Mexico Travel Tips

If you are traveling to Mexico, make sure you check out our wide assortment of travel tips to help make sure your visit to Mexico is both fun and safe. Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country that is around three times the size of Texas and consists of 31 states and one federal district. The climates rang from desert to tropical with mountains up to 18,000 feet. Mexico is a major tourist destination, especially for Americans. It is important to visitors to Mexico should enjoy their stay there, but also be mindful of the risks and take precautions where possible, such as buying travel medical and evacuation insurance online from Travel Insurance Mexico.

Health & Safety

Availability of Health Care in Mexico - in most of the major Mexican resort locations, access to healthcare is quite good and standards of the hospitals that tourists would visit are usually up to Western Standards. The cities are know for having excellent health care, but the number of upper scale medical facilities are few and equipment may be older than what you see in Canada and the United States. It is quite easy to obtain prescription medicines in Mexico, but you should remember to bring a copy of your prescription from home or you will have to obtain a prescription from a local doctor in Mexico. The cost of drugs are much lower in Mexico than in the United States of America, that is why many Americans travel to Mexico for their prescriptions. Make sure you get your prescriptions from a reputable pharmacy as fakes may exist.

You should ask your doctor before you go if you take some vaccines or special medications with you on your trip to Mexico. You can also check out the Centers for Disease Control web site at www.cdc.gov for information on the health situation in Mexico and the steps you can take to make sure your trip is a healthy one.

Here are a few common ailments that may occur in Mexico:

Digestive Trouble: Also known as Montezuma's Revenge or travelers diarrhoea, stomach problems are quite common for visitors to Mexico. There is a reason people will tell you "don't drink the water" in Mexico. However, there some high end resorts where this is possible, but you should definitely check first. Be careful of eating food from roadside vendors and especially careful if eating uncooked foods. Bottled water is a must. You should also wash your hands often or use a bottle of hand sanitizer. Also be careful of consuming ice as the water used may not be sanitary.

Dehydration: A lack of water in a hot climate such as Mexico can become a serious and even life-threatening event. Make sure you replace lost fluids and drink only purified water. You should also take care to replace electrolytes and keep hydrated.

Insects: Mosquitoes and gnats are common in Mexico, especially along the coastal regions such as Yukatan. It is a good idea to bring some insect repellent with you on your trip to Mexico that has some DEET component. You might also want to bring along some antihistamine should your get a nasty bug bite, but check with your doctor.

Medications: Make sure your bring your medications in their original bottles. Also try to bring enough to last the entire trip. Be careful of sourcing medications in Mexico as some prescriptions there may be fakes.

Before your trip: Check with your doctor before traveling to Mexico if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. This is especially important as most travel insurance policies off little or no coverage if that condition occurs during your travels. Make sure you get a travel insurance policy that will cover your entire stay in Mexico.

Crime & Personal Safety in Mexico

Personal Safety: Unfortunately, crime is more prevalent in Mexico, especially in larger cities such as Mexico City. Recently, crime has been increasing rapidly in US-Mexico border regions because of drug related activity. The Mexican government has been taking significant steps to combat these criminal activities. Kidnapping is a common problem in some urban centers, especially in Mexico City.

In general, standards of safety, security and supervision are not the same as in Canada and the United States. This has been the cause of death and injury to a significant number of visitors from outside of Mexico. Crime is often violent and continues at a high level. If you are a victim, you should immediately report it to the local police authorities. Here are some simple tips to remain safe while visiting Mexico:

• If female, do not travel alone
• be aware of your surroundings at all times
• Exercise caution in crowded areas and at night
• be careful when using credit cards or withdrawing money from ATMs
• beware of Be using roads which are traveled lightly
• Do not accept rides from strangers
• Lock your doors
• Do not flash large sums of money
• lock your valuables in hotel safe
• Register your trip with local embassy
• Take an authorized taxi

You can view more up-to-date information via the US Department of State web site.