Taxes

Even though in other states of Mexico, the VAT tax is 15%, Quintana Roo (where Cancun is), this tax is only 10%. There's also a lodging tax of 2% (in case you stay at a hotel).

Tips

For individual services, the usual is 10% over the total bill amount or according to the quality of the service you received. For groups a 15% is the standard.

Dress Code

Casual clothing is recommended. Cotton and linen garments are always fresh for hot climates. Some restaurants have a more strict dress code, where no shorts or tank tops are allowed. Please consult the restaurant before making a reservation.

Transportation

To move around in Cancun you can either rent a car, catch a cab or ride the bus.

You can find most of the international renowned car rental companies here. These companies offer their services at the airport, via internet and at some of the hotels too.

Taxicabs are clean and are always available at every hotel lobby and they don't use a taximeter, instead, pre-established fares according to the distances will be charged. You can easily consult these fares with your lobby concierge.

Likewise taxicabs, buses have a 24 hour service too. You can ride all along the hotel zone strip up to downtown where bus-stops are visibly marked along the way.

There are also Bus companies that offer short trips to nearby towns. Most of them have TV and Air Conditioned.

Banks and Currency

The Mexican official currency is the Peso ($ or MXP) The paper bills available are $20, $50, $100, $200 and $500 pesos. Regarding coins, there are $0.10, $0.20, and $0.50 cents, and $1.00, $2.00, $5.00 and $10.00 pesos. (recently $100 pesos, which are quite unusual)

Money Exchange service can be find mostly everywhere (banks, money exchange booths, airports and hotels). Banks in Mexico usually open from 9:00 am to 4:00pm; despite this fact, you can make cash withdrawals from ATMs located everywhere, 24/7.

Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are accepted all over Cancun as well as Travelers Checks.

Telephones, Cell Phones and Mail

Public phones can be found everywhere. These telephones require a pre-paid card for local and long distance calls. You can purchase these cards on any convenience store near you. American and Canadian Cell phones, (digital & analog) can now work all over Mexico. Please contact your cell phone dealer to guarantee that your phone will work here and/or make some adjustments before entering to Mexican territory.

The mail office is located in downtown Cancun, as well as internationally renowned courier and parcel companies. Some hotels have a mail service too. Please contact your concierge for this topic.