Hey everyone!

So I'm going to Mexico with my boyfriend on Saturday for a week. Anyone have any ideas on things I must bring or do? I've never been before ... we're going for a wedding and it's my first ever vacation to a hot climate without my parents! Scary!

-K

Don't drink the water or any beverages with ice in them! Stick with bottled water or you're almost guaranteed to get sick.

Great ... I think I've gotten sick on every holiday I've ever been on. The last one was Hawaii and I got the stomach flu. Not fun.

-K

[quote:7daa9632bd]Don't drink the water or any beverages with ice in them! Stick with bottled water or you're almost guaranteed to get sick.[/quote:7daa9632bd]

gah. that's such a stereotype. Some places in mexico have better water treatment plants than they do in canada. Depends on where you are going. Any large city (tourist or industry based)... the water is fine. I wouldn't drink it from the tap based on taste rather than fear of sickness.

As for suggestions of things to bring or do... Again, depends on where you are going.

If you are in Mexico city, you have to go to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's house and the huge open market that is right near there. Also the national art museum.

Depending on where you are going, bring sunscreen and a Spanish/English dictionary. Don't bring shorts... or do bring shorts. Mexican women don't typically wear shorts so you'll stand out... but you'll stand out anyway.

Do bring American dollars instead of Canadian... the exchange is often turning it into American first and then peso at a lot of places and the exchange rate isn't as nice.

Don't eat tacos from a taco stand. They're cheap, smell good, and taste good... but will cause some serious digestive issues, 99% guaranteed. Taco stands don't have running water and the person running it usually handles everything... including cash.

Uhm... that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Have fun! 8)

~ng


ps (oh! and do be prepared to not flush your tp. Mexicans put it in the waste basket...)

Thanks for the tips!

We're staying in Peurto Vallarta at an all-inclusive, so I'm assuming that there shouldn't be any tp issues there?

The only thing about the water that I was warned about at work was not to buy beer from a guy on the beach. The resort should take pretty good care of their water and beverages.

Yeah ... taco stands? I don't think I'd even buy a hot dog from a vendor in New York!

I'm not sure about everyone else that's going (there's 38 people going), but I think we'll be on the resort most of the time.

I hope I don't get sick ... I was told to bring some immodium just in case. Oh well, if I do it'll be a typical vacation!

We stopped in Peurto Vallarta when we went on a Mexican Riviera cruise and we went to the Hooters restaurant for a drink. One of the pretty waitresses asked my brother and cousin if they wanted to do a shot and so they went to the bar. All of a sudden the Tequila song comes blaring on the speakers and all the girls come out clapping their hands. They bring down a rope from the rafters, string my brother up by his ankles, spin him around, give him a shot of Tequila, spin him around some more, and then bring him down.

Let's just say that my brother gets sick watching movies. This didn't do well for his stomach.

-K

yeah, at a resort... consider it canada.

no water, food, or toilet issues.

~ng

So? how was the vacation K?

photos?

...jim

I was instantly reminded of Madonna's memorable tune, which I've been known to sing while inebriated. My fantasy boyfriend doesn't like it when I do that. ("fantasy "meaning he exists but is not my boyfriend).

Hey!

The vacation was wonderful! It was unbelievably hot down there - like 34 degrees every day (which gets to be a bit much when heat rashes start to affect you!). But it was a lot of fun - there were 39 people and it was great to get to know everyone a bit better.

We went sailing with the whales, on the Marigalante pirate ship, and my boyfriend went on ziplines from tree to tree in some Mexican jungle. Other than that there was kayaking, swimming, beaching, pooling, shopping, and of course the wedding! Some friends of ours got married down there and it was such a beautiful wedding ... it was held in a garden next to the hotel that overlooked the beach.

As for pictures, we'll see if I can post some somewhere - I don't have internet at home, so it's a little difficult!

Anyway, thanks for asking - and thanks for the tips!

Kristilyn