costs you! Try
to keep a supply of pesos and minimize the number of dollars you're carrying.
And try to keep a supply of small bills and change by spending larger bills at
restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, etc., where they can be handled. Taxi drivers do not expect
tips. Reward only exceptional service. Waitpersons in restaurants and
guides at resorts (including dive guides) do! Hotel maids do not expect tips but
certainly deserve them. Your hotel maid is probably working for three or four
dollars a day. A tip of twenty nuevos pesos (N$20) will nearly double her daily
income and could mean the difference between her children attending school or
not. But do not show open pity for even the most impoverished of workers. These
are a people with a lot of pride, and justifiably so. World economy and an often
corrupt government has dealt them some harsh blows that our tourism helps to
soften. When you are
visiting the more rustic portions of Mexico, it pays to remember that the
genetic stock is heavily indigenous American. American Indians, like many others of Asian stock, such as the
Japanese, lack the primary gene for safely metabolizing alcohol. Sometimes this
results in a person who is a bit of a sloppy drunk. If you indulge in bar
crawling away from the tourist areas, please keep this in mind and keep your
wits about you. If the group at the next table is acting more surly with each
round, or making rude sounds obviously directed at your table, it's time to find
another bar. Don't get mad. It's their country. You can't win in an
altercation. Your old
high school/college Spanish
may be a bit rusty, but try to use it anyway. You will find that most Mexicans
appreciate your efforts to use their language. They will do everything in their
power to facilitate communication. Most Mexicans know at least a little English,
but are just as embarrassed to try it on you as you are to try your Spanish on
them! With both sides trying, you'll be surprised at how much information can be
gotten across. You might also consider a quick Berlitz or other cassette
language program before you leave. Most public libraries have such material at
no cost. If you find
something you want to buy to take home, and you're sure it'll fit in the
luggage, go ahead and buy it. If you do, you'll probably see the same item or
better at lower prices at every stop along the way. But if you pass it up,
you'll never see it again.Remember that this is a vacation! Let yourself enjoy it! Relax. Blow
off any slights you may imagine that you feel. Take half the clothes and twice
the money you think you'll need. Furthermore, remember that Murphy was an
optimist! Have fun, and if there's any way I can help...
Article submitted by:
John M. Williams
PADI
Scuba Instructor
December 1995
These tips are easily adaptable to travel anywhere in the world. And while I primarily promote travel to Mexico, some friends of the website are involved with other far-flung destinations...
www.johnzap.com John Williams:
john@johnzap.com