Tex- When in Mexico.....
Don't leave $40 on the table when paying a $25 dollar dinner and expect any change back UNLESS you ask for change when they pick it up. They expect it as a tip if you lay it down.
Lots of places - you have to pay at a special cage where the cashier is. They don't trust the waiters etc.
The banks have VERY short hours and are always backed up when open- avoid the banks if possible, use the exchange booths to cash your Trav Checks etc. It's worth the small fee.
Visa gives the best exchange rates. Charge it if you can and want.
Everybody takes US dollars- know what the exchange rate is and take a calculator in you pocket. Was very close to 10:1 so it was easy last trip, dont' know now. If you see a price or get told a price say - Pesos? first. (always the cheaper). They will smile and tell you if it's not and it's dollars.
If you're shopping DO NOT pay full price (except the markets/restraunts etc). THey EXPECT you to haggle, 50% off is a general rule. If they won't come down to your price, start to leave. You'll find their best price at that point.
All the big places take Credit cards - keep some cash for the little backwater stuff you run across (renting Snorkel gear on the beach at Santa Maria Cove - taxis etc).
Learn this... When they say 5 minutes (especially if they say 5 Mexican minutes) it means anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Get used to it... relax and don't be in a hurry. THis doens't happen in restraunts though.
Service is KING down there, enjoy it.
Tip the maid, leave some food for her, Toni left behind a bag of clothes she decided she didn't want to pakc home. They are very poor people and will appreciate it. (Even though the Hacienda wil ltell you no tips are needed for all their service, we left the maid goodies and put 10% on the bill to spread amongst the help.)
Tell the Time Share Hawkers - NADA GRACIOUS! and jsut repeat it if they ask again. Otherwise smile and shake your head no! If you say anything else, expect them to hound you. The ones inside the Hotels aren't too pushy (and none in the Hacienda) but the ones downtown and at the airport are merciless).
Expect to get ripped off big time for the taxi from the airport to the hotel. We used a van the first tim e and it was cheaper, but 12 people in a hot van made us fork out the fee fr a taxi/private van the next time.
If you want to get a free meal, some perks (tickets for excursions etc) and a free taxi ride back to the airport, take an offer from one of the time share guys at the airport when you arrive. I recommend the Weston one. We do this, worth a $150 or so and you get a nice drive to the weston and its really ritzy (LONG ways from town though). Just smile and say no thanks at the breakfast- you won't get pressured to much unless you show interest.
We did the time share breakfast at the weston, had the driver drp us at Santa Maria Cove, rented snorkel gear right there on the beach, had a fresh fruit late lunch/snack( the guy carves up watermelon cantalope etc for ya into a cup). then walked up to the Twin Dolphin and caught a taxi back to town. It was a nice day almost free excursion.
Oh- the sunset horseback ride to the beach'old lighthouse on the Pacific side is pretty romantice too. I got a saddle sore (ouch) but it was really nice. It was just me and the wife and our Cabballero (SP?) guide. He thought Toni was "Bonito" :smile: She thought it was reeal funny cause she knew what that meant and I couldn't catch what he was saying.
All the businesses Habla Engish, backwater spots, maids etc proly not! Take a Spanish/Engish pocket dictionary in case you need to Habla Espanol!
Enjoy - You'll be hooked!
Almost NO crime in Las Cabos but the wife shouldn't run around by herself unless she doesn't mind getting the Macho thing (whistles and hmm...offers). Especially in tanks tops, shorts or whatever. Expect it, it's a compliment.
Hmm... out of stuff right now! :grin:
Cabo Revisited (food this time)
(I don't remember the name, but they have a sign on the sidewalk advertising it.)
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