Cancun is a popular destination in Mexico. It is open to travelers all year round. If you have chosen it as one of your around-the-world adventures, then make sure to heed these travel tips for Cancun tourists.
Preparing for Your Trip with Travel Trips for Cancun Holiday
1.) Keep Packing Simple
Your Cancun packing list must not be overwhelming. The place is warm and sunny year-round. Thus, make sure to pack light items.
The top items are shorts, flip-flops, cool tops, and water shoes if you are going to the beach or pool. Don’t forget your sunglasses and a sun hat.
To stay burn-free, make sure to use a performance fabric shirt. And bring a waterproof phone case.
Use a dry bag to store your valuables while opting for a waterproof camera.
During your packing, contact your credit card companies to inform them that you’re traveling to Cancun.
Then, exchange your dollars for pesos so you can pay for items in a local market. You can also use it to tip taxi drivers or waiters.
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2.) Book a Hotel Outside of the Hotel Zone
The hotel zone in this area is boring and extremely commercialized. Not to mention, they are also expensive. Thus, make sure to stay in a town away from the hotel zone.
Consider spending your time exploring Downtown Cancun or nearby coastal towns. Keep in mind that Cancun offers a lot of things to tourists, other than laying out on the beach.
3.) Fill Out the Immigration Form Online
Travelers going to Mexico are required to fill out an Official Entry Immigration Form. To be ready, make sure to fill out this form online before your trip.
If you don’t, you can still out the form in the lobby before you pass customs.
Upon exiting customs, make sure that you keep the bottom portion of the sheet and tuck it away with the rest of your important documents. Never lose it.
Otherwise, you’ll pay a fine of $60.
4.) Exchange Your Money Before the Trip
Most of the restaurants in this place don’t accept credit cards. Hence, cash is necessary.
That’s why you have to exchange your money before the trip. Although you can exchange it at the airport, the airport here is jam-packed with kiosks and the rates are not favorable.
Thus, exchange your money before your trip so you can get a bigger bang for your buck.
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5.) Use Free Shuttles
Taking a tax might be your best option when traveling to other places. But in Cancun, opt for free shuttles.
When you book a hotel, ask if it offers a free shuttle. Or you can call and book a shuttle with your resort or hotel. You should contact your hotel before you arrive and provide details of your travel.
If you don’t, you’ll be bombarded with a crowd of taxi drivers at the exit area of Cancun International Airport. It can be harrowing for you.
You may find yourself surrounded by drivers shouting at you at different prices.
If you don’t want to start your vacation in this beautiful place with a hefty taxi bill, just contact your hotel and ask if it offers a free shuttle.
6.) Bring Spray for Bugs
This is a must-have when traveling to Cancun. The mosquitoes here come out at night. They’re hungry for your blood.
Even when you just stroll through a walkway, you get mosquito bites in 15 minutes. They itch like crazy.
Thus, spare yourself from mosquito bites and bring bug spray. Make sure to store it in a sealed container so it won’t spill during your travel.
7.) Pack Your Necessary Medicines
You should bring your medicines and toiletries. Make sure that you have sunscreen, ibuprofen for headaches, itching cream for bug bites, and allergy medicine.
When bringing sunscreen, choose to have the travel size so you don’t have difficulty getting it through airport security.
If you purchase those first-aid meds and toiletries in Cancun, you will find yourself paying a hefty bill. The necessities are all marked up. So, they tend to be super expensive.
You should also pack loperamide, just in case. The food here is clean. But your stomach may have a hard time digesting the new food presented.
If you stay in an all-inclusive resort, you may have to deal with so much food.
Be ready by bringing your medicines with you.
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8.) Learn to Haggle
When you need to shop for food and souvenirs, you should learn to haggle to get a better price. It is a common practice throughout the country. This is especially true if you go to street fairs, beach huts, and food stands.
Thus, don’t buy at the listed price. Instead, make sure to haggle a bit.. let the seller provide you with a price before you offer a price that is 40% lower.
Although you won’t get the lowered price that you want, the seller can give you a price that falls in the middle.
You can also get a better rate when you pay in cash.
However, you should not spend your money on souvenirs. This is especially true if you are practicing minimalism. Instead, just take photos of the place.
9.) Avoid Drinking Water from the Faucet
If you don’t want to end up with an upset stomach, make sure to drink bottled water. The tap water in this place meets the standards of safety, but it is still a good idea to drink bottled water.
You can go to the nearest supermarket to buy your favorite brand. Although the price is a bit more expensive, it will help you save from getting an upset stomach during your Cancun getaway with your lover.
10.) Visit From May Through November
Don’t visit Cancun during Spring break as the hotel prices are high and the crowds can’t be managed.
When you visit during the off-season, you can enjoy the city with yourself and a few others.
Furthermore, the tours are half the price. The food is also more affordable.
Avoid visiting Christmas and New Year. These are the most hectic travel periods here. And avoid the hurricane season which happens from late July to late October.
Bonus
When looking for authentic Mexican food, don’t go to chain restaurants. Instead, head to Downton Cancun where you can get the best food at the best rates.
Use Google Maps to find reviews of restaurants that are worth trying.
Over to You
What are the travel tips for Cancun tourists we have missed? Please leave them in the comments below.
