Cancun Travel Tips

Cancun is one of the easiest cities in Mexico to get to and navigate. It is also one of the safest. Cancun is a young city that developed almost predominantly as a vacation getaway on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. For this reason, coming to Cancun is a lot simpler than heading to other cities or areas in Mexico. Even still, here are some travel tips to keep in mind while you are visiting Cancun, whether it's just for a day on a cruise ship vacation or for longer.

For one thing, while it is generally safe to drink these days, try avoiding tap water as much as possible even if it is filtered. Bottled water is easily found anywhere you go and is much safer.

When using Mexican currency, make sure you keep the bills whole. The country has strict laws concerning the defacement of currency. If someone at an establishment goes to offer you a bill that is torn or in any way defaced, simply ask them for another bill.

While Cancun is a very safe city, it is always smartest to stay with a group. Avoid walking the streets by yourself whether it's during the day or at night.

Be wary of cars and other vehicles on the road. Pedestrians do not have the right of way in Cancun, so make sure to let the cars have the road and cross with utmost caution.

Since it is such a popular tourist destination, most businesses in Cancun accept American dollars. Many travelers say that it is a good idea to convert small amounts of American cash dollars into Mexican pesos. This is because sometimes travelers get overcharged when paying with American dollars. Either way, the overcharge is not an exorbitant amount and it is usually fine to use American dollars.

When taking taxis, make sure to establish the rate for that particular taxi cab in advance. Taxi cab drivers are known to overcharge tourists. Cab drivers do not expect to be tipped like in other places, but if you feel like your driver did a fine job, it's not rude to offer them a tip.

As far as other tipping mores go, hotel staff and room service are generally tipped. Restaurants, bars and nightclubs do expect tips.