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Message
Mexico Newbie Questions
Posted on 5/25/21 at 8:28 am
Posted on 5/25/21 at 8:28 am
Heading to Mismaloya (just South of Puerto Vallarta) in June with the wife. I've travelled internationally several times (years ago) but never to Mexico so have a few quick questions I'm hoping some of you might be able to answer. We are renting a private condo so will be relying on public transportation, finding our own meals/groceries, etc.
1. I've read to buy a sim card from a Mexican telco for your cell phones. What do we gain from doing this? Recommendations?
2. I'd prefer to use my debit card but am concerned it may not provide the protections I may need on an international trip? Is that accurate?
3. Another option is to avoid card usage for the most part and just buy pesos before heading down from BoA. Let's say we've budget $1-1.5K for spending...is carrying half to three-quarters of that in pesos considered risky?
4. I know not to drink the water down there. What about ice in drinks? If I'm at a restaurant and want to have a cocktail or three, what do you do about ice?
5. Would like to take advantage of the condo kitchen and fresh seafood in the area by cooking a meal or two. Are the street markets in PV a relatively safe place for Americans to go?
6. This may tie into #1 about the sim card...if we take a bus up to PV and don't want to do a guided tour, will my phone work to see Google Maps, Yelp, etc.?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can deal with a shite show if things go a little sideways. Wife? Not so much so want to be pretty well prepared heading down.
1. I've read to buy a sim card from a Mexican telco for your cell phones. What do we gain from doing this? Recommendations?
2. I'd prefer to use my debit card but am concerned it may not provide the protections I may need on an international trip? Is that accurate?
3. Another option is to avoid card usage for the most part and just buy pesos before heading down from BoA. Let's say we've budget $1-1.5K for spending...is carrying half to three-quarters of that in pesos considered risky?
4. I know not to drink the water down there. What about ice in drinks? If I'm at a restaurant and want to have a cocktail or three, what do you do about ice?
5. Would like to take advantage of the condo kitchen and fresh seafood in the area by cooking a meal or two. Are the street markets in PV a relatively safe place for Americans to go?
6. This may tie into #1 about the sim card...if we take a bus up to PV and don't want to do a guided tour, will my phone work to see Google Maps, Yelp, etc.?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can deal with a shite show if things go a little sideways. Wife? Not so much so want to be pretty well prepared heading down.
5
Posted on 5/25/21 at 8:55 am to mmmmmbeeer
1.) depends on how long you stay. I’m you can add international to your current plan for around $8-$10 a day and continue to use your phone.
2.) get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Always ask for it to be charged in pesos. They will give you the best rate. Also, credit card has more protections than a debit card. Some also have travel protections and insurance.
3.) shop around. Usually the banks in the US give you a bad conversion rate. Depending on your bank, you can get them there closer to full conversion rate with little bank charge. Just carry around a little more than you think you’ll spend daily (if your not using a cc) and if your worried about it, hide it throughout your luggage or clothing. But I would still recommend putting everything on credit card you can. However not all places (especially markets, small vendors, etc) will take them so hard cash is handy to have.
4.) you can usually judge this by the places you visit. Ask the places you visit. Reverse osmosis is becoming more popular around the more traveled areas.
5.) Mexico in general is very safe. Don’t listen to the news. As long as you are not trying to mess with or get involved with the cartels or drug trade.
6.) look at coverage maps to see where you will be. Again, if you get an international plan, you will know what you have. If you go for an extended time, ask around the area and see what sims they use.
7.) if your Spanish isn’t great, google translate will be your best friend.
8.) Mexico is awesome. Go, have a great time, and come back here to post about it.
2.) get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Always ask for it to be charged in pesos. They will give you the best rate. Also, credit card has more protections than a debit card. Some also have travel protections and insurance.
3.) shop around. Usually the banks in the US give you a bad conversion rate. Depending on your bank, you can get them there closer to full conversion rate with little bank charge. Just carry around a little more than you think you’ll spend daily (if your not using a cc) and if your worried about it, hide it throughout your luggage or clothing. But I would still recommend putting everything on credit card you can. However not all places (especially markets, small vendors, etc) will take them so hard cash is handy to have.
4.) you can usually judge this by the places you visit. Ask the places you visit. Reverse osmosis is becoming more popular around the more traveled areas.
5.) Mexico in general is very safe. Don’t listen to the news. As long as you are not trying to mess with or get involved with the cartels or drug trade.
6.) look at coverage maps to see where you will be. Again, if you get an international plan, you will know what you have. If you go for an extended time, ask around the area and see what sims they use.
7.) if your Spanish isn’t great, google translate will be your best friend.
8.) Mexico is awesome. Go, have a great time, and come back here to post about it.
Posted on 5/25/21 at 9:09 am to mmmmmbeeer
1. Not much, any major US network has free Mexican data, texts, and cheap calls if you really need to call home.
2 & 3. Use debit card to get best exchange rate at ATMs. Use credit card for purchases that allow it for protections, or cash for ease and to help out the locals. Chips in cards helps with security.
4 & 5. Not as big of a deal as it used to be, ice generally filtered nowadays at hotels, resorts, restaurants but not that obviously depends on the establishment.
6. Before you leave, Google Maps App "Mismaloya" and you can download maps for offline use on your phone, it's one of the options along with navigate etc. whether or not you have data. Do the same for Google Translate Spanish/English so you can use conversation mode assuming you're not fluent.
2 & 3. Use debit card to get best exchange rate at ATMs. Use credit card for purchases that allow it for protections, or cash for ease and to help out the locals. Chips in cards helps with security.
4 & 5. Not as big of a deal as it used to be, ice generally filtered nowadays at hotels, resorts, restaurants but not that obviously depends on the establishment.
6. Before you leave, Google Maps App "Mismaloya" and you can download maps for offline use on your phone, it's one of the options along with navigate etc. whether or not you have data. Do the same for Google Translate Spanish/English so you can use conversation mode assuming you're not fluent.
Posted on 5/25/21 at 9:35 am to TheChiefHasArrived
quote:
1. Not much, any major US network has free Mexican data, texts, and cheap calls if you really need to call home.
Appreciate it, y'all.
Looked into this one and I do have free talk/text/data in Canada and Mexico via my AT&T plan. So good to go there. That's a relief...and coverage maps look decent where we'll be. Phew!
Posted on 5/25/21 at 10:18 am to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
Looked into this one and I do have free talk/text/data in Canada and Mexico via my AT&T plan. So good to go there. That's a relief...and coverage maps look decent where we'll be. Phew!
My phone worked fine, no extra charges. I used my credit card at places like restaurants and bars, they're built on tourist it'll be fine. Just get some pesos for small stuff.
All of these places are built to handle American tourists, it's not like youre going to Nepal. Youll be fine.
Posted on 5/25/21 at 10:26 am to mmmmmbeeer
Check with the condo owner or rental company regarding suggested markets, shops, etc. Some AirBnB and VRBO owners do a great job of providing local guide-type info, with everything from restaurant suggestions to transit maps & suggested day trips.
Posted on 5/25/21 at 2:08 pm to mmmmmbeeer
By far your best exchange rate will come from withdrawing cash from an ATM. That assumes that you have an debit card with no ATM fees.
Posted on 5/25/21 at 2:10 pm to mmmmmbeeer
Send pics of wife in bikini
Posted on 5/26/21 at 10:57 am to Flyingtigers
PV is like an American city. Traffic is terrible. 45 minutes for 3 miles. There is a Sam's club, WM, you name it. Lots of expats live there because of the hospitals and American stores. As it's been said, plenty of ATMs, ATT cell coverage with no extra cost.
Posted on 5/26/21 at 10:58 am to roberma
Yeah, PV is about the last place I'd go in Mexico other than Sinaloa. JMO.
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