Mexico, officially known as the United Mexican States, is a country between the U.S. and Central America – popular for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches. Boasting of a diverse landscape made of mountains, deserts and jungles – ancient ruins such as TeotihuacĂĄn and the Mayan city of ChichĂ©n ItzĂĄ are scattered throughout the country in cities like Tulum and YucatĂĄn, as are Spanish colonial-era towns. With a lot of old culture and art still preserved within, Mexico is also modern with a continuous stream of tourism revenue making it a quirky mix of places to see.
Like every other country in the world – Mexico too comes with its own quirks – good and bad – so here are the 11 things you should know about this country before you visit…
- You shouldn’t drink the water. I imagine everyone is familiar with this rule. In San Luis PotosĂ, Mexico the majority of locals donât even drink the water. Stick to bottled water or dispenser water. I do take ice in my drinks and brush my teeth with the water, however, I did have some gnarly cavities when I went to the dentist back home, a direct correlation or a coincidence? Only God knows.
- You canât flush the toilet paper most places. The majority of Mexican plumbing is old and canât handle the toilet paper, so always be polite and put it in the trash. Unless you want to be the embarrassing gringo/a that clogged the toilet with your TP.
- Cash rules here in Mexico and you can often expect to pay more with a card. Many grocery stores will actually have two different set prices for items, a card price, and a cash price. It took us a while to figure this out. As a renter here in Mexico we also have to pay are total rent in cash, which can be difficult because we have to plan out our ATMÂ visits a week or two in advance since we have a maximum amount of cash we can take out.
- It is good to always carry coins on you because tips are expected for a lot of things. This means tipping the waiter at least 10%, tipping the bagger at the grocery store, the guy that pumps your gas, the valet (they valet for everything here), and basically anyone who helps you out. Mexicans hustle hard and there are always opportunities to get your car washed at the stop light, get your car guarded while you are in the grocery store, get your groceries packed in your car for you. All of this is done for a few pesos.
- Road rules are not set in stone. Stop signs act as yield signs, vehicles donât drive in lanes, and Iâm not even sure I have ever seen a speed limit on the main road. Also, if you ever plan on driving in Mexico watch out for those potholes. They are everywhere.
- If you are a foreigner prepare to get a lot of attention – especially if you are a female. This is common in most countries where you obviously stick out. So if you are blonde, red-headed, super white, black, or tall expect to get some (often unwanted) extra attention.
- In less touristy areas I would avoid wearing shorts or even tank tops unless you like to be harassed. I couldnât understand why Mexican women didnât wear shorts outside in the blazing heat and decided I would make a go of it. After one (modest) short wearing escapade I have switched to pants indefinitely.
- Mexico is more than just tacos and tequila. Mexico has such a rich food history and each state has its own dish specialties. My favorite food here in San Luis PotosĂ is Chilaquiles Potosinos – a dish local to San Luis. I also canât post about the food history of Mexico without mentioning my beloved pulque! Which is a fermented sap from the maguey plant that dates back to the Meso-american period. I didnât even know pulque existed before I moved here!
- Everyone eats meals super late and meals are a multi-hour affair in Mexico. Expect all meals to be around 2-3 hours later than US meal times and last about 2-3 hours. Mexicans like to just sit and talk after a meal, up to an hour later. Also, this means you have to ask for the check (la cuenta por favor!) because the waiter/ess doesnât want to be rude and bring it when you arenât ready.
- Always opt for the Uber over a taxi. Taxis are not a safe transportation option in Mexico and definitely not in San Luis. Ubers are the safest option and I currently take one on my daily commute to work and havenât had any issues. Also, you should always sit in the front seat when riding in an Uber, since it is believed to be safer for both the driver and the passenger.
- Everything takes a bit longer when you are in Mexico and that is okay. It can be a bit of culture shock and a struggle for me as the USA puts such a cultural importance on being punctual. You just have to learn to relax and be more flexible.
About the Author/Photographer: Eemma is a Michigan native living in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She is currently balancing life as an ELL/ESL teacher, blogger, and doting cat mom. You can read more about her misadventures, encounters with culture, and experiences as an expat at http://www.
I didn’t know that about hospitality staff not bringing the bill for your meal until you ask. I would probably end up getting cranky and feeling ignored if they just weren’t bringing the bill – but that’s a useful thing to know! Uber over taxis is also a great tip for visitors đ
I love this! So many great tips. Your drawing had me giggling.
Great tips. Love the idea of using the journal page to illustrate.
First of all, I LOVE your drawing – it’s so cute and really tells the tale. I am surprised, though, that you say Uber is a safer option than taxis. That’s very good to know. I knew taxis were iffy, but never stopped to think that Mexico would have Uber, too.
I hear not drinking the water is important so I’m not surprised it made the top of this list. My parents once went and drank bottled the entire time and the last day went out to dinner and were sick for days after!
I actually like that the waiter doesnt bring you the bill. Here in the states I always feel like once they take my money they want to kick me out the door. That is good to know that there is uber in Mexico! I was recently in Playa del Carmen and didnt know this.
You have some great tips, but they are pretty specific to the area that you live in, not Mexico as a whole. For example, Puerto Vallarta has state-of-the-art water treatment and purification system and is held to high international standards and has won numerous safety awards for purity and cleanliness. As well taxis in PV are perfectly safe, although you need to make sure of the fare before you get into the cab, Uber is planning to start in PV but is not there yet.
I am sorry that you experience harassment as to how you dress. We haven’t experience that in the areas that we have visited, but it is good to know if we ever venture to San Luis PotosĂ.
We love the late dinners and not feeling rushed to get out of the restaurant although not knowing you have to ask for your bill can lead to frustration.
Reminds me so much of India đ I really liked the illustration that you have included in the post..so creative!
Such a good insight into being in Mexico. I’ve never been. Loved the drawing that went with the post was this your handy work?
Loved this many great tips! Great for me who has never been to but do dream of Mexico someday soon! Can’t wait to spend my own sweet time enjoying an authentic quesadilla.
Good tips. I think some of it depends where you go. You won’t get any attention as a foreigner in Mexico City, for example, and you can take the metro there safely.
I’ve been to north Mexico but would love to return to explore more of the country. It looks incredible. Great tips! Polly
Great things to keep in mind! I always wonder if it is safe to drink tap water when I visit a new city. Good to know that it is not in Mexico!
Great guide. It is always good to know these things before visiting a new country. My first question everywhere is if I can drink the tap water. Mexico is definitely a country I want to visit.
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Excellent tips! We are considering a family Mexico trip in December, and it’s good to know about the Cash peference, tipping (that always throws me when traveling), and even about shorts. My tall, blonde, teen girls might be a bit disconcerted by extra attention. Thanks so much!
We just came back from Mexico and I can totally agree with your list! We learned the “Road Rules” pretty quickly when we visited! đ
Oh I never knew that it’s advisable to sit next to the driver in a Uber car in Mexico – had always thought it’s better to sit at the back for safety reasons. Your post is one of the very few which writes about things that we need to know about Mexico – thanks for sharing, it’s insightful đ