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Frequently Asked Questions |
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What kind of documentation do I need to travel to
Mexico? (top)
Starting
January 8, 2007 every U.S. Citizen will need a
passport when traveling by plane to Mexico. In fact,
a passport will be required to travel outside of the
country by plane to any destination. The only
exceptions would be driving across the border to
Canada or Mexico during 2007. Starting January 1,
2008 U.S. Citizens will have to have a passport to
drive as well. You will not need a passport to take
a cruise ship from a U.S. port traveling to Mexico
until after June 2009, although Congress may change
that date. Please check with your travel agent, if
you have questions about your documentation. |
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Can I drink the
water? (top)
Yes and
no. The resorts have their own water filtration
systems, but bottled water is recommended. The
higher end resorts will have excellent food
preparation standards, but in budget hotels and
restaurants, it is wise to order bottled drinks and
cooked food. |
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Do I have to convert my dollars to pesos? (top)
You
don’t have to unless you choose to do so. Most
shops, restaurants, tour companies and hotels will
accept dollars as payment as well as credit cards
(except Diners Club and Discover). If paying with
U.S dollars, you may get pesos back as change, but
you may request the change in dollars. The peso to
dollar rate stays relatively constant, but varies
daily, so if you exchange your currency to pesos, we
recommend that you do small amounts at a time. |
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How much are cabs?
(top)
It is
always better to negotiate your rate before you get
into the cab. You may ask, “How much to the El
Dorado Royale?” The going rate seems to be $1.00 per
minute. If you are 25 minutes away from your
destination it will usually be $25. |
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What is
the legal drinking age? (top)
Eighteen
years old. |
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Do I need a converter for my hairdryer or razor?
(top)
Not if
you are from the U.S. Mexico has the same voltage
and current that the US has: 110 volts. Mexico
experiences more power surges than we do, so
electronics would be best plugged into a surge
protector. You may also need an adapter to convert
the plug if your appliance has one prong wider than
the other, since not all outlets in Mexico share
that feature with their U.S. counterparts. |
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What do All-Inclusives actually include? (top)
An
All-Inclusive package in Cancun and the Mayan
Riviera will usually include your round-trip airport
transfers, all of your on-site meals and drinks,
snacks, non-motorized motor sports and resort
activities. Gratuities are usually included, but
some resorts allow tipping. Spa services are not
included unless specified. Many resorts have wine
lists or special amenities with additional cost.
When you are paying for an all–inclusive resort
feature, you should not have to pay extra for any
regular meal or drink service. Please note that when
a resort says that domestic beer and alcohol is
included, they mean Mexican domestic beer and
alcohol. If you are staying at a five star resort,
your food and drink selection should be five star as
well. If you are staying at a two star resort, the
food and drink will reflect that as well. |
How is the
weather in Cancun?
(top)
Average year round temperature is in the 80s.
The rainy season extends from September to December.
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In which
time zone is Cancun? (top)
The
Cancun and all of the Mexican Caribbean is in the
Central Time Zone. (GMT minus 6 hours.) Daylight
Savings Time is practiced. |
What
am I allowed to take to Mexico?
(top)
Foreign visitors are allowed to bring into
Mexico up to 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars and one liter
of any alcoholic beverage and up to $300 worth of
goods or gifts. |
What am I allowed to bring home from Mexico?
(top)
U.S. Duty Free up to one liter (26 oz.) of
liquor or wine per adult or 24 beers up to 12 oz.
each; Fifty cigars (no Cuban) or 200 cigarettes.
Canada:
40 ounces of liquor or two bottles of wine, one
carton of cigarettes, 50 cigars and 500 grams of
coffee per person. |
Can I take my golf clubs or scuba equipment?
(top)
Yes, of course. Your airline will usually charge a
fee for the extra baggage as well as the transfer
company. Prepaid transfers are based on the luggage
allowance for the airlines, so please be prepared to
pay extra to have your golf bag or scuba equipment
transported to and from your resort. |
How much should I
tip? (top)
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Waiters: |
10-15%, depending on service |
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Bell Boys or Porters: |
$2 in and out |
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Maids: |
$1 per room per day |
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Tour Guides: |
$5 to $10 per day |
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It is customary to tip your bus or car
driver as well. |
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How
much will it cost to call home?
(top)
Please check with your cell phone service
provider to see if you will have service and if you
will need a supplement plan to cover your calls. Due
to extremely high taxes on international calling,
the rates can be very expensive by anyone’s
standards. Be sure to ask the rates before you place
the call. Many of the resorts will have direct dial
phones, but that does not reduce the rates. Even
using calling cards can be cost prohibitive. |
What kind of transportation infrastructure is there?
(top)
Taxis are available 24 hours a day, but rates
should be verified before you board. Buses are
inexpensive, but limited. They don’t serve all areas
and the schedule varies based on where you are.
Check the schedule in advance before counting on
them. You can also get a chauffeured car or a rental
car. A divided highway stretches from Cancun south
for about 75 miles. Not all of the side roads are
paved, but the area is growing at a face pace, so
this changes regularly. |
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Can I rent a car? (top)
Yes, car
rentals are available. Please note that you will be
liable for the first $1,000 of any collision or
damage to the car regardless of coverage. This fee
cannot be waived. Also, be aware that the drivers
in Mexico won’t drive in the manner to which you are
accustomed. You will have to adapt. In the event
of a collision or a misunderstanding, fluency in
Spanish will be your best friend. |
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What about
accessible vehicles? (top)
Since
there is no ADA in Mexico, many of the things to
which we have grown accustomed are not present. It
is very hard to find an accessible car or van.
Private transfers are available and recommended for
anyone with limited mobility. |
Can I
get car seats for my children?
(top)
Car seats are not available for bus, car or van
transfers. If you would like for your child to sit
in a car seat while in Mexico, it is recommended
that you bring your own. This will also come in
handy on the plane, if you have purchased a seat for
your child. |
