Can You Drink the Tap Water in Mexico?

Can you drink the tap water in Mexico?

No, tap water in Mexico is not recommended for drinking. While municipal water is often treated, the distribution pipes and storage tanks can introduce contaminants, and visitors' stomachs are not adapted to local microbes, so tap water commonly causes travelers' stomach illness. Stick to bottled or purified water for drinking and for brushing your teeth if you are cautious, and avoid ice unless you know it was made from purified water, though ice at reputable hotels and restaurants in tourist areas is usually purified. Many Mexicans themselves drink purified water from large jugs called garrafones. Bottled and purified water is cheap and everywhere, making this an easy precaution to follow throughout your trip.

What currency is used in Mexico?

Mexico uses the Mexican peso (MXN), shown with the dollar sign, which can confuse US visitors, so note whether a price is in pesos or dollars. In tourist areas near the border, in resort towns, and at some hotels and tours, US dollars are accepted, but you will usually get a poor exchange rate and change in pesos, so pesos are better for value and essential away from tourist zones for markets, small restaurants, and taxis. Cards are accepted in cities and resorts. Withdraw pesos from a bank ATM for a fair rate, choose to be charged in pesos rather than dollars, and use a no-foreign-fee card for larger purchases.

Do you tip in Mexico?

Tipping in Mexico, known as the propina, is customary and important, since many service workers rely on it. In restaurants, a tip of around 10 to 15 percent is standard for good service; check the bill, as some tourist-area restaurants add a service charge. Tip bartenders, hotel housekeeping, porters, tour guides, and the grocery baggers who work for tips only, all small amounts. At all-inclusive resorts, small tips for bartenders and servers are appreciated even though meals are included. Tipping in pesos is ideal, though dollars are accepted in tourist areas. Carrying small peso notes makes it easy to tip the many people who provide friendly service throughout your trip.

What power adapter do you need for Mexico?

You do not need a plug adapter or voltage converter if you are coming from the United States, because Mexico uses the same electrical system. Outlets are Type A and Type B, the standard US flat-prong plugs, on about 127 volts, effectively the same as the US, so your American devices, chargers, and appliances work as they do at home. Visitors from Europe, the UK, Australia, and elsewhere will need a plug adapter for Type A and B outlets and should confirm their devices accept roughly 120-volt input, though most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage and adjust automatically. Older buildings may have ungrounded two-prong outlets, so a plug with two flat pins is safest.