{"id":11594,"date":"2020-12-07T12:30:03","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T10:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/?p=11594"},"modified":"2021-11-15T11:27:33","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T15:27:33","slug":"general-information-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/en\/mexico\/general-information-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"General information Mexico: everything you need to know before visiting for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve recently booked a trip to Mexico<\/a> or thinking about planning one, you probably have a lot of questions. Apart from deciding what places to visit<\/a>, there are many other things to take into account. That’s why we’re writing this post, to give you all the information you need<\/strong> and some recommendations to make sure planning your trip to Mexico is as easy as possible.<\/p>\n

Practical information<\/h2>\n

Visas<\/h3>\n

The citizens from 67 countries, including those in the European Union, United Kingdom or United States don’t need a visa to visit Mexico as a tourist<\/strong> (usually, we’re considered tourists if we’re staying in the country for less than 180 days and we’re not receiving any sort of financial compensation during our trip). To avoid surprises, refer to your embassy<\/a> to check if you need a visa or not. You should also make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your trip to Mexico<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\"passport<\/p>\n

Even though you probably won’t have to pay for a tourist visa, Mexico does have a departure tax<\/strong>; if you’re traveling by plane, it might be included in your flight ticket. If not, you’ll have to pay it at customs or in a Mexican bank. You’ll get a form when you enter a country and if you’re not sure if you have to pay this fee separately or not, you can ask them. You might have to pay this fee in cash in Mexican pesos, so make sure to save some cash for the end of your trip.<\/p>\n

Vaccinations<\/h3>\n

There are no mandatory vaccines to enter Mexico as a tourist<\/strong>, although Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccines are highly recommended. Also, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor if there are any additional vaccines we might need before any trip.<\/p>\n

Currency<\/h3>\n

The official currency in Mexico is the Mexican peso (MXN)<\/strong>. Its value fluctuates constantly but, roughly, one euro is worth 24 pesos and one USD dollar is worth 20 pesos<\/strong>. Even though we don’t recommend carrying a large amount of cash while traveling and paying by card is usually easier and safer, it’s also important to know that we might not be able to pay by card everywhere, so we should also remember to carry a small amount of cash<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Mexican<\/p>\n

The cheapest option to get Mexican pesos is usually to buy them online, although we also recommend asking your bank. Remember also to ask about the conditions to use your card abroad and if they charge any fees for changing currencies. We recommend checking out Revolut<\/a>, an online bank that offers a free debit card and allows you to exchange currencies with no fees. <\/p>\n

If you’re traveling from the US or you’ve visited recently and have some American dollars (USD) in cash, bring them to your Mexico trip. Even though it’s not the official currency of the country, many places will accept it, specially if they’re close to the border or it’s an area highly frequented by American tourists. Plus, they’re very useful for tips.<\/p>\n

Time zones<\/h3>\n

There are 4 different time zones in Mexico:<\/p>\n