Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Mexico

sick in mexico.

ebesan — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:41:55 -0800

sick in mexico. need advice I caught the grippa, or influenza going around couple of weeks ago.
Tried to wait it out, but felt worse, and started losing blood in my stools, and nosebleeds.
(point of information. I have familial thrombocytopenia....and colitis, but inactive for 2 years, and mitral-valve prolapse)
Blood test showed low, but not extreme? platelet count ('plaquetas x mm 71,000).
Went to a doctor who tested me .
('Anticuerpos Dengue- Negativo")
('Antigeno Dengue- Negativo")
He put me on Flonorm, then stopped it; Alevian Duo before food; Ranisen after food; Itamol and I got some Lomotil for the shits.
(another point of information; just finishing up 4 days of Clinamicina for a bad tooth)
It receded, but came back hard today w/ stomach cramps and blood.
I am out of here in 2 days for a week on an island w/ good health care, they say, (don't ask) then back to States.
I am eating good food like crazy, vitamins, drinking gatorade for hydration, sardines...
Need to get thru the next 2 weeks. Advice? I really do not want to cancel things.

quick weekend vacation in the yucatan!

waylaid — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:57:10 -0800

I'm planning a quick three day trip to the Yucatan, and need suggestions for a nice, quiet and local town to relax by the beach and spend time around nature. I'm in Florida for work in late Jan, and found a cheap ticket to Cancun, Mexico that works out perfectly! I plan to spend three days there (I will fly into Cancun and rent a car, probably out of the airport)

I do not, however, want to spend time in Cancun or Cozumel - i'd like to find a small, friendly town or regional city outside that area that I can stay at, preferably close to the beach. Cheap is good, I don't need a nice hotel by any means. A local place is fine.

I have lived abroad in Latin America before, have driven in Latin America before, and speak Spanish decently well. So my question here isn't about the logistics as much as I'd like a good suggestion on where I should go (and how much I might budget for it). Driving distance up to 3.5 hours from Cancun is fine. Nightlife is not important, cultural stuff is of interest, relaxation is paramount.

Thanks MeFi!

Off to Tulum We Are, Are We

DuckGirl — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:29:19 -0800

Suggestions for must see/do/experience in Tulum? Mr. Duck and I are going to Tulum for the Christmas week, and are looking for suggestions on what to do and see while there. I have reviewed some of the other threads, but as most are a few years old I thought I'd revisit the topic and learn if there are any new thoughts.

We are flying into Cancun, staying at Cabanas Copal in Tulum and will likely rent a car to get to and from all points. I'm interested in good food; he's interested in snorkeling/scuba diving; we're both interested in ruins and artwork and generally neat stuff. Any advice is appreciated!

Hotel Luz En Yucatan

uans — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:18:26 -0800

Hotel Luz En Yucatan , Mexico, sounds too good to be true. Is it? I would like to hear from anyone who has been there before. Thinking of going in January. Thanks.

SoCal Holiday Road Trip Tips?

Capostrophe — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:55:42 -0800

I'll be embarking on a two week road trip from just before Christmas until just after the new year. My plan is to drive south out of the SF Bay Area and spend most of my time in southern California, possibly with forays into Az, Nevada, and Mexico. My interests are nature, archaeology, and history, and I'm an avid photographer. Tell me about the places I shouldn't miss. I'm considering the obvious destinations: Death Valley, the Salton Sea, Pinnacles, and Joshua Tree. I also intend to spend some time in San Diego, visiting the zoo and wild animal park. Beyond that I'm eager to hear your suggestions about roads to drive, places to stay, places to stop, and places to skip.

Bonus points for forgotten little picturesque attractions, and double bonus points for practical tips on visiting Mexico for a few days.

what is a deposito bancario in mexican parlance?

dahliachewswell — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:39:49 -0800

CheapMexicoVactionFilter: I'm communicating via email (in spanish) with a seemingly very nice hostel in Oaxaca about booking a 3 night stay...they won't do an online credit card deposit, but want something called a "deposito bancario" (literal translation: bank deposit)? Anyone know what exactly this means in Mexican hostel parlance and is it sketchy? as a note: the hostel does not seem sketchy and is recommended by lonelyplanet, just can't figure out what they're asking me to do (and therefore if i want to do that...)

Should I buy a mobile phone in Mexico?

Admira — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:03:03 -0800

Can I buy a mobile phone in Mexico and use it in Australia? Hi All!

I'm headed to Mexico next year and was wondering if I could pick up a phone in Mexico and use it here when I get back to Australia?

I've got no idea if they are cheaper there than here, but if so I'd be tempted. Things that worry me are network compatability, and also getting a charger for it here.

Any advice around this is much appreciated! Thanks!

Please plan my trip.

halogen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:06:14 -0800

We (two Seattleites in their mid-twenties) just booked plane tickets to Cancun over New Year's. I'm not interested in all-inclusive resorts or clubbing or vegetating at the same stretch of beach for an entire week. Now what? We will be renting a car, but there are no plans as to where to drive outside of Cancun (maybe attempt a trip like this one?). We're also pretty well-equipped backpackers--I've been thinking about driving down the shore and sleeping at whatever camping grounds/beaches we find along the way. Is that a terrible idea? Do you have any specific recommendations as to places to stay/see?

How hot will it be at night? Neither of us speaks much Spanish, but that shouldn't be a problem, right? Will I need to have any reservations? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks.

What do I need to know before bike touring in Mexico?

lhputtgrass — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:04:04 -0800

My friend and I are planning to bike tour in Mexico for around three months early next year. What should we know going in to keep ourselves safe given the current drug war problems in the country? Basically, I'm wondering what two gringos with some but by no means fluent Spanish should know ahead of time to keep from getting into trouble. Are there areas of Mexico we should totally avoid? (Our route isn't totally planned yet and we obviously can't cover a huge portion of the country in our timeframe, so if there are places it would simply be dangerous to be, we can easily avoid them...)

Divorce to Go

freddymetz — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:28:11 -0800

PFAF: Getting Divorced in Mexico? Both Mexican citizens, no joint possessions, one baby (2 years old).
What is the easiest, quickest and CHEAPEST way to get divorced?

“Happening” all inclusive resort for friend vacation in South Cancun or Mayan Riviera – Your experiences

disguise — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:54:48 -0800

Hello. I’d like the ask the Ask MetaFilter audience for help in finding a fun, all inclusive resort for a friend vacation, ideally from your personal experiences. Sure, maybe I could read the some (possibly suspect) posts on various travel websites, but I would prefer the high quality responses for which Ask MetaFilter is known. Here are the specifics. Four of us are looking to take a friend vacation in February, 2010. Our main requirements are (1)warm, (2)all inclusive, and (3)”fun” atmosphere. From the research that I have performed, with our budget ($1500 per person, including the flight), it seems we might be limited to Mexico. So I have been focusing my research on South Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. We are young minded earlier thirty year olds (meaning none of us are married, or have kids, and we still like to drink many adult beverages on occasion, and let tomfoolery ensue). A resort with a higher than average amount of bars and nightclubs would be ideal, as would the resort being adults only. We don’t care to leave the resort, therefore shopping or clubs outside the resort are not needed as part of the equation, and being away from the main part of Cancun (the short, horizontal side of the 7 shape of the island) would probably be good. I had a session with a AAA travel agent this past weekend, and was given a resort catalog. A couple sentences in a book really can’t provide a full picture or help me determine if it suits our mindset. That is why I’m asking here for personal experiences. Thanks in advance.

concrete 'mold', rammed earth in Mexico

ebesan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:27:47 -0800

Why does so much of the concrete work here eventually mold? (I am in the Yucatan) If that is the right word for this action. The discoloring. Is there an admixture missing? Something that is used elsewhere? how much is to be blamed on the humidity? People elsewhere are experimenting w/ new mixtures (i. e. fly ash) to make less wasteful, lighter etc.; in this area, is anyone experimenting w/ new formulas? What is the difference between exposed formwork say, in the US, and here? Oh, and one more. Could 'rammed earth' construction be done here? What is the raw ingredient necessary? There is alot of limestone here.

Escape from rain city

PercussivePaul — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:43:44 -0800

We want to go somewhere sunny and warm in February. We're in Vancouver BC and don't want to fly too far; cost is an issue. We would really like to bring our touring bicycles and do a mini-tour at a relaxed pace - maybe 250 miles over two weeks. So far we're looking at South Baja. Good idea? Other ideas? I have all kinds of questions about South Baja if anyone has been there. Specifically we were thinking of flying to Cabo San Lucas (looks like around $600 round trip plus baggage fees), then biking to La Paz and back in a loop, and we need to know about road conditions, traffic, availability of services, typical price of a hotel, etc etc.

But I'm also interested if any other destination comes to mind. The bike tour is not a requirement but something we would really enjoy. Touristy mega-resorts are not really our thing but we would appreciate a little bit of comfort on this trip I think. Beaches would be nice. Sunny and warm in February is the key.

Im not a gringo!

freddymetz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:05:44 -0800

European in Mexico. How can i avoid being called a gringo and how do i react elegantly? Im a German living in Mexico with dark blond hair, light-ish skin and blue eyes. Thus, according to many mexicans, i am a gringo.
I find it quite offensive when they call me this and address me with either "gringo" or "guero".
What can i do to avoid this? and, if colouring my hair black and wearing a fake moustache is the only option, how can i react elegantly and/or humourously?

Feel free to post your own experiences of this here please!

We're looking for a fun, warm place to spend New Year's Eve!

ersatzkat — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:26:24 -0800

My husband and I want to be someplace warm for New Year's Eve where we can see the full moon over the water. We can take time off between Christmas and Jan 3, and we'd like to go someplace warm for a few days. We're travelling from the East coast, have never been to the Caribbean or Mexico, and have a nerdy desire to see the full moon over *some* body of water. I'd like something relaxing and beachy, he'd like a bit more adventure and local interest and tall shit to climb (sorry, editorial I know).

Our problem is narrowing down our options - can you help us? Any recommendations for islands, cities, beaches - I know it's broad, but we don't know where to start! Assume that money isn't a huge object, but we'd also prefer not to blow 10K on a week. We're happy to make lots of reservations and stuff ourselves, but could be swayed by an all-inclusive that wasn't tacky and/or a ripoff. We're both late 30s. Thanks in advance for your help!

Palenque Package? Cabins? Ayudame!

Admira — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:17:06 -0800

I am going on a trip to Mexico next year and I'd love to go to Palenque. Friends of mine from Mexico recommend getting a package tour. I generally dislike package tours but I'm not sure how to find the best flight price, accommodation in VillaHermosa, trip to Palenque, and accommodation there. Anyone have any tips for how to get there, how to book, how long to stay, where to stay etc? A friend recommended staying on a cabin in Palenque but googling shows every one having extreme reviews of either "Loved it, best place in MY LIFE" or "Never stay here, terrible!".

We've also heard varying advice for how long to stay in Palenque, from 2 days to 7 days.

So I thought I'd ask the hive mind for Palenque travel tips!

bamboo

ebesan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:50:39 -0800

Bamboo. I am in Merida, MX., with access to lots of long, tough bamboo, 1-3" thick. I would like to try working w/ thinner, and more flexible STRIPS of it, to weave or build furniture. Using the full, round pieces does not interest me; too heavy, bulky, rigid and looks bad. But when I ask about cutting or stripping it, i just get blank stares. Cut in 1/2, ok, but thinner, lighter, no. I have bamboo baskets from other parts of Mexico, so it is done here. Any ideas on getting more mileage from this cheap, abundant material?

Copper canyon mexico or costa rica

notned — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:42:29 -0800

Copper Canyon, Mexico or Costa Rica? I know that I'm asking about apples and oranges.

songbooks?

freddymetz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:29:16 -0800

where can i find acoustic chord books with lyrics in or around MORELIA, Mexico? im looking for songbooks by mexican bands like mana or camila but also basically any acoustic songbooks!
i cant really find a bookstore either in morelia! Where do they sell this kind of stuff in mexico?

Central America

freddymetz — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:23:49 -0800

Backpacking from Mexico to Colombia! More inside Im planning to go backpacking in central america sometime over the next year. Has anyone here already done this? whens the best time to go? what should i watch out for? i know about mexico well enough, but how safe is guatemala, honduras, costa rica and panama? i also heard that there are no roads from panama to colombia and that one has to take the boat?
thanks in advance!

Suggestions for a house rental for Mexico?

k8t — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:57:23 -0800

House rental for a group in Mexico? Babyfriendly a must. ~5 couples and 3 babies (around a year) want to go to the beach for a week(ish). Most are on the east coast (NYC/Vermont), so somewhere JetBlue flies would be nice. We've thought that renting a house would be easiest, so we could cook.

Cheap is good, of course.

Any suggestions? TIA!

Best non-expensive hotel in Oaxaca?

toomuchkatherine — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:35:32 -0800

Best reasonably priced hotel in Oaxaca? We're two people, traveling to Oaxaca the week after Labor Day. In search of a not too pricey hotel to stay in for a few nights at the beginning of our stay...and maybe a hotel to splurge on for one night at the end. Ideas? Anyone ever stated at the Hotel Monte Alban on the Zocalo? Or Casa Oaxaca? Those are the two we're thinking of for moderate and splurge, respectively.

Oaxaca freak culture?

Meatbomb — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:57:48 -0800

Tell me something about the hippie / stoner tourist culture in and around Oaxaca, Mexico for a planned writing project. I want to make this absolutely clear: I have no intention of engaging in illegal activity in Oaxaca! I am only looking for information to help me have a meaningful cultural experience, which may lead to an interesting short story or journalistic article.

I want to find and hang out with freaks and drug fiends, and would like to know specific areas where they congregate.

As I understand it, many American freaks travel to this place, and like to go where magic mushrooms and marijuana are offered for sale. There might also be particular bars, hostels, or scenic locations where such freaks congregate to do their thing.

If you know where I can find such people or places in Oaxaca, please tell me.

Please do not tell me that I shouldn't buy drugs in Mexico - I do not have any intention of doing that, and I already have a hundred reasons why I should not! Thank you very much. I only want to find other people who are buying drugs.

Please do not tell me I should do some other thing rather than locate and hang out with drug fiends, I know my own interests and this is what I am certain I wish to do.

3 Questions about Travelling to Mexico

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:59:20 -0800

I am traveling to Mexico with my significant other (who is from Mexico), and I have three questions about our trip! Whats a good website to book flights, where shouldn't I miss seeing and can I buy an engagement ring cheaper there than in Australia? So I am lucky enough to have an awesome girlfriend, who is from Monterrey in Mexico. We are going together from the 5th of Dec to the 5th of Jan. We already have a bit of a plan worked out:

Monterrey
Zacetecas
Guadalajara
San Miguel de Allende
Mexico City (with day trips to Pachucha de Soto and Taxco)
Then back to Monterrey for Xmas

After that we have a few days and I'm not sure where to go, I was thinking we could fly to Oaxaca or somewhere else, but not sure where. Any recommendations? Neither of us is into hanging out at the beach, adventure holidaying (bungee jumping etc), or partying like crazy animals (so no Tijuana). I'm definitely into the history and any naturally beautiful parts of the world.

Also any recommendations for a website for checking flight prices? Spanish or English is fine!

Lastly... and the reason this is anonymous... I'd like to propose to my girlfriend while there. I was going to buy a ring here (Australia) but thought better of it, thinking perhaps the quality will be better, or the prices lower in Mexico? Am I insane for thinking this, and given my limited abilities in Spanish and blonde hair and blue eyes, will I be able to get good quality and a good price?

Muchas gracias por todo!

Rockin' Mexico

freddymetz — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:16:08 -0800

GuitarFilter! I'm going to Mexico in september and i want to buy a guitar. Coming from Germany, are guitars much cheaper there? I specifically want to buy a Taylor Baby guitar (280 euros in germany), or should i buy a handmade one that mexico is so famous for? :p