Winter in Mexico instead of Thailand, what is it?

I remember in a post about that, where else to go instead of Thailand, we were asked if we were considering Mexico as a country for wintering and Latin America in general. Although we did not think about it, it would be interesting to find out ourselves for the general development. And then our readers decided to write a useful and capacious guest post, regarding how this country can spend the winter, how much money is needed, and so on. The only thing I want to note is that, after all, the visa difficulties that arose in Thailand have not yet influenced those who decided to go there for the winter..

Many, many are now going to Asia for a long time. Until recently, Thailand was the favorite country until visa problems began. Now many are thinking where to while away half a year or a year, or even more. And what if in Mexico, towards which more and more travelers are looking?

At one time, we ourselves thought about it. We have already been to Thailand, spent several months there, during which we fell in love with the country, so much so that they even wanted to fly there for a second winter. However, curiosity and fear of problems won out, so they opted for Mexico. Now, after seven months, we can say with full confidence that it is no worse and we have not lost.

In order not to be unfounded, I propose to consider the main points that are taken into account when choosing a country for wintering and traveling.

The content of the article

The cost of the flight from Russia to Mexico

This is the very first and most important question. On average, if you buy tickets more or less in advance and monitor prices, you can fly to Mexico from Moscow for about 20,000 rubles per person. At the same time, the price of the air ticket will be lower if you fly with a transfer, for example, in New York (keep in mind that you will need an American visa). This is exactly how we flew: in January 2014, one-way tickets for two cost us 37,000 rubles. They were bought in advance, in August. If you buy tickets for a month or even less, then the price of a flight with a stopover or even several flights can fly up to 30,000 rubles per person.

A direct flight will cost much more. As far as I know, direct flights are offered only on the Moscow-Cancun route and a ticket costs about 40-50 thousand rubles.

So what do we have? In the best case scenario, tickets «There and back again» for one person with an interval of, say, six months will cost plus or minus 40,000 rubles.

Perhaps the cost of the flight is one of the main disadvantages of Mexico in comparison with the same Thailand..

Visa issue

In terms of getting and staying, Mexico is almost an ideal country. Here she gives Thailand and all of Asia a hundred points ahead! Firstly, everyone who wants to go to the country of cacti can get into it by electronic permission. It is issued literally within five minutes online, and completely free of charge. Such a permit gives the right to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days..

Secondly, you can get a Mexican visa without any problems. It costs 36 dollars, is issued in about a week, there are practically no refusals. A visa can be issued for six months or for 10 years (depending on what amount of income you specify). It also gives the right to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days without interruption..

Thirdly, the Mexican border can be crossed with a US visa. This is especially convenient for those who want to visit both countries in one trip..

The number of days that a tourist can stay in the country is indicated in the migration card. When you fill out this document, you yourself indicate how long you want to stay in Mexico. But the border guard will still ask you personally how many days you need. You can say 180 without any fear. If they write less (which practically does not happen), it will be possible to extend it to six months in the migration service.

In order to extend your stay in the country after the end of the first term, you need to leave for any other country. These can be neighboring States, Guatemala, Honduras, South American countries, etc. The minimum period after which you can return to Mexico is not specified anywhere, that is, even on the same day.

The only thing worth considering: if you plan to get to Mexico with an electronic permit, you can do this only by air, you will not be allowed through the ground crossing.

Visa for Mexico

What is the country famous for - the main attractions

You can talk about the sights of Mexico for a very long time! The country is diverse and it will definitely not be bored, some Mexicans are worth something))

Among the main attractions are:

  • vibrant colonial cities

San Miguel de Allende

Guanajuato

San Cristobal de Las Casas

  • ancient pyramids

Palenque pyramids

Pyramids of Monte Alban

  • luxury resorts

Cancun (Caribbean)

Puerto Angel (Pacific Ocean)

  • unique cenotes

Cenote of Samul

  • majestic volcanoes

Volcano Popocatepetl

  • National parks

Jerve el Agua Park

  • the most interesting museums (for amateurs)

House-Museum of Olga Costa and Jose Chavez Morado

And that's not all!

Winter in Mexico

Mexico is very diverse and everyone will find a place to their liking. Water lovers can settle on the shores of the Caribbean Sea (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Akumal) or the Pacific Ocean (Puerto Escondido, Acapulco, Puerto Angel). Those who do not have a great love for the seas and oceans will find many cozy towns that are very convenient for life (San Miguel, Guanajuato, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca, Morelia and many others). Fans of metropolitan areas can settle in the capital of Mexico City or in the second largest city - Guadalajara.

Accommodation options and prices

Almost all possible housing options are represented in Mexico. In every city you can find many hostels and hotels for every taste and budget. On average, prices for normal rooms start from 250-300 pesos (750-900 rubles). However, for those who are going to live in Mexico for a long time, hotels are not the best option. Apartments or houses, which can be found on the notorious Airbnb website, are much more suitable. In coastal cities, prices are higher and a simple apartment will cost from 5,000-6,000 pesos (15,000-18,000 rubles), and it is unlikely that it will be near the sea. Houses are even more expensive.

In other small towns, an apartment can be rented from 4500-5000 pesos. For example, we are currently renting an apartment in Oaxaca with a bedroom, a living room and a kitchen for 4300 pesos / 13000 rubles (with a discount from the owner for an old friendship).

As you can imagine, it is difficult to set an upper limit in prices, for example, in Mexico City, prices for cool apartments are estimated at thousands of dollars..

On average, budget travelers who have relevant requests can target 13,000 - 18,000 rubles per month for long-term accommodation.

The room for 800 rubles per day, in which we lived in Guanajuato

Internet quality

In general, in Mexico, the Internet works so-so. Often the speed is lame, which is why pages in browsers load slowly, movies download with a scratch, etc. etc. But the situation can change significantly from place to place. So before renting a house for a long time, do your best to check the Internet..

Food: general characteristics and prices

Food in Mexico is quite varied, however, most dishes are based on beans, vegetables, meat and corn tortillas. Based on this simple set, Mexicans manage to cook dozens of a wide variety of dishes. It will be very problematic for vegetarians to eat in Mexican cafes and restaurants, since meat is almost everywhere..

Mexican food is nowhere near as spicy as it is commonly believed. Most of the dishes are not spicy at all, but there are always sauces on the table for those who like to make food. «hotter».

Fruits and vegetables are plentiful, especially in winter, although the selection is not as exotic as in Asia. You can buy them in any market or supermarket..

About prices. Average check for lunch at «local cafe for Mexicans» 40-50 pesos per person (120-150 rubles). These local cafes offer «comida bullfight» - something like our business lunch with first, second, drink and dessert. In a simple restaurant, you will have to pay about 70-80 pesos for a dish, in a cool restaurant - 150-200 pesos. In general, prices are the same throughout the country except for the coolest tourist areas in Mexican resorts..

Street food: tacos (stuffed corn tortilla) cost 5 to 10 pesos, corn (cob) 10-20 pesos, quesadilla (cheese tortilla) 10-15 pesos.

Food on the market

Transport and prices for moving around the country

Transport links in Mexico are well developed. By bus you can get to almost anywhere in the country, even the most remote village. The only thing that confuses is that the transfers are quite expensive. For example, a night trip by a first class bus will cost about 400-550 pesos (1200-1650 rubles) per person. On average, an hour of travel on a first-class bus costs 70-100 pesos, on second-class buses - cheaper, sometimes twice, or even more.

Of the minuses, I can also voice the fact that there is no way to rent a bike, as in Thailand. Nobody drives them with very rare exceptions. Bicycles also do not give up at every turn. Everyone uses buses and taxis. Travel by city bus costs 18-24 rubles, by taxi around the city - 90-150 rubles.

Weather (seasons)

In principle, you can live in Mexico all year round without experiencing much discomfort. The winter months are dry and hot, spring also pleases with good weather, only from May it starts to upset with rains (however, once at a time it is not necessary - you can do without them). Summer is officially the rainy season in Mexico, but this does not mean that they go around the clock. For weeks they may not be at all, only a gloomy sky will remind of «off-season». In autumn the weather is changeable - it can often rain, but by November everything will stabilize. As you can see, everything is fine with the weather..

Rains in San Cristobal

Infrastructure development

In terms of infrastructure in Mexico, I did not observe any problems. In every more or less large city, and even more so in those that are visited by tourists, there is a market (most often not even one), supermarkets with a good selection of food and household items (Chedraui, MEGA, Soriana), small shops (7 -eleven, OXXO).

Within walking distance from the place of residence, there are always cafes with a comida-corrida, tako (cafes specializing in tacos), and unpretentious restaurants. Food in Mexico is everywhere, with rare exceptions, which can be, for example, urban outskirts and less busy areas.

People in Mexico - what they are?

Mexicans, like any people, are different. But for the most part they are kind, sympathetic, friendly, sociable, smiling, lazy and plump..

In terms of people, Mexico is a very comfortable country: there is no negativity or sense of danger, which is very important. I will add that in more than six months I have not seen a single drunk Mexican.

One of the big advantages is that tourists are not cheated. Going, for example, to the market, you can be sure that everything will be calculated for you at the same prices as for the local.

Mexicans

Mexicans

How common is English

There is a problem with the English language. Without knowledge of Spanish, there is nothing to do in Mexico, unless, of course, you are not going to sit around in a hotel in Cancun. At the resorts, people still speak English somehow, and even then they are reluctant.

Hence the conclusion: before traveling to Mexico, you will have to master at least a basic level of Mexican Spanish (it is slightly different from pure Spanish).

Safety

Situations are different, and you can be unlucky in any country, even on the doorstep of your own home at home. During the seven months that we have already lived in Mexico, we have not encountered anything that could be classified as dangerous. In the dark, we walk calmly (of course, not along the gateways), we move between cities without fear, we have not heard about the murders in those places where we have been. Our friends who have been to Mexico say the same..

In any case, compliance with minimum precautions is necessary in any unfamiliar country..

Dangerous Andryusiks

Sanitary conditions in the country, are vaccinations needed

No special vaccinations are required for Mexico. However, if you are very worried, you can get vaccinated against hepatitis A and typhoid fever..

Sanitary conditions differ from place to place: somewhere to shine is clean, somewhere on the streets there is garbage (in Mexico there is a problem with trash cans, so often pieces of paper, cups, wrappers are laid out on window sills, stuffed into fences, etc.). Overall, the Indian country is cleaner than many places in Asia..

In terms of food: who cooks and how, I do not spy, but the dishes are usually clean, and indigestion does not bother. Well, everyone already knows that you need to wash fruits and vegetables))

Sheboldasik and street food. Unsanitary conditions?

Average monthly budget

I will draw a conclusion about the monthly budget based on personal experience..

We traveled together (Sheboldasik and Andryusiks) from January to July 2014. As always, we adhered to the mode of reasonable economy. We moved around the country exclusively by buses. For the first six months, we actively got to know the country, so we moved from city to city about once every one to two weeks. Dined in a cafe (komida-bullfight), had breakfast and dinner at home. We visited sights, but not all of them (about two, maximum three times a week - pyramids, museums, city walks, cenotes or something like that). In this mode, we spent 40,000 - 45,000 rubles a month (plus or minus 5,000).

Now we live in the same city (Oaxaca), without moving and traveling to distant attractions, and we spend about 30,000 rubles a month.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Mexico is more than a suitable country for wintering and long-term residence. It can be a great alternative to the Asian direction. Yes, life in Mexico is a little more expensive, but not critical. The high cost of the flight will be smoothed out by the absence of the need to pay for the solution of visa problems, making flights or departures to neighboring countries. We lived in Thailand and Mexico, and I can confidently assure that both countries are good! However, one must understand that they are very different..

Mexico is good people, delicious food, a gorgeous list of attractions, great weather - isn't that enough??

Sumidero Canyon, Mexico

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