Paying for ATM Confusion
Paying for ATM Confusion
In many Mexican cities, you will see signs advertising products in pesos, but using the dollar symbol ($) so familiar to Americans and Canadians. You'll adjust to the idea that $53.50 for a small tube of sunscreen equals about $4.25 USD.
A member of my travel group needed some cash, so he went to an ATM in Puerto Vallarta. Since these machines typically charge a hefty service fee, his strategy was to get enough cash for the remaining two days of his trip.
He entered 2,000 on the keypad ($157 USD) and the transaction was rejected. But a transaction for what he thought was 800 pesos ($63 at the time) was approved.
Imagine the surprise when $20 U.S. bills began dropping out of the machine in rapid succession--40 of them! There had been no indication the machine dispensed U.S. currency, and it's natural to assume pesos are involved. Now he was carrying $800 USD in cash.
Even worse, the service charge on this withdrawal was $65.
Be certain you are aware of the currency in play, and stick with ATMs from large, multinational banks that tend to charge smaller ATM fees.
Paying for Mobile Phone Fiascos
Many North Americans assume that since visiting Mexico does not involve a trans-oceanic flight, the costs for mobile phone use are similar to what they pay at home. In fact, it's easy enough to pull up online information implying that the charges are greater than at home but not exorbitant.
The problem with that approach to research is that it rarely applies to your personal data plan. It is a best-case scenario someone has posted.
Be warned: with some data plans, a few days of normal data downloads easily can result in charges of several hundred U.S. dollars.
Before leaving, check with your mobile provider to find out exactly how much you will pay to download emails and other information. It's possible to buy lower-priced temporary data packages for your destination.
Another alternative is to turn off the data download feature on your smart phone. You can also utilize "airplane mode," but that setting will prevent you from using any calling functions.
Allowing Timeshare Pressures
It begins at the Puerto Vallarta airport, where you will walk a 200-foot gauntlet between customs and the ground transportation areas. The people in this corridor will act as if they have been sent by your hotel as official escorts. They'll ask your identity, look down at a clipboard and pretend they've found your name on their list. The idea is to take you to a high-pressure, time-consuming timeshare sales presentation.
It doesn't end at the airport.
Walk down the street, and touts will say anything to get you to stop and talk to them. "What's that say on your shirt, amigo? Come here a minute!"
In stores, they'll observe the products you're pricing, then offer to pay for bottles of tequila or the hand-sewn dress in exchange for spending some time with them on a tour. They're ready to spend the morning showing you the sights and taking you to merchants from whom they'll collect commissions. The remainder of the day, you'll be shown timeshare presentations.
This is why you'll see "no time share" on storefronts and at tour operations. Sometimes, it's simply a ploy for getting you to drop your guard.
If you're interested in timeshare options, be sure to choose your own properties to review. Find someone to review the contract, too. Legal Spanish can be tricky even for native speakers to understand.
If you're not interested, don't let a high-pressure timeshare salesperson spoil any part of your trip. Say as little as possible to them and move along.
Failing to check Tour Guide Credentials
Check with your concierge or cruise director for a list of reputable tour companies.
Going diving? Find a company you can trust to provide safe, reliable trips.
Given the timeshare sales traps, it should go without saying that it is important to confine your tour options to certified local companies that specialize in guiding tourists.
This advice goes beyond the inconvenience or annoyance of a timeshare pitch.
There have been cases where a friendly "tour guide" offers a passing tourist an excellent price for a two-hour city tour, then proceeds to drive that unsuspecting victim to a secluded spot in order to commit robbery. While such criminal acts are rare indeed, it can happen in tourist areas.
Limiting the Visit to the Confines of the Resort Grounds
Mexico offers some outstanding resorts, and a growing trend is to book visitors with all-inclusive deals that provide entertainment and meals for one price. You can play golf or tennis, eat your meals and even stock up on souvenirs without leaving the property.
Some of these all-inclusive offers make sense for budget travelers. Just be sure you're not spending days on the resort property without venturing into the city or the countryside to experience the local culture.
Experience your destination, not just the resort.
Missing Specials at Upscale Resorts
While some might spend too much time on resort properties, other budget travelers shy away from what appear to be upscale resorts in Mexico, fearing the prices will be unaffordable.
Looks can be deceiving.
The picture above was taken at the Grand Miramar Club and Spa, just south of central Puerto Vallarta. The resort offers spa treatments, upscale dining, infinity pools and sweeping views of Banderas Bay.
That's hardly the description of a budget travel accommodation.
But at certain times of year, suites here are available at about $100/night when booking multiple nights in advance. It's still not the cheapest accommodation in town, but at $100/night, it's an excellent value.
Check a few prices for properties such as the Grand Miramar. You might be surprised at the bargains you uncover.
Read a review of Grand Miramar Club and Spa
On the Pacific Coast of Mexico, one of the greatest shows unfolds every night at sunset -- and it's free of admission charges.
With or without your camera, enjoying a Mexican sunset brings pleasure that is unmatched at most tourist-related businesses. The same can be said for any number of similar experiences that won't cost a dime.
But in the rush to pack activities into a three-day visit, people become over-programmed and sometimes under-funded as a result.
Slow down and enjoy the moments that are valuable but not at all expensive.
A Mexican Tourist Card is provided to air passengers entering the country. The charge for this card is prepaid with your ticket taxes. Foreign visitors present the card at entry to the Mexican Customs officers. They detach the section that is your tourist card and hand it back to you.
In my experience, no one told me I needed to keep this card with my passport and that I would need it to exit the country.
As the photo above shows, it later turned up with some papers in my suitcase. But when I needed it, I had no idea that it was even in my possession.
Upon departure, airline representatives would not print a boarding pass for me without the card. I was directed to a nearby immigration counter, where a new card was issued for $25 USD. The attendant first called it a "tax." When I protested that I had already paid taxes for a card and simply needed a replacement, the official stopped using the word tax and started calling it a fine.
Outside of a major airport, you might have trouble replacing a lost Mexican Tourist Card. Don't let this procedure result in a missed flight.
Lesson: Keep the tourist card inside the pages of your passport after arrival. Don't lose it. Be ready to surrender it upon departure.
Read about common travel mistakes for other popular destinations.
Back to Puerto Vallarta and Mexico Travel Main Menu
In many Mexican cities, you will see signs advertising products in pesos, but using the dollar symbol ($) so familiar to Americans and Canadians. You'll adjust to the idea that $53.50 for a small tube of sunscreen equals about $4.25 USD.
A member of my travel group needed some cash, so he went to an ATM in Puerto Vallarta. Since these machines typically charge a hefty service fee, his strategy was to get enough cash for the remaining two days of his trip.
He entered 2,000 on the keypad ($157 USD) and the transaction was rejected. But a transaction for what he thought was 800 pesos ($63 at the time) was approved.
Imagine the surprise when $20 U.S. bills began dropping out of the machine in rapid succession--40 of them! There had been no indication the machine dispensed U.S. currency, and it's natural to assume pesos are involved. Now he was carrying $800 USD in cash.
Even worse, the service charge on this withdrawal was $65.
Be certain you are aware of the currency in play, and stick with ATMs from large, multinational banks that tend to charge smaller ATM fees.
Paying for Mobile Phone Fiascos
Many North Americans assume that since visiting Mexico does not involve a trans-oceanic flight, the costs for mobile phone use are similar to what they pay at home. In fact, it's easy enough to pull up online information implying that the charges are greater than at home but not exorbitant.
The problem with that approach to research is that it rarely applies to your personal data plan. It is a best-case scenario someone has posted.
Be warned: with some data plans, a few days of normal data downloads easily can result in charges of several hundred U.S. dollars.
Before leaving, check with your mobile provider to find out exactly how much you will pay to download emails and other information. It's possible to buy lower-priced temporary data packages for your destination.
Another alternative is to turn off the data download feature on your smart phone. You can also utilize "airplane mode," but that setting will prevent you from using any calling functions.
Allowing Timeshare Pressures
It begins at the Puerto Vallarta airport, where you will walk a 200-foot gauntlet between customs and the ground transportation areas. The people in this corridor will act as if they have been sent by your hotel as official escorts. They'll ask your identity, look down at a clipboard and pretend they've found your name on their list. The idea is to take you to a high-pressure, time-consuming timeshare sales presentation.
It doesn't end at the airport.
Walk down the street, and touts will say anything to get you to stop and talk to them. "What's that say on your shirt, amigo? Come here a minute!"
In stores, they'll observe the products you're pricing, then offer to pay for bottles of tequila or the hand-sewn dress in exchange for spending some time with them on a tour. They're ready to spend the morning showing you the sights and taking you to merchants from whom they'll collect commissions. The remainder of the day, you'll be shown timeshare presentations.
This is why you'll see "no time share" on storefronts and at tour operations. Sometimes, it's simply a ploy for getting you to drop your guard.
If you're interested in timeshare options, be sure to choose your own properties to review. Find someone to review the contract, too. Legal Spanish can be tricky even for native speakers to understand.
If you're not interested, don't let a high-pressure timeshare salesperson spoil any part of your trip. Say as little as possible to them and move along.
Failing to check Tour Guide Credentials
Check with your concierge or cruise director for a list of reputable tour companies.
Going diving? Find a company you can trust to provide safe, reliable trips.
Given the timeshare sales traps, it should go without saying that it is important to confine your tour options to certified local companies that specialize in guiding tourists.
This advice goes beyond the inconvenience or annoyance of a timeshare pitch.
There have been cases where a friendly "tour guide" offers a passing tourist an excellent price for a two-hour city tour, then proceeds to drive that unsuspecting victim to a secluded spot in order to commit robbery. While such criminal acts are rare indeed, it can happen in tourist areas.
Limiting the Visit to the Confines of the Resort Grounds
Mexico offers some outstanding resorts, and a growing trend is to book visitors with all-inclusive deals that provide entertainment and meals for one price. You can play golf or tennis, eat your meals and even stock up on souvenirs without leaving the property.
Some of these all-inclusive offers make sense for budget travelers. Just be sure you're not spending days on the resort property without venturing into the city or the countryside to experience the local culture.
Experience your destination, not just the resort.
Missing Specials at Upscale Resorts
While some might spend too much time on resort properties, other budget travelers shy away from what appear to be upscale resorts in Mexico, fearing the prices will be unaffordable.
Looks can be deceiving.
The picture above was taken at the Grand Miramar Club and Spa, just south of central Puerto Vallarta. The resort offers spa treatments, upscale dining, infinity pools and sweeping views of Banderas Bay.
That's hardly the description of a budget travel accommodation.
But at certain times of year, suites here are available at about $100/night when booking multiple nights in advance. It's still not the cheapest accommodation in town, but at $100/night, it's an excellent value.
Check a few prices for properties such as the Grand Miramar. You might be surprised at the bargains you uncover.
Read a review of Grand Miramar Club and Spa
On the Pacific Coast of Mexico, one of the greatest shows unfolds every night at sunset -- and it's free of admission charges.
With or without your camera, enjoying a Mexican sunset brings pleasure that is unmatched at most tourist-related businesses. The same can be said for any number of similar experiences that won't cost a dime.
But in the rush to pack activities into a three-day visit, people become over-programmed and sometimes under-funded as a result.
Slow down and enjoy the moments that are valuable but not at all expensive.
A Mexican Tourist Card is provided to air passengers entering the country. The charge for this card is prepaid with your ticket taxes. Foreign visitors present the card at entry to the Mexican Customs officers. They detach the section that is your tourist card and hand it back to you.
In my experience, no one told me I needed to keep this card with my passport and that I would need it to exit the country.
As the photo above shows, it later turned up with some papers in my suitcase. But when I needed it, I had no idea that it was even in my possession.
Upon departure, airline representatives would not print a boarding pass for me without the card. I was directed to a nearby immigration counter, where a new card was issued for $25 USD. The attendant first called it a "tax." When I protested that I had already paid taxes for a card and simply needed a replacement, the official stopped using the word tax and started calling it a fine.
Outside of a major airport, you might have trouble replacing a lost Mexican Tourist Card. Don't let this procedure result in a missed flight.
Lesson: Keep the tourist card inside the pages of your passport after arrival. Don't lose it. Be ready to surrender it upon departure.
Read about common travel mistakes for other popular destinations.
Back to Puerto Vallarta and Mexico Travel Main Menu
