When people think of vacationing, money is always one of the first things to come to mind. “I don’t have any money”, “I can’t afford it”, “It costs too much”, among other phrases are some of the most common excuses you will hear. The truth is, you don’t have to break your back to travel! Cheap Mexico vacations are a reality. With the right mindset and planning, you can make it happen.

If you have followed me for some time, you know by now that travel is one of my passions. However, that doesn’t mean I spend a fortune when I travel. I always try to look for deals or the best possible price. Fortunately, with all the advancements in technology, we can do it all from the comfort of our own homes. Let’s get started!

Tips to Save on Transportation

Airplane about to land.

Flights can be expensive; we all know it. It can be one of the most expensive parts of a vacation, especially if you’re flying from a remote location. When you look online, you may see high prices and that’s disheartening, but you can make it. Trust me.

Below are some tips that could help you save money on airfare:

  • Be flexible about the dates and destinations. If possible, avoid traveling during the peak season.
  • Set up as many alerts as you can on different websites. You will have a better idea of when is the best time to buy.
  • Book your flight at least 3 months in advance.
  • Fly as light as possible. This way you can avoid costly baggage fees.
  • Compare prices on third-party sites and directly on the airline websites as well.
  • Never buy on impulse.

Our American friends have an advantage over those coming from afar. Driving could be an option. Even after fuel, insurance, tolls, and other related expenses, it could be an alternative to flying. It’s a great way of saving money.

The Mexican government has a calculator where you can create a route between two points (you can even add stops along your route) and get an estimate of how much you will spend on things like fuel and tolls. You can check it out here.

Tips to Save on Lodging

Bed with a nightstand and a circular lamp to the left.

This is another important expense to consider. Some tips to save money on transportation can also be used to save money on lodging. For instance, avoid booking a room during the peak season as prices are generally higher during those dates.

When I think of lodging, I don’t think of the best or most expensive hotel in town. I only want a clean, affordable, and well-located place where I can sleep and take a shower. If you think it carefully, it’s not too much asking. I can tell from experience. After all, I’m not planning to stay at the hotel the whole time.

Here are some tips to save money:

  • Bundle up. If you pay for your flight and hotel together, you could get a good deal.
  • Forget about all-inclusive places. Although you can sometimes get a lower price, they’re usually more expensive than other lodging options.
  • Just like flights, set up as many alerts as you can. Try different sites like Expedia, Booking, and Hotels.com.
  • Be flexible about the dates.
  • Lower your expectations. For instance, you can get a cheaper room if breakfast is not included.
  • You don’t have to stay at a hotel. Remember there are other options out there like hostels and Airbnb.
  • Do you have a friend or relative in town? You could get free lodging!

You can find a room for as low as $30. Hostels are even cheaper than that. Just read the reviews from other people who have stayed there before so you can make an informed decision.

=>> Click here to check out great flight + hotel packages! <<=

Tips to Save on Meals

Tortillas, eggs, and a cup.

Mexico has many dining options for everyone. There are cheap, expensive, and in-between places where you can eat. If you eat at good restaurants three times a day every single day, it will add up, more so if you’re paying for other people. What can you do in this case?

For starters, you don’t have to starve to death to save money. Some people only eat 2 times a day to save money. Not me. Breakfast is sacred in my book and I can’t start my day off without it. Having said that, you could do some of the following:

  • Use apps like Foursquare and Yelp to look for affordable places in your area. I always use them when traveling and they have saved my life more than once.
  • Consider buying from a street vendor.
  • If you’re concerned about buying food on the street, look for other affordable options. In Mexico, you can find places that are cheaper than restaurants. They go by different names depending on where you go. You can find them as fonda, cocina económica, or cenaduría. The food they serve is more authentic and affordable, not to mention it’s delicious!
  • Each city has a mercado (market). They all have good food at low prices. It’s a great way to experience the city culture at its finest.
  • Ask the locals for recommendations. I’ve done it many times. You will always find someone willing to help you.
  • Do your cooking. It may not be your first option, but it could save you big money.

Realistically speaking, you can look at 50-120 pesos (between $2.75-$6.50) per person per meal when eating outside. No kidding. Isn’t that great?

More Tips to Save

Two flowerpots with cactuses and a dollar bill below them.

Aside from flights, lodging, and meals, there are more ways to save money during your trip. Here are some ideas:

  • Do you really need to rent a car? Chances are you don’t. If you’re not planning to visit other locations far from town, you’re better off without one.
  • Uber offers service in many Mexican cities. Their prices are lower than their American or European counterparts, but their service is as good.
  • Even better, consider using public transportation. You could ride the subway or the bus.
  • Buy your souvenirs in the city market. You will see higher prices at stores located in touristy areas.
  • Make a budget and stick to it.
  • Look for free activities in town. Believe it or not, you can have fun and not spend a single dime!
  • If traveling on a budget, avoid taking tours when possible. You can visit some places on your own and save money.
  • Don’t exchange money at the airport. They have the worst rates ever.
  • Only use your credit cards for emergencies. Preferably, use a card with no foreign transaction fees.

Conclusion

Cheap Mexico vacations are a reality! Don’t take my word for it. Just do some research and you will find tons of articles and videos on the subject online.

You don’t have to be a millionaire to travel and have a good time. You will have to make some sacrifices like taking connecting flights, staying at cheap hotels, and eating at markets, but it’s all part of the experience. Nothing extreme. Some people take extreme measures like backpacking to save even more. It’s up to you.

What do you think? Did you make up your mind? What would you add or remove from the list? Let me know in the comments below. See you soon!

Book your trip now!

Book your flight

The first thing you have to do is find cheap flights. But where do you find those? There are many search engines, but the one I highly recommend is Skyscanner. Here you can compare fares from all over the world and pick the one that suits you best.

Book your accommodation

The next thing you have to do is secure your lodging. Whether you prefer a hostel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a hotel, you can find them all on Booking. You can find lodging of all kinds ranging from cheap to expensive and somewhere in between. Many people have scored good deals using it.

Another popular option is Hostelworld. This website focuses on hostels as opposed to hotels.

Book a tour

In some places, you might want to hire a tour. Not all places are equally accessible to visit by oneself. It helps enormously when you visit with a local guide who can show you around and answer any questions you might have…all in your native language. My to-go place is Viator as they offer tours of all kinds and have a presence all over the world.

Rent a car

Public transportation is usually cheaper than renting a car, but it’s sometimes more complicated and time-consuming. That’s a reality. In some cases, it’s more convenient to rent a car. My recommendation is Rentalcars.com. Here you can compare rates and choose the one that fits you best.

Book your bus tickets

You can save money by booking bus tickets online. My favorite site to do this is Busbud.

Get travel insurance

Never travel without a travel insurance policy, especially these days! Travel insurance can save your life. My recommendations are World Nomads and Insured Nomads. Both companies cover COVID-19 related incidents, which is crucial these days.

More resources

Just click on the “Plan your trip” tab at the top of this page, and you will find more resources like getting Mexican insurance for your foreign car, buying travel accessories, and learning Spanish. And, of course, don’t forget to check back often to read more tips on Mexico travel.

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10 Replies to “Cheap Mexico Vacations – Let’s Go!”

  1. Hey great article. It seems to me having read this that if you are prepared to take som time and some thorough research and planning you can significantly reduce the cost of a trip to anywhere.

    You have provided in effect a great checklist to do just that. You will not be the travel agents friend ha ha! Because they make their money out of packaging deals that get them the most lucrative commissions.

    Thanks really good advice and having travelled in Mexico you are absolutely right!

    Hamish🧐

    1. Hi, Hamish,

      Your comment is much appreciated.

      Yes, you can use these tips to travel basically anywhere. You don’t have to be rich to travel. If that were the case, many of us wouldn’t do it. It’s just a matter of searching.

      Feel free to come back check my other articles. Thanks for commenting.

  2. Hello,

    Thanks for your information about cheap Mexico vacations and all of the great tips about how to purchase, how to pack and the best time of the year to travel. One thing that really sands out to me is the extra fees for baggage. I agree this can be costly each way of the travel.

    Is it really true you can find rooms as low as $30.00? What is the rating on those rooms and are there specific times of the year to get these rates.

    Best Regards
    Audrey

    1. Hi, Audrey,

      You’re welcome! Glad to be of assistance.

      Baggage fees can be costly. They vary from airline to airline, but they can add up at the end.

      Regarding lodging, yes, you can find cheap rooms depending on your destination and the location you select. The rating varies, but they’re mostly 2-star hotels. Just read what other people who have stayed there have to say. And preferably, avoid the peak season which is when prices tend to go up.

      Feel free to come back with any other questions. Thanks for commenting.

  3. Hi,

    I love your article, it makes me start planning the vacations, I´d like to travel to Mexico, I’ve never been there.

    I live in Portugal, an european country, very far away from Mexico, what makes the travel expansive, but I like your tips on affordable options to travel, the low season could be a good deal, flight and hotel together also.

    I’d love to know Cancoon of course, what other places can you suggest me more for a holiday in Mexico?

    Cheers,

    Isabella

    1. Hi, Isabella,

      Thank you very much for your words.

      I’d love to visit Portugal. I’ve heard Lisbon is a beautiful city.

      Flying from Europe can be expensive, but with the correct planning, you can make it. Many European tourists like Spanish, French, and Germans visit our country each year.

      Cancun is a beautiful destination. If you like beaches, we’ve got plenty of them. However, we have more than beaches. You can check out Mexico’s most visited places here

      Thanks for commenting.

  4. Some of the suggestions here I never would have thought of! I love the idea of setting up alerts on different websites. I didn’t even know that was an option! You gave us so many different aspect of a trip that we could try to save on. This really hit home as my family and I have been trying to do a vacation somewhere warm for the past two years but always found a financial reason not to. Thank you so much!

    1. Hi, Jenny,

      Glad to be of assistance.

      Yes, the financial burden is one of the most common reasons people don’t travel. The truth is, you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford a trip to Mexico. With the correct planning, you can make it.

      Feel free to check out my other articles for more info and tips on Mexico. Hope you visit soon.

  5. Hello Enrique:

    Thank you so much for providing this useful information about how to save a lot of money when going to Mexico.

    It is very practical and very thoughtful about every traveling aspect. I will remember to book my flight at least 3 months in advance and I will check the different websites for the price. It is very good and useful advice!

    For the meal, I never used Foursquare and Yelp before, I will definitely give them a try!

    These tips you provide will help a lot of people to save money who want to travel to Mexico! Thank you so much!

    And the best season to go to Mexico I think is April or December. For December, we still have a lot of time to prepare, and your articles will do the favor! I really enjoy reading it!

    Leo

    1. Hi, Leo,

      Glad to help. That’s one of my main objectives.

      Flights can be one of the biggest expenses when traveling, especially when you fly from a remote location. However, if you book your flight ahead of time, you will save money.

      Foursquare and Yelp have saved my life more than once. You can look for restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, and other businesses.

      December is a good time to go. Actually, the first half of the month is better since the second half falls within the peak season.

      Thanks for dropping by.

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