Adopt the Local Lifestyle While Visiting Mexico (& Save Money!)

Traveling down south and staying in an all inclusive resort for the entire stay is a totally different experience  then actually immersing yourself into the Mexican culture and lifestyle. Continue reading to find out about the advantages of adopting the local lifestyle in Mexico, what it looks like to do so, and my advice through my personal experiences.

Why Adopt the Mexican Lifestyle

There are numerous advantages to adopting the lifestyle of the country you are visiting. First and foremost, you can save a lot of money doing so. Buying typical "North-American" products that are imported can cost much more than the local products. For example, a jar of peanut butter that would be just under $3.00 CAD in Canada, would be almost equivalent to $12.00 CAD in Mexico. Here is a list of things that are more expensive in Mexico.  Also, buying imported items does not do much in terms of contributing to the local economy of the country you are visiting. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how Mexican's do things, develop a new cultural perspective and try new things. This in itself is priceless and may be helpful when interacting with Mexicans in the future. Lastly, Mexicans generally have a laid-back and fun lifestyle, this type of approach is perfect for enjoyable travels.

How to Live Like a Mexican

Mexico has a unique, beautiful culture. Inform yourself in advance about the cultural differences to be better prepared upon your arrival. The first thing you need to know is that your hotel tour guide will probably tell you to avoid leaving the resort for safety reasons and that they offer the best tour prices. This is not always true, many places in Mexico are safe even outside tourist zones and it is always better to shop around for tour prices. Additionally, this may come to most as a surprise but Mexico has a world class public transit system. This is because many Mexicans rely on public transit to get places. City buses are generally much more affordable, comfortable and reliable than in Canada. For any distances that are not walkable, taking the bus is an ideal option. Next, the food in Mexico is extremely affordable compared to food in Canada, you should not be paying even remotely close to Canadian prices when eating out in Mexico. Ask locals where they like to eat or choose a restaurant that is not filled with tourists. Lastly, ditch your Canadian phone plan for the length of your stay. It is common knowledge that Canadians already pay some of the highest rates for mobility plans, and that there are additional charges linked with international travel. You can temporarily switch your SIM card for a pre-paid phone plan at any gas station in Mexico to avoid absurd charges. 

My personal experiences

I have an advantage when integrating myself into the culture in Mexico since my dad was born there. However, I have experience traveling with non-Mexican friends and adopting the local lifestyle together. More recently, I visited Cabo San Lucas with my Canadian friend Émilie and we spent a total of $70 CAD each (not including flight and accommodations) during our week stay. We did this by eating outside of the tourist zone, seeking recommendations from locals, using public transportation for long distance travel, bargaining with vendors and paying using Mexican currency. The fact that I spoke Spanish was also very helpful, although many Mexicans speak English in tourist cities and in Mexico City, they will appreciate that you know their mother tongue. Mexicans are very friendly, if you take the time to have a conversation with them and to get to know them, they will be extremely inclined to help you out. Émilie and I befriended a tour guide that we are still in contact with to this day.

In conclusion, there are many ways you can avoid breaking the bank while enjoying traveling to a new destination. These methods will not only help you save money but they will allow you to live life the way a Mexican would and hopefully allow you to make new friends .

P.S. All beach side properties in Mexico are considered public property this means that you are allowed to visit any beach in the country.