Travelling on a budget can be tricky, especially if you want to see and experience everything a new city or country has to offer during your stay. The great news is you don’t need a trust fund to go on the trip of a lifetime, backpackers like us can whittle down their budget to just £30 a day.
With this in mind, here are three simple tips to make your money go further in Mexico whether you’re backpacking or beach hopping.
# 1 – Find the Hidden Gems
If you know your stuff, Mexico can be one of the cheapest backpacking locations in the Americas. First-timers in the country may be tempted by the well-known tourist destinations such as Cancun and Los Cabos. However, the picturesque white sand beaches and luxury resorts here come at a cost.
You can experience more culture and beautiful scenery for less by avoiding these tourist destinations and visiting cheaper parts of Mexico. And you won’t have to share it with half as many people!
If you want to save a few pounds, seek out places that are located off the beaten track and experience all that Mexico has to offer without paying inflated prices. Avoiding tourist traps in favour of less popular areas can save you a heap of money and help you save before you even get on the plane. Try hidden gems like Loreto, Guanajuato, Zipolite, Patzcuaro and Todas Santos, and plan a trip that complements your budget.
# 2 - Eat Like a Local
Food is going to take up a large part of your budget while in Mexico so it’s important to keep an eye on your level of spending in this area.
Rather than eating out in fancy restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, limit yourself to a certain number of restaurant visits per week and take some tips from the locals to help you save a few pennies along the way. Street food and market stalls are a great place to source delicious food that won’t break the bank.
Referred to as antojitos, which translates to little cravings, Mexican street food includes everything from tacos and tostadas to enchiladas and quesadillas.
Mexico City is home to some of the cheapest and tastiest street food around and you can find some of the most delicious pambazos at the Sullivan Market on James Sullivan Avenue between Manuel María Contreras and Rosas Moreno. Prefer Tacos? Head to Río Nilo at the corner with Paseo de la Reforma, Colonia Cuauhtémoc. You can expect to pay around Mex$8 a taco. Saving money on food allows you to spend more of your budget on activities and experiences that you will remember for a lifetime – plus the locals always know where to find the tastiest food!
# 3 - Research Your Stay and Save
When planning a trip to Mexico, you can choose to stay in all kinds of properties from hostels to luxury beachfront condos. However, travelling on a budget doesn’t automatically mean you have to limit yourself to staying in a basic hostel.
Staying in one place rather than travelling around can save you money as you don’t have to spend your budget on getting from one place to another. HomeAway offers a range of affordable apartments throughout Mexico, especially if you’re planning on staying for a month or more and some hostels will even offer discounts if you book multiple nights in advance. Alternatively, if you bring your own hammock, many hostels and guest houses will let you string up for a fraction of the price!
So, there you have it, if you are travelling to Mexico on a shoestring, these three tips will help you to make your money go further.
