Hi Everyone! I'm headed with my family (kids are 3 and 6) to the Catalonia Yucatan for 7 nights this January and it will be our first trip to Mexico. I have a few newbie questions. Should I bring pesos with us vs buy there? How much should we bring? Given that we are staying on resort do we need any travel vaccinations? If so - which ones?
Thank you in advance for your guidance!

We didn't need vaccinations ,but we got twinrix awhile ago , we took American money and tipped with American we got some pesos but not a lot as we used American on everything !

Change your money down there at their banks. Much better rate.

You can use your debit cards also

I made sure to get my twinrix vaccines before heading down. I got my pesos down there

I got some pesos here and got the rest out there. Love the Catalonia resort it's small enough you get to know lots of people and the entertainment staff is fantastic. The lagoon is great for the kids and you can see all the fish right from the shore. We got twinrix before we went.

Use pesos so as not to mistaken for an American, they will treat you better unless you are from Quebec

I have had "Montazumas Revenge" twice. The second time I had the oral vaccine and still got sick

Twinrix very important.

Our "travel pharmacist" at Shoppers also told us to take Dukoral (sp?).

Tip in pesos
Twinrex
Probiotics and gravol and rehydration power like gatorade
Get extra cash once you are down there from atms

Thanks so much everyone! Another newbie question - where can I get Twinrix? Or dukarol?

You can go to walk in clinics or talk to your to your family doctor, dukarol not sure I am sure you can ask a pharmacist

Get both!!!!

Not all doctors will give twinrex, check first

No no we live in Mexico just use your debit card at the Banks in Mexico you get a much better rate of exchange. Just make sure to take larger amounts out and keep in safe so your not doing daily withdraws. We have no fees as we deal with Hsbc there's also Scotia Bank etc

Can I ask too please we are going to the riviera maya me and 3 kids. What would be a good amount to have and I keep hearing use US over pesos and then the other way around

We always tip in us, we always about 350 to 400 , we use the visa if we do day trips

Always better to use Pesos if you use dollars your exchange rate is less. They price in U.S. because they use to want U.S. dollars but now with Bank restrictions etc Pesos is better. If you are at an All inclusive you will not need much at all. And it will depend if your doing tours. If I had more of those answers I could give you a better response. The Good news tbe Peso to Canadian dollar is highest it's ever been

Ok see I was told not to use US as they don't like to convert over as it's harder for them to then if u tip in pasos

May that is correct . They lose if you tip U.S. due to exchange. It use to be they liked U.S. dollars but times have changed due to banking restrictions on having U.S. accounts etc for them plus Bank fees are really high in Mexico

Yea I bought some pesos today $200 got $3000 pesos I'm staying at an all inclusive hotel but wanna go out and see everything lol so trying to figure out when and where to buy the excursions and all that but wanna take the right amount and money with me.. so what do u pay in pesos then for tips

you can pay for day trips at the hotel we used our visa

May why not just use your Atm card for cash much easier
About 15 % or more if your impressed. Room maid , some people leave 20 to 50 pesos on pillow each day.
Better to tip daily because you will get amazing service.

I guess I like to do things the hard way lol

Then bring Canadian not U.S. because you don't want to pay exchange twice. Once for American and again for Pesos. Just Canadian but your rate at exchange booths are lower then bank rate.

Ok

Thank u so much

And how much would u tip in then in pesos

Hello Debbie tender
Wanted to ask when u buy tours on the resort do u pay in pesos or US and would it be cheaper to buy here or there

May in Mexico everyone MUST take Pesos. But you can pay with Credit Card too. Buy Tours here because ypu may change plans or weather or maybe it's an off day. It's better

Ok so when buying the tours you pay in pesos

May you can also pay in U.S if you want or Credit Card your Choice.

And what do u pay for tipping in pesos like how much per thing

May 15 % or more if you want. Just add 15 % If it's 100 Pesos then 115 Pesos etc .

Also if we are just going from the airport to the hotel with a transfer by air transat - do we need to bring a car seat for our 3yr old?

It's usually a bus where they take groups to the hotel so we never brought one

Yes if you want a car seat they don't provide them and many here still don't use them.

Sorry Jennifer for taking over ur post

No problem at all! I'm sure I could benefit from the info as well!

I am very sensitive to montezumas revenge. I don't eat any fresh fruit or veggies when there. Some people are OK but because both are grown and watered with local water sometimes it's grown into the produce. Just a caution!

Are there generally atm machines at the all inclusive resorts now or do you have to go into town to do currency exchanges!

Pretty much all Resorts

Dukoral for sure. I've been going to mexico for 20 years and I swear by it. Will save you from getting ready sick. Hepatitis vaccines for sure. Get your peso down there

Is Dukoral by perscription?

We stayed in the same hotel just 2 weeks ago. They accept credit cards mainly. In playa del Carmen- US dollars and pesos.

How did you find the hotel?