FAQs about Mexico visitor visas and the FMM

Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?

Whether you need to apply for a visa before you arrive in Mexico depends on what country’s passport you hold, or other criteria. This article: Do I need a visa to visit Mexico describes the details.

If I normally require a visa to visit Mexico, but I have a visa to visit or live in the USA, do I need to apply for a separate visa to visit Mexico?

If the country you are a passport holder of is on Mexico’s ‘visa required’ list, and the United States of America has granted you a visitor’s visa or a residency visa —and that visa is current (not expired)— you can visit Mexico without the need to apply for a separate visa. You can find further details on this article.

How long can I remain in Mexico with a visitor’s permit (FMM)?

If you enter Mexico as tourist or business visitor, then the immigration official at the port of entry will grant you a maximum number of days to stay in Mexico when you arrive; this number of days will be written on the visitor’s permit for your reference and will not exceed 180 days.

If the official writes a number less than 180 days then your stay in Mexico will be limited accordingly; the FMM cannot be extended.  In all cases, the visitor’s permit will always expire after the number of days written on the permit: it cannot be extended or renewed and you must leave the country before it expires. You can find further details about this permit on our article Your Mexican Tourist Permit, FMM

How long do I have to remain outside of Mexico before I can return using a new Visitor permit (FMM)?

There is no time limit on how long you must remain outside of Mexico before returning under the auspice of a new visitor permit. (You could leave and return the same day.)

However, if you continually leave and re-enter in Mexico using a visitor permit, you will have your intentions questioned by an immigration official when you re-enter.  You can find further details about this permit on our article Your Mexican Tourist Permit, FMM

How do I replace a lost/stolen visitor permit (FMM)?

You can find the answer to this question on our article Your Mexican Tourist Permit, FMM

What do I do if I overstay on my visitor permit (FMM)?

You can find the answer to this question on our article Your Mexican Tourist Permit, FMM

If I have a previous criminal record, will this prevent me entering Mexico?

Whether you arrive in Mexico and complete a FMM (visitor permit) or have  visa sticker in your passport issued by a Mexican consulate, permission to enter Mexico is always determined by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

There is no way for Mexico to determine whether a person has a prior criminal record unless a foreign state has shared that information with Mexico beforehand.  (Mexico’s immigration system might alert border officials about ‘wanted’ criminals and other high-risk individuals who attempt to enter Mexico.)

Mexican consulates usually advise that people with a criminal record contact their own country’s authority and ask whether any background information has been shared with other countries.  If you have any doubts, we suggest you contact your nearest Mexican consulate for advice.

What visa do I need to get married in Mexico?
Are same-sex marriages allowed in Mexico?
Will my Mexican marriage certificate be valid in my home country?

You can find answers to all these questions on our Guide to Getting Married in Mexico.

I took my tourist visa (FMM) home with me because there was no one to give it to when I drove out of Mexico. What do I do?

If you were given a paper version of the Visitor Permit, and you took this home with you, you can find the answer to this question on our article Your Mexican Tourist Permit, FMM. Note that paper versions of the permit are being phased out and substituted for a stamp in your passport, so this issue is becoming less relevant.

Can I exchange my Visitor’s Visa (FMM) for a Residency Permit?

In a small number of specific circumstances you can exchange a visitor permit for residency permit in Mexico, but most people cannot exchange a visitor permit (FMM) for a residency permit.

If you are currently in Mexico and decide that you want to apply for legal residency here, you will most likely need to leave Mexico and apply via a Mexican consulate abroad.  See our article about routes to applying for residency in Mexico for more details.

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• Here are the latest financial criteria required to qualify for residency in Mexico
• Compare the difference between Temporary and Permanent residency
• Find the latest residency-related fees charged by Mexico’s government
• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide encapsulates essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico.

However, even the best maintained vehicles can experience sudden failure when you’re on the road in Mexico and you’ll need to deal with the situation, whether you’re in the middle of a town or city or on a (remote) highway.  This article shares some practical tips and advice for dealing with vehicle breakdowns.

‘Angeles Verdes’ (Green Angels) on Mexico’s highways

On Mexico’s interstate highways, Angeles Verdes (Green Angels) patrol the roads, looking for broken down vehicles, and helping with minor repairs and, surprisingly frequently, selling fuel.

• They ride green-colored trucks (thus the name); sometimes it’s a tow truck, and will provide free help, although they will charge for fuel if you need it, as well as any car parts.
• They’ll arrange to tow you to the nearest town if the situation calls for that. It’s appropriate to tip the mechanic(s).
• Angeles Verdes can help with immediate repairs and fuel, but their service does not substitute the coverages offered by an insurance based roadside assistance plan—that, in addition to mechanical support can also include rental car provision while your vehicle is being repaired, and repatriation in the event your vehicle becomes undriveable.

Dealing with roadside breakdowns

Dealing with a vehicle breakdown in Mexico will depend on where you are and what cover you have in place to help you.

• There is no better coverage in a breakdown situation than to have a team of mechanics and recovery vehicles prepared to come to your aid when your vehicle fails in Mexico.
• We recommend that when you purchase auto insurance you buy the optional breakdown coverage and roadside assistance. This is especially helpful if you are on a remote highway and/or it’s nighttime.
• If you are in a large town or city when your car fails, someone may come to your aid to help you move the car to the edge of the road while you wait for breakdown assistance to arrive.
• If your car is rented and the rental agreement includes breakdown coverage, call the rental car agency and ask them to mobilize their breakdown service.
• If you are on a major highway, especially toll-roads, a patrolling vehicle from the Angeles Verdes might find you and help you (see note above).
• If you have roadside breakdown coverage as part of your auto insurance coverage, you can instead contact the insurance helpline and have assistance sent to directly your broken down vehicle.
• Note that cell phone coverage can be scarce on remote roads across Mexico; tolled highways have wired phones posted every few miles. If you are on a non-tolled highway, and there is no cell phone coverage, you may need to walk to find a cellphone signal or walk back to the nearest town or village to summon help.

Roadside breakdown and medical coverages

Good insurance brokers offer a comprehensive range of additional support services, which are optional, but are worth considering when you are driving in Mexico.  The two most important are:

Breakdown coverage

If your car breaks down while you’re driving in Mexico, roadside recovery will provide you with the essential support you need to get your car repaired and mitigate risks of becoming stranded.

Roadside assistance may include things like delivery of emergency fuel, towing services, dealing with flat or damaged tires, locksmith support, jumpstart assistance, and provision of lodging and a rental car while you wait for your vehicle to be repaired, and repatriation to your home country in the event of a write-off.

Medical assistance

a policy that provides medical coverage will provide round-the-clock medical assistance on your road trips, including in the event of a serious accident, land and air medical evacuation and coverages to support you and your travel companions, for example with accommodations and transport while you convalesce.

Arrange breakdown coverage

Mexperience’s auto insurance associate offers a comprehensive range of additional services that provide peace of mind when you’re taking a road trip in Mexico, including roadside breakdown and travel assistance, and medical coverages that can include medical evacuation.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

Families often take time away together at Easter causing beach destinations and some popular colonial cities become packed with visitors.  Flights and accommodations can be hard to find if not booked in advance, bus stations become remarkably crowded and interstate buses travel full, and delays can be expected when driving on Mexico’s highways, especially near and around major towns and cities.

Mexico’s roads and airports during Easter

Holy Thursday and Good Friday are national holidays in Mexico, and congestion is almost guaranteed on main arterial routes in and out of large cities—especially Mexico City.

Additional care is needed when driving, as traffic snarls can appear around any bend, and there’s a tendency for some drivers to speed on highways expecting them to be quite clear.

Schools across Mexico break for Easter, and many offices and factories close, creating a space for families to take a pause and rest. As with Christmas and New Year, this mass-holiday creates a heavy demand for travel and leisure services within a concentrated period, pushing prices for transport and accommodations much higher than they typically are at other times of the year, with service often of a lower quality, too.

Avoiding the Easter crowds in Mexico

Those with flexible lifestyles and work schedules perhaps ought to consider avoiding travel during the Easter period and elect to take their leisure breaks during the low seasons when crowds are thin and prices lower.

For many, this isn’t possible and is particularly difficult for those whose offices close those weeks; or who have school-age children tied to scholastic calendars.  People with flexible lifestyles who want to visit their families with young children and/or less flexible work arrangements may also become corralled into the crush of the Easter holiday period.

Much is made of international tourism —and rightly so, as Mexico is the world’s 7th-ranked destination for number of international tourists and 17th in foreign tourism receipts— but domestic customers make up a larger portion of Mexico’s overall tourist economy, and this is particularly noticeable during Easter. (Tourism accounts for about 8.5% of the country’s gross domestic product, and three quarters of the value of tourism services is driven by domestic vacationers.)

Mexico City during Easter Week

If your work and lifestyle schedules don’t lend themselves to avoid traveling at Easter and you’d prefer to miss the crowds, consider a visit to the capital and a tour to (re)revisit its famed Anthropology Museum on Paseo de la Reforma, the Chapultepec Castle, or the Soumaya Museum in Polanco.

The exodus from large cities as domestic tourists head for the beach, or to quaint and picturesque colonial towns, makes Easter an ideal time to visit places like Mexico City, with its historic attractions, myriad of museums, and other entertainment venues. Traffic in the capital during Easter week is generally light, making travel around the metropolis quicker and less stressful.

The historical downtown district of Mexico City is particularly pleasant during Holy Week, as the crowds are manageable, and the weather is fine—warm, with not much rain likely. When Easter comes early, it’s even possible to catch the lilac splendor of the Jacaranda trees which may still be in flower.

Tips for traveling during Easter Week in Mexico

If you intend to travel during the Easter period in Mexico, here are some key tips to help with your planning.

Lodgings and accommodation

Whether you intend to stay at a BnB, a beach resort or other hotel, we recommend that you reserve your Easter holiday lodgings well ahead of time.  The best accommodations book up early during Easter Week, and advance bookings are essential to ensure that you can secure space at the accommodations of your choice, especially in Mexico’s most popular destinations. Expect rates during Easter Week to be materially higher by comparison to mid- and low-season prices.

Roads and highways

If you plan to drive your car in Mexico during Easter week, be mindful that congestion on roads will be noticeable, especially around the capital and other cities—places from which hoards of people take to the road just before Easter and then return to just before the holiday finishes. Lines of traffic leading up to toll booths on major highways can extend back for miles in some places at the start and end of the holiday period.  Exercise additional precautions when driving, allowing extra time and being patient on your journey.

• Be sure that your vehicle is properly insured if you intend to bring your US or Canadian-plated vehicle to Mexico
• Allow extra time for your journey, regulate your speed, and keep plenty of distance between your vehicle and others to avoid accidents typically caused by congestion
• Be extra vigilant regarding the security of your vehicle and its contents while you’re traveling
• Download our free eBook Guide to Driving and Road Trips in Mexico that’s packed with helpful and advice about tips for driving in Mexico, including security and dealing with accidents.

Airports and flights

Build-in additional time to get to and from the airports you are using, as well additional time to check-in and get through security and immigration. Crowds at airports swell noticeably during Easter Week and everything takes a little longer to accomplish. Be prepared for possible flight delays, too.

Bus stations and bus seats

During most of the year, you can turn up at a bus station in Mexico, and be almost guaranteed a seat on the next bus out to your intended destination.  During Easter Week, this is not so.  Advance seat booking is essential, and bus stations —especially so but not exclusively in Mexico City —become exceptionally crowded. If you intend to travel by bus during Easter, book your seats ahead of time, arrive at the bus station early, and be prepared to negotiate big crowds and deal with long lines as you make your way to the boarding platforms.

Be extra vigilant with your belongings

Crowded places during peak holiday periods provide ideal conditions for pickpockets, bag-snatchers, and car thieves to operate.  Be especially careful at bus stations and airports, and don’t leave your car unattended when you call-in at highway gas stations and to make convenience stops.  Download our free eBook guide to driving in Mexico for detailed information about security on your road trip.

When you’re traveling, keep your bags and personal belongings close, be especially mindful of your handbags, wallets, and technology devices; and dress down—leave your expensive jewelry at home.

Leaving your home in Mexico unattended at Easter

If you live in Mexico and intend to vacate your home during the Easter period, take appropriate measures to secure your vacant house, as burglars can be mindful that owners may leave for the holiday.

One of the best ways to secure your home when you’re away for an extended period is to have a friend or family member housesit while you’re gone.

A home insurance policy will cover you in the event of certain losses due to burglary and vandalism.  Read our article about preventing home burglaries in Mexico for more details and practical advice.

Conversations at dinner parties inevitably include talk about the potential of renting a room or annex in one’s home and about someone else who’s doing it already and earning a worthwhile income.

Travelers actively consider services like Airbnb, HomeAway and Tripping as a choice alongside hotels, and sites like Booking.com are offering shared spaces in private homes alongside traditional hotel rooms.

There are pros and cons of renting a shared space in a private home instead of using a hotel and these are discussed in detail on our main article about the subject.   Irrespective of the wider arguments, shared space rentals led by Airbnb have materially altered the accommodations market in Mexico.

Hosts who tend to do well are those with homes in popular neighborhoods in big cities as well as those with homes in smaller towns and resorts popular with tourists, especially weekend visitors.  Satellite towns and cities within a 2-to-3-hour drive of the capital —including Valle de Bravo, Tepoztlán, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Taxco and Tequisquiapan— are among the places where hosts offering accommodations via Airbnb can do particularly well at weekends.

The local economies of these towns and resorts are getting more trade as they are no longer constricted by static-supply hotel accommodations.  Shared spaces in private homes are increasing supply generally while creating an elastic and dynamic system that flexes to the demand, for example, when an Expo or festival is taking place locally.

A downside of this trend might be oversupply.  Some quiet provincial towns —an attraction for some— are becoming less quaint and more crowded.  In picturesque towns around Mexico City, it’s not unusual to see traffic jams forming on a Sunday afternoon as the scramble to get back to the capital —and Monday morning’s inbox— plays out in places which extended a well-earned break and some fresh air to the capital’s corps of office workers.

For travelers and visitors: If you’re planning to visit or travel across Mexico and don’t mind sharing spaces in private homes, there has never been more (and growing) choice: there’s something for every taste and budget, from off-grid rustic bungalows lost in the countryside to sumptuous rooms carefully appointed to match any comfortable hotel.

For homeowners: If you’ve got a home in Mexico and want to join the ranks of those generating a side income, demand for space is high especially if you live in or near a big city, in a picturesque tourist town near the capital, or a popular ocean-side tourist resort.  As we explain, offering space for rent in your Mexican home can be worthwhile, but there are matters to consider and some upfront investment is required.

AirBnB, HomeStay and Tripping are the principal online marketplaces currently operating in Mexico, and they have become so popular that they are revolutionizing local accommodations marketplaces.

The approach is favored by travelers who now have more choice about the types of accommodation available to them, and it’s alluring to hosts as they see a means of generating an income from unused spaces in their private home.

Conceptually, ‘shared accommodation’ services are offered to guests as a lifestyle proposition: instead of staying at a commercial hotel, you can stay and ‘live like a local’—being welcomed and looked after personally by someone who lives in and knows the area you’re visiting.

Advantages of using shared accommodations

Shared accommodation lodgings offer a range of distinct features, which include:

Experiences instead of packages: The travel market world-wide is changing.  Contemporary travelers are increasingly choosing ‘experiences’ over ‘travel packages’ and with Mexico being one of the world’s top tourist destinations, it’s no wonder that services like AirBnB and HomeStay are blossoming here.

Some shared spaces are self-contained: Some hosts offer annexes or bungalows for rent, which provides a self-contained accommodation space inside a larger private property.  This can be useful for people who want to stay in a private home while enjoying some additional privacy and autonomy.

Pet-friendly: Private residences tend to be more pet-friendly than commercial hotels, so if you’re having trouble finding pet-friendly accommodations for your travels in Mexico, the shared accommodation option might provide a solution for you.

Local knowledge: The best local hosts offer a dedicated space in their home for guests, ideally with a private bathroom. (Some places only offer shared bathroom facilities.)  Some hosts provide a ‘welcome pack’ containing local knowledge and advice about things to see with recommendations of decent cafés, restaurants and bars to be found nearby.  Hosts might be on-hand to answer any questions and provide local knowledge and advice.

Guest vetting and reviews: Guests are vetted by the intermediary and a comprehensive reviews system enables the ‘community’ to regulate itself: guests rate the hosts and accommodations, and hosts rate the guests.

Scouting for places to live or retire: Staying at someone’s private home might offer opportunities to connect with local people more easily than when you’re staying at a hotel.  This way of arranging your accommodations can be ideal when you’re scouting local areas as potential places to live or retire to in Mexico and want to get a genuine feel for the area.

Increase in peak-period supply: Hotel rooms in certain areas tend to get fully-booked during peak-holiday periods like Christmas, New Year and Easter, as well as during popular local festivities and events.  The shared accommodations market has helped to provide an elastic and dynamic supply system that can flex during peak demand periods.  Some hosts in popular places purposely provide additional room space to earn more income during festival times —good examples are Pátzcuaro and Oaxaca during Day of the Dead, and Aguascalientes during the San Marcos National Fair— although note that rates will be set commensurate with local demand, so don’t expect any bargains.

Business trips: If you’re traveling on business, renting a room in a private home can provide an alternative to a hotel (which might be less expensive) and could be useful if local hotel-rooms are sold out, e.g. due to a large convention taking place.

Rent an entire home: Some hosts offer an entire home or villa for rent via these online marketplaces.  This can be useful if you’re traveling in a group or you need enough space for your (extended) family to occupy with the additional benefit of not having to share with strangers.  Hosts either welcome guests personally before leaving the home to them, hire a local person to meet-and-greet the guests, or provide electronic code access for self-service entry.

Disadvantages of using shared accommodations

While shared accommodations have their benefits and are popular with certain kinds of travelers, they do carry drawbacks, which include:

It’s different to a hotel:  While sharing private home spaces may be attractive in some circumstances, commercial hotels offer accommodation spaces and services that shared accommodations in private homes don’t—for example, in-room food service, a full-service concierge (if only to leave baggage after check-out), daily room cleaning, on-site bars and restaurants, etc.  Business trips may require you to offer a professional space to meet with and present proposals to potential new clients.  Sometimes, the natural anonymity afforded by a hotel environment and integrated amenities provided by a hotel or beach resort provides convenience and comfort that shared spaces, even those which are self-contained on a private property, cannot.

Inconsistent descriptions and service levels: While many hosts run their shared accommodation services professionally and diligently, some take a more laid-back approach to the entire arrangement.  While reviews can, in theory, weed-out consistently poor hosts, they cannot account for the fact that you are buying a service from a private individual and therefore subject to a private individual’s personal character and circumstances, some of which may be beyond the individual’s control.

Might not be as inexpensive as you thought: While privately-rented accommodations can be less expensive than a local hotel, they might not be.  Hosts are savvy and have access to the same price information that guests do.  They know when conventions and expos are in town, they know that certain events, fairs, festivals and holiday dates drive local demand for accommodations and adjust their rates (upwards) accordingly.  Headline rates advertised on these marketplaces usually exclude cleaning fees, service charges, and taxes: you need to click-through to the booking review page to see the actual price on offer.

Reviews: The companies managing online marketplaces invest a lot of time and effort to make their review systems as helpful as possible; however, they are not  infallible and, in some cases, might not even be a fair representation—especially if there are not many to go by.  (The first few are usually left by friends known to the host.)  In that sense, more is better and it’s no surprise that hosts with a higher number of good reviews always get more bookings.

The shared space rental market is booming in Mexico: hundreds of new listings for rental rooms, homes and villas are appearing every week—and there is no sign of a slow-down as the concept gains traction in the popular psyche of both travelers and hosts seeking to realize the benefits these markets promise.

As a consequence, these online marketplaces which combine technology with the willingness of travelers and hosts to share private accommodation spaces have significantly extended the choice and variety of places to stay in Mexico.

Find helpful local knowledge and plan your visit or move to Mexico

Most visitors to Mexico purchase insurance that will provide care in the event of an injury or illness while they are away from home. Some travelers assume that their employer’s health insurance will cover them while they are away; it might, but typically it doesn’t. Long-term foreign residents might assume that they can return to the USA if they have a serious illness where they will be covered by Medicare; some mistakenly think that Medicare will treat them here.

As we mentioned in a related article, the realities for visitors dealing with serious medical emergencies in Mexico are often more complicated than they appear, and in some circumstances having a medical evacuation strategy is a sensible precaution.

At first sight, paying for being evacuated doesn’t seem necessary: if you’re on vacation, your travel health insurance or premium credit card will cover you; and if you’re here for an extended period, you’ll probably get health care in Mexico. So why pay for a medical evacuation plan?

Becoming seriously ill in another country is not an easy experience. You are not at your best. You may be confused and nervous, you may not speak the language, and you may have to go through procedures that are very different from the ones you’re used to. Many foreigners who visit Mexico don’t speak Spanish well and even those that do, probably aren’t very familiar with medical terminology.

An aspect of medical care in Mexico that many people forget is that even when you’re covered by a travel medical insurance policy, it often pays only on a reimbursement basis, and it doesn’t usually pay to get you back home to your doctor and your local hospital in the event of a serious medical emergency. Most of these kinds of policies cite treatment coverage at the “nearest adequate facility” – with the term ‘adequate’ as defined by the insurer – and this facility may still be in Mexico or possibly a hospital at the closest port of your entry to the country.

Serious accidents and major health issues are high-stress situations even without the added complications of being abroad. In these circumstances, most people want the comfort of being back “home” where they know how things work, speak the language, and can be supported by a doctor and a hospital that’s familiar. Most importantly in serious circumstances, being at home puts you within easy reach of your friends and family, making it easier for them to support you through the recovery period.

Medical air evacuation from Mexico is a logistically-complex and expensive service; it goes far beyond the provision of a private aircraft.  Commercial flights are usually off-limits to people who are seriously unwell, so if you don’t have an evacuation plan, and you don’t have $25-60 thousand dollars out-of-pocket to pay upfront for the evacuation, you’d have no choice but to be treated in Mexico—which could include an extended stay while you convalesce.

While Mexico is a safe place and a wonderful destination for both tourists and foreign residents, life situations are unpredictable, and serious accidents and illnesses can happen; in that event, you might simply want to go home to recuperate—and a medical evacuation plan will facilitate that.  Our associate, Travel MedEvac Insurance, offers air medical evacuation plans for visitors as well as foreign residents living in Mexico.

For more detailed information, you can learn more on our extensive guide to Medical Evacuation from Mexico—which describes what a medical evacuation service is, who needs it, and how to arrange a suitable plan for your needs.

Introduction

If you are planning a business trip to Mexico, then part of that planning should include getting to know the part of Mexico that you will be visiting, as well as any nearby areas, either to give you information for light conversation with your contacts in Mexico, and / or so that you can take some time out and see some of the local attractions…

Whether you’re traveling to the Major Cities, near one of Stunning Coastal Locations, visiting some of the Colonial Cities, experiencing the Archaeology Parks, or a combination of these, Mexperience can help you discover them all.

If you’re an active person, you may also want to explore the possibility of taking part in Mexico’s Great Outdoors.

If you’re feeling stressed after some tough negotiating, why not explore the opportunity to relax and unwind at one of the quality Spas nearby?

If you’re looking for ideas about the type of hotels and resorts you might like to stay out, visit our Mexico Hotels page, where you’ll find hotels categorized by type including, for example, hotels with golf courses.

Wherever you need to do business in Mexico, you’ll need to do some pre-trip planning, and Mexperience is the perfect place to get yourself informed. This guide has been written to help you learn about the key things you need to know and plan for your next business visit to Mexico.

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Pre-Trip Planning: Mexico Essentials

Whether you’re going to Mexico exclusively for business, or intend to mix business with pleasure, you’ll need to make some pre-trip travel plans.

Connect to the Mexperience Mexico Essentials guide, where you will find a practical guide covering just about everything you will need to know about planning a trip to Mexico, whether it’s your first business trip to Mexico, or if you’re returning after previous visits.

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Staying in Touch – Communications in Mexico

Mexico offers business travelers a well-developed communications network featuring telephones, excellent cell phone coverage, mobile and fixed line high-speed internet, access to postal courier services, as well as an abundance of internet cafes in every town and city.

Staying in touch on the move is essential when you’re traveling on business.

Our guide to Communications in Mexico shows you how to make the best use of Mexico’s communications networks and how to keep your costs under control in a country that is well known for its high communications costs.

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Learning Spanish

Whether you want to learn a few phrases, or start to make a real effort to learning Spanish, the Learn Spanish guide on Mexperience can help you make your first (or next) steps in learning Spanish.

The guide shares useful information about learning Spanish, offers a series of free Spanish lessons online and also contains details of Spanish Language courses you can undertake at language schools in Mexico. If you’re serious about doing business in Mexico, then you should be serious about leaning Spanish, too.

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Getting to and Around Mexico

Getting to Mexico and knowing how to get around effectively when you arrive here are essential if you’re going to make the best use of your time.

Our Getting Around Mexico guide is comprehensive and includes guides to air travel, taxi travel, bus travel, driving in Mexico, car rental, using toll roads, as well as other local public transport options like metro systems and local buses.

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Car Rental

For maximum flexibility, you might consider renting a car for your next business trip in Mexico.

Our guide to Car Rental in Mexico explains everything you need to know about renting cars in Mexico, and you can arrange your rental car with Mexperience online—we offer pick-ups from all of Mexico’s key airports as well as principal towns and cities across the country using Hertz car rental.

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Taxis Travel in Mexico

Taxis can be an effective and economical way to get around in Mexico; they are plentiful and very affordable in comparison to taxi fares in places like the USA and western Europe.

Certain precautions must be taken when hiring a taxi, especially so in Mexico City. Read our guide to Taxi Travel in Mexico and you’ll arrive here fully prepared to find the right taxi for your needs at the best price.

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Business Accommodation

When you’re traveling on business, you’ll want to find a hotel that is situated in the right location and which offers the right services and amenities for your business needs. Our full-time team of hotel account managers are responsible for negotiating great rates at Mexico’s best hotels.

Mexperience offers you recommendations for hotels in Mexico at over 55 popular destinations, including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. If our recommendations do not suit your needs, just one click will present you with a full list of hotels at a location of your choice.

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Golf Courses

A round of golf to network and build relationships is as important in business circles in Mexico as it is elsewhere in the world. A couple of rounds can help you to develop that all-important relationship with your contacts and start to build rapport that will lead to (better) business with them. Mexico is host to no less than 3 of the world’s top 10 golf courses.

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Night Life

From late night bars, restaurants and Mexican theme parties to modern techno night clubs, there’s something for everyone looking for nocturnal life in Mexico. To find out what night life is available at the locations you are traveling to, check out the individual travel guide to the locations you’re planning to visit.

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The US Visa Waiver Program enables citizens from a pre-defined list of countries to enter the United States for leisure or business trips without a formal visa, for a period not exceeding ninety days.

If you plan to travel to Mexico via the United States using the current Visa Waiver, even if only in transit, you will need to go online and apply for permission to travel.  Your application will be processed and an authorization code will be issued to you if your application is accepted.   From January 12th, 2009 airlines will not let you board a flight to/via the USA if you have not applied for and received an authorization code.

This new pre-authorization program gives the person permission to travel to the United States, but it does not guarantee entry; final admissibility is still determined by a US Customs Officer at the port of entry.

The new program, modelled on a similar Australian system, is called Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).  Although pre-registration is not compulsory until 2009, travelers may go online now for authorization and avoid the need to fill out the paper-based green waiver form.

Full details about ESTA may be found here on the US Department of Homeland Security’s website.