Going to Mexico

[Boblobla]

I am heading to Playa Del Carmen for my honeymoon staying in the Grand Sunset Princess. The hottest / most tropical places I have been are North Carolina (Cape Hatteras) and Alabama...

I have a few questions and I thought I would tap into the collective knowledge of CP. I already have my swine flu mask, my thong sandals, aloe and my beer drinking hat ready to go.

USD or Pesos?
The Mrs. saw that you can snorkel with dolphins near to Playa, anyone done this? Recommendations?
Are ice cubes/slushy drinks safe at the resort? I have heard horror stories about people catching stuff from ice cubes.
Do I need any shots? (yes I realize I should call my doctor about this, humor me)
What else should we go see? I have heard the shopping is pretty good so we will spend a day in Playa for sure, any other recommendations or places we should stay the eff away from?

Any helpful tips would be great. I have only ever traveled to places where English is the first language.

Thanks in advance.

[Clever_Iggy]

Getting married in Playa del Carmen in the new year.

Mexico in general is very friendly for the USD. I think you're pretty safe having either... in fact, for ease, have a little of both but last time I went, I had more USDs.

If the ice cubes have holes through them - manufactured ice in a bag - they're fine to consume. I can't speak for slushy drinks, but if you stay on the resort to drink, it's safe. A buddy of mine took lots of precautions, but ended up getting sick. His downfall - he ordered a screwdriver. The OJ was made from concentrate. The water used to mix was not from a bottle. Yuck.

HEP A & B are common vaccines to get before heading to Mexico.

Stay on the beaten track when in doubt... I've only heard of trouble in Mexico when people get too far away from the tourist areas. I think there are ruins a few hours away from Playa that probably can be accessed by tour buses if you're so inclined.

[Peanut]

USD for sure.

Get the Hepatitis shots.

I'd stay away from the slushy drinks. I've had 24-48 hour illness both times I've been to Mexico, even being pretty careful (weak stomach I guess).

Go see the ruins at Chichen Itza... don't know if I spelled it right but it's worth the time (a 12 hour day trip off the resort) and money (probably about $100 USD/person) IMO.

[MJM]

I'd just bring Canadian money for tipping the resort workers. That's what I'm going to do the next time I go. They take anything, euros, pounds, etc.

For the towns, i'd suggest having some USD. They will take pesos though.

I would strongly recommend going to Xel-Ha. Make sure to make it there in the morning though before it fills up. It's beautiful at any point in the day, but in the morning there are less people, making your snorkling much more enjoyable.

Don't believe the horror stories about the ice cubes/slushy drinks on the resort. All the nice resorts used filtered water meaning there is no risk. However, I wouldn't suggest having ice cubes/slushy drinks off the resort or if the resort does not have filtered water (I would ask them).

[mikey_the_redneck]

Whatever you do...........don't get the swine flu shot. Its coming...

[malcolmk14]

USD.

Xel-ha is pretty cool as per MJM's suggestion.

Ice is fine in that part of Mexico. Shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

The Mrs. saw that you can snorkel with dolphins near to Playa, anyone done this? Recommendations?

Quantify how much time is spend with the dolphins. When I was in the Domincan we had options of a Dolphin swim for $75 and a "dolphin encounter" for $60. I was going to do the swim, but my tour guide dude insisted I do the encounter. The encounter was a 45 minute show with the dolphins, we got to hug them, pet them, dance with them- all sorts of stuff. We could see the dolphin swim; it consisted of getting into the water, the dolphins would come up, you'd grab their fins and they would drag you 50 metres; about a 30 second ride.

Get the Twinrix shots for Hep. Check with you company's drug plan. Mine was covered under perscriptions by getting the doctor to order it, then I went back to his office to get it injected. But they wouldn't cover the cost of the shots paid at his office.

[MJM]

Oh, one more thing. If you are going to get the shots. Go through your family doctor or the walkin clinic. You can get the perscription for them, get the vacine yourself, than take them back to the doctor to be implemented. Going to a travel clinic such as Bowness is an absolute rip off. I had to go there for work (didn't care because they were paying), and for the two of us from our office it cost close to $400 bucks for the shots (they like tacking things on like consulting fees, charging both of you the cost even though the doctor sits a both of you in a room at the same time).

When my fiancee did it through her doctor, it was like 60 bucks.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by fotze

The twinrix shots may be useless if you are going soon, I think you need to take those 30- 60 days ahead, I can't remember though.

You can get a twinrix shot that is amped up if you are close to your departure date. I had to get when I went to Tijuana for work. you just have to go back a few months later and get another booster shot.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Peanut

USD for sure.

Get the Hepatitis shots.

I'd stay away from the slushy drinks. I've had 24-48 hour illness both times I've been to Mexico, even being pretty careful (weak stomach I guess).

Go see the ruins at Chichen Itza... don't know if I spelled it right but it's worth the time (a 12 hour day trip off the resort) and money (probably about $100 USD/person) IMO.

PEANUT

How is the baby? Mrs. Boblobla is really excited to see the new addition.

[brownie]

Me and the wife stayed at that exact resort this past March. USD is all you really need on or off the resort. We did the Xel-ha trip which was around a hundred bucks each and it was a long day but was well worth it.
I never got any shots and never got any sign of sickness at all and I didnt shy away from the slushie drinks. Bring lots of small bills for tipping if you'd like the waitress to keep coming back.
The buffet for breakfast and lunch aren't the greatest but you can book " A La Carte's" for your suppers. I would recommend going early the first day there and booking them for the whole week. And trust me bring some strong sunscreen. Have a good one.

[Barnes]

Bring USD and Pesos. If you use USD, they will give you a crappy exchange rate.

Get the Twinrex.

In Mexico, the question isn't 'will I get sick', it's 'when will I get sick'.

If you buy stuff from beach vendors, use the free pop from your room as currency.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Bring USD and Pesos. If you use USD, they will give you a crappy exchange rate.

Get the Twinrex.

In Mexico, the question isn't 'will I get sick', it's 'when will I get sick'.

If you buy stuff from beach vendors, use the free pop from your room as currency.

I literally know dozens of people that have been to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Belize etc and none of them have ever gotten sick. Not once.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by flip

I literally know dozens of people that have been to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Belize etc and none of them have ever gotten sick. Not once.

Everyone that visits Mexico stands over the toilet and asks themselves how did it get to be that colour/how could my body have created that/when did I eat corn at least once. That's what I meant by sick.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Everyone that visits Mexico stands over the toilet and asks themselves how did it get to be that colour/how could my body have created that/when did I eat corn at least once. That's what I meant by sick.

Got ya. I thought you meant like hepatitis sick.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Everyone that visits Mexico stands over the toilet and asks themselves how did it get to be that colour/how could my body have created that/when did I eat corn at least once. That's what I meant by sick.

I don't buy that whatsoever. My family and I have been to Mexico countless times, starting from the early 90's, and not one of us has been sick.

When we first started going, we only drank bottled water and were very careful with fresh fruits and veggies.

Now, particularily in that area of Mexico, we eat everything, and don't even worry about getting sick. Was there this February, was there last January, went to top restaurants, went to small side street restaurants, ate it all, never got sick.

We were also told, last year, that in Quintanroo, that is the province Playa del Carma is in, that there is now a law that all icecubes have to be made from bottled water. So for the last two years, that has not been a worry for us either.

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-a...r-1052547.html

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Bring USD and Pesos. If you use USD, they will give you a crappy exchange rate.

Get the Twinrex.

In Mexico, the question isn't 'will I get sick', it's 'when will I get sick'.

If you buy stuff from beach vendors, use the free pop from your room as currency.

deal in pesos any chance you get. the purchase price will be in your favour.
with USD they give you a crappy exchange.

[Jayems]

I've been to Mexico three times.

1) Peurto Vallarta. We stayed at a resort south of town. There was no beach. The water had a brown sludge on it. We all got very, very sick.

2) Tijuana - day trip. Got sloshed and back up to San Diego. Never got sick,

3) Cozumel - cruise stop. Wicked snorkling. Never got sick,

Basically, I attribute my sickness to the murky-poo water we body surfed in. One entire day was spent rotating through the bathroom. In hindsight, not a bright idea. But, I was 18 and annihilated 24/7.

[MacDaddy77]

I've been to Mexico 3 times in the past 2 years wthout a twinrix shot

I've never gotten sick (lucky) but I am currently in the process of getting the shots as I love going to the Mayan area.

That being said, all you really need to know is this....

quatro cerveza por favor Signor!!!!

[Barnes]

They say a third of visitors get sick when visiting Mexico and I am 1 for 2 so next time I'll be good.