Without hesitation, our family considers Cabo as safe — or safer — than most major American cities. Absolutely no problem walking around downtown, even late at night.
This map, courtesy of Travel Weekly, shows an all-clear for Cabo:
http://www.travelweekly.com/uploadedFiles/MEXICOMAP4.pdf
If you’re traveling these days with kids, the airline surcharges for kid stuff (strollers, car seats, pack n plays, etc.) can really add up.
It’s much easier to just rent the items you need at your destination.
Baja Baby Gear rents strollers, car seats, cribs and just about anything you’ll need for your little one (http://www.heavenincabo.com/baja-baby-gear/).
For babysitters, Gillian of Baja Babysitting offers services (http://www.heavenincabo.com/baja-babysitting/).
The following exchange rate is the free-market exchange rate, as traded. Expect a markup (or markdown) of approximately 3-5% by currency exchange dealers.
Note: the best exchange rates are found at banks in Cabo. Also, there’s a popular exchange dealer located in the Tesoro/Wyndham hotel downtown. TAKE YOUR PASSPORT, as it is required for any exchange in Mexico. Of course, the worst possible exchange rates are at the airports — but you knew that, right?
Here’s a great travel map of Mexico that visually shows the areas of Mexico that are subject to travel warnings.
http://www.travelweekly.com/uploadedFiles/MEXICOMAP4.pdf
Cabo is given an all-clear. With only two roads in/out (almost an island) and no strategic importance whatsoever to drug trafficking, the Los Cabos region is given a “no warning” status by the US State Department.
May 31, 2012 Update:
The Peso is now at 14.4 to the US Dollar. While prices have generally risen in Mexico since our post in 2008, they haven’t risen as fast as the Peso has dropped compared to the Dollar. Meals and activities in Mexico are less expensive than they were several months (and years) ago.
October 9, 2008:
The Mexican Peso is in a freefall these days. Just a week ago it was about 10.6 to the dollar. Now it’s 13.5 to the dollar.
Visitors to Mexico are now enjoying essentially a 25% discount. For example, last month a dinner priced at 250 pesos would cost about US$23.80. Now, that same meal is US$18.50. That is, until prices are raised by the locals to make up for the decline in the Peso.
Keep in mind that Cabo San Lucas is one area of Mexico probably tied more to the US Dollar than any other part of Mexico. As such, prices will probably be adjusted quickly at tourist-oriented shops and restaurants. The main-line grocery stores and shops probably won’t adjust their prices for awhile — at least until they start losing money. Inflation (that’s what this is, when a currency declines in value vs. another) usually lags.
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=MXN
This is covered elsewhere on our website, but it’s worthy enough for a post of its own.
Data Roaming: If you have a cell phone, especially a smart phone (iPhone/Android/Blackberry), note that data roaming charges can be EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE (see the image below). If you don’t know if you have data roaming on your plan, you should assume that YOU DO NOT and turn data roaming OFF.
Turning your phone off may not be enough; REMOVE THE BATTERY or place the phone in AIRPLANE MODE. Seriously — friends of ours spent five days in Cancun and were presented the following month with a $3700 data roaming bill!!!
Bottom line: KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN COVERS BEFORE YOU USE YOUR PHONE ANYWHERE INTERNATIONAL or you could come home to this (from an actual user, checking his Facebook account “just a few times…”):
Need more information? Here’s an LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-money-20130428,0,2853399.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=69323
Check with your wireless carrier to see if calls while in Mexico are included with your plan (or see if you can add a Mexico option).
If you have a nationwide plan with Verizon, you’re in luck — give Verizon a call and they’ll change your plan to “plus Mexico” for $10 per month. Just call them when you return and have that option removed, with the result that you’ve just added Mexico for only 34 cents per day of your trip.
Data Roaming: If you have a cell phone, especially a smart phone (iPhone/Android/Blackberry), note that data roaming charges can be EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE (see the image below). If you don’t know if you have data roaming on your plan, you should assume that YOU DO NOT and turn data roaming OFF.
Turning your phone off may not be enough; REMOVE THE BATTERY or place the phone in AIRPLANE MODE. Seriously — friends of ours spent five days in Cancun and were presented the following month with a $3700 data roaming bill!!!
Bottom line: KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN COVERS BEFORE YOU USE YOUR PHONE ANYWHERE INTERNATIONAL or you could come home to this (from an actual user, checking his Facebook account “just a few times…”):
We jokingly refer to these as “food stamps.”
Los Cabos Guide is a glossy tourist publication. They make their money from selling advertising and in certain cases, they allow merchants and restaurants to pay for the advertising with redeemable vouchers. Los Cabos Guide then sells these vouchers at 50-65% of face value to the public. The vouchers are denominated in US Dollars and easily redeemable at the merchant or restaurant.
You can order these before your trip and they’ll mail them to you or deliver to your hotel. You can also pick them up when in Cabo, but the office for Los Cabos Guide is several miles away from downtown (see map below).
http://www.loscabosguide.com/discount.htm
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Patti’s favorite store in Cabo. Reasonably priced. A lady by the name of Jodie owns this store and has great customer service.
Unique silver jewelry creations and very reasonable prices in this small store located on Marina Blvd. near Taco Loco, Rip’s Bar, Giggling Marling and Cabo Wabo. 10% discount for cash.
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If you’re going to rent a car when in Cabo, we’ve heard good things about Cactus Car Rental.
