OT, Trip to Mexico.........passport or no?

Ok guys and gals. My wifes family is planning a trip for all of us to Cancun next spring for my inlaws anniversary. We have been told you dont need p***ports? I dont like this idea. We might rent a car for a couple days to get away from the touristy ****. Any ideas on the p***ports Q? Or other input on tripping to Mexico? We are not newbies at this, I have been in Panama and Jamaica (mtns not tourist areas)and Carla has lived for a couple years in Mexico over a decade ago. Just looking for FYI. Thanks

And I dont suppose there is anything Car related around Cancun ?

 

I go down to Progresso every once in awhile(near south padre). Don't need a p***port as far as i know, just id, and we actually had one girl with no id who was mexican, which was a not so good situation in our minds. But the agents there just got a good look at her, wrote some info down and let us go through.
Only problem i've ever had is with the cops. keep ur money where ur staying and only take around a bit of money in ur wallet and some in ur socks, they'll take the stuff in ur wallet and hopefully not check ur socks. we got chased the last time we were there, drunk as all hell i showed customs my military id and they let me and all my friends come across without a word when they saw who was behind us haha.
definately fun to be had down there. good luck and have fun.

 

Yeah, nothing like standing 3 sheets full in a bar in a Jamaican Ghetto with a loaded BAR under your arm. I dont plan on anything like THAT on this trip.

 

If you've got them, bring them.

Never hurts to be prepared.

 

ya, i just recommend not carrying important stuff(other than id) on you 'cause it always ****s losing it and it being stolen.

 

there is a free travel zone, that extends south, but I cant remember how far, We went to Rocky Point this last weekend, had a balst, we do every time. Check and see if I remember right, Can**** is outside the free travel zone, I think you will NEED a p***port. Have fun, Be nice to the Federales! and IF YOU GET PULLED OVER, or told you need to go to "the station" to pay a fine... ask... now you may have to ask several times, "how much would it cost me to pay the fine right here and now"
IT WORKS!

 

Greg, trust me, I know that scam. Too bad I wont have that BAR with me!

 

Mexico doesent require US Citizens to posses a p***port, as long as you are not there to work for a Mexican company. You can even live there with just a valid US photo ID... lived in Baja for a while.

 

If you have the time get p***ports. They are not reqired but can be very helpful. We were trying to cash travellers checks at a Mexican bank and had a helluva time of it. About the only thing we could understandthem saying was "p***port" which we didnt have. We showed them every piece of ID we had and werent getting anywhere until I dug out my Civilian contractor military ID. Bingo. This was in Guadalajara. Have fun I love Mexico, some of the freindliest people in the world.

 

I'm sure it's different now, but I went about 10 years ago.

No P***port, but don't try and look like anything other than a milktoast American tourist in the airport, they search the unusual.

Don't get in an accident. Both drivers go to jail automatically and they figure out who's at fault later.

Use the buses around Cancun... No Really, USE THE BUSES AROUND CANCUN! there is no point in ruining your trip because someone bounced a 15 year old Corolla off your rental car in a grocery store parking lot.

Car stuff is limited to cut down 60's-70's sedans turned into pick-up/flatbed trucks, and tuner type ****. Cancun is for tourists.

Forgive my spelling, but Chitzenitza(?) is cool...

There is a park where you can swim and snorkle in caves that is really nice, I think they even had a "swim with the dolphins" consession there also the hotel people will know what it's called and where it is.

If it's raining, and the ****py "mall" in the middle of the hotel strip is still there, there is a hallway of a bar at one end downstairs... get faced and stumble home in the rain...

The only place I got sick from eating at was Pizza Hut (my friends wife didn't like Mexican food... then why are you here dumb***! she's lucky I was drunk 99.9% of the time.) side note: I took the big MEXI-DUMPtm in their hotel room the next day.

Be nice to hotel staff... Tip well and they will tell you where they go to eat and drink.

Whatever you want to buy, offer half...

Bring home some Bacardi Anejo...

Best part... ******* European college girls, worst part... European middle-aged men wearing man*******.

Use of the term Man*******©2003 Nads

 

Tman...you have a BAR? I have some NFA also...

 

If you're gonna be based outta Cancun, rent a car or charter a mini-bus to make the drive to the ruins in Tulum. On the way there or back, stop to snorkel in the Grand Ceynote (fresh-water underground caves via sinkhole) - $5. Also, along this route is Xel-Ha, which is a big lagoon/water park facility - kinda touristy, but still cool. If nothing else, just make the drive to snorkel the ceynotes - it's amazing.

We went with a group of 10-12 a few years back, and the lady in our hotel chartered a mini-bus and driver for us - we had a cooler full of beer, and this guy drove us around all day for about $100 ($10/person).

On a side note, my brother and 3 friends spent a week in Playa Del Carmen a few years back - low-buck, slept on the beach, etc... Third day there, one guy loses his wallet and cash, ID, etc... They figure he's screwed. Next day one of the locals brought his wallet to them while they were in the local bar eating breakfast... everything was there! They gave him $20 for the good karma.

 

I went there with the wife about five years ago. No p***port required. Just your ID. DO not loose that while you are there though. Do a day trip to Casmel (sp?) and the pyrimid at chitzanitza (sp? chicken pizza!). You will have a great time.

 

I would suggest getting a p***port... it seems as the government in Mexico has been tighting up since 9/11 I was just down there on a fishing trip and was asked for it whenever I was in customs or at the gate. also you never know when the $199 round trip to London trip comes up and you dont have a p***port....

 

I go down to mexico about 3 times a year. Bring your p***ports for the entire family and keep them in a safe place at all times. Carry a color photocopy of your p***port on you instead.

P***ports fetch big bucks down there and the federales and checkpoints have asked to see mine quite a few times. I usually provide my CA driver's license, and if they ask, the color photocopy of my P***port. If they insist on seeing my real one, I must be in trouble.

-Dane

 

Tman...you have a BAR? I have some NFA also...

You two have way too much money then... I held an FFL for about ten years, 'til all that B.B. **** went through. Made it such a h***le to keep the FFL I just dropped it. I think that was part of their plan anyway. I can imagine the ******** you have to go through for NFA.

 

Naw, the BAR belonged to the Jamaican Army. I was just "holding" it for a soldier friend so he could get laid.

 

You don't need a p***port just proof that you are from the good ol' USA. IE Birth Certificate, Voter Registration Card.
and some proof that it is you who is the rightful owner of the Birth Certificate.
You will have to get a Tourist Visa from La Migra, use your birth certificate to get it.
If your staying within 40 Klics of the US border, you don't even need that, but you should ba able to prove who you are.

 

I was just in Cancun a few months ago.

No need for a p***port. Dont take a Cell phone or two way if you have one it wont work. BUY A CALLING CARD for calls back home. I learned this the hard way $500 phone bill later.

1. Yo need to go to COCO BONGO. It is cool as all get out.

2. Also take the dinner cruise to the Island of Women (its not what you think).

3. The jungle tour is great too and its cheep as far as excursions go $30 a person. You get to drive your owne little speed boat through the mangroces.

4. DO NOT RENT A CAR. Take the buss it costs 6 pesos to go anywhere in Cancun.


What resort are you staying in? If its the Blue Bay Getaway its a butiful resort but a little racey if you know what I mean.LOL

I hope you have a great time. I want to go back so bad.

 

if your flyin Tman you need a p***port

 

No you don't. I was just there in May. I was stressfull enough making sure I had my ID, Birth Cert, Plane ticket and all the other BS. Having to keep track of a p***port would just add to it.

Did I mention going to COCO BONGO?

 

but if you had the p***port you wouldnt need the birth cirtificate or id

 

yea you got me there.

 

Ive flown into Mexico City three times with no need for a p***port... just valid photo ID... on both Mexican and US airlines. Also taken quite a few plane trips within Mexico.
BTW- Mexico City is NOT a cool place to visit... but some of the surrounding areas rock.
Spent about 2 or more years of my life in Mexico, off and on- and one year straight (and im a total gringo)... not a bad place... corrupt as could be, but be cool and no worries...

 

While you don't NEED a p***port to go to Mexico, in my opinion if you have the time to get one, do it. It just makes travel anywhere so much easier when you have one. No need to present birth cirtificates which may, or may not, be valid. In order to be valid a birth certificate must have a raised seal on it. Many people get really fouled up on this point.
I agree with many of the responses above, don't rent a car while you are in Cancun as their bus system is as good as any I have seen in the States. In fact, the buses in Cancun are the best deal around. Six pesos and they run all the time up and down the strip. A long wait would be four or five minutes. The drivers will generally let you off where you want to get off not where they feel like letting you off.
Definitely get to Chitzinitza (Sp?). The ruins are spectacular. It boggles the mind to think of what they constructed. The size of the pyramids and the various temples are awe-inspiring. You can get a tour from Cancun (about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive but really worth the cost. Especially so when you take into consideration the cost of driving on their highway. About 15 or 20 bucks and the toll booth is exactly 1/2 way along the highway. So, you pay because it don't make no sense to go back! But, go it is just wonderful. It's too bad that you can't climb the pyramid now, or so I've been told. Does anybody know if this is true?
Tulum is also great and quite a bit closer to Cancun. Again, go on a tour. The guides all speak English and usually will add their own slant to things. Lotsa fun.
Isla Mujeres (the Isle of Women) is okay. However, it was fun to rent the golf cart and ride around the island. Very small and it doesn't take long. There is a rather new hotel on the island that is rated a****st the best small hotels in the world! Sorry, can't remember the name but it shouldn't be hard to find. We had lunch there and it actually was one of the best things we have done while in Mexico (and we have been many times to lots of places). The food was delicious, the service superb and the price modest. I would go back to the island just to go there! Last, the Mexican people are some of the nicest and friendliest people we have met in all of our travels. They seem to just enjoy themselves hosting people that come to their country. But, please don't be an "Ugly American".

 

goodbye SENOR TMAN......been good knowin ya........ good luck have fun.....

 

Well, both my wife and sister in law speak fluent Spanish. They both have lived extensively in Mexico. They have seen all the tourist places you guys mentioned. So why the hell are we going? I wonder if there are any Mtn Bikers near Cancun? I would rather go to Indy for the Hotrod & Performance Show!!!

 

hey man, I lived down in Oaxaca for a while, and have been to Cancun. Cancun is basically like an American touris trap - all wendy's, kfc, mcdonalds, etc - and the locals trying to get over on tourists. So be hip to that. You should see Chichen Itza and Tulum if you go down there, though. They have buses that run from Cancun to both of those spots.

If you want something a little away from the tourist spots, try to get to Puerto Angel - it's a kick*** beach. Me and my ex-girl stayed there for a week in a bungalow on the beach - for like $60 for the whole week (not counting food, etc.).

Oaxaca is a kick*** city to visit, but its a little haul from Cancun...

 

when i lived in california,i made many trips to TJ,even drove a brand new volvo across the border(they were cool at one time in the 90's,HAHA),but never had to show any ID,,guess its cuz of my OLIVE complection,,LOL

 

I'd recommend going to Cozumel instead. MUCH cheaper, great beaches all to yourself, some very good restaurants, and nice places to snorkel. taxis are cheap. One of the restaurants is called Zimo's, southeast of the square. Run by a TX A&M grad; they server steak & lobster, etc., on the roof! And it's very reasonable. I've been there several times as I love to scuba and it's cheap like me. Much better than Cancun; which I've also been to.