this video is closed captioned hello Travelers it's Anthony and welcome back to the Travel
droner Channel I'm so excited about today's video featuring the country where I currently
reside I will share with you today how to stay safe in Mexico and avoid the most common
tourist mistakes you should avoid when visiting this beautiful country Mexico is a fascinating
country with a rich culture in history but there are a few things you should avoid if
you don't want to look like a tourist many people think it's all beaches and margaritas
but there's much more to this great country today we'll be sharing 20 of the most common
tourist mistakes you can be sure to avoid allowing you to maximize your time in Mexico
number 20 only visiting Cancun Cancun is famous for its epic coastlines luxurious all-inclusive
resorts and Mayan ruins close by welcoming tourists of all ages and backgrounds Cancun is
an excellent introduction to tourism in Mexico but it's not representative of everything available in
this beautiful country mountains cenotes dense jungles deserts Highlands and more making it an
attractive place for anyone looking to explore nature number 19. don't pack your valuables
what crime is at rampant in Mexico it's always wise to reduce your risk when traveling one way
to accomplish this is to leave expensive jewelry fancy smart watches and designer bags at home or
in your hotel safe not only will it lighten your load but you won't be a walking target for anyone
looking to lift a quick profit number 18 please don't assume it's always warm sun-kissed beaches
and the hot equatorial Sun beating down on the landscape are what most think of when it comes
to Mexico but the country is diverse and offers plenty of varying weather to enjoy the highlands
have milder temperatures and even the warm tropical Regency rain more than once during summer
days check the forecast and pack for the varying weather you might encounter number 17 don't assume
tips are included Mexican service industry relies on tips since the base wages are so low so tipping
in Mexico is standard 10 percent at least and for good or exceptional service 15 to 20 percent
even if your Resort says tipping is forbidden or included in your rate the employee who takes care
of your well-being at the resort makes minimum wage so a tip is always appreciated and welcome
always have a little extra money on you so you aren't caught with the need and no funds
number 16 don't flush your toilet paper public bathrooms will usually have plenty of signage
directing guests to dispose of toilet paper and trash baskets but it's good to be aware of this
practice so you aren't caught off guard much of the plumbing in Mexico simply can't handle
the additional stress of toilet paper or septic systems don't measure up number 15. falling prey
to aggressive salespeople at the airport as soon as you get through customs and collect your bags
you'll need to get from the airport to your next destination and it's always best to arrange for
your travel ahead of time dozens of overly helpful people will offer you directions transportation
and even some welcome Margaritas or invite you for a complimentary breakfast to try and capture your
attention don't succumb they are not airport employees they belong with Resorts and other
timeshare companies or vacation clubs and they'll do just about anything to get you to attend a high
pressure sales pitch presentation if you enjoy our videos join us on our journey worldwide by
subscribing to our Channel please click the Bell icon to get notified when we publish a new video
number 14. fake tequila Mexico is renowned for its tequila the best tequila are meant for sipping and
savoring not just bottomless margaritas and it's more complicated than you might think to find
authentic tequila when visiting Mexico just like champagne is only champagne if it comes
from a specific region so too is tequila only tequila if it comes from a qualified Mexican
state only five states have the coveted title look for labels indicating 100 Agave marking the
authentic options ask your bartender to help you navigate the many options and go outside
your comfort zone by selecting Brands you've never heard of number 13. don't use regular
sunscreen in the water the waters in Mexico are home to diverse and delicate Wildlife reef safe
sunscreen is a worthwhile investment to protect the reef system that line the coast of Mexico it
saves more than just the reefs keeping all kinds of organisms safe from the harmful chemicals found
in common sunscreens number 12. don't feel like you have to visit the ruins the lion ruins and
other cultural and historical ruins are located in beautiful locations and offer an insight into
the important history of the region but it can also be well boring they take time and effort
to access and if you aren't interested in ancient architecture your whole visit might be wrapped up
in half an hour they're excellent for those who are interested in perfectly acceptable to skip
if they aren't your thing number 11. treating Mexico like Las Vegas's strip Mexico might have
a reputation as a country Rife with parties but you might also be surprised to learn that
drinking alcohol on the streets is illegal don't assume you can walk up and down the road sipping
your Margarita or Corona or you can get arrested for up to 36 hours in the local jail called El
Torito number 10. don't just eat at the buffets if you're staying at an all-inclusive resort you're
likely excited about all the on-site amenities and while it's convenient and familiar featuring
International Cuisine that's sure to please most pallets you're also missing out on the decadent
Cuisine Mexico offers explore the area eat tacos tamales Salsas and Regional favorites and partake
in one of the most exciting aspects of Mexican culture number nine assuming everyone knows
English suppose you stay at one of the hundreds of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico in that case your
exposure to the locals will be confined to those employed by the hospitality industry specializing
in English-speaking Travelers but don't take that to mean that everyone in Mexico speaks English
far from it in heavily touristed areas getting by with English is possible but attempting to
speak the language will always be appreciated by the locals learn a few key words or phrases or
bring an app like Google translate so you aren't caught unprepared to communicate with someone
in Spanish number eight for getting cash with Apple pay available through your watch and ever
advancing Mobile payment technology carrying cash is a dying art but you don't want to be caught
without it when traveling in Mexico we've already covered the Tipping situation but offering tips to
service staff and drivers or paying for food and beverages in more remote areas will require Cash
number seven forgetting Travelers Insurance the chances of needing Travelers Insurance are slim
but never zero and yet remarkably for travelers opt to purchase this short-term safety net it's
helpful if your flight gets canceled something that's happening everywhere due to labor shortages
or if you lose an important document like your passport more importantly you won't need to panic
about unplanned expenses if you find yourself sick or injured number six don't expect quiet hours
some may say Americans are loud but Mexico is in Extremely Loud country loud trucks and cars with
heavy exhaust amble by often blasting music are ads between songs you also shouldn't be surprised
if neighbors host a party and celebrate well into the evening roll with it it's part of the culture
but if you're a light sleeper you might want to bring a pair of earplugs number five taking
unlicensed taxis very important that you only use licensed taxis from taxi centrals or establish
points like plazas hotels and shopping centers they are called taxis de citio and are the safest
option for a taxi ride if you are not using Uber or any other Rideshare app to get around don't
get into any taxi you find driving by you and offering a ride kindly decline in Mexico City
alone there are over twenty thousand pirate taxis where you can get robbed at the minimum so steer
clear on this one number four credit cards in ATM don't make a mistake and use your credit cards
everywhere you go and be careful when using them rule number one is never to hand your card to the
waiter or anyone to run off with it to the back of the store or kitchen to charge the card instead
let the waiter bring the mobile Wi-Fi credit card terminal to your table to charge the bill
rule number two if you use your credit debit card to withdraw some cash from an ATM I would suggest
you do that only at local banks and supermarkets or shopping plazas where the ATMs are inside
guarded by security personnel there are two kinds of ATMs in Mexico privately owned ones that charge
about a twenty dollar fee for any withdrawal of a few bucks and an outrageous alarming exchange
rate on top of that to give you dollars instead of pesos here you run the risk of getting your card
skimmed and before you know your bank accounts are drained and emptied back home the other ATMs are
owned by local banks giving out local currency pesos instead of dollars like the tourist trap
ATMs and they are safe if you use them inside a bank branch or Supermarket but make sure it has a
Mexican Bank name don't fall for the ones giving you dollars that will be an all-around lousy
experience number three don't take the first price offered Mexico is a great place to practice your
haggling skills whether a local vendor selling their handcrafted work or an exotic animal owner
displaying their oversized python and a Mayan ruin for a photo op there's probably room to bargain
locals always haggle so you won't be viewed as rude if you offer a lower price number two don't
drink the tap water always always drink water that comes from a sealed bottle and think about where
your ice is coming from as well large operations like hotels and restaurants will be using safe
factory made ice but heading to a Local's home for dinner isn't likely to have ice that isn't made
from tap water not even the locals drink tap water so take a cue from the locals and protect yourself
by drinking bottled water showering is safe as long as you aren't drinking the water and you can
further protect yourself by using bottled water to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth number
one don't purchase or consume drugs in Mexico if you want a great time in Mexico please avoid
drugs and anyone offering them don't try to buy or consume drugs while in Mexico if you are offered
drugs on the streets or Beach of your Resort or in the Disco do not accept that offer or you can
get yourself in a lot of trouble and win a paid all-inclusive State vacation in a dirty crowded
Mexican jail for a very long time just for simple possession of a small amount of anything even
prescription drugs or being under the influence of drugs that is also enough to get your vacation
ruined Mexico has steep penalties for all drug offenses so think again the jails here are not up
to your country's standards don't turn your Cancun or Los Cabos luxury all-inclusive resort vacation
into a bad Nightmare how many of these mistakes did you make the first time you went to Mexico are
there others you've made that we didn't mention today let us know in the comments so we can all
learn from your experiences give us your top three tips for a smooth visit to a foreign country below
we might just feature them in an upcoming video If you enjoyed today's video make sure to leave
us with a like and consider subscribing to the channel for more content like this until next time
[Music]