Basics
Accommodation
Talking about accommodation for foreigners in Mexico, the options are vast, you have options for every budget, airbnb, guest houses, hotels of all types you need.
Be careful when you see the places where you choose to stay, remember dangerous neighborhoods in CDMX, think that you will be arriving and leaving at different times. Anticipate possible problems.
Hospitals and emergency
If you require a doctor, almost all similar pharmacies have one, and the prices are cheap.
In Mexico there is no free medical care for tourists. Even in public institutions, care is tariff-free and expensive. Therefore, it is essential to take out comprehensive travel assistance insurance before your trip.
Understanding
What to do and what not to do? Beware of luggage and papers (IDs, passport etc)
Bring change always with you
You may think that it is better not to carry those coins of a peso, but the change will help you a lot and you will need it to pay for buses, metro, as well as to pay for tacos or even in the small shops.
In short, hold on to your coins as long as possible!
If you want to eat alone
In Mexico City dinner is late, if you enter a restaurant at 6 p. m. for dinner, there are few people, if what you are looking for is company, comes to dinner after 8 pm.
Clothing
Wear comfortable clothes, according to the season, if it is hot season, bring with you sunglasses, sunscreen, hat-cap, long sleeve shirt of light color, closed shoe (not sandals), remember that you will walk through busy tourist sites and it isn´t safe to walk in sandals. If is rainy season don’t forget your umbrella.
If you’re visiting a church or religious site, cover to your shoulders and knees, don´t wear glasses insite the place. You have more leeway in resort areas. And remember only wear swimwear at the beach.
Consider bringing a Speakeasy Travel Supply scarf. These beautiful scarves have a hidden passport pocket in them. My girlfriend loves these scarves, and they are so good at keeping her valuables hidden.
Noise
Mexico is loud. Church services blare music into the night. Firecrackers explode with regularity. Trucks drive down the streets with loudspeakers. If you’re not prepared, the noise of Mexico can drive you insane. For this reason, I recommend you bring earplugs, only if the noise is a problem for you.
For this reason, I recommend you bring earplugs, and you may want to consider investing in heavy-duty earplugs.
Photos
If you want to take photos of people (children or adults), ask for their permission, in case of being minors ask permission from the guardians.
If you get lost
Don´t lose your nerve, find some police, metro station or metrobus to locate you. Always carry a map of the city and your phone or mobile devices loaded or with your charger at hand.
CALM
Greetings
The common greeting in Mexico is a handshake, shaking hands with a strong and prolonged gesture. Sometimes, to enhance this greeting is taken from the forearm or with a pat on the shoulder. When there is some confidence, if people are known or familiar, you can reach the hug and kiss on the cheek.
The handshake is a valid gesture for both, presentations and goodbyes. Obviously with the pandemic, also appeared “social distancing”, so only with your vocal greetings or a movement with your hand is more than enough.
Receive and accompany. The Mexicans are very good hosts and treat their guests very well, is normal that they go out to meet us at the door or accompany us to the exit.
Personal space. Mexicans are very close and you can see that when you talk to them. The personal space is very small, they like the closeness with people, if you go back surely your interlocutor will come back.
Religion and beliefs
A large part of the Mexican population is Catholic, I recommend avoiding any kind of offense or mockery to this religion.
There is also a veneration of the holy death, mostly in some popular colonies, where it isn´t advisable to find, if you get lost, get away from the place and of course avoid making any comment that can be interpreted as offense or mockery.
Go shopping
Mexicans hand out money, they don’t put it on the counter. Money should be given at hand. Putting it on the counter can be interpreted as a gesture of contempt or discourtesy.
Tips
Some establishments already include it. But for the most part, they still have the habit of tipping voluntarily. Tips are usually left in restaurants, hotels, shoe shiners and other services. (10-15%)
Punctuality
CDMX has a very intense traffic, you should take it into account when planning the day and set wide time margins to avoid being late to your commitments.
Ways to increase your personal safety
As in any city in the world you must be cautious, check by internet, your itineraries, the name of colonies I share and draw a cross to keep in mind not to pass by there.
Avoid carrying valuables that make you look like an easy target.
General Recommendations
Use your common sense, CDMX is just like any populated city and if you follow these simple tips, you will be, perfectly.
First and foremost, be cautious. We all want to explore everything, but use your common sense. If you see a desolate area that doesn’t seem too safe, stay away from it. Or at least don’t go by yourself. If you have a local host at your destination, they might know how safe or not the area is. Also, try not walking by yourself on dangerous-looking alleys or late at night.
You should be alert and pay attention to your surroundings. That includes people too. Always keep an eye on your stuff so you don’t become an easy target to pickpocketers and thieves.
Trust your instincts regardless of feeling embarrassed.
Prepare your schedule daily with safety in mind.
Be responsible for your personal safety.
Be aware of all your surroundings.
Avoid anything that doesn´t feel safe.
Anticipate possible problems.
Be vigilant and prepared for anything.
Report suspicious activity.
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