Need some advice on Mexico Travel

hugheskevi

clarkyson said:

DullGreyGuy said:

clarkyson said:
 I don't like that crowded place. Are you familiar with the Spanish language? I am kind of concerned, as most of them speak Spanish only. .  

Personally can only speak a few phrases, like ordering a beer, but have no idea what a reply will be if it isn't "yes" however wife is a native speaker. Obviously spent a lot of time together in our time there (went several times over Covid for months at a time) but clearly didn't spend 24/7 together and managed to get by ok. 

Mobile coverage is ok so ultimately Google Translate or Google Maps to show a taxi driver where I want to go if they don't get my pronunciation etc. 

On my own prices increase notably in taxis and other places without a published price list (still less than London). Wife can pass for a local so gets charged a lot less but surprisingly the cheapest prices are when we are together, as long as I don't open my mouth. 

My wife is suggesting getting a local guide. I'm in a kind of dilemma about whether it's a good idea given the extra cost. What do you suggest? 

It isn't necessary to have a guide, assuming you are just planning to stay around the Cancun / Playa / Tulum area and the nearby Yucatan. The whole area is crawling with tourists and has all the associated infrastructure. English is widely spoken.

Look at things like Get Your Guide for tours, either to book the tours themselves (they all pick up and drop off at hotel), or for ideas if you plan to hire a car. There are plenty of local buses and longer distance coaches (ADO is a good company and has an English app) up and down the road between Cancun and Tulum if you prefer public transport.

DullGreyGuy

clarkyson said:

DullGreyGuy said:

clarkyson said:
 I don't like that crowded place. Are you familiar with the Spanish language? I am kind of concerned, as most of them speak Spanish only. .  

Personally can only speak a few phrases, like ordering a beer, but have no idea what a reply will be if it isn't "yes" however wife is a native speaker. Obviously spent a lot of time together in our time there (went several times over Covid for months at a time) but clearly didn't spend 24/7 together and managed to get by ok. 

Mobile coverage is ok so ultimately Google Translate or Google Maps to show a taxi driver where I want to go if they don't get my pronunciation etc. 

On my own prices increase notably in taxis and other places without a published price list (still less than London). Wife can pass for a local so gets charged a lot less but surprisingly the cheapest prices are when we are together, as long as I don't open my mouth. 

My wife is suggesting getting a local guide. I'm in a kind of dilemma about whether it's a good idea given the extra cost. What do you suggest? 

You haven't said what you are into or interested in.

If you are going to any of the places mentioned by most so far they have established tourist infrastructure, its not hard to get about, there are tons of day trips/tours etc available from the main squares in the city centre etc. Yes those tours are bit pricy for locals but prices can be negotiated and your on holiday etc. 

Now if you are really into mezcal or handwoven rugs etc then yes doing a lot of research before or hiring a local specialist guide may be better than being taken to the standard tourist tours where you've paid to be on it but the weaving factory has also paid them to choose them. 

If you were going way out into the sticks then maybe someone could be more useful, that said in the villa we rented in Oaxaca the neighbour was an older US guy who was illegally living in Mexico. Couldn't say much more than please, thank you and beer but had lived in a small village for the last 3 years where no one spoke English... probably not the happiest times of his life but he got by, though did prefer the bigger city and the fact there were some English speakers there. 

clarkyson

DullGreyGuy said:

clarkyson said:

DullGreyGuy said:

clarkyson said:
 I don't like that crowded place. Are you familiar with the Spanish language? I am kind of concerned, as most of them speak Spanish only. .  

Personally can only speak a few phrases, like ordering a beer, but have no idea what a reply will be if it isn't "yes" however wife is a native speaker. Obviously spent a lot of time together in our time there (went several times over Covid for months at a time) but clearly didn't spend 24/7 together and managed to get by ok. 

Mobile coverage is ok so ultimately Google Translate or Google Maps to show a taxi driver where I want to go if they don't get my pronunciation etc. 

On my own prices increase notably in taxis and other places without a published price list (still less than London). Wife can pass for a local so gets charged a lot less but surprisingly the cheapest prices are when we are together, as long as I don't open my mouth. 

My wife is suggesting getting a local guide. I'm in a kind of dilemma about whether it's a good idea given the extra cost. What do you suggest? 

You haven't said what you are into or interested in.

If you are going to any of the places mentioned by most so far they have established tourist infrastructure, its not hard to get about, there are tons of day trips/tours etc available from the main squares in the city centre etc. Yes those tours are bit pricy for locals but prices can be negotiated and your on holiday etc. 

Now if you are really into mezcal or handwoven rugs etc then yes doing a lot of research before or hiring a local specialist guide may be better than being taken to the standard tourist tours where you've paid to be on it but the weaving factory has also paid them to choose them. 

If you were going way out into the sticks then maybe someone could be more useful, that said in the villa we rented in Oaxaca the neighbour was an older US guy who was illegally living in Mexico. Couldn't say much more than please, thank you and beer but had lived in a small village for the last 3 years where no one spoke English... probably not the happiest times of his life but he got by, though did prefer the bigger city and the fact there were some English speakers there. 

We would love to check out the authentic culture and traditions of the place, rather than following a generic tourist itinerary. I don’t like to feel like I’m being manipulated by the tour operators or the vendors just by doing normal touristy things. In addition to that, we would like to explore some hidden gems if possible. 

clarkyson

hugheskevi said:

clarkyson said:

DullGreyGuy said:

clarkyson said:
 I don't like that crowded place. Are you familiar with the Spanish language? I am kind of concerned, as most of them speak Spanish only. .  

Personally can only speak a few phrases, like ordering a beer, but have no idea what a reply will be if it isn't "yes" however wife is a native speaker. Obviously spent a lot of time together in our time there (went several times over Covid for months at a time) but clearly didn't spend 24/7 together and managed to get by ok. 

Mobile coverage is ok so ultimately Google Translate or Google Maps to show a taxi driver where I want to go if they don't get my pronunciation etc. 

On my own prices increase notably in taxis and other places without a published price list (still less than London). Wife can pass for a local so gets charged a lot less but surprisingly the cheapest prices are when we are together, as long as I don't open my mouth. 

My wife is suggesting getting a local guide. I'm in a kind of dilemma about whether it's a good idea given the extra cost. What do you suggest? 

It isn't necessary to have a guide, assuming you are just planning to stay around the Cancun / Playa / Tulum area and the nearby Yucatan. The whole area is crawling with tourists and has all the associated infrastructure. English is widely spoken.

Look at things like Get Your Guide for tours, either to book the tours themselves (they all pick up and drop off at hotel), or for ideas if you plan to hire a car. There are plenty of local buses and longer distance coaches (ADO is a good company and has an English app) up and down the road between Cancun and Tulum if you prefer public transport.

Hugh, I was looking for the ado app you've mentioned, but can't find it. Any link for that? Btw I have found one good article about Mexican places https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-mexico-vacations. Will combine the suggested places on that article and suggested places here. I have also talked with a guide https://gowithguide.com/mexico/guides They also gave me a quote. Time to compare the prices from other places for better rate. 

hugheskevi

clarkyson said:

hugheskevi said:

clarkyson said:

DullGreyGuy said:

clarkyson said:
 I don't like that crowded place. Are you familiar with the Spanish language? I am kind of concerned, as most of them speak Spanish only. .  

Personally can only speak a few phrases, like ordering a beer, but have no idea what a reply will be if it isn't "yes" however wife is a native speaker. Obviously spent a lot of time together in our time there (went several times over Covid for months at a time) but clearly didn't spend 24/7 together and managed to get by ok. 

Mobile coverage is ok so ultimately Google Translate or Google Maps to show a taxi driver where I want to go if they don't get my pronunciation etc. 

On my own prices increase notably in taxis and other places without a published price list (still less than London). Wife can pass for a local so gets charged a lot less but surprisingly the cheapest prices are when we are together, as long as I don't open my mouth. 

My wife is suggesting getting a local guide. I'm in a kind of dilemma about whether it's a good idea given the extra cost. What do you suggest? 

It isn't necessary to have a guide, assuming you are just planning to stay around the Cancun / Playa / Tulum area and the nearby Yucatan. The whole area is crawling with tourists and has all the associated infrastructure. English is widely spoken.

Look at things like Get Your Guide for tours, either to book the tours themselves (they all pick up and drop off at hotel), or for ideas if you plan to hire a car. There are plenty of local buses and longer distance coaches (ADO is a good company and has an English app) up and down the road between Cancun and Tulum if you prefer public transport.

Hugh, I was looking for the ado app you've mentioned, but can't find it. Any link for that? Btw I have found one good article about Mexican places https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-mexico-vacations. Will combine the suggested places on that article and suggested places here. I have also talked with a guide https://gowithguide.com/mexico/guides They also gave me a quote. Time to compare the prices from other places for better rate. 

It is "ADO Boletos de Autobus" in Google Play. Looking at the app, I may have misremembered it having an English option, but it is all very straightforward anyway as it is just buying coach tickets, and if in any doubt then you can just use the photo option on Google Translate.

My wife and I spent £111 per day (in total for both of us including travel, accommodation, and excursions, but excl. flights and insurance) traveling just under 2 months from the north of Mexico to the south and going to all the tourist activities along the route. I'd class that as a mid-range budget, eg, staying in apartments, eating out once a day, and traveling on coaches.

Your problem will be the sheer size of Mexico - away from the Yucatan, getting between places takes a very long time so you will be very limited where you can go unless you have a long time.

clarkyson

Yeah, looks like that app is in Spanish. Google Translate will suffice that.  We were planning for a two-week trip, maybe we can extend it to three weeks.