Traveling Mexico

 We are often asked why we travel in Mexico, where do we go, aren’t we afraid, and how much does it cost. This section will be dedicated to sharing our experiences, why we love to travel in Mexico, the costs, and how to travel without fear. It will be a running dialogue so check back occassionally as we add more content.

FEAR - “He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are many great guotes about fear, but, in my opinion, this one sums it up best. We all have fears and some are real, buy many are perceived, and created by what you don’t know. What is often heard in the news about Mexico is how dangerous the drug gangs and cartels are with reports of shootings, kidnapping, and sex slavery, to name a few. But have you ever stopped to think about the news in your own neighborhood? The gang issues in Seattle, the encounters with the homeless and mentally ill living on the streets, the sex slavery in Washington State, the murders that occur in sleepy little neighborhoods in some of the most afluent areas. We hear it all the time, but it doesn’t change where we live, or even how we live.

Several years ago I was sickened, and sobbed, to learn that a man I worked closely with for years in the 911 industry, and who professed a faith in Jesus, was arrested and convicted of participating in a sex trade industry out of Bellevue. We were all shocked! This doesn’t happen in our community, in our town, in our neighborhood, with people we know - but it does. If someone were to hear this in the news in another state or country, would you recommend they not come to your town to visit because of this?

The same is true of other places in the world. There are so many beautiful places to visit and see, and people to meet that are generous and kind, especially in Mexico. We are wise in our research and decisions as there are times that aren’t right to travel. Touring in an area in the midst of war isn’t wise, but there may be a time when it is ok. Example - visiting Seattle during WTO or the Black Lives Matter protests may not have been a good time, but that was a moment in time.

We started traveling into Mexico many years ago and stayed in the ‘all inclusive resorts’ one time, because that was where it was safe. It didn’t take but a day or two to figure out what we were missing outside of the ‘safety’ of the resort. We walked through the towns, into the neighborhoods, ate meals in their tiny restaurants, smiled and talked to the people and found them to be so kind and generous. They were welcoming and if we could converse in the same language, they wanted to share stories. We never went back to the resort.

True story - in my previous marriage, we were traveling with friends in Cancun and rented a jeep to take off into the back country. The dry arroyos (river beds) were our freeway. We had been told if we ever meet up with Federale’s, and they asked you to contribute to their holiday ball, do it. We laughed thinking it was a joke. So we’re way in the back country having a great time and sure enough, we encounter a pickup full of uniformed and armed Federales. We weren’t afraid but were curious and cautious how this would turn out. They asked the usual questions, who were we, why were we there, what were we doing, and we were respectful and answered honestly. After several minutes, we were telling stories and laughing, when up came a gentleman with a clipboard who asked if we wanted to donate to their Christmas party. We couldn’t help from giggling and each gladly donated to their cause. They bid us goodbye and told us to be safe and off we went. Throughout the day, we passed them several times, they waved, we waved and we didn’t have any issue.

A truth and misconception - in the tourist areas, you will often see armed military personnel walking the streets. They look intimidating with their large weapons and that is intentional - they are there for your protection. The local policia are patroling and take care of the normal type of stuff you would expect in a town. So, let’s think about this - when you go to Seattle or Portland, do you see officers with weapons, walking, biking, on horseback? Are you afraid of them or do you know they are there for your protection?

Over the course of our careers, we have encouraged many to step out of their comfort zone and go for that promotion, learn something new, step beyond familiar. Many followed our advise and those who did found something new and rewarding. I guarantee they will tell you it was scary at first, but they learned something and it made them better for it. It was for us, but we know the rewards will out weigh our fear.

Maria Sexton: “I realized something on the ride. I realized if I wait until I’m not scared to try new things, then I’ll never get to try them at all.”

DESTINATIONS - “You will reach your destination even though you travel slowly” - Icelandic Proverb

We are very blessed to have traveled in many places in the world and we have many more to see. Here are the places we have spent time in Mexico: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Puerto Moreles, Isla Mujeres, Mahahual, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Sayulita, Puerto Vallarta, Baja, Holbox, Merida

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Hotel or Airbnb - We prefer the later and don’t recall when we last stayed in a hotel. You will be surprised how many rental houses are available and for a reasonable cost. We do our research to find an area we want to stay in, then we start looking for accommodations. We don’t want a room, we want a full home, whether it be a house, condo, or apartment. We require a kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, and dishes, internet, and air conditioning. Anything more than that is a bonus, such as washer/dryer, coffee maker, pool, hair dryer, etc.

Cleanliness - A benefit of Airbnb is the requirement for cleanliness and each guest is asked to provide feedback. You can see what others have said and we have found the reviews to be very accurate. If things didn’t go well, you will see it and you can make your own decision. The system has worked well for us.

When to book - An important part is timing your subsequent bookings. If we are planning to go to one destinaation, we pick a place for the duration of our stay. If we are traveling to mulitple locations, we only book the first destination and then book the next location after we have arrived. There is no shortage of places to stay and it gives you flexibity to change plans without penalties and check out different areas. We typically book 3-5 nights unless we know the area and plan to stay longer. Sometimes you can lengthen your stay once you are there if you really like your location.

When booking in advance, I only look at places that provide a full refund, at least up to a certain timeframe.

COSTS: We look for places where the total cost is $100 or less each night. That doesn’t alway happen, but it typically averages out less than $100. On Airbnb, you can easily find a house for $50, but don’t forget to check on the fees.

HELPFUL TIPS:

Most important - travel lite. We have traveled many places in the world with a piece of carry on luggage and a backpack. Yes, ladies, it can be done. We come with 3-5 sets of clothes, including undergarments. Because we have our own snorkeling gear, we bring our dive bag with the extra gear, including 2 beach towels. We wear tennis shoes when traveling and put sandals and water booties in our travel bags. Sometimes it’s too hot to wear tennis shoes so they go in the dive bag. We also bring (or purchase at our destination) a very light pack to use when we go to town for groceries or the beach. It folds up and will fit in either a suitcase or the dive bag. At the end of the trip, we can either take it home, or leave it for someone else to use. Update: In the future, instead of tennis shoes, I will bring my keens - they are comfortable for walking and hiking and can get wet.

Laundry facilities - there are always lavenderia facilities nearby. You drop off your bag of clothing and they will wash, dry and fold it for you, usually the same day. A large bag will cost about $5.00. Many of the Airbnbs have washer and/or dryers. We don’t chose a location based on this utility, but it is nice occassionally to get everything (including towels) cleaned.

Clothing for hot weather - as in most travel, it is easier to layer garments. As many times as I have traveled to Mexico, I still forget how hot it is and don’t bring enough very cool, light weight clothes. Bring clothes that are comfortable as your body will change sizes in the heat. What is comfortable in a moderate to cool climate can quickly feel tight and clingy in the heat. Highly recommend a sun protector garment. We both have a white, long sleeved Columbia polyester shirt that can be worn in or out of the water and it protects you from more sun. A floppy hat, that can get wet, is also a must. Ours are cloth so they are easily packed and can be washed. We also have a baseball cap.

Drinking Water - in the large resort areas, the water systems are usually filtered, but off the main grid, that isn’t always the case. You can purchase bottled water wherever you go but we bring 2 Camelbak water containers and a small hand filter/pump (pictures in the gallery). If you are nervous about the water, it’s easy to make your own and then all is good.

Medications - Always bring your normal medications in their original container with the prescription on it or with it and bring enough for your stay. We’ve never had a problem but if you do get stopped at customs, it is easier to have everything together. It also will help you if you run out and need to get more while traveling as most pharmacies will sell it over the counter. Bring your vitamins and any other items you need every day. Bring a small supply of your ‘go to’ meds such as sudefed, benedryl, airborne, or other items that you may occassionally need. It is very likely you will be able to purchase them here, but it’s easier to have a few until you can get to the next pharmacy. While you need to keep your perscriptions in the same container, you can double up on other items to reduce containers. We will also put them in ziplock bags to keep it compact.

Personal Information - Take a picture of your passport, your entry documents, your prescriptions and put them on a shared drive. If for some unfortunate reason, you lose your documents or your phone, you can pull it up on any computer.

Other stuff - Always pack your liquid items in ziploc bags. Just in case something breaks open, your other items are safe. Also pack a couple extra (small and large) as you’ll be surprised when you may need it, especially if you are storing food after you arrive. We also pack our electronic items like chargers, mouse, etc. in a ziploc. It keeps them secure and tidy and is a good visual when we leave to make sure we have everything.

Groceries - There are large grocery stores in almost every town, even the little ones. They will have just about everything you need, but maybe not the flavor you prefer. Keith has a specific type of breakfast cereal he eats each morning. While the cereal aisle is full, it only carries maybe 10 different varieties. Some may even look familiar, like Cheerios, and others are completely different. Milk is shelf stable and in a box. We actually buy this at home for the boat as it lasts a long time and tastes the same. It is very hard to find real butter, and unless you like margarine, you’ll need to be creative. I have found cream cheese to be a fun substitute. We bring packets of instant coffee and sweetner when we need it.

Fresh food - The fruits and vegetables are very good, but be careful with leafy greens. I purchase lettuce and spinach in a bag, just like we have them at home. I will purchase cilantro off the shelf because the amount we consume is so small, it doesn’t affect us and I wash it good before eating. Everything else I wash good before eating and we haven’t had any problems. We try to only purchase what we’ll eat during that stay, but that doesn’t always happen. If it’s worth it, we’ll pack it up and take it with us - this is where the extra ziplocs come in handy. We put several water bottles in the freezer and then into the pack with the food items. Even on a 5 hour trip, the food is still cool when we arrive at our destination.

Staples - We purchase salt, pepper, garlic salt, and a small bottle of olive oil when we arrive. Many of the Airbnbs will have these items, but they are often stale or clumped from the humidity. I like starting from scratch and they are easy to transport. You will want some of those things you use often handy, just buy in small containers and quantities.