Costs
The developed tourist resorts and big cities are invariably more expensive than more remote towns, and certain other areas also have noticeably higher prices - among them the industrialized north, especially along the border, Baja, and all the newly wealthy oil regions. Prices can also be affected by season and many hotels raise their prices during busy times of the year. Summer, Christmas and Easter are the peak times for Mexican tourists and areas like Acapulco and Cancun, which attract large numbers of overseas visitors, put their prices up during the high season from November to May. Special events are also likely to be marked by price hikes. Nonetheless, wherever you go you can probably get by on US$225/GBP150 a week (you could reduce that if you hardly travel around, stay only on campsites or in hostels, live on the most basic food and don't buy any souvenirs, but it hardly makes for an enjoyable trip), while on US$500/GBP330 you'd be living very well. Accommodation prices range from only a couple of dollars for a beach cabana to upwards of US$60/GBP40 for five-star luxury. A room in a cheap hotel costs US$9-15/GBP6-10 per person and a room in the mid-range US$20-50/GBP13-33. Food prices can also vary wildly, but you should always be able to get a substantial meal in a basic Mexican restaurant for around US$4/GBP3. Most restaurant bills come with fifteen percent IVA (Impuesto de Valor Anadido, or VAT sales tax) added; this may not always be included in prices quoted on the menu. If you intend to travel around a lot, transport could be another major expense because distances are so huge. On a per-kilometre basis, however, prices are very reasonable: Mexico City to Acapulco, for example, a journey of over 400km, costs less than US$22/GBP15 by first-class bus, while a 24-hour journey such as Mexico City to Cancun (1800km) works out at around US$80/GBP53. As always, if you're travelling alone you'll end up spending more - sharing rooms and food saves a substantial amount. In the larger resorts, you can get apartments for up to six people for even greater savings. If you have an international Student or Youth Card , you might find the occasional reduction on a museum admission price, but don't go out of your way to obtain one, since most concessions are, at least in theory, only for Mexican students. Cards available include the ISIC card for full-time students and the Go-25 youth card for under-26s, both of which carry health and emergency insurance benefits for Americans, and are available from youth travel firms such as STA. Even a college photo ID card might work in some places. Service is hardly ever added to bills, and the amount you tip is entirely up to you - in cheap places, it's just the loose change, while expensive venues tend to expect a full fifteen percent. It's not standard practice to tip taxi drivers .
My Birthday giftAlex Arvizu says "If you happen to come to the Yucatan Peninsula you must visit both Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy.
Isla Mujeres is a great place to relax and enjoy a laid back atmosphere.
Isla Contoy, an unhabited island north of Isla Mujeres, will take you back to the days when the first settlers arrived and found these amazing virgin islands. The feeling is equal to none." Tour Mayan Pyramids On Line (Video + Stills)David Mundstock says "My film "Mayavision” features the major Mayan cities of Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal in both Central America and Mexico. It also includes Mexico City, with the Virgin of Guadalupe and the temples of Teotihuacán. The film begins in Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala.
“Mayavision” can be seen on the web, if you have a high speed internet connection.
This is a free, non-commercial, streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I sell absolutely nothing.
With any modem you can view the new gallery of Mayan Pyramid still pictures.
The video can be watched and stills viewed by asking a search engine for:
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer
There are over 30 of my other free, amateur travel videos on-line including trips to China, Russia, Antarctica, Italy, the UK, Japan, Australia, Bali, Africa, Greece, and Turkey; see lions, whales, elephants, or penguins.
The Intrepid Berkeley Explorer" what not to dojosie says "don't let mexican people see you translation book because the will think taht you are an idiot! don't look like you have money you are likely to get robbed and what ever you do don't wear a sombrero!!" !GO MEXICO GO!sarahid says " don't be mean to a mexican, because they going to thick you are idiot<, and be respecful every timr whith others, mexicans don't care if you wear a hat is ok." New hostel in townEnsenada Backpacker says "There is a new hostel in Ensenada Baja California Mexico
www.ensenadabackpacker.com"
Your Tip for Mexico
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Mexico - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Mexico - visit the main Mexico forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Mexico webguide section below! Thanks.
|
