Whether the water is fit for healthy consumption or not depends more about where, precisely, the tap is situated. Some cities and towns have excellent public water systems and local people especially are quite content drinking water from their tap; but not every place can be relied upon to have a reliable portable water source. And therein lies the rub. Unless you know for sure that the water is potable, you do well to take bottled water instead.

In any event, consumers are choosing to drink bottled water, or filtering their tap water with purifying systems, even in developed countries where government legislation stipulates that water companies must deliver high-quality water into the glass (as distinct from to the tap). This is why many water companies add chlorine to the water supply, to kill-off any bugs lurking in or near your kitchen’s sink.

Most of the larger hotels in Mexico–and even some of the up-scale smaller hotels–have installed water purification systems at their properties, so all water on-site is guaranteed as potable. Even so, they and the hotels which don’t have purification systems installed on-site, offer guests one large bottle of purified water in the room, replenished by the maid each day, at no extra charge.

Bottled water is widely available in Mexico, and can be bought in sizes ranging from small 200-ml bottles to 20-liter containers. It’s sold by street traders, local convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and even specialist water delivery companies; the latter deal in the 20-liter bottles and deliver these to homes, offices and factories. Restaurants serve bottled water by default.

You can read more about Mexico’s drinking water on the Practical Information page of our Travel Essentials section and for information about water in your home in Mexico, read our guide to House Maintenance in Mexico.

The announcement has come one week after the airline’s parent company, Nuevo Grupo Aeronautico (NGA), was bought by Tenedora K investments. Tendora K had been trying to negotiate concessions with the company’s unions, in a hope to create a rescue package for the troubled company.

However, on August 27th NGA announced that operations needed to cease due to “the serious deterioration of the company’s finances and the inability to reach agreements to ensure its future viability”.  The statement went on to say that the company is continuing with its efforts to seek alternative options which might ensure its long-term viability of the airline and even said that it hopes operations might resume “soon”.

However, given that Tendora K have failed to issue any press releases of their own, and in media reports spokesmen have declined to comment, it’s hard to see how Mexicana’s fortunes may be revivied in short order.

Three weeks ago, Mexicana filed for bankruptcy protection and soon after announced the suspension of key flights, including its flagship routes connecting Mexico City directly to London and Madrid.

Further information and full statements can be found on the airline’s website.

The suspended flights include those connecting Mexico City to Madrid, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Bogotá and Costa Rica, as well as flights from Mexico City to Montreal, and the relatively-new Mexico City to London flight, which was launched with considerable fanfare in January last year.

A number of niche routes have also been suspended, including Zacatecas to Chicago, Guadalajara to Fresno, and Bajio to Chicago (via Monterrey).

The full list of suspended flights can be found on Mexicana’s web site which is being updated as the situation unfolds.

See Also: Air Travel in Mexico

In a statement, the company said that it filed for bankruptcy to help it restructure its costs and ensure the long-term viability of the airline. Before the bankruptcy applications, creditors leasing aircraft to the company grounded three planes. The company told the bankruptcy courts that further asset seizures would lead the company into liquidation. According to the latest accounts, the company made a trading loss of US$350 million between 2007 and 2010 and is holding debts of some US$1 billion.

Although some flights were cancelled, the company is trying to reassure customers that most flights would continue to run normally during the restructuring process.

Mexicana and Aeromexico were bailed out by the government in the 1990’s. Since Mexicana was subsequently re-privatized, it has struggled financially as its legacy cost structures, which offer higher salaries and benefits to its employees than competitors, the global slowdown and the H1N1 virus have each taken their toll on the company’s financial fortunes. Mexico’s government has said that it has no plans to bail-out the airline again.

Mexicana’s chief executive has said that a re-merger of Mexicana and Aeromexico may provide a solution to the airline’s fiscal woes; however, the idea is likely to be met with considerable resistance. The last time the two carriers held a monopoly on the Mexican market domestic air fares were higher than they are today.

See Also: Air Travel in Mexico

Third party insurance—which covers third parties but not the car renter in the event of a mishap—is compulsory by law in Mexico, and our car rental quotes always include this insurance.  Our quotes also include all the taxes and fees and unlimited mileage.  Rates start as low as $13 a day for an economy car.

Additional insurance products are optional, and can be purchased at the rental counter.

It’s a good idea to get yourself covered in addition to third parties, because if you don’t, you would be liable for the full retail value of the vehicle in the event that it becomes stolen or written-off in an accident.

Some credit card companies offer ‘rental car protection insurance’ automatically when you pay for the rental car using the card.  Precise coverage varies depending on the card company, so call them for advice.  If your card company does offer this useful perk, it can save you having to purchase additional insurances separately.

Here is a list of the different types of optional insurance products you can buy at the counter.  The prices noted alongside these are in addition to the daily rental fee and subject to change without notice; use them for general guidance. Mexican sales tax is currently 16%.

CDW – Collision Damage Waiver. This is an insurance product that covers the vehicle in the event of an accident or damage, with a 10% deductible.  The 10% is based on the full retail value of the vehicle, as new.  Approximate fee is US$30.00 + Tax per rental day.

LDW – Loss Damage Waiver. This is sometimes referred to as “full cover”, as it covers the vehicle for any accident or damage, as well as theft, and with zero deductible. Approximate fee: US$39.00 + Tax per rental day.

PAI – Personal Accident Insurance. This is an insurance product that will cover medical expenses for occupants in the vehicle, in the event of an accident.  If you have a travel insurance policy, you will most likely be covered already and there will be no need to purchase this. Approximate fee: US$3.00 + Tax per rental day.

ALI –Additional Liability Insurance. This insurance product extends the cover for damages to third parties up to $5,000,000 Mexican pesos. Approximate fee: US$13.00 + Tax per rental day.

TP – Theft Protection. This insurance product protects you in the event that the vehicle is stolen; it’s included with LDW if you purchase that, and some credit card companies will also cover theft of the vehicle in their policies; check the small print.  Approximate fee: US$13.00 + Tax per rental day.

Car rental itself is quite inexpensive in Mexico; it’s the insurance products which may be added on that can add significantly to your price.   If you are covered by other insurance products you have—e.g. travel insurance or credit card company insurance perks, you don’t need to concern yourself with these extras and you can enjoy low rates for car rental.  But do check the small print in all policies to ensure that they cover rental cars in countries other than your own, and that Mexico is not on any exclusion list.

We offer excellent rates on car rental in Mexico, using Hertz cars from all major airports and many main towns and cities across the country.

See Also: Guide to Renting a Car in Mexico | Guide to Driving in Mexico

Although all countries are subject to earth tremors and quakes, some countries are more prone to large earthquakes than others.  Mexico is susceptible to potentially very large earthquakes, along with most the western edge of the entire North American continent, due in part (but not exclusively) to the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate that resides near there.

The most memorable Mexican earthquake in living memory is the ‘big one’ registering 8.1 on the Richter Scale that came to pass in September 1985—when some buildings in Mexico’s capital city were reduced to rubble.  Although that sounds frightening, the 1985 damage was nowhere near as catastrophic as the 2010 earthquake that virtually wiped out Haiti’s entire physical infrastructure; that quake registered 7 on the RS.  Many factors beyond magnitude must be taken into account: one example, Mexico City’s buildings, which although not all were built to regulation standard even then, were overall much better prepared for the quake than Haiti’s.  Indeed, most of the worst damage in 1985 was caused to old, unstable, buildings and to makeshift structures often seen in the shanty towns on the peripheries of the capital proper.

Large modern buildings in Mexico are built to exacting standards, and just as major modern building works along Mexican coastlines are designed and built to withstand force 10 hurricanes, so too are modern edifices in Mexico are built to withstand earthquakes.  The chances of finding yourself caught under concrete after an earthquake—even a powerful one—in a modern building in Mexico are very, very slim.

If you’ve never experienced an earthquake (you really need a magnitude RS 4 or greater to feel anything), your first experience of seeing and sensing a building or vehicle move (or shake) with you inside of it can be quite unnerving.  Public buildings throughout Mexico (which includes hotels) have evacuation procedures and routes in place, clearly advertised on wall postings.  Look for the words “Sismo” or “Temblor”—instructions are otherwise presented using illustrations, so you don’t need to read any Spanish beyond that to understand them.

Safer places to find yourself if you happen to be in a large building when the earth starts to move are under large doorways/doorframes or under a solid table.  Move away from objects that can fall (lights, tools, books and tall furniture), and away from windows and mirrors.  If you’re near an emergency exit, use it—never use the elevators.  Emergency exit stairwells in modern buildings are often outside—affixed to the side of the building proper.  Power cuts might follow an earthquake; power outages are quite frequent in Mexico as a matter of course and even a reasonably small earthquake can cause some damage to electrical equipment.

If you are outside, keep away from tall buildings—especially those which are enclosed in glass, and if you can, find refuge in an open space until the earthquake passes.  An earthquake in Mexico earlier this year claimed two lives: one was a person who panicked and ran outside into the path of an oncoming vehicle.  Stay calm, keep your cool and make considered movements. Earthquakes don’t tend to last more than a minute or two at most.

Natural signs that an earthquake may be imminent include birds going suddenly quiet, and animals behaving strangely.  If you have or develop an awareness of nature’s language, you might get an opportunity to take evasive action before the event.  This speech, given by HRH Prince Charles, refers to the local tribe’s observations of nature before the Sri Lankan earthquake/tsunami of 2004.

If you live in Mexico, and want to prepare your home for potential earthquakes, you may find EarthquakeCountry.info a useful resource.  It’s a US-focused website, but the practical planning information and advice it shares is, of course, relevant wherever you are.

See Also: Mexico’s Rainy Season, Hurricanes

Hurricanes are a feature of the natural landscape in Mexico, affecting coastal regions and sometimes causing inclement weather further inland.

Hurricane season is preempted by the rainy season, that usually begins around May each year. Many places experience monsoon rains on some evenings, which serve to cool the day down and, in the case of the country’s capital, also freshen-up the air.

The hotter summer temperatures which bring the rains can also bring hurricanes, brewed up in the Pacific, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico.  Some inevitably will land along one of Mexico’s 6,000 mile-long shorelines.

Some media channels use the hurricane season as an opportunity to publish articles featuring sensational story-writing although in reality, people who live near hurricane-affected areas are quite used to dealing with heavy storms and hurricane weather.

Storms, tropical storms and hurricanes are regular occurrences every summer in Mexico.

Some hurricanes can be quite fierce, and may cause a significant amount of damage if they land having built up a high force over the water. However, with satellite technology and advanced storm-tracking systems, people in affected areas can be warned and measures implemented to mitigate any damage and avoid casualties when the landing of a strong storm or hurricane is imminent.

Mexico’s rainy season lasts from May to October each year; tropical storms and hurricanes can brew-up during the same time frame, although July through October is when most tropical storms and hurricanes appear—coinciding with the hottest months of the year.

See Also: Visit Planning: Weather & Climates in Mexico

The cost of flying has risen significantly as compared with the “low-low cost” days of the early 2000’s, as airlines have introduced a plethora of ‘extra’ fees which are added on to headline ticket prices.  Passengers now have to pay for things like dealing with an agent instead of undertaking a self-check-in, carry-on and/or checked baggage, as well as onboard services like food and drink.  Charges for making changes to existing flight bookings have also increased significantly.  This new ‘pick and choose’ marketing model has brought considerable new revenues to the airlines and is giving choices to passengers about what services they want, while not putting-off potential customers altogether with higher headline ticket prices.

Mexico’s domestic airline market has changed in recent years. The monopoly enjoyed by Mexicana and Aeromexico has been transformed into an oligopoly for the players—dashing expectations, for now, that Mexico’s domestic flight transportation market would become truly competitive and mirror the European model.

Notwithstanding that today virtually all airlines in Mexico are owned by the country’s most influential commercial barons, domestic flight prices have been reduced on routes connecting the country’s most popular towns and cities, and it’s now less expensive to fly to and from the States than it was before Mexico signed an “open skies” agreement with the USA.

You can search for and book flights to and within Mexico using Mexperience.  Our flight search-and-quote system gathers flight and price information from most airlines in Mexico and world-wide.

See Also: Our complete guide to Air Travel in Mexico.

Taxi cabs in Mexico’s three big cities are all metered.  Elsewhere in Mexico, cabs are charged by zone, metered, or not metered.  In the latter instance, passengers should agree their price before they board.  Locals will ‘know’ what the current fare is from A to B, but visitors may be charged a premium on that.  As a rule of thumb for local trips, ten to fifteen pesos per kilometer is fair.   We publish a comprehensive guide to taxi travel in Mexico, which includes details about taxi types and the latest fares.

The price of car rental in Mexico has fallen dramatically of late.  Car rental used to be quite expensive here—almost prohibitively so.  Today, the car rental market is changing, and renting a vehicle has become affordable when you book online, in advance.  If you book a rental car through Mexperience, you can drive around in a small economy car for as little as US$13 a day—a rate that includes taxes, fees, compulsory third party insurance and unlimited mileage.  All our car rentals are furnished by Hertz.   If you don’t mind the driving, renting a car—especially in popular resort towns where taxis charge a premium—could prove financially worthwhile and will give you a lot of extra transport flexibility.  We publish very complete guides to renting a car and driving in Mexico.

Car rental is ideal when you want to explore the local area.  Taxis are better if you plan to stay in one place (for example, your beach resort) and walk or take a small few taxi trips to places locally.   If you’re visiting Mexico City during your stay, we recommend you take cabs unless there’s a very good reason for renting a car from there; one example is to take an independent day-trip to nearby Teotihuacan, another would be to use Mexico City as your start and end point for a fly-drive vacation around central Mexico.

Mexico offers visitors and residents a thoroughly comprehensive—and eminently affordable—choice of public transport options.  For more details about taxis, car rental and virtually every other form of transport in Mexico, visit Getting Around, part of the Travel Essentials section here on Mexperience.

We outlined the key changes that will be introduced in a previous blog published last month, and these have now been integrated to our guides about Mexico Entry Requirements and Mexican Immigration.

In summary, procedures for tourists who carry a passport from a country on Mexico’s “no visa required” list are virtually unaffected by the new procedures.  Business visitors from these countries are now allowed to remain in Mexico for a maximum of 180 days (it used to be 30 days), and a number of procedural changes have been introduced to make the issuance and renewal of FM3 and FM2 visas simpler.

A question that people have been asking is whether a person may use the new FMM visitor’s permit to stay in Mexico for 180 days (6 months), leave the country and return soon after for another 180 days.  It’s unclear whether this is legal.  If you plan to be in Mexico for more than 180 days in a calendar year, you should apply for a FM3 or FM2 visa to assure your resident status complies properly with the rules as published.

In addition to visa requirements, you also need to check your residency and tax status if plan to stay in Mexico for more than 180 days a year.  Most countries (including Mexico) operate a rule that states if you are physically present in a country for more than 180 days in a calendar year you are deemed resident there and may be subject to local taxes on your income. You should seek professional advice from an immigration lawyer and tax accountant about matters relating to residency and tax in Mexico.