Mexico is popular travel destination and one of the reasons for this is that it can be a cheap place to travel when done with a little planning. If you’re looking for some tips on how to travel Mexico on a budget, you’re in the right place, as we’ve came up with these 8 quick, practical tips for exploring Mexico on a budget.
1. Set a budget plan
Although Mexico is a reasonably priced place to visit, it’s always useful to have a specific figure in mind for how much you’d like to set aside for your trip. Once you’ve got this figure in mind for how much you can afford to budget, make sure you save enough before you travel by setting a plan for how you will reach this savings goal. A good way to do this, is to have a direct debit set each month to a savings pot. You’ll hit your savings goal in no time!
2. Cut back on pre-trip expenses
Now that you’ve set a budget for your trip, consider setting a separate budget for pre-trip expenses. This could cover things like travel insurance, airport transfers and luggage costs.
You may always want to consider cutting back on general living expenses before your trip as part of your budget plan to make sure you can comfortably set money aside for your trip to Mexico. This could include cutting back on eating take-outs or cutting back on shopping expenses by only buying what you need.
3. Limit your nights out in Mexico
Mexico has a fun culture and part of this includes indulging in eating or drinking out. However, the cost of going out can be high, especially in countries like Mexico, so you may want to consider limiting the amount of times you go out at night during your trip. This means you will have more money to spend on excursions which is a must when visiting Mexico, especially for those wanting to take trips to sacred and historical sites such as cenotes and ruins. Alternative cost-effective entertainment at night could include watching the sunset at a local park or beach.
4. Set a budget for each activity
There are people that like focusing on their daily allowance or limits. This tactic can help significantly
when preparing for a trip to Mexico. When making your budget plan, make a list of possible activities you’d like to do during your trip and try setting aside limits for each activity. This isn’t for everyone, especially those who like to travel more freely and with no restrictions, however this is a good tip for those wanting to save money and travel Mexico on a budget.
It is a good idea to set a rough spending limit for things such as accommodation, food and transport costs as they will take up most of your funds. You may also want to consider an emergency fund aside from your overall travel budget in case you go over your limit.
5. Look For Favourable Exchange Rates
Exchanging money at the airport can be costly and you can lose a lot of money due to unfavourable rates. This is why you should always do research on finding the best exchange rates to avoid losing out. For example, if you have moved back to the US and would still like to send money back to Mexico, look for the best USD to MXN transfer rate at CompareRemit.com, a trustworthy comparison site aimed to save you money on the varying rates from different money transfer companies.
6. Think about tipping
Mexico has a tipping culture in most parts, so it’s a good idea to consider tipping into your travel budget when planning for a trip to Mexico. There are some places where it’s etiquette to tip over 20%, so it’s important to prepare in advance.
7. How to avoid overspending
Once you arrive in Mexico and get into the flow, it’s quite easy to get carried away and go over your budget. To avoid over-spending, you may want to consider making your own food buy purchasing fresh ingredients from local supermarkets instead of eating out each day. If you do wish to splurge and eat out, be sure to do some research first and make sure it is within your budget.
Consider staying in accommodation with free breakfast, that way you have a guaranteed meal each day with no extra cost. Other ways to avoid overspending and travel Mexico on a budget is to avoid touristic areas and stay put for longer to avoid extra transportation costs.
8. Go with the flow
It’s all well and good to do preparation before your trip, however sometimes plans can change, for example an excursion you have booked may cancel last minute or you may need to change accommodation due to unexpected circumstances. So be as prepared as you can be, have your budget plan set, save cash to reach your goal, have an emergency fund set aside and allow yourself to go with the flow of what comes during your trip.
Other posts you may like to help plan your trip to Mexico – What happens at the Mexico/Belize boarder crossing, A Memorable Mexican Vacation and Saving tips to help you travel the world
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