1. I like to bring cash. (the following may differ from you depending on how high you like to roll, but...) I think it's better to bring smaller bills - I usually bring about $60 in ones, about 10 fives, 5 tens, and 5 twentys. Ones make it easy to tip with and 5's and 1's will cover most of your small items you may purchase. 10's and 20's are good for taxi's, a night out at a restaraunt and/or bar, and souveniers. I usually keep it in the room safe, stuff it inside of a sock, or roll it up in underwear, and when I go out, I try to wear pants/shorts with secure pockets (buttoned or velcro flaps). This is all inclusive, so much money won't be needed - pretty much just for extra excursions and souveniers. If I need more, I use ATM's, but you do get charged 2-3 times: one for the fee, one for being in another country, and sometimes another for converting the exchange rate - this also goes for when you purchase something at a store. If you use your credit or debit card at all, make sure to check your statements after the trip... it hasn't happened to me, but my mom has had somebody use her card number on 2 different occasions - whether it was some slimeball from a hotel, excursion place, etc., who knows... this is another reason why I like cash - and you can haggle better with cash anyway.
Tell your bank(s) that you're going into another country! I learned the hard way on my first international travel that they will usually put a hold on your account when you go to make your first purchase (which is a good thing, but you'll be the one using it! and it's a long and expensive phone call to fix!). The last 4-5 times I've been to Mexico (and this is in all different locations), I have never used a single peso. Dollars are widely accepted. You may
sometimes get some pesos in change, but this is another good reason to have a lot of small bills. I also don't like to flash big bills around... I feel like a target for someone looking for tourists to prey on - although I will say Cozumel and Playa del Carmen feel very safe.
2. Verizon is my cellular carrier and I have the option to add an internatial plan while I'm away. I include the data plan so I can e-mail my family for quick updates and to let them know I'm OK... and to send pictures to my friends so they can all be jealous
. Verizon charges 60/month for international data. I activate it the day before I leave and end it when I get back - then they pro-rate it for the duration I was away (usually end up paying 15-20 for a week). I do make calls with my phone, but I keep conversations very short. And as cardzard mentioned, I'm on vacation, so I just live in the moment and try to keep away from phones, internet, tv, newspapers, etc. I just like to check in with the family so they don't worry.
3. Nitrox is
everywhere in mexico. And with the amount of diving you'll be doing on this trip, I reccomend it. It'll reduce the amount of residual nitrogen in your body. I don't know if this is fact or not, but I feel less tired after a dive when I use nitrox. Since it's an extra $10 a tank for the stuff, you could also consider just using it on your dives later in the day (air in the mornings, nitrox in the afternoon and/or night). When I got certified, I took the PADI online course and finihed the certification at a mexican dive shop (I think you can only view the material online for a year, but I bought the book and dive-tables at the shop so I could have a hard copy). I don't know what I don't know, but I felt the online course was sufficient (felt like I learned a lot), and it only took about 2 hours online and 20 min in the shop. Quick and easy! I also don't own my own analyzer, but so far I've NEVER had a problem with using the shop's. I don't know how this will be on this trip since we're such a large group and we get picked up by the boat (i think/assume)... but I'm guessing others with have them, and just maybe/hopefully they will be kind enough to let others use them. Hopefully someone can fill us in on that detail (cardzard?).
Hopefully this helps! See you soon!!!!!!!!!
