11 Things You Should Never Do In Mexico

Vine-strewn Maya ruins, mountain jungles, white Caribbean beaches, and zesty old towns, Mexico is a bustling destination for travelers. Mexico is a lively country with assorted natural attractions and unique monuments. But there’s a concern about the safety of this nation - violent crimes by organized crime and drug cartels. Most of the dangers tourists face in Mexico are due to drug cartels. Once you get over those fears, you can travel safely to Mexico.    
 What should you not do in Mexico? Tips for safe travel in Mexico.   

• Beware of airport tour agents and timeshare scams: Never trust the welcoming staff from tour companies at the airports. Decline the tour package and walk away.    
• Beware of muggers and kidnappers: Never follow strangers trying to get your attention on the street. Muggers and kidnappers lure their victims to secluded places or alleys with the promise of selling goods or bootlegging.   
• Beware of Shady people and vendors: Never flash your money or valuables. Some vendors cheat tourists in the pretense of price hikes, and muggers will find it easier to pickpocket.    
• Beware of Flashy well-dressed blokes at clubs: Never fall for well-dressed blokes and lassies who flash too much money, ordering expensive drinks. These people are lifetime Narcos related to drug cartels. If you notice, bodyguards escort them all night.   
• Beware of bugs you don’t recognize: Never stomp out on bugs. You end up in a sordid, scarlet cloud of doom if you step on female scorpions that carry eggs on her back. All her venom-injected barbed off-springs (scorplings) pop out like an armed village and invade everywhere.     
   

The majority of Mexicans are normal people living their lives as the rest of us, working and spending time with family and friends. You can travel safely around the developed urban areas in Mexico. Here are the 11 things you should never do in Mexico. 

1. Don’t drink the tap water - The ground water in Mexico contaminated by runoff and trash is way beyond drinking water, as it contains highest levels of bacteria. Do not wash fruits and vegetables in the tap water. Some of the restaurants in Mexico purify their vegetables, fish and meat. They print it on their menu. If you don’t find it on their menu, then please avoid raw fruits and vegetables.  
   Lifehack: Buy plenty of bottled water 
2. Don’t drink on the street - Public drinking is illegal in Mexico. Most foreigners make this grave mistake. They walk out of their hotels with beer or corona. If you are drinking in public in Mexico, you will:  
   -End up paying bribes to corrupt police officers, or  
   -Pay a fine of around $80 or  
   -Go to jail and spend about 24-36 hours under arrest  
   Lifehack: Please (social) drink in your rooms or bars and never buy drugs. Drugs are available on the streets in Mexico. 
3. Don’t hail a random taxi in the streets - You hail a cab in the street, happily thinking about the destination. Dressed totally like a tourist, especially in a pair of flip-flops, you get into the car.  
   What happens?  
   -The taxi picks you up, but it takes you to an ATM instead of going to your destination.   
   -Then the driver tells you to withdraw cash, and hand over all your belongings.  
   -That’s not all! The taxi still won’t take you to your destination. The driver drops you off in the middle of nowhere, where you will sense the terrifying neighborhood. Calling for help will be the last resort, but fleeing the remote spot is life-draining.   
   Point: Not all cabs are licensed in Mexico. The unlicensed taxis are the front for crimes and nefarious deeds, engaged in kidnapping, mugging, and assault. You can book car rides online. Elife offers round trips on discounts. You can travel safely in Mexico with us. Travel stress-free around Mexico and you can choose any vehicle of your choice – Pre-book a private tour or hire a taxi, rideshare, private car, Sedan, Minibus, Minivan, or SUV book shared rides at your comfort. 
4. Don’t go out without toilet paper and travel paper soap – The state of the public toilets or restrooms are unreliable in many places. Some of the toilets are clean but have no toilet paper. In many places, toilets are filthy and disgusting. Please carry toilet paper and travel soap.    
5. Don’t assume that Mexico is a dangerous country– The cartels are not around all over Mexico. They move in small pockets, mostly in the far north of the nation, where tourists don’t go. 
6. Don’t only speak English – Like any other country, Mexicans respect our attempt to speak their language. Take time to learn Spanish and about Mexican culture. You can get along with the locales in no time.    
7. Don’t go out without cash - Carry small amounts of cash everywhere. Electronic cards don’t work in small cities and towns. You need coins and bills for these purposes. 
   -Using public toilets or restrooms (between 3 and 10 pesos per entry)  
   -Tipping at restaurants, hotels, or bars  
   -Restaurants in small cities or towns 
   Warning: Never wave wads of cash in public. 
8. Don’t haggle everywhere - Please look into the hard work and the time the artist invested in making the craftwork you want to buy. In such cases, it is not fair if you are trying to haggle for $2. The two dollars make the supplier’s next meal or essentials. Otherwise, you must shave off a dollar or two if you are trying to buy daily goods.   
9. Don’t Overindulge in Hot sauce and drinks - Most Asian and American extra-hot sauce is nothing more than ketchup to Mexicans. You will get caught off-guard if you slather your burritos and tacos in authentic Mexican hot sauce.   
   -Mexican hot chili peppers might be nice to the locales but makes the tourists writhe and twist in the loo.   
   -You don’t want to throb over toilet seats with nightmarish hangovers. Go for mild Mexican food. 
10. Don’t Bring your own car – You need to purchase car insurance from a company that is registered with the Mexican Department of Insurance. The company must also include U.S insurers. Bringing your own car to Mexico is recipe for disaster. You cannot predict an accident or any other damage.  
    Tip: You can book private tours, shared rides, mini bus, car rides or sedan 24 hours ahead and get great deals and discounts with Elife Transfer.  
11. Don't Venture Out At Night - Avoid stepping out at the night, as this is the prime time for crimes and violence to take place. Never travel after dark. 

Are resorts in Mexico Safe? Tips to stay safe in Mexico:

What to avoid in Mexico when you stay at a hotel? 

1. Never take your fat wad of cash and extra credit cards everywhere you go. You must leave them in your safe or hide it.  
   Lifehack: You can always put down a deposit on your travels and come back for cash later. 
2. Avoid using debit and credit cards at the gas station. Why?  
   - Card skimming is rampant in many places. 
3. Don’t give your card to server at a restaurant.  
   Lifehack: Pay at the restaurant’s or food joint’s card terminal. 
    Is it safe to go to resorts in Mexico? 

Staying at resorts in Mexico is safer than staying at Airbnb or vacation rentals in residential areas. Most resorts are located in tourist areas that are not infested with drug-related violence and crime.  

Tip: Drug cartels and gangs move in small pockets, mostly in the far north of the nation, where tourists don’t go. 
 What are the safest cities in Mexico to visit? 

The Mexican state of Yucatan is considered the safest area in Mexico to visit, with the lowest crime rates. It includes Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Merida, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, and Huatulco. These are the safest cities in Mexico for tourists.   
 

You can travel safe in Mexico with Elife Transfer. All you do is pre-book airport shuttles and round trips to get discounts. Travel safe and stress-free with us. We offer personalized business trips for corporates also. 
 

Now get great deals with your business trips.  Our Travel Management partners can make your corporate and business trips affordable. Elife Transfer is for you! If you’re looking for countless corporate travel deals for flights, and hotels, our partners make your business travel easier for your employees with professional travel booking services at affordable prices.
 

How do we help you save on Business travel? 

• Corporate Discounts for Business Travelers 
• Business travelers can easily find many corporate hotel discounts while booking hotel stays.  
• Business travelers can get the luxury of upgrading their hotel rooms at discounted rates.  
• The hotels you book through our partners come with the best amenities for conferences and meetings to offer the ease of working on the go and organizing company events at cost-efficient rates.  
  
  Save 15% on WORLDWIDE STAYS with Booking.com  

Enjoy safe and secure business travel with CWT.com 

Save on flight tickets, airlines and airports, hotels and railways, search engines, travel agencies, and tour operations with Amadeus.com 

Travel to Dubai with Emirates 

Save 15% with the Expedia Rewards program 

Download Elife App for discounts on Round Trips!