Mexico Travel Guide

Even if you are an American citizen, you do need a valid passport to go to Mexico.  And no, you can’t use your driver’s license or birth certificate.  This includes cruise ship passengers.

** For more details about, read our full post “Do you need a passport to go to Mexico?“

If you plan to travel to major tourist destinations in Mexico and stay in large resorts, then you will encounter many English-speakers to help you out.

But if you go out and about for shopping, dining, or if you travel to less touristy places then you should expect to encounter fewer English-speakers.

Many local shopkeepers or those working in the tourism industry may know a bit of English, but don’t expect them to be fluent speakers.  They may just know a few basic words in English.

We Recommend Learning some Spanish Basics Before Traveling to Mexico

As with anywhere you travel, it’s important to try and learn some of the local language to show respect and interest in their local culture. You’d be amazed at just how much learning a few words in the local language can help you out!

Even just learning some basics such as hello, thank-you, how much, 1-10 numbers, please, and how to order food, etc. will go a long way.

There are technically no additional vaccines required for US travelers to go to Mexico. However, it is recommended that you be up-to-date on shots such as Hep A as well as Tetanus and Typhoid.

These are easy to get, even at your local CVS Minute Clinic. 

In general, most countries outside the USA don’t accept US dollars for payments.  However, in some very touristy areas of Mexico they might accept them (such as major cruise ship ports).  

However, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. In fact, you are probably going to get ripped off by paying in USD.

It’s always best to have local currency with you when you travel, and that includes getting some Mexican Pesos when traveling to Mexico.

It’s easy to exchange currency before your trip at the airport or after you land. We recommend that you buy some currency before your trip directly from your home bank — or the BEST way to get Mexican Pesos after you arrive in Mexico is just to pull it out from a local ATM (as long as you let your bank know in advance).

** For more tips about accessing your money in Mexico, check out our detailed post about Money Travel tips you need to know.

It’s true, as in many countries around the world you do not want to drink the tap water in Mexico. The best thing to do is to drink bottled water.  

When you are dining out, bottled water is best although many tourist restaurants will serve bottled or filtered water as well as filtered ice cubes. 

Yes! In fact, we recommend it in some destinations so that you can venture off and explore on your own. 

Renting a car in Cancun is an especially great way to have more freedom and be able to see and do so much more. 

While it’s true that Mexico is experiencing violence in certain areas, this is not the case in most of the major touristy areas that we recommend here on this website.

In general, the Yucatan is quite a safe part of Mexico and places such as Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum are safe to visit. 

Even major cruise ship ports on the west coast of Mexico such as Cabo San Lucas are extremely popular and safe to visit. 

However as with anywhere in the world, you should always use common sense and keep your wits about you.