annetti

It has been over 20 yrs since my last trip to Mexico. We spent a couple summers in language school in Cuernavaca and traveled around a great deal using local buses and a few short plane flights, however we never made it to the Yucatan.

Wondering if the prohibitions on food are the same. Got terribly ill on street food and from a restaurant or two that appeared respectable. We are pretty much vegans now, about 90 %. I managed on previous trips to Mexico pretty well as a vegetarian.

Probably, would want a pretty nice place to stay this time round. Is that doable for US $ 150 or so a night? Our past budgets used to be $30 or so for a moderate, clean room.

Bathroom facilities on long haul bus trips, even first class buses were often non functional or dismal. Has this changed? Thank you

kja

You might want to ask the editor to add a tag for Mexico to your thread -- I think many people might miss it without that.

I, personally, would drink only bottled water in Mexico and would not eat anything that wasn't cooked or that I hadn't washed myself using bottled water. And BTW, that means avoiding ice. (Things may be different in high-end or resort lodgings, which I haven't used.)

Whether your budget is reasonable depends on how many of you there are. You can probably get a sense of the price ranges for rooms by checking booking.com

I can't answer your other questions. I can only add that I thoroughly enjoyed the Yucatan!

annetti

So it sounds like food warnings, eating cooked foods only, bottled water, no ice, has not changed much. Thanks, kja.

Rohelio

In all my years of travelling to Mexico, I have never been sick... never! I eat just about anything and drink the same. This said, I only drink bottled water and if the ice is not purified water (you can tell by the hole in the centre of the ice cube) I pass. If i eat at a vendors stand, I make sure that whatever i choose has just been cooked. Aside form that We eat at local restaurants and enjoy greatly especially in Merida where they have recipes that are uniquely Mayan or Yucatekan, for example, the lima soup which Merida boasts it being the best and I belive them. The chicken with chocolate sauce and more. There is a crazy amount of restaurants in Merida especially around the main square. I truly would not worry about getting sick. There is always a guide of sorts supplied in hotel lobbys with dozens of recommended places to eat and enjoy the Mexican nightlife. I also would add that this applies to all cities in the Yucatan and I have been to a great many. Mexico today is not the same as it was 40 years ago. It has too much to lose by neglecting good hygiene and strict food guidelines in public places... Enjoy your stay in Merida and follow the same rules as you would back home... P.S. a good hotel room in Merida will run you about 75.00US per night, one we really enjoy is called the Perigrino which is on or around 55 st. and there is also the Caribe hotel near the main square which is a converted monastary. Lets just say that 150.00 per night for accomodation is more than enough. And all ADO first class buses have a clean toilet on board. If you want to upgrade from first class, you can choose the GL or Platinum series from the same busline, ADO. Not sure if it is worth the difference but you do get a bottle of water and the local newspaper, and the bus seems to be quieter and a smoother ride. The second class series called Mayab has no toilet and makes a whole lot of stops picking up and dropping off, but the price is the reward.

suze

<So it sounds like food warnings, eating cooked foods only, bottled water, no ice, has not changed much.>

It depends where you are.

I'm not familiar with Merida specifically. I spend a lot of time in Puerto Vallarta. You can definitely have ice in your drinks in bars and restaurants (it comes from purified ice plants). I eat salads there, etc.

emd3

I pretty much have eaten and drank everything available to me in Merida restaurants and have never gotten sick on 6 trips over the past 3 yrs. I get ice in my drinks also. And I eat street cart food. Do not miss the crispy cone shaped crepes filled with melted Gouda cheese-- they are sold at the free concerts in the city parks that happen every week.

I think if you really want to pay that much for a room ( which you do not have to do to get a very nice hotel) you will need to look at staying on Paseo de Montejo. maybe look at Roses and Chocolates hotel or one of those types. I much prefer staying in the Centro Historico. you can get a very nice room at Luz en Yucatan for less than half of your amt. There are some Hacienda type hotels also.

emd3

Look at the Hotel Hacienda in Merida. very nice, within your rate.

http://www.hotelhaciendamerida.com/en/

november_moon

I followed the same practice as Rohelio and emd3 and was pretty much fine. No problems in Merida at all - ate street food, food from small vendors, in restaurants - all fine. I did eat something "off" in Valladolid, but I went to a small vendor in the middle of the afternoon when it wasn't busy, so I think something sat out too long.

annetti

Thanks, everyone for all your suggestions. It sounds like food worries are no longer the problem we encountered years ago. This has been very helpful.