What to take with you to Mexico to Cancun? Useful Information Mexico Power Voltage
We advise you to take a minimum of things with you to Mexico, it is desirable that they all fit into a small backpack that will not exceed its maximum weight and dimensions for hand luggage. You can find out about these norms from the airline you are flying with.
Mexico is a civilized country, and Cancun is a developed tourist resort with many shops and shopping centers, so if something doesn't fit in your backpack, then you can buy it all here on the spot.
Photocopies of passports, insurance, bank cards
It makes sense to always carry photocopies of your passport and insurance with you, and leave the original documents in a safe place so as not to accidentally lose them. It is better to take several bank cards with you, as many banks like to block them when trying to withdraw money from ATMs. And in general, several cards are always more reliable in terms of security. Be sure to bring some cash in 50 or 100 dollars with you.
Photo camera, phone, video camera and laptop or tablet
It is worth warning you that the voltage in the power supply network in Mexico is 110 volts. Almost all IT electronics brought from Russia will work here, but other electrical appliances, for example a hairdryer, will most likely not be able to turn on.
In addition, you will need a flat plug adapter (European to US). Such an adapter can of course be purchased locally.
Fins, mask and snorkel
All this can be bought or rented on the spot, but if you already have it, then you should try to shove it into your backpack. The Caribbean Sea is rich in exotic colorful fish, seabed landscapes and corals. Lovers of snorkeling and diving will be delighted, there is something to see here.
What clothes to take to Mexico?
It makes no sense to take warm clothes, since even in the cold season in the south of Mexico the weather is warm.
Glasses, sunburn and sun cream
What medicines to take with me to Mexico?
Take essential medicines with you:
- aspirin
- analgin
- no-shpu
- medicines for indigestion
- plaster, bandage, wet wipes
- prescription medications. To do this, translate the prescription into English and have it certified by your doctor. On this basis, you will be able to buy medicines from a Mexican pharmacy.
What should a child take to Mexico?
If you are going on vacation to Mexico with children, you should take flight clothes, a hat, a waterproof sunscreen with a high protection factor and children's toys. All of these can be purchased locally here.
Sometimes a hairbrush forgotten at home can cause a lot of trouble on a trip. Therefore, when going to a distant country, which is significantly different in climate, national mentality, household infrastructure, it is useful to know these features so as not to get into a mess or even an unpleasant situation. This is especially important when you go on vacation, because it is a shame to overshadow such a precious time in your life.
In Cancun, the time is 9 hours behind Moscow. This is a lot for the body! When Mexicans go to bed, Muscovites go to work. You cannot explain to the body why it should radically change its rhythm, and therefore it diligently resists innovations. This is manifested in the fact that the first days you will wake up at 3-4 o'clock in the morning and lie in bed for a long time with open eyes. But by lunchtime you will be unbearable to sleep. The procedure is unpleasant, but it will have to endure. In five days you will bounce back and realize that the charms of the Caribbean coast are worth a little torment. Experience shows that it is important not to fall asleep during the day and endure until midnight, then adaptation will take place faster.
Mexico, like other countries in Central and South America, is Spanish speaking. English is sparse here. If you decide to go to the province, be prepared for it. On the resort coast and in major tourist centers, English is spoken everywhere. Considering the increasing flow of tourists from Russia, merchants, waiters and hotel staff spoke Russian on the Mayan Riviera. One of the first Russian words that you will hear from Mexicans is “friend”. The most advanced traders sprinkle catchphrases from Soviet comedy films.
There are only 110 volts in Mexican outlets. Chargers for phones, cameras, camcorders, computers, electric shavers and other household devices will not feel this in any way, since they have a built-in voltage converter. The problem is in the "American plug", which is made in the form of two flat pins. Domestic plugs with round pins cannot be put into an American outlet in principle. This requires an adapter (adapter). In some hotels, it can be rented or taken on bail at the reception, but in some (where many Americans or Hispanics rest) they do not. Therefore, it is better to stock up on such an adapter in advance.
Don't forget to bring sunscreen with you. The beauty and deceit of the Caribbean is that the coast is always at a comfortable temperature. Even with a light sea breeze, the heat is not felt, so it is very easy to burn out in the first hours of your stay at the resort, which will poison your subsequent rest. Don't even be fooled by cloudiness, as clouds do not stop the UV flow. To protect your shoulders from the sun's rays, at first it is better to swim in a T-shirt, otherwise you will then have to sit under an umbrella or in a hotel room, grimacing in pain.
The currency of Mexico is the peso. The peso to the dollar exchange rate is 1:10/1: 12. You can exchange money at exchange offices, banks and hotels. Be careful when shopping, as traders on price tags list the price in pesos with a sign that closely resembles a dollar symbol. If you make a purchase, thinking that the price is in dollars, then overpay 10 times. On the resort coast and in tourist centers, dollars are generally accepted for payment, but change is in pesos. Check the amount received carefully, taking into account the exchange rate.
Safe is your diamonds' best friend
More than half of Mexico's population lives near the poverty line. It is absolutely safe to stay in resort areas and hotels - the population lives off tourism, so no one will “cut the goose that lays the golden eggs”. Nevertheless, the hotel administration strongly recommends keeping money and valuables in a safe, without leaving them unattended in an open place. Better to be safe than to get negative emotions.
In Mexico, as in other countries in the region, outdated mobile phones do not work. Do not try to change the SIM-card - it has nothing to do with it. It's just that older models don't work on the frequencies used for communication in these countries. This also applies to places like South Korea and Japan. Therefore, check with your service provider before traveling. As a last resort, a call abroad can be made from any pay phone using a LADATEL calling card costing about 100 pesos (300 rubles). This is about 5 minutes of conversation with Russia. It is possible to rent a mobile phone on site. To call from Mexico to Russia, you need to dial 00 - access to an international line, 7 - Russia code, area code, phone number. Telephone codes for Cancun - 998, Riviera Maya - 984, Yucatan - 99. From the hotel a minute of conversation with another country costs $ 6 and more.
Southern part of North America. Mexico's northern border separates the country from the United States. The eastern border runs between Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Mexico is washed by the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Area of \u200b\u200bMexico: The area of \u200b\u200bMexico is 1,964,375 square kilometers, which is approximately 3% of the entire continent.
Population of Mexico:
122,730,392 (according to 2014 data)
Capital of Mexico:
Mexico climate:
Mexico has several climatic zones ranging from tropical to desert. On the coast of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the climate is tropical.
Mexican government system:
Federal Republic.
President of Mexico:
Enrique Peña Nieto next elections will be held in 2018.
Language of Mexico:
92.7% of Mexico's population speaks Spanish.
Religion of Mexico:
76.5% of the population are Catholics, 6.3% are Protestants.
Mexico time zone:
In the country there are 3 time zones, Central time zone UTC-6, Mountain time UTC-7, North American Pacific time zone UTC-8. In the Caribbean resorts of Mexico: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras in winter time is UTC-8, and summer time is UTC-7. This means that in summer the difference with Moscow is minus 9 hours, and in winter minus 10 hours.
Electricity in Mexico:
Electrical outlets in Mexico look like they do in the United States and are currently running on the same 110-volt system. For Russians, an adapter converter is required, in some places an adapter with three contacts.
Tipping in Mexico:
Most of the service personnel in Mexico count on tips, as this represents the majority of their income. Porters - Must receive the equivalent of 50 cents to $ 1 per suitcase. Waiters - usually get 10% to 20%, depending on the service level. Maids - about $ 2 a day. Taxi drivers - It is not customary in Mexico to tip taxi drivers unless they are hired by the hour as a sightseeing vehicle. Recently, however, numerous tourists have spoiled taxi drivers in resort towns and more and more give taxi drivers a tip from 10 to 20% of the trip cost.
Public transport in Mexico:
Mexico City has a subway. During rush hours in the Mexico City metro, it is customary to travel in separate carriages for women and men. In other cities, residents travel by bus ADO bus stations and stops throughout the country. Short-distance taxis "Collectiveo" transport in Mexico is inexpensive and safe.
National currency of Mexico:
Mexican peso.
Mexico Customs Regulations:
Allowed for import: no more than 2 blocks of cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 2 liters of alcoholic beverages of high strength or wine, one video camera, one camera, gifts worth not more than 300 USD.
Forbidden to import: fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, vegetable products, meat products, medicines (a prescription or medical card is required), psychotropic substances, weapons, drugs.
Forbidden to export: archaeological and cultural values, antiques, rare animals and birds, their skins and stuffed animals, plants and their seeds, corals and shells.
Visa for Mexico:
Safety regulations
Mexico maintains a high level of crime, primarily pickpocketing and robbery. It is recommended to travel by car, bus and train only during the day.
Taxis are recommended only from official stands ("sitios"), otherwise the chance of being robbed is high. It is recommended to order a taxi by phone, having received from the dispatcher the car number and the taxi driver's license number. At Mexico City Airport, only yellow airport taxis (with airport logos on the door) should be hired, having paid in advance to call at the appropriate "Transportacion Terrestre" kiosk in the airport lobby.
Try to drive on toll roads ("cuota") - they are safer. It is also recommended to avoid solo hikes in provincial areas, and often use hitchhiking. There are known cases of extortion of money by people in uniform. In some areas of the country, there are units of armed insurgents, if it is necessary to travel to such areas, the recommendations of the local authorities should be followed.
Mexico Entry Tax and Extortion of Money from Tourists
As you know, Mexican laws oblige every tourist to pay an entry tax in the amount of MXP 300, but if you arrived in the country by plane, then the tax has already been paid by you and is included in the air ticket price. The problem arises when leaving Mexico for neighboring countries by land. It is not uncommon for Mexican border guards to demand the payment of tax, arguing that it should be paid regardless of what mode of transport you arrived in Mexico. They do not enter the money received from tourists into the database, they do not issue a receipt for payment. Such actions are absolutely illegal and if you are faced with such a situation, you must demand to call the chief of the border shift, or threaten that you will complain to the supervisory authority. Usually, this is enough to upset zealous officials.
Tip
Tips are usually 10% of the invoice value. It is customary to tip in a restaurant (up to 15%), a porter (in the amount of $ 1-2), a driver and a guide for the excursion.
Hotel classification
The existing classification of hotels is somewhat different from the accepted European one - the number of "stars" does not always coincide with the quality of service.
Natural hazards
The country has a fairly high level of natural hazards. In addition to the hot tropical sun, seismic activity and volcanism are quite high, and many active volcanoes are located quite close to large cities (Popocatepetl is 60 km from Mexico City). Around the volcanoes, 12 km of safety zones have been created, access to which is closed. The colossal air pollution in Mexico City can also pose a real health hazard.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in most public places. In Mexico City, smoking in public places is punishable by a fine of 500 to 1,500 pesos ($ 46 to $ 139), and repeated violations will result in arrest for up to 36 hours. Fines for owners of public establishments that allow smoking on their territory will reach several thousand dollars with the prospect of a complete closure of the establishment. The only exception is made for hotels, however, in them the number of rooms for smokers should not exceed 25% of the total housing stock.
Electricity
The voltage in the electrical network is 110 V., 60 Hz. Sockets with flat plugs are used.