Before You Go - México Travel Tips
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Language
Outside of the tourist zone north of Manzanillo English is not widely spoken in Colima. Most Mexicans who have graduated from high school in the last 20 years have had some English. Mexicans will feel just as self conscious about speaking English as you may feel about speaking Spanish. Often it is possible to strike up a conversation and have a lot of fun getting to know each other as you use hand signs, quick sketches on a pad and what ever Spanish you know. The most universal language is the easiest. Just smile and if it is morning say buenos días. In the afternoon say buenas tardes and in the evening buenas noches. This little courtesy is taken very seriously in México and will often be the ice breaker that leads to more conversation and good things.

Bring a Spanish Phrase Book and/or a Dictionary
Consider bringing a small and compact Spanish phrase book and for total language support a good Spanish-English dictionary of which there are many on the market. It's best to visit a book store and find a compact paperback dictionary that will work for you. You may also find a dictionary combined with a phrase book.

The Most Important Book You Can Bring
When traveling like we will be traveling including riding the regular Mexican busses you will want to have paper and a pen ready all the time to jot down schedule information, tips from other travelers, peoples names, phone numbers and a wide range of other information that always crops up on a trip like this. For 20 years I have carried one of those little pocket sized spiral bound note books. Next I find a pen that is slim enough to slip into the spiral binder. This is an essential independent traveler's tool.

Dollars and Pesos
Most larger towns have a banks with one or more ATM cash machines. Your ATM debit card must be a VISA or Master Card branded debit card. If your debit card does not carry the VISA or MC logo it will not be accepted by Mexican ATM machines. The ATM card is a very convenient way to access your cash in the states. You also will get the best exchange rate using your VISA or MC branded ATM debit card. If you do not have a card like this your bank will be able to issue you one. This process can take up to three weeks.

Exchange Dollars For Pesos Before You Go
It's a good idea to bring some pesos with you from so you have a little cash when you arrive in Mexico. This will get you through the first night's restaurant meal and the next morning's meal until you use your debit card or exchange cash for pesos at a Mexican bank.

How much to exchange? I recommend you exchange $40.00 US dollars per person for pesos. $40.00 US dollars translates to about $400.00 pesos.

You can exchange your national currency for pesos at most larger international airports.If you are departing from Seattle's Sea Tac airport you can exchange money at one of the two Travelex Currency Exchange kiosks located in the main terminal (one on the south esplanade and one on the north) and one in the South Satellite. These kiosks all open at 6:00 am. Here is a link to a map that shows the locations of the two currency exchanges in the main terminal. http://www.portseattle.org/about/maps/main.shtml

You can also get pesos at most local bank branches in the US or Canada. It may take a few days so be sure to call your bank two weeks in advance and order some pesos. You may also want to ask them what the exchange rate will be. The bank may have a minimum amount like $100 US or Canadian dollars before they will order pesos and you will not get a great rate. If this is the case don't exchange dollars for pesos at your bank as you will probably loose about 20% over the official rate.

If your departure schedule allows it and your departure airport has a money exchange place exchanging your currency for pesos at the airport will be fastest. Check with your airport of departure to see if there is a money exchange business. Be sure to check the hours the money exchange is open.

You can check the current official exchange rate for your currency by going to this website. http://www.xe.com/ucc/.

When you exchange US or Canadian dollars for pesos in the US or Canada you will loose about 20% over the official rate however it does put some useful pesos in your pocket for your immediate needs after arrival in Mexico.

The good news is when you use your debit card in Mexico you will get the official or best possible exchange rate of the moment.

When you exchange your dollars for pesos make sure you ask for smaller peso denominations like two $200.00 peso bills and a $100.00 peso bill or something like that. Bills of smaller denominations like $50.00 pesos (5 US dollars) and $100.00 pesos ($10 US dollars) are best. It is almost impossible to cash a $500.00 peso note ($50 US dollars) anywhere in Mexico outside of a bank.

Debit Card Tips
Mexico is largely a cash economy. You will ONLY be able to use your debit card to get cash (pesos) at a bank ATM machine. With some exceptions ATM machines are only located on the premises of banks.

You will NOT be able to use your debit or credit card to purchase meals, hotel rooms or items in a retail establishment. You may be able to use a debit or credit card to pay for rooms and meals at higher end hotels and the restaurants in those hotels. Just about everywhere we will be traveling you will need cash in pesos. You MAY be able to use a credit card or debit card for retail purchases in selected stores, restaurants and hotels in larger cities like Colima City. Typically these are the higher end establishments and there are not many of them.

1. If you will be bringing a Debit card please be sure you memorize your PIN number. If you will physically bring your PIN number don't store it in the same location as your debit card.
2. Debit cards MUST have either a Master Card or Visa logo on the card. Local bank debit cards will not work.
3. If your debit card is new or has not been used for a while be sure to make a few test purchases with it BEFORE you depart to insure that it is active and working properly.
4. If you are traveling with a partner or spouse consider bringing two debit cards for two separate accounts. You can do this if you are traveling as a single too. This will provide you with insurance in case one card gets lost. You may have to open a second account if you decide to do this.
5. Check with the bank that issued the debit card and make sure they will honor purchases made outside of the USA and specifically in Mexico. Ask if there are any restrictions or other conditions you must be aware of.
6. Bring the card cancellation phone number you will need to use if you loose your debit or credit card. You will NOT be able to use the standard domestic 800 or other toll free number to cancel a card from Mexico. Contact the credit card company or the bank that has issued your debit card and get the full international number you will need to use to call your bank or credit card company FROM Mexico.
7. It's a good idea to bring a credit card for emergency backup in case you have to change a plane reservation using the Internet or telephone or for some other emergency issue.

If you will not be bringing an ATM card, bring a mix of American Express Traveler's Checks and US dollars. Bring ONLY American Express traveler's checks as they are the only traveler's checks accepted in many parts of México. You can exchange cash for Pesos at most banks or casa's de cambio (money changing houses). Most banks DO NOT cash traveler's checks. At a bank you may have to stand in line for 20 minutes to an hour depending on the time of day.

You will have to cash traveler's checks at a casa de cambio or money changing house. There are casas de cambio in both Melaque and Colima city. You must have a PASSPORT to cash Traveler’s Checks at a casa de cambio.

If you bring traveler's checks be sure to keep at least two copies of the check numbers with you. Keep them in separate locations. Please leave a third copy with a responsible party at home. If your checks disappear and you don't have a record of the check numbers you can't apply for new checks. It's best to cover the bases well when it comes to money and out of country travel.

Budgeting & Cost Estimates

How much money to bring??
There are as many answers to this as there are individuals traveling. Here are a few basic guidelines for this area of México.

Bring more money than you think you will need or have access to more cash by using a debit card to access cash in your bank account.

Food budgeting:

• Eat out 3 meals a day splurge - $30.00 US
• Eat out 3 meals a day budget - $15.00 US
• Eat out 3 meals a day super budget - $10.00 US

Refreshments:
Processed drinks of all kinds are about the same price as in the USA.

• Soft drinks bottled and canned juices, mineral water etc. 6 to 8 pesos or $.60 to $.80 cents US.
• Beer in a store - roughly 8 pesos or $.80 US per bottle.
• Beer in a restaurant 8 to 120 pesos or $.80 - $1.20 US per bottle

Other costs: there are always other costs including local transportation on busses or in cabs, both reasonable with the busses being very cheap.

Time Zones
Most of México is in the central time zone. Some parts coastal western México north of Puerto Vallarta are in the Mountain Time Zone and Baja California is in the Pacific Time Zone. Colima and Jalisco States are in the central time zone.

Weather
Weather: on the west coast of México winter this is the height of the dry season. Daytime temperatures will range in the high seventies to mid eighties with evening lows in the mid to upper sixties. Not bad. Be sure to bring lots of sun screen.

About The Water
Water at hotels: our hotels will all be traditional Mexican hotels. Purified drinking water is supplied in large plastic or glass garafons (bottles) located in various places around the hotel. Normally each room has a pitcher and glasses. You fill up your pitcher at the nearest garafon and return to your room. Do not drink tap water anywhere in México. Only drink purified or bottled water.

Brushing Your Teeth
Be sure to wet and rinse your tooth brush with purified water. Do not rinse your tooth brush out in tap water. It's easy to forget to do this. I always forget at least once a trip if not more and I am still here!

Jewelry
Leave the Rolex and gold necklace at home. It's best to be very low key about these kinds of things. If you have an expensive watch consider buying a cheap watch for the trip.

Clothing
Days will be comfortably warm and dry and evenings will be cool. The tropical sun is intense. A half hour of unprotected exposure will cause an uncomfortable sunburn. Bring a long sleeve light weight cotton shirt to protect your arms. A sun hat is a must. Bring lightweight clothing that dries rapidly. Rayon and Nylon are good choices for weight and fast drying. If you are coming from a cold climate leave your winter jacket in your car at the airport.

What do I pack? I keep it simple. I normally pack two pairs of lightweight pants, one bathing suit and one pair of shorts, two short sleeve rayon shirts, one cotton tee shirt, one long sleeve shirt for sun protection and warmth if it gets cool, a sun protection hat, 3 pairs of socks and a light short jacket that can double as a wind breaker, rain coat and some warmth after returning to the airport in winter in the US or Canada. I also pack a pair of leather sandals and a good pair of flip flops with traction tread on the soles. That's it! Your needs and tastes may be different. The point is to pack as little as possible, you don't need much.

Mexican women wear pants, skirts and dresses with no clear preference that I can see. In areas that have predominant indigenous populations women wear mid-calf length or longer dresses. Blue jeans are common on younger women and the clothing in general tends to be rich in color. Mexican men's clothing is similar to what men wear in the US and Canada. Khaki pants and jeans are the most popular and shirts tend to be plain white or a solid color or plaid. Not a lot different than what US and Canadian men wear.

Washing clothes, clotheslines, clothespins & drying time
Don't forget to bring some clothespins and string for an informal clothesline. I bring about 30 feet of orange or yellow nylon carpenters string line. It stretches tight, is strong and does not rot. I find that for myself 12 old fashioned wooden clothespins are plenty. You can wash your clothes out in the bathroom sink and rinse them in the shower while you take your regular shower. This just takes a little think out of the box planning. You will have to stuff a sock or the tail or a shirt or something else ingenious into the sink drain hole to plug it up. Mexican sinks don't have those stopper thingies. This is standard gear and procedure for budget travelers.

To wash out bigger items I may use the plastic waste basket if it is clean. Put a little soap in it and fill it from the shower head. This makes a great "mini wash tub" for larger items like pants.

During the dry season when 60-70% humidity is common a men's medium weight cotton tee shirt will dry overnight in a dark room (8-10 hours). Cotton socks will take longer (16 hours). Blue jeans will take a full day meaning 16-24 hours. A light weight cotton short sleeve shirt will dry in about the same time as the tee shirt. The heaver the cotton fabric and the tighter the weave the longer it will take to dry. Rayon or nylon dries in an hour or two. All this assumes you will be drying clothes in your room. If you dry them outside they will dry a lot faster. The hook is where outside? That's why I usually dry my stuff in the hotel room. If you are traveling during the rainy season when humidity is high double the drying times indicated above.

Commercial & Hotel Laundry Services
Larger towns and cities will have laundry services where you can take clothes to be washed and dried. The price is usually around $3.00 - 4:00 USD per kilogram or 2.2 pounds of clothes. The turnaround time is usually one day meaning you bring your clothes in one day and pick them up the next day. Most budget hotels offer no clothes washing services. Those hotels that do offer laundry service will ask you to leave your laundry with your maid who will take your clothes home and wash them by hand and air dry them. The downside to this is it can take a few days to round trip your clothes which can be a big problem if your flight leaves before your clothes come back.

Soap, Shampoo & Bath Tissue
Budget to mid range Mexican hotels will supply one small bar of soap and no shampoo. The soap will be replaced when it is used up. I bring a plastic squeeze bottle of concentrated Dr. Bronner's lavender soap. I use it for washing hair and clothes. You can lather up the bar of soap supplied by your hotel and use that for laundry soap to save on Dr. Bronner's. Be creative and inventive! Mexican bath tissue tends to be one ply and about a third less lineal footage per roll than in the US and Canada. You go through it fast and there are no phone books for backup! You may have to ask for a replacement or backup roll now and then. Just take the empty cardboard bath tissue tube with you and point to it and say necesito mas por favor (I need more please). Even if you can't quite say that the cardboard tube will say it all! :-)

Towel Talk
What kind of towel to bring? In general hotels everywhere prefer to NOT have their towels taken to the beach. This is common world wide. In budget hotels you will get one medium sized standard white hotel towel per day per person. They are fine for drying off after a shower in your room.

Towels in Mexico especially in beach towns are very expensive. I always pack a small light weight terry cloth beach towel that is not bulky. If you think you will be lying on a beach towel bring a lightweight beach towel long enough to stretch out on. Bring a plastic bag to put it in incase the towel is wet when you are ready to travel.

Dress Etiquette
In beach towns like Cuyutlán it is not considered proper to wear a bathing suit and walk into town, walk in front of the church or into a restaurant. The exceptions to this rule are the beach palapa restaurants. It's best for women to bring a shirt to the beach and possibly a light skirt to slip into before they walk back to the hotel. Men do wear shorts in México with about the same frequency they do in the US or Canada. The vast majority of men in cities like Colima or even Cuyutlán wear slacks. Shorts are fine and many Mexican men do wear shorts. Men should also bring a shirt to the beach to put on before returning to the hotel. It's fine for men to wear their bathing suits back to the hotel. In fact it's okay for women to who wear a light shirt over their bathing suits. A skirt is not necessary to return the one block from the beach to the hotel.

About Mexican Budget Hotels
If you have traveled in Europe you know about staying at youth hostels. México has a very small number of International Youth Hostels. México offers the independent traveler a range of budget to moderate hotels in the $8.00 to $40.00 US dollar a night range. Hotels at the low end of the range tend to be a little funky and may not be the safest places. Hotels in the $15-25 dollar range can be a very good value, clean and well run. They can also be a little worn but still good safe places. Hotels in the $25-40.00 range will usually be quite nice. The exceptions are hotels in this price range in high volume resort destinations like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Ixtapa and the hotel zone north of Manzanillo where budget hotel prices will be 30-80% higher.

Reading Lights
Most Mexican hotels in the budget to moderate range do not have nightstands with a reading lamp. Don't be surprised if all you have for light is one bare light bulb high up on a wall. Consider bringing an LED headlamp. These are great devices and they throw a lot of light. They are also a great accessory to have along if you will be doing any day or overnight hiking. Time has a different meaning in México. You may find yourself and your Mexican guide coming down the trail in the dark. A good LED head lamp is a helpful item. Use Google to search for the keywords LED headlamp.

Street Signs
Street signs in towns and cities will be about 10 feet off the ground on one or both sides of a building corner. They are often made from a hand painted ceramic tile set in the cement or brick wall of the building. You will not find street signs on posts in most towns and cities. Smaller towns may not have street names on buildings outside of the old central area by the plaza. Street names tend to change at the main plaza and often the logic of Mexican street signs and building numbering if it exists are obscure at best.

Money Hiding Devices
It makes sense to keep your cash, traveler's checks, ATM cards, passport and other documentation in a secure place especially when in transit on a plane, train, bus, car or cab. This area of México is very safe and honest however money left in an obvious place in your hotel room is a bad idea anywhere including the good old USA or Canada. There are all kinds of travel accessories that will conceal money. These include money belts, neck and waist pouches and thigh socks. Good sources for these devices are AAA travel agencies, REI, Wide World Books in Seattle and other stores that service travelers.

Prescriptions, Immunizations Medical Topics & Personal Hygiene
Be sure to bring all personal hygiene items as well as any special medical appliances and other items you may need. Do not expect that any specialty medical or other item you need will be available in México. If you have concerns or questions about this please contact John.

Prescription drugs: please plan to bring any prescription or over the counter medication that you may need. It will also help to bring a copy of your prescription in case you misplace your medications and need to replace them. Bring prescriptions in their original bottle and bring the prescription receipt that proves purchase and shows the medication type on it. Alternatively, bring a copy of the original doctor written prescription. Be sure to ask your doctor to slow down and write clearly and legibly and indicate the generic name of the drug in parenthesis next to the brand name.

If you are using generic drugs bring the patent brand name the medication is sold under. If medications are part of your regimen, there is no such thing as too much prescription information. Similar medications may have different names in México. The more information you have the better. As an essential precaution be sure to bring a two week supply of extra medication BEYOND your scheduled trip time.

Immunizations: we recommend that you check with your family doctor or local health department to verify that necessary immunizations are up to date. If you have questions about specific immunizations and vaccinations recommended for travel to México, please consult with your family physician, county health department or the Travel Medicine web page at the US Center For Disease Control.

Doctor Contact Information: if you have a medical condition that may require a consult with your doctor while you are in México please be sure to bring your doctor's contact information. Some doctors now have email. Ask the office folks if they have email and if the email is checked daily. Be sure to bring your doctor's phone and FAX number. Even if you do not have a special medical condition it is a good idea to let your doctor know you will be traveling and when. Be sure to take your doctor's contact information.

US, Canadian and Mexican Customs

When you are in a Mexican customs zone like at the airport in mexico just do what Mexican airport security and customs folks ask you to do with no discussion. If you do protest or argue with Mexican customs inspectors you run the risk of getting into trouble quickly and missing your flight home. You may be detained for hours or days which is exactly like it works for US and Canadian customs officials. You just do not argue with them. They are the supreme law like it or not. Did you know that when you are in a border or port of entry customs zone like an airport you have NO RIGHTS? Even if you are an American or Canadian citizen in a border zone in your own country your federal constitution and the rights inherent in it DO NOT APPLY.

Cameras & Film
If you will be bringing a film camera be sure to carry your film in a clear plastic bag on your person or in a day pack or purse you will carry on the aircraft. Leave the film inside the little plastic containers the film comes in.

When you get to the airport security checkpoint request a hand inspection of your film. It is not a good idea to have your film go through the x-ray machine. This is especially true for faster films of ISO speed 400 and above.

In the United States airport security people are supposed to allow you to request a hand inspection and not have it go through the x-ray machines. Sometimes airport security agents may be resistant to this and ask you to put your film through the x-ray scan anyway. Be firm and politely request a hand inspection again. If they refuse your second request you will have no choice but to pass your film through the machine. If your film is fast film of ISO speed 400 or greater it will be damaged. Airport security agents are supposed to allow hand inspections of film that is ISO speed 400 or greater. Film under 400 ISO may or may not be damaged. Airport security agents will tell you that film that is less than ISO 400 will not be damaged. In most cases this is true. If you are a professional photographer and you don't want to take the chance request a hand inspection.

When you leave México follow the above procedure. The laws are different in México. You can ask for a hand inspection. If you are refused don't ask a second time

35 mm print film is available in México however selection is limited. Slide film is almost impossible to find as is medium format or large format film. Bring your own film and bring enough to last the whole trip.

Digital Cameras
Digital cameras are very convenient and there are no worries about film or x ray damage at the airport. Be sure to get fresh batteries for your camera. Also be sure to bring back up batteries. If you use rechargeable batteries please REMEMBER to pack your battery charger. Most of all bring enough image chips to hold the number of pictures you estimate you will take. You will not be able to purchase additional chips in most locations in México. You can find them in larger cities and they will be quite expensive. We recommend that you do not bring a laptop computer.

Electricity
Electrical voltage in México is the same as the US and Canada or 110 volts AC. All your electronic devices will work just fine in México. Grounded outlets are non existent in México. Keep this in mind when using appliances around water.

Mexican electrical wiring is very funky and unsafe by American and Canadian standards. Use common sense and don't play with wires! If you are traveling with children please be sure to keep an eagle eye out for unsafe electrical fixtures, bare hot wires and the many other unsafe nuances of Mexican electricity. Mexican electricity has gotten a lot better over the years however it still has a long way to go to reach US and Canadian standards for proper installation and above all safety.

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