3 Tips For Visiting Mexico For The First Time

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If you’re planning your first trip to Mexico, you might have some mixed feelings about what could happen on your trip. While the culture and experiences you can be a part of in Mexico are like no other, there have been some scary stories in recent years about tourists who’ve had less than ideal situations on their trip. So to help ensure that you have an amazing time while also keeping yourself and others safe, here are three tips for visiting Mexico for the first time.

Eating and drinking in a foreign country can be dangerous for all sorts of reasons. But in Mexico, it’s generally unsafe to drink the tap water. According to Suzanne Barbezat, a contributor to Trip Savvy, drinking tainted water can give tourists something called Montezuma’s Revenge, which is just a nice way of saying major digestion issues.

Additionally, you also want to protect yourself against having anything slipped into your drinks. To combat both of these potential problems, only drink beverages that have been sealed and that you see opened up for the first time with your own eyes. Also, try to only drink beverages with labels that you recognize as being safe for you to consume in the past.

Research The Areas You’re Planning To Visit Before You Get There

Mexico is a decently sized country with a large variety of cityscapes and climates you could experience. While some of these areas are perfectly safe for visitors to explore, other parts have been linked to drugs, gangs, and other activities that you likely don’t want to be involved with.

Because of this, Katherine Fung, a contributor to Oyster.com, advises that you do some research about the areas you’re planning to visit before you get there. See if there have been any recent reports of violence or unrest. And no matter where it if you’re visiting, make sure you’re using your own common sense to help you stay out of trouble.

Pick Up Some Common Spanish Phrases

Before you land in Mexico, it’s wise to learn at least a few common phrases that you might need to know in Spanish. To make this easy, Tammi Roy, a contributor to Expedia.ca, recommends that you download a language app or get an audiobook that you can listen and practice with before you arrive. By just picking up a few phrases about how to navigate around a city or negotiate on prices, you’ll feel much more confident in your ability to blend in and take part in the culture of the cities.

If you’re going to be visiting Mexico for the first time soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for this amazing adventure.

How to keep your sun-blessed travel glow all year round

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A sun-blessed glow from your travels is one of the best souvenirs you can return home with, as nothing says ‘well rested’ quite like sun-kissed skin. Plus, the vitamin D from the sun is said to counter the symptoms of anxiety and work wonders for your skin, bones and teeth. Though, as much as we love the sun, we all know how hard it can be to maintain a tan, post-travel.

However, there are many ways you’re able to keep your sun-blessed travel glow all year round.

Diet

Your diet can have a large impact on your skin and that includes the life of your tan. If you are looking to make your tan last longer, you should eat foods rich in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a carotenoid containing a red-orange pigment and can be found in many fruit and vegetables; think mangoes, carrots, pumpkin, apricots, sweet potato, and cantaloupe melon, to name but a few. Research shows that eating high amounts of these foods makes your skin appear darker – a delicious and easy way to extend the life of your tan.


Hydration

As well as honing in on your diet, it’s important to stay hydrated. This helps to prolong the life of your cells, including those tanned cells just above the surface. It’s recommended that you drink two litres of water a day.

Cool showers

Water can play an important part in more ways than one when it comes to keeping your sun-kissed glow. Hot baths can actually dehydrate your skin, leading to faster peeling. Keep the temperature of the water down to extend the life of your tan.

Moisturise

Unsurprisingly, your skincare routine will play a large part in just how long your tan lasts – no amount of moisturising is too much and reapplication can never be too excessive.  Moisturising helps to keep skin cells soft and plump, meaning that your skin tone is more balanced; hence, your glow will stay in place for much longer. Plus, this works for both natural and faux tans.

Exfoliate

It’s important to keep exfoliation, albeit gently applied, as part of your skincare routine – dead skin cells can actually make the skin look duller and leave it bereft of that sun-kissed glow. Use a dry body brush or exfoliating shower sponge to gently top the exfoliation of your skin.

Use a fake tan


If the natural tan from your travels has started to fade a little too much, you can always use natural tanning products to top it up – the best and safest way to make your tan last longer. In fact, topping up your natural tan with a good-quality tanning mousse can work wonders. It’s easy to maintain, and the subtle colour will afford your real tan a huge boost. Apply the tan, either two-to-three times weekly, to enhance your natural colour and avoid looking streaky. It’s also recommended that you use a mitt to apply fake tan, in order to avoid stained palms and knuckles.