Travel Details

ATMS & CASH

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• Always let your bank know prior to arriving when you will be in Mexico and ask about extra fees they may have. I think this goes without saying but, opt to take money out of legit looking "brand named" ATMs, rather than the sketchy random no-name ATMs. The ATMs attached to banks are often a good bet. 

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• As previously mentioned, you may want to get some pesos (remember $50 dollars = ~900 Pesos) out at the ATMs in the airport if you are arriving from the US. Downtown, in the area also called the “Romantic Zone,” where most of the tourist action occurs, there are many banks and ATMs to choose from. 

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• Many nicer, tourist oriented places in PV accept USD. If using your card, use a credit card, never a debit.

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• PRO TIP:  Mexico is a cash economy, so if you wish to eat at cute local restaurants, taco stands etc, which we highly recommend, you should always have a little cash on you. It’s about 19 pesos to 1 dollar. Wherever in the world we are, we never take out more than $200 at a time, and never have more than that on us at any given time. We use it until we run out, then hit up another ATM. Of course, our bank doesn’t charge us extra fees and reimburses all our ATM fees; but this is not the case with every bank – it's best to find out first from your bank rather than get hit with surprise fees.

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HEALTH

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• Drink only bottled water. Agua mineral or agua con gas means mineral or carbonated water, and agua purificada means purified water. Don't fret about ice: Tourist-oriented hotels and restaurants, and even most of those geared toward the locals, use purified water for ice, drinks, and washing vegetables. Many alleged cases of food poisoning are due instead to hangovers or excessive drinking in the strong sun. But whenever you're in doubt, ask questions about the origins of food and water and, if you feel unsure, err on the side of safety.

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• In Mexico the biggest health risk is turista (traveler's diarrhea), caused by consuming contaminated fruit, vegetables, or water. To minimize risks, avoid questionable-looking street stands and if you're not sure of a restaurant's standards, pass up ceviche (raw fish cured in lemon juice) and raw vegetables that haven't been peeled (or that can't be peeled, like lettuce and tomatoes).

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• There are pharmacies galore in PV that sell any kind of medication you are looking for; if you start to feel sick, our recommendation is to purchase a z-pack (azithromycin antibiotics), zofran (ondansetron) for nausea, and some good old fashioned electrolytes. We will have some of each on hand too, so let us know and we can get ahold of whatever you need. 

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SAFETY

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• The crime rate in Puerto Vallarta is lower than much of Mexico; it’s one of the main tourist destinations in the country. PV has never had any travel restrictions put on it by countries like the US. As you would do traveling anywhere, avoid common travel scams like pickpocketing and bag snatching by being aware of your surroundings. 

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• Just like traveling to any city, if you want trouble, you can find it by: flaunting your cash, getting drunk and wandering around late at night, leaving bags unattended, staying out till the wee hours of the morning, opting to walk rather than cab home late at night, etc. Common sense, a positive attitude, and self awareness go far, like anywhere in the world. 

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CELL PHONE SERVICE: 

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• When we travel, we turn our phone data off or on airplane mode and only use WIFI to avoid extra costs.

• You can also talk to your provider to if you want to ensure you will have service during your visit. This way you can have access to Google maps, messenger, Uber, etc. Most restaurants and hotels in town have wifi.  Uber is wonderfully convenient here especially if you don’t speak Spanish and want to cut down on cash transactions. 

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TIPPING ETIQUETTE​

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• Puerto Vallarta is a vacation town, so many locals rely on tips to make a good living. Whether you're dining out or going on a party boat, leaving a tip of about 10% is a standard suggestion. But just like anywhere else, larger tips of 15% or even 20% are greatly appreciated.