Transportation:1. Taxis - Before you go anywhere tell the driver where you want to go and agree upon a price. They don't use a meter, so agreeing on a price before hand will keep you from getting robbed when you arrive.
2. Don't attempt to drive. There are no lines in the road and everyone just drives where they want. Seems very dangerous to me, unless you are from Mexico and know what you are doing.
3. Don't be afraid of public transportation like buses. They're quick and cheap.
Money:
1. Have a good understanding of the exchange rate. Currently 1 dollar = 12.5 pesos. If you have no idea what you're spending in pesos it will be very easy to overspend. Also, some places will con you if they think you do not understand the exchange. Have an idea of what you should be getting in change and count it. And be prepared to carry around a lot of coins and wads of paper money.
2. Convert your money. Nearly everywhere will accept the US dollar, but you will get change in pesos. Also, small shops and taxi drivers won't use the exchange rate. For ease they use the rate 1 dollar = 10 pesos. For example: a taxi ride is 100 pesos, if you pay in US dollars he will expect ten dollars, when 100 pesos is really only 8 dollars.
3. Don't freak out when you see your dinner bill, or any other price tag. The $ sign is also used in Mexico. So your credit card slip will read $250 for your twenty dollar meal.
4. You can use debit and credit cards, but you will be charged a small fee. It's a percentage of what you are purchasing, so it will vary and you will have to check your bank statement to see what you are charged.
Food and Drink:
1. While you may want to use bottled water to brush your teeth, and avoid drinking tap water, water and ice in major restaurants should be fine. The water is purified, and ice is made from purified water. If you are in a tiny, isolated town however, use your own discretion.
2. Do try the local cuisine.
3. Tip wait staff. 15-20%.
Shopping:
1. The name of the game is haggling. Everything is overpriced, they expect you to argue. I can't give you tips on how to haggle, because I stink at it.
2. Be prepared to be pressured. Every shop owner is going to be standing outside telling you why you should come into their shop. Once you do go inside they're going to insist you buy one of everything. And if you start to leave empty handed, they start to bargain. It can get tiresome, but you can make it work to your advantage.
3. Most stores will offer you tequila. They claim it's free, can't vouch for that. But hey, if you wanna get smashed fast I guess that's one way to do it. Just keep a tight grip on your money after that...not that they'll steal it, they won't have to, you'll be wasted and decide you just have to have the Bob Marley portrait made out of macaroni shells.
Other tips:
1. Sunscreen. Duh. But really. Sunscreen. Also, many of the biological and animal parks require biodegradable sunscreen. You can get this at a sports store.
2. Make sure your hotel as beach access, and a beach you can actually swim at. Just because the hotel is on the water doesn't mean you can swim right there.
3. Enlist the help of concierge. They're there to help, and should be super friendly!
4. Many places in Mexico, including possibly your hotel, require you to put toilet paper in a trashcan beside the toilet. Make sure you read any signs posted so that you do not back up the pipes.
5. Be friendly and polite to everyone you meet. You never know who will be willing to lend an extra hand or give you some good advice or tips because you were nice to them.
6. You can of course tip your maid, but what we did to be a little more fun was buy small gifts and bring them with us and leave one each day for our maid. Just make sure you leave a note with it or she won't take it. Our maid left us a very sweet note at the end of the week and always left us fun things in our room (towel animals, extra lotions, etc).
And most importantly - don't forgo doing something you will regret not experiencing later, take lots of pictures, and enjoy every moment!
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