Don’t Get Help from the Guys Inside the SJD Airport
There is an area before exiting the Los Cabos Airport that has been referred to as “the gauntlet.” After leaving Customs and Immigration you will exit through automatic doors into another room where you will find a swarm of individuals offering to help you.
These individuals will be very helpful and offer to help you find a taxi, shuttle, resorts, tours, carry your luggage, etc. Just smile and keep walking because their goal is to convince you to attend a timeshare presentation. They are a convincing bunch with resort or shuttle names on their shirts, but again, smile and walk, walk, walk until you get outside. The people outside are the legitimate shuttle or hotel representatives.
Don’t Waste Your Money Renting a Car
For the most part, if you are staying in Cabo San Lucas, you won’t need a car. The drawback to renting a car is the rental insurance in Mexico can be expensive. Also, we have found that signals and stop signs are more of a suggestion than a rule, so be alert. It is also difficult to find street parking in Cabo. So, we recommend saving your money and taking a taxi or Uber if you are wanting to visit the town. Yes, there are Uber drivers in Cabo and it's safe!
Do Put a Travel Alert on Your Cards & ATM
Make sure to put a travel alert on your credit cards and ATM so you can use them in a foreign country. If you don’t notify your bank, they could prevent you from being able to withdraw money and cause a headache.
Don’t Exchange Money Before Arriving in Mexico
More times than not, you will get a better exchange rate in Mexico. Money can be exchanged through ATMs, at the cash exchange booth at the airport, local banks, or at many of the larger resorts. Also, if using your credit card and you don’t have a foreign exchange rate fee, then pay in pesos when possible. Again, this usually results in the best exchange rate.
If you don’t exchange your USD to MXN that is totally fine too! We are staying at an all-inclusive resort so all you will need is a few dollars here and there to tip the workers, and they will happily accept USD.
Do Take a Picture of Your Passport on Your Phone
Make sure to have a photograph of your passport and email it to yourself just in case something happens. You never know if you might lose your passport. This will help prevent a real headache in tracking down passport records from a foreign country.
Do Be Careful Drinking Water in the Town
Most of the water and ice in hotels, resorts, and tourist restaurants are safe. Many offer purified bottled water and many of the resorts have desalination plants that purify the water on site. Be wary of water and ice when eating at restaurants off the beaten path and stick to bottled water and drinks without ice just to be safe. No one wants stomach issues when traveling.
Do Check Beach Signage if Ocean is Swimmable
The resort we have chosen, Paradisus Los Cabos, is located on one of the few swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas. But if you decide to be adventurous and go elsewhere, please know there is a huge undertow in Cabo San Lucas. There are a lot of bays and a lot of places on the beach that you cannot go swimming. Be very, very careful and very mindful of the green, yellow, and red flags that are out. The actual bay is on the Sea of Cortez, but when you go over to the arch, Lover’s Beach, or Divorce Beach, they’re on the Pacific side. The undertow is so strong, it will suck you right out. It’s not worth trying to swim where you’re not supposed to.
Do Relax, You’re Safe
Another thing about Cabo is this city is extremely safe. Sure, there are pickpockets here and there, so just don’t go wandering around in a city you don’t know or aren’t familiar with. Be smart and you’ll be just fine.
