When operating a business, there are several times that you might have to travel abroad for business-related activities. Planning such a trip can be tedious and costly. When you need to travel to Mexico, for instance, you need to cautious with your budget. This article discusses tips that will help you save money while on your business trip to Mexico. Read on to learn more.
Research On Your Destination
Look up information on the places you intend to visit. Check the US State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico. The advisory is written with a lot of caution. However, it gives an idea of the recent conditions in each region. The US State Department uses a four-tiered system to know the risk for every country in the world. Mexico exercises increased caution meaning it has a Level 2 advisory. It shares its Level 2 status with 58 other countries like France, Italy, China and the UK.
Research the Mexican states you plan on visiting. You should know which states have a Level 4 “Do not travel” advisory. Sometimes a state may have a no-go warning but still have specific areas that are considered safe. For instance the beautiful city of Morelia in Michoacán. Have in mind that Mexico is a big, diverse country. Many popular tourist areas like the Yucatan’s Riviera are considered low-risk.
Convert Your Currency
When traveling to Mexico, ensure that you are using the local currency. This will ensure that your operations are smooth and you don’t have any inconveniences. Being familiar with the currency rates can also come into place especially when you want to send money back home. It is important that you compare the various rates and go for the best one. To do so, you should think of looking up the best Mexican peso exchange rate.
Eat The Street Tacos
The greatest thing about Mexico is the food! Many people have this false notion that eating food from street vendors will make you ill. They don’t know they’re missing out on some of the best foods in the country. It is not always safe to eat food in a more familiar tourist restaurant. That is rarely the case. In fact, you can suffer food poisoning at a fancy beach resort after many months of traveling through Mexico.
That was the only time it ever happened. You might want to enjoy a delicious, authentic meal that will blow your tastebuds but your budget cannot allow you. Street food is definitely the way to go. If you are still not sure, below are some tried and proven tips to help avoid Montezuma’s Revenge while eating street food.
- Go for cooked foods instead of raw foods. Oftenly, people become ill from consuming vegetables that were not washed properly. However, ceviche is an exception since using lime kills off a lot of bacteria and seafood is oftenly very fresh on the coast.
- Buy from hygienic and clean vendors. These practices include using rubber gloves or having a readily available washbasin.
- Pick street food stands with a line-up of locals especially if children and women are eating there. Locals usually eat most of their food at street stands and if someone happens to become ill, word will vastly spread and business will be lost.
Go With The Flow
Planning your travel beforehand is so relaxing. However, things can happen on a different schedule than you had hoped. Maybe you could be visiting a boutique that is closes for a mid-day siesta. Be prepared. Do not be tempted to plan all the magic moments out of your trip. You are likely to feel a warm welcome and a calm vibe from the locals no matter where you are. So sigh over a sunset. Sip a margarita. Mexico awaits.
Get A Travel Insurance
The peace of mind that travel insurance brings to a trip cannot be compared to anything else. If coverage is included in your credit card, do some research on what exactly is covered. Never skip insurance while working out how to afford the best travel. Some premium cards offer the best insurance benefits while others don’t.
Be Street Smart
It’s important to keep a keen eye on your wallet and purse while traveling in Mexico. It’s advisable to keep all your valuables for instance expensive jewelry, passport, large amounts of cash and at least one credit card in the hotel safe. Generally, it’s not safe to keep excessive amounts of cash on you while traveling.
Just carry what you need for the day and a photo ID or a driver’s license. In case you lose your wallet, you’ll still have access to your passport, credit cards and any other funds secure in the hotel. I would also recommend wearing crossbody purses with zippered compartments for women. Men should keep their wallets in your front pocket.
Heed The Flags On Beaches
Pay attention to the beach flag and warning signs on the beach. This is one of the easiest and safest ways for visitors in Mexico to stay safe. There can be strong and dangerous currents, red tide, lightning, jelly fish and other hidden hazards on beaches all over Mexico- from Cancun to Zicatela. It’s not just the big waves that can pose problems for people swimming in the beach.
Conclusion
Traveling to Mexico can be costly if you fail to work on budget. Follow the tips discussed in this article for a cheaper and safer stay in Mexico.
2 Comments
This is exactly the blog I needed to read since we’re planning a trip to Mexico in May. Thanks for the great tips!
As a former travel agent, these are fantastic tips! Especially purchasing travel insurance! You never think you’ll need it, until you do. Great post and helpful tips!