5 TIPS You NEED When Visiting Playa, Cancun or Tulum! 😱

If you want to start your vacation off on the right foot and not make the same mistakes that most people make when visiting a place for the first time; you need to master the art of modeling. In this case, you need to model other more experienced travelers; it will not only save you from bad experiences, but will also make your vacation more relaxing and less expensive 🤑.
Every place has its own tricks, and in this list I want to show you 5 TIPS that Experienced Travelers follow when visiting Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Tulum: enjoy!

1. Banks/ATMs 💳

If you don’t want to experience the strange situation of trying to pay for something and having your credit card declined, be sure to let your bank know that you are traveling to Mexico! This will ensure that your card won’t be flagged as potential fraud and blocked for the rest of your vacation 🙅🏽‍♂️

ATMs are great, just use common sense when using them: make sure you’re in a safe place, don’t let anyone help you or see your confidential information. ATMs inside a bank are the best option as they are always in secure/lit places and charge the lowest withdrawal fee 😎

2. FREE tours and credits given at the airport and other locations 🤔

In this case, the saying “nothing is free” applies perfectly. Be prepared to be approached at the airport, in supermarkets and on 5th Avenue by very enthusiastic people who want to give you a tour or credit for some attraction in exchange for attending a “short” hotel presentation. Just remember to factor in “your time” as most of these presentations last over 3 hours and most of the time someone will try to sell you a vacation/timeshare package. Not a bad thing if you find the right one, just know what you’re getting into 👀

3. Taxis 🚖

This is a big one: most tourists don’t understand why they are charged more when they take different taxis to the same place 🤷🏽‍♂️. Although there is a fixed rate, the actual fare you are charged will vary depending on:

1. The location from which you take the taxi: Taxi “bases” closer to tourist attractions such as hotels/condos, amusement parks, popular avenues, etc. will charge more than if you take a taxi on a more distant street.
2. Time of day: Higher rates at night than during the day.
3. Type of car: Larger vehicles will also cost you more than smaller ones.
4. Or just being a tourist 🙄: Although we can’t generalize here, unfortunately there are some taxi drivers who will try to take advantage of your innocence and charge you more just because you’re not familiar with the local rates.

WiseBee Tip 🐝: While you may be able to save a few bucks, keep in mind that taxis in tourist areas tend to be safer than those you stop independently on the street. If you do stop one on the street, be sure to ask for their taxi ID and service fee before getting in 💡.

4. Gratuity 💸

We get a lot of questions about this, but unfortunately there is no clear answer. As this is a tourist area, we are used to receiving different amounts of tips (or no tips 😅) depending on what part of the world people are visiting us from, and this is great! As locals, we usually tip between 10%-15% on a regular basis and 20% or more if we have an amazing experience!

WiseBee Tip 🐝: Be sure to check your bill before paying when you eat/drink out, as some local establishments have a (bad) habit of automatically adding the tip to your bill and you may end up paying it twice without even realizing it.

5. Delivery Services 🚗

Perhaps the most important habit experienced visitors have over their counterparts is that they ALWAYS make sure to maximize their vacation experience. This applies to several actions they take during their stay:

Next time you visit Mexico, save time by using the tips above! And please share any other doubts or insights you have about this paradise in the comments section!