linda
05-21-2008, 08:57 PM
Have just returned from Mexico with the family (me, the husband, the 2 kids
ages 12 and 13) and we saved so much money! The big splurge were the tickets, but we had some air miles and I was able to book 2 of our tickets that way.
But we stayed in a condos that was a pretty good deal. It meant we got to go to the local markets and stores and buy food, so we got to practice our Spanish. We did go out for a few meals, but it was really fun shopping for food and cooking together.
When we did go out to eat, we made sure we went out for lunch, because lunch is always cheaper. We also would get one treat each day -- sometimes it was a cute popsickle, other times we'd have a pastry in the morning. We took turns deciding who got to pick the treat.
We didn't rent a car, but walked everywhere (we were in Zihuatenejo) or took the bus. We brought our own snorkel gear (but didn't really use it that much) and I brought some cheap inflatable air mattresses before we left that we just left behind before we went back home - they were $2.99 at home as opposed to $10.
My husband and I bought tequila and made our own drinks. I think this saved us a huge amount of money since we never paid high prices for drinks when we did go out. But we couldn't get tap water so we did have to order soft drinks or mineral water to be on the safe side for food.
It was a great little to town to visit and explore not to mention some nice beaches.
Some of the resort areas in Mexico have been overbuilt with timeshares, and they often are condo-type properties. SO that means they have kitchens. They can have some pretty low prices. Sometimes you can get a really good discount by listening to a sales pitch. I've done that before but didn't do it this time because I couldn't bear to sit through it again. But it can be a good deal.
I also did all my Christmas shopping in the local markets because the crafts are so beautiful. Figured I saved money that way too!
ages 12 and 13) and we saved so much money! The big splurge were the tickets, but we had some air miles and I was able to book 2 of our tickets that way.
But we stayed in a condos that was a pretty good deal. It meant we got to go to the local markets and stores and buy food, so we got to practice our Spanish. We did go out for a few meals, but it was really fun shopping for food and cooking together.
When we did go out to eat, we made sure we went out for lunch, because lunch is always cheaper. We also would get one treat each day -- sometimes it was a cute popsickle, other times we'd have a pastry in the morning. We took turns deciding who got to pick the treat.
We didn't rent a car, but walked everywhere (we were in Zihuatenejo) or took the bus. We brought our own snorkel gear (but didn't really use it that much) and I brought some cheap inflatable air mattresses before we left that we just left behind before we went back home - they were $2.99 at home as opposed to $10.
My husband and I bought tequila and made our own drinks. I think this saved us a huge amount of money since we never paid high prices for drinks when we did go out. But we couldn't get tap water so we did have to order soft drinks or mineral water to be on the safe side for food.
It was a great little to town to visit and explore not to mention some nice beaches.
Some of the resort areas in Mexico have been overbuilt with timeshares, and they often are condo-type properties. SO that means they have kitchens. They can have some pretty low prices. Sometimes you can get a really good discount by listening to a sales pitch. I've done that before but didn't do it this time because I couldn't bear to sit through it again. But it can be a good deal.
I also did all my Christmas shopping in the local markets because the crafts are so beautiful. Figured I saved money that way too!