cancun tips--if needed
 

just giving help, to who might need it. be careful and have fun! <BR> <BR>(1) women traveling together should stay together! there are men who will try to separate you from your party. if they see that there is no male accompaniment, they will most likely act in an appropriate manner. SERIOUSLY! <BR>(2) when bargaining at the markets, stand firm in negotiations. if what they're selling sounds unreasonable, then bargain with them. 9 times out of 10, the merchants are trying to sell at high prices. remember: they need you more than you need them! if you get sick of bargaining and getting hassled, then there's always a mexican outlet opposite of downtown cancun. <BR> <BR>(3) exchange currency @ the hotel, bank, or exchange houses. the rates at the airport are lousy. <BR>(4) avoid time-shares! <BR>(5) if you're unsure to if the water is purified in your hotel, ask the staff. in some case the water in restaurants are purified, but the water in the rooms aren't. <BR> <BR>(6) if you prefer meat that's well-done, then tell the waiter. while visiting cancun, i noticed that the meat they prepare(usually pork or beef) is pink on the inside. <BR>(7) if you consume ice, make sure that it is the commercial ice(with the hole in the middle). <BR>(8) avoid food from the street vendors! <BR>(9) realize that not everyone in cancun speaks english. know a few spanish phrases such as "gracias (thank you)", "ohla (hi/hello)," etc... <BR>(10)carry small bills! you can easily get ripped off if you use large bills. if you pay in u.s. currrency, you will get change in pesos. <BR> <BR>(11) don't exchange all of your cuurency into mexican pesos. <BR>(12) mexican coins aren't exchangable. just dollar bills. spend all or the majority of your coins in mexico(perhaps on the bus)! <BR>(13) if you don't plan on going too from from the hotel zone or downtown cancun, then there's no need for a rental car. the bus system is the way to go! they are cheap and they run 24/7. <BR>(14)at the airport a carry-on bag is considered as a bag WITHOUT wheels. if any bag has wheels, then it's considered a piece of luggage---no matter the size. <BR>(15) for local calls, use the lobby phones or a pay phone. some hotels will charge if you make a call from your room. (you'll find out when you check-out!) <BR>collect phone calls from mexico are EXPENSIVE ! if you plan to make international calls, try to bring a international calling card from your native country with at least 150-200 minutes and keep the conversations brief. there are calling cards available in mexico, but currently you only get 10 minutes for 100 pesos or 5 mins for 50 pesos. the time on those cards go FAST! <BR> <BR>(16)on your 1st day in cancun, walk around or take the bus throughout the hotel zone and downtown---just to get an idea of where you are. <BR>(17) bring tennis shoes! <BR>sunscreen is a necessity during the day. bug repellant is a NECESSITY at night!! the mosquitos are out for blood! <BR>(18) to know what to bring in and out of mexico and your homeland, go to: http://travel.state.gov/ <BR>

Thank you very much! I am visiting Cancun for 4 days June 14-17. Single female travelling alone. I plan on relaxing on the beach, drinking margaritas, and maybe do some shopping. I am just going to DE-STRESS! So I'm no going to sight see or such...Any other tips for me? Thank you so very much.

I have a question about number 14 - at the airport a carry-on bag is considered as a bag WITHOUT wheels. if any bag has wheels, then it's considered a piece of luggage---no matter the size. Does this mean than when leaving Cancun for the U.S. when my trip is over they won't let me on the plane with a wheeled suitcase that is carry-on size? Do people have problems with this? <BR>

Kristin, just my 2 cents, but I've never heard of the wheeled carry-on rule. Call your airline to be sure. Also, women should always be careful when travelling alone, especially in the US. BTW, I go to Mexico every year and I'm embarassed to say that the most obnoxious men I've seen are the Americans. As far as exchange rates, they change daily, so you can't always predict where to get the best rates. Yes you will receive pesos as change for dollars, afterall it is the Mexican currency. Actually, I don't exchange my dollars much anymore for that very reason. The cheapest way to make an international call is to buy the Mexican phone cards. You can get them just about everywhere. And for Gina, have a great time. Just remember, Cancun is a resort/tourist city built for that purpose. Don't be too surprised when you see the same hotel chains and restaurants that we have in the US. Enjoy the margaritas and try a sombrero to finish off the evening, one of my favorites. <BR>

I was surfing and read where you have to pay duty on cash over $300US. True? How much is the duty charge? <BR>Looks like the more $$$ you have to spend the happier the locals would be.

Sherry, I don't know where you got the $300 stuff. But think about it. If that were the case, would millions of tourists be travelling to Mexico every year?

Do they even make carry on luggage that does not have wheels anymore? I haven't seen any & we just bought a new suitcase! I don't know about that rule, I've been using my rolling carryon for years! I also recently heard about that $300 thing but read on another board that that is a myth & another person claimed this rule is for Mexicans only, not tourists. I agree it wouldn't be beneficial to Mexico to make tourists have to pay to bring their own $ there AND expect us to spend it there too!

About the luggage - that depends on the airline. There is no one rule that applies to all airlines or all aircraft they fly. I work for an airlines, and sometimes have had to decline all bags with wheels. This only applied to certain aircraft we were using and not to every flight. <BR> <BR>I've traveled to Mexico without my kids or husband the last 2 years and highly recommend it to Gina. Except for Margaritas I did what you describe. I didn't exchange any currency - no need. Take lots of ones, a good book, and sunscreen. Leave the diamonds at home, and use common sense. Once I had a man in Cozumel following me in and out of stores and down the street. I sped up to walk by a couple and ended up going to dinner with them. They were lovely people, and the creep gave up the chase.

My son is traveling to Cancun next week on his Senior Trip. We have heard that he should not drink the water, drink anything with ice in it, or eat any fruits or vegetables. We are concerned about him getting sick on his trip or afterwards. We would appreciate any tips you can give us concerning the food or water in Cancun. Thanks so much! <BR>Claudette

He should not drink the tap water. Drinks w/ice should be no problemo. Ate the fruits/veggies there & had no problems. If he eats/drinks in the hotel zone where the water is purified he should have no problems. Hope he has a great trip!