Trip to Mexico- need tips

[LilMamiBella]

So, we might be going to Mexico City. It would probably be my ds age 6 and dd age 3 and I. I haven't been on an airplane since I was about 8 yrs old. Where can I find the best prices? I'll definitely need round trip tickets and could depart from Atlanta. Any other things I need to know? Thanks!

What's a reasonable price to pay for tickets? I looked at expedia.com and they quoted me 1,297.98 for three round trip tickets.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I don't know anything about Mexico City but you might post on the comminity board also.

 

[angeleigh]

Mexico City is a really nice trip! We love Mexico - friendly people, interesting, beautiful weather, highly recommend Mexico as a reasonable price "semi-exotic" vacation place. A quick look on travelocity.com (I love their fare finder for flexible dates found lots of availability for $1235 r/t for 3 tickets and aeromexico flies direct from atlanta for under $1300 so I think those ticket prices are in line with whats available. Prepare for Customs at mexico - it is an interesting experience!

 

[Topper]

Don't drink the water

 

[ceecee]

Don't drink the water

That's exactly what I was going to say!!! Don't drink the water! Or brush teeth, eat salad washed in the water..........I'm sure it's better than it was 8 years ago. We haven't been back since.

 

[aphasia83]

Congrats! I just went to Mexico last summer and it was amazing. However, you do need to be a bit careful - there are a lot of sneaky cab drivers etc. who will try to charge you a lot more than the average going rate. And never buy tickets for a dinner/show/etc. from someone on the street. No guarantee those tickets are valid, could be a scam.

Also, DON'T book tickets through Expedia. They have consistently had the most outrageously high air ticket prices I've ever come across. Sometimes I would go there, as you did, just to see the ballpark price for an air ticket, and I would inevitably find a ticket that was hundreds cheaper.

I'm from Canada, and it seems as though one of the best places to start looking is Flight Centre since they have the "guaranteed lowest price" thing. Turns out there is one in the U.S. too - so next time you're in a mall and you find one of these stores, just walk in and ask an agent to help you out. Or you could always call them.

http://www.flightcentre.us/

 

[Kate716]

I was in Mexico City on a business trip last September. I made the mistake of drinking water in the hotel (they claimed it was filtered). BIG MISTAKE! I paid for it dearly. Don't take any chances, particularly with your children. Buy bottled water!

I second being wary of the cab drivers. Buy your taxi tickets inside the airport before you leave and NEVER get into the green VW bug taxis, ever. Only go with approved Servitaxis.

Finally, enjoy the trip! Mexico City has a lot of wonderful silver jewelry, handmade crafts, and awesome food. You can barter in the markets for the crafty things, but practice up on your Spanish. A woman I was travelling with who speaks no spanish was asking prices for some jewelry. I also asked for some prices, but in my broken spanish (I only know what I've taught myself and picked up on previous trips to Mexico City)... the vendor told her one price and then offered me a cheaper price because I asked in spanish.

A final add-- if you have time I HIGHLY suggest hiring a taxi (from a hotel) to take you to the Teotihoacan pyramids. They are about an hour drive from Mexico City, but well worth it -- absolutely amazing! (I totally spelled the name of the pyramids wrong, but its close and I can't find my guidebook from them right now!)

Have fun!

 

[LilMamiBella]

I'm going to Mexico so that my kids can be their grandfather, uncles, aunts, etc. We've never been there and my husband will not be able to go. We'll be staying with one of my bil's. Their will also be a wedding going on. But, I hope to be able to see the pyramids and do a little shopping!
How do I get passports? How much do they usually run? This will be a pretty cheap trip since I only need to pay for souvenirs, airplane tickets, etc. Is aeromexico a good airline? Do I just pay over the phone or online for the tickets and pick them up or?

 

[angeleigh]

Get the passports at your post office - here is a link to explain costs and procedures - it gets quite expensive if you wait too long....

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html


Aeromexico is fine and they do have the nonstop flights from Atlanta which is convenient. With the arrangement of staying with relatives and doing "family things" like weddings I would suggest being tactfully very careful of water/food/refreshments. Speak to your doctor about preventative doses of medicines .... it will be an uncomfortable trip for both you and your hosts if it is marred by severe stomach upset- remember there is not anything actually wrong with the water except your body is not used to it- that being said it is reputed to be very discomforting. I will also add that I never had any problems in Mexico with that - we were careful but we did eat at local restaurants often with no problems.

The cheapest tickets are most likely going to be e-tickets on line - you will noy recieve actual tickets until you get to the airport to depart.

Have fun !!!

 

[LilMamiBella]

It says that both parents are required to sign for a minor. I have all custody rights for my son. His bio father hasn't been involved in his life. What should I do?

 

[angeleigh]

1. Both parents must appear together and sign or

2. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's notarized statement of consent authorizing passport issuance for the child ( Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14, or a written statement with the same information on a sheet of paper from the non-appearing parent that includes the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID may be used for this purpose) or

3. One parents appears, signs, and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (such as one of the following):

Child's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent; or
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order); or
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent); or
Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child; or
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
Death certificate of non-applying parent.
If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit a Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14 .

NOTE:

A third-party in loco parentis applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 14 must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I am from, and live in, Mexico City. I don´t know on which part of the city your ILs live, but I am sure they live in a clean house and take their own precautions with cooking and water, so you shouldn´t worry. I guess your precaution should be more with how hot you will find the food, as chile can work havoc in a stomach not used to it. Most people nowadays drink either bottled or boiled water, and there is no risk with washing your teeth with tap water, unless you drink that water (maybe the case of your children- my dd sometimes drinks it, so we use bottled water for her, but not for us).

I think both Aeromexico and Mexicana fly to Atlanta, since it is usually used to change planes when you are flying to many places.

The only thing that would worry me is the carseat for your young child, since the law here doesn´t make anyone strap children in carseats, so there is no way you can rent one (we don´t have those companies that rent cribs, highchairs, etc), and very few cars here have the self locking seat belts, and no one here knows how to install a carseat. So if I were you I would bring my own carseat and read all the instructions of how to install in different cars.

HTH

Julie

 

[LilMamiBella]

The only thing that would worry me is the carseat for your young child, since the law here doesn´t make anyone strap children in carseats, so there is no way you can rent one (we don´t have those companies that rent cribs, highchairs, etc), and very few cars here have the self locking seat belts, and no one here knows how to install a carseat. So if I were you I would bring my own carseat and read all the instructions of how to install in different cars.

HTH

Julie[/QUOTE]


Thanks Julie! Hadn't thought about this!