Around the world
-
Travel outside the Euro zone: Money exchange & withdrawal
When traveling outside the euro zone, the question regularly arises: how will I pay on the spot? Where to change money to get local currency. Small article to introduce you to the different options and traps to avoid. Install an exchange rate application on your phone This is an indispensable practice, to be able to convert prices in local currency into euros. Exchange rates are set according to supply and demand on the financial markets and fluctuate 7 days / 7 24 hours a day. On an Android phone, the “Exchange Rate” application is fine. On iOS, you can use “XE Currency”. It will be useful for you, as much…
-
How to visit the Sian Ka’an Reserve without a guide (2020): by Car or Bus / Colectivo (Mexico)
Most tourists visit Sian Ka’an with an agency (minimum 100$/person from Tulum). But what to do when you don’t have a lot of money? Here are two methods to visit this reserve. First ofall, you have to know that the reserve is very, very big, so depending on where you start, you will visit completely different things. The agencies also propose 2 different starting points, so make sure you are well informed before you choose. If you leave from the archeological site Muyil, like most bloggers visiting Sian Ka’an independently, the access is easier, you float on the canals dug by the Maya, carried away by the current but in…
-
The Sargasso invade the coasts of Mexico: Beaches spared, Tips (2020)
During our trip to Florida, we were shocked by the massive presence of stinking sargasso (algae) on the beaches of Florida. Not only is it visually unpleasant, but also the stench is such that we were not able to swim at some of the beaches. This phenomenon, particularly affecting the Caribbean zone, is due to the excessive use of fertilizers in areas near the Gulf of Mexico and the Amazon Basin. These fertilizers end up in the ocean, feeding algae. Studies have shown that after a first wave in 2015, the phenomenon exploded in Mexico in 2018 with the arrival of 24 million cubic meters, the equivalent of 3,000 soccer…
-
How to buy Playa del Carmen – Cozumel and Cancún – Isla Mujeres ferry tickets online with Ultramar Ferry? (Mexico)
The question deserves to be asked because, apart from the homepage, the rest of this site must date back to the 2000s. There are so many ferries to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres that most people just show up at the port and ask “which boat leaves first”. The rates are the same for all companies. No stress! However, I have to be on Cozumel Island at a specific time and since it’s Christmas time, I prefer not to miss my ferry and have to cancel my trip. Contrary to what the Internet says, it is possible to buy tickets online, and even from abroad. However, I had to tear my…
-
[Travel Guide] Car Rental in Mexico: Insurance, Scam, Credit Card
I have read a lot of conflicting information about car rental in Mexico. Today, I will make you a small, easy to understand guide to avoid the most common pitfalls. Thank you Karen and Karl, who spent a vacation in Mexico this summer, for helping me write this guide, we then supplemented it with our own experience. To make it easier to understand, this guide will be in the form of FAQs. I hope I have brought you the necessary information. Follow our adventure in Mexico & read our different guides about Mexico here Road trip in Mexico #1 : Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil, Valladolid, Cenote Zaci, Ek Balam,…
-
Prepaid 4G SIM card in Mexico: How much does it cost? Where to buy it? What speed? Speedtest (2020)
Arrived in Mexico, we are looking as usual to buy a local SIM card. If you have a Free Mobile subscription, you can use 25GB of data for free. However, calls and SMS to France will be charged extra. Exchange rate in December 2019: 100MXN = 4,73€ Buy a SIM card at Mexico City or Cancun airport Having only made one stopover at the airport in Mexico City, we did not have the time to inquire about available tourist offers. If you have any information, do not hesitate to share it as a comment Buy a SIM card at Merida airport At the time of our arrival, we did not…
-
Airport lounges: How does it work? How much does it cost? How to get there?
Recently, I have been lucky enough to be able to access airport lounges during my travels. Like many, I have often wondered what is behind those beautiful doors of “Airport Lounges”, “VIP Space” or “Lounge Space”. Let me explain how it works. An airport lounge: what is it? An airport lounge is a space that allows passengers to wait for their flight in more comfortable conditions than traditional waiting areas at boarding gates. These spaces are rented : Either by airline companies who make them available to their customers Either by private companies that market access to these fairs Either by bank cards such as Mastercard or American Express which…
-
How much are Air France Flying Blue miles worth? How to use them?
When I first became interested in the Air France Flying Blue miles that can be obtained with an American Express Air France card, the question of their value inevitably arose. The least we can say is that it isn’t very clear, that “it depends” and that the value of your miles can vary considerably depending on how you use them. It is therefore important to calculate their value each time you use them. Here are a few examples with the different ways you can use your miles. Buy an Air France plane ticket with miles Example of a round trip Paris – New York. Go on January 15, 2020, return…
-
Opinion on Ma Gestion Locative agency: renting your property from abroad
As we told you in this article, we took advantage of having a file that was still presentable at a bank to get into debt and make a rental investment just before leaving on a trip around the world. It was a project under the Malraux Law (rehabilitation of old buildings) which required heavy work. It is only 18 months after the signature that we recovered the keys. In the meantime, we had decided to continue to travel for an indefinite period of time, so it was essential to entrust the management of our apartment to a rental management agency. We were in a hurry for several reasons: We had…
- America, Around the world, Country Guides, During the World Tour, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, TDM, Tips
Border crossing in Central America – Entry fee, Exit ticket: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
Here is a summary of the entry and exit fees for Central American countries. These countries like to use the US dollar very much. Some of them use ONLY US dollars, so plan on using dollars before coming here (or get some from distributors who also offer dollars). Some countries require proof of exit from the territory (Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama), it is better to think about it in advance. A bus ticket will suffice. Mexico Entry: When you enter Mexico, you will be asked for your proof of exit. You can simply buy a bus ticket on the ADO website (e.g. to Guatemala) and exchange it afterwards. You can…
