The Ultimate Guide to Planning the Best Mexican Beach Vacations
Mexican beach vacations can be a blast for couples of all ages. Here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip and make sure everything goes smoothly.
As summer winds down, you may be daydreaming about one last perfect getaway before school starts back and the weather cools down again. Wouldn’t it be nice to go lay on a beach in Mexico for a week?
But where do you even start planning a trip like that?
There are a lot of factors to take into account when planning Mexican beach vacations. Everything from travel arrangements to dinner reservations to crowd and weather considerations can affect your trip’s success.
Below are some things to keep in mind while you’re planning your dream getaway.
Timing is Everything
Picking the dates for your trip is one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make. Weather, crowds, and event availability changes by season. You’ll want to think about what you want to get out of the trip and go from there.
If you’re looking for a lively party atmosphere with plenty of drinks and fun, you might want to plan your vacation for the spring, when college kids flock to the Mexico beaches for spring break. If you’re wanting to experience one of Mexico’s festivals, early fall may be your best bet.
If you just want to spend time laying on a beach working on your tan, almost any time other that the dead of winter should work for you.
Choosing the Perfect Place
You also want to choose your beach with some care. Not all beaches are created equal, and the destination you pick can determine how much money you spend (we’ll discuss this more later) and what you do when you’re not catching some sun on the beach. Mexico has a lot to offer, and you should pick the spot that you’ll enjoy most.
Cancun is one of the most common vacation spots in Mexico, and if you’re looking for a vibrant center of Mexican culture, it’s a good choice.
If you like the idea of wandering around ancient ruins in the afternoons, the Tulum beaches are a stunning destination. If snorkeling, diving, and surfing are more your speed, Los Cabos is a great option.
Go Where the Price is Right
Of course, your budget will secede a lot about your Mexican beach vacation. If you’re on a limited budget, it’s possible to get by in Mexico on as little as $50 a day. You’ll have to sleep and eat cheap and take advantage of the free opportunities, but you can still have a great time.
On the other end of the scale, you can spend $1,000 a day or more in Mexico if you wish. Most of your budget will be determined by where you choose to stay and eat. If you want the luxury hotel experience and you have the money to back it, Mexico can meet your needs.
Dot Your I’s and Cross Your T’s
But before you get too wrapped up in comparing prices at resort hotels, you’ll need to fill out some paperwork. For one thing, you’ll need a valid passport, if you don’t have one already. You can apply for a passport at the post office, and the process usually takes six to eight weeks to complete.
There are also a few other things you’ll want to take care of before jumping on your plane. For one thing, there are a number of shots you may need to get a booster for. Tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A immunizations are all recommended shots for those traveling to Mexico.
Learn the Language
Of course, when you go to any non-English-speaking country, you’ll want to know some of the language. Knowing how to ask for the bathroom is helpful, but the more Spanish you speak, the better experience you’ll have in Mexico.
The locals will appreciate you speaking the native language, and you’ll get to experience Mexican culture in the language it was built on.
Spanish, French, and Italian all come from the same root language, Latin, so if you speak either of the other two languages, you’ll have an access point to Spanish. Start practicing your Spanish a few months before the trip, if possible, and you’ll be in good shape to get the most out of your vacation. My Daily Spanish offers great resources to make Spanish a daily habit.
Pick Your View
Once you’ve settled on your budget, your destination, and your vacation date, it’s time to start making the concrete arrangements. You’ll want to book hotel rooms and plane tickets as far out in advance as possible to make sure you get the best prices.
You can also book hotels for the first part of your trip only if you want to leave some flexibility in your vacation plans.
You may want to consider making your travel arrangements through a travel agent. They will know the places that offer the most for the lowest price and will be able to help you find great experiences that are within your budget. You can also do it yourself through online vacation planning sites.
Money Matters
The last thing you’ll want to do before you reach for the suitcases is make sure you’ll actually have money to spend during the trip, Oftentimes, debit and credit cards will require special permissions to work outside the U.S.
You’ll need to check with your bank or credit card company to make sure you’ll be able to use your card on your vacation.
And, of course, you’ll also want to have some cash on hand. Mexico uses the peso, which is currently worth about 5 percent of the U.S. dollar (1 peso = $0.05). You can exchange U.S. dollars for pesos at your local bank.
More Tips for Planning Mexican Beach Vacations
And with that, you’re off! Mexican beach vacations can be an amazing getaway, and you’re sure to come back from the trip with treasured memories. So when does your dream Mexican vacation begin?
If you’d like more resources to help you plan your perfect vacation, visit the rest of our website at Stayful. We offer hotel reviews, travel tips, and the best advice for living life to the fullest.
Check out our article on tips for keeping your hair beautiful during your beach vacation, or any of the rest of our blog.