Some questions

[ildipoo]

I know most places in Tulum dont take credit cards but for places that may, will they accept those new prepaid type American Express cards? I just purchased a $200 prepaid card and thought I would use it while traveling.

I am going to book Posada Lamar. Its not as far south as I would have wanted but this is what we are going to do!

Lastly, do the restaurants on the beach and in Tulum take good care in washing and preparing food? I would assume its no different from restaurants in Akumal. Six weeks to go and can not wait! :sun:

[Steve O]

I don't think you will find any place that will take an American Express card. I don't even think they will work in an ATM down there. I could be wrong but that is one card I wouldn't be traveling with in Mexico.

The food is fine.

[minniemex]

I agree, you will be hard pressed to find anyone to take an American Express. Even when I just traveled to Europe, very few places accept AE.

Most places on the beach do not take any type of credit card, doesn't matter what kind. And if you do find a place that takes them, a lot of times there is a surcharge for it. That is why we all hit the cash machines. The best pre-loaded card we have heard of are the ones that AAA sell which are a Visa and can be used in just about any cash machine.

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:Yeah, don't get stuck with just that for sure, there are places that will take AE, but don't recommend credit cards of any kind on the beach....

I do believe the food at the beach is fine as well.....really this is a new Mexico, they make their living off of tourists, they are going to take the same kind of precautions as restaurants in the states, and not all of them are safe either.....\

Sure people get some gastric problems, but that is going to happen anytime you get away from home, and there are some great threads here that talk about what to do.....I have never heard of anything super serious, just the usually bothersome symptoms. :burp:

[beachreader]

The only hotels I know of that take credit cards only take them electronically, i.e., via Paypal. And some of them charge a fee for using Paypal with a credit card, since they're charged for that on their end.

Cash and ATM cards really are the way to go, but Paypal has made the actual booking and paying for rooms hugely more convenient.

Now that there are wireless devices for taking credit cards, I've seen a few places start to accept them (like La Zebra), but they don't always work.

[ildipoo]

Thanks for the all the good info.

[Laurie]

This might be a stupid question - do people know if the hotels/bars/restuarants in Tulum will use purified water for ice cubes? I am counting the days until I can have a margarita on the beach in Tulum, until someone mentioned that drinks with ice might not be safe to drink and that I should stick with beer. Ditto on fruits and vegetables...

I'm thinking this can't be possible after all I've read about wonderful drinks and fresh fruit on this board, but I thought I would check just to be sure.

Thanks for any information you can provide.

[letele]

It will be fine, the ice at most (all?) places is trucked in from an ice plant. Enjoy your margaritas! (And fruit!) As Margo said, these places make their living from tourism, it would not be wise to drive away business by using unpurified water!

[minniemex]

This might be a stupid question - do people know if the hotels/bars/restuarants in Tulum will use purified water for ice cubes? I am counting the days until I can have a margarita on the beach in Tulum, until someone mentioned that drinks with ice might not be safe to drink and that I should stick with beer. Ditto on fruits and vegetables...

I'm thinking this can't be possible after all I've read about wonderful drinks and fresh fruit on this board, but I thought I would check just to be sure.

Thanks for any information you can provide.

You know, people are always ready to blame the restaurant, bars, etc, for their sicknesses, when in fact it is caused by overindulgence. Too much food that they are unaccustomed to, too much sun and too much drinking that isn't water. I agree with what Margo was saying, they want our business and the best way to keep that is to take precautions with the food and drink they serve us and keep us coming back for more!

[Margoinmexico]

Anybody good at doing a search for my top 10 that I wrote about food and stuff in Mexico? Specifically I´m looking for the part about start drinking shots and beer to excess at least one month before coming to Mexico......:p

[tbpeaceful]

Hey Margo ~ this what you were lookin' for? Found it waaayy back on page 9 ~ eating unpeelable veggies ~
this turned me totally into a coconut fanatic! yummy :palmtree:

Happy days ~ T.


http://www.tulum.info/images/icons/icon10.gif Some ideas to help
:wave:I have an iron cast system so have always eaten what ever, where ever I want.....but not everyone eats 3 to 10 habeneros a day.....! (or more):eek:

Here are some things that I have learned over the years before and after Mexico.....seem to make sense to me....:rolleyes:

1. Some people ´say don´t eat the fresh fruits and veges til you´ve been here a few days.....but others eat them and have no problem....I agree most restaurants treat the vegies and use bottled water....so shouldn´t be a problem. I do remember one trip 15 years ago where that was the rule, wait a week.....boy do I remember that first salad...I only made it 3 days! I don´t eat at taco stands that have their food in caserolas...I want that stuff heated up!

2 start taking a good probiotic before coming to get your digestive system in good shape before you come. I recommend PB8 which does not have to be refrigerated, so you can bring it with you and use it while here too. Take according to directions, if you have ¨problems¨ take more. I recommend buying the kiind that does not have to be refrigerated even if you DO have refridgeration.....just because it was in the cooler when you bought it, how do you know it has been the whole time since it was born? I do strongly believe in the placibo effect too.....

3. also start with Grapefruit seed Extract...(NOT grapeseed extract). It is anti viral, anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti perasite, etc etc. DO NOT get the liquid unless you `plan on putting it in your ears. I would rather have diarrhea than drink the liquid:burp:. Luckily it comes in pills and capsules. I learned this from a friend who traveled the world with the navy....take it daily while here, and if you have ¨problems¨take more.

4. Drink and eat coconut while here. I am literally an expert and have been teaching classes on coconut....it also is anti all the things in #3 and has the same amino fatty acid chain as Mothers breast milk. Add tequila for added potency. Moms try this too, the kids will sleep better.

5. start drinkiing beer with tequila daily before you come, that way when you start doing it here, you won´t be able to blame it on the food or water...

6. I don´t recommend using imodium or other things unless you are going somewhere there is no bathroom, that stuff NEEDs to get out...why would you stop it?

7. Make sure you get sick BEFORE eating my food or at one of my favorite restaurants so that you will not be able to blame us for it...(Right Jerod and Laura?)

8. Ice cubes are almost always made from purified water, and shouldn´t be a problem. Most places just buy bags of ice.....My gram read somewhere that you shouldn´t use icecubes in restaurants in the US, she couldn´t remember why though.....which she would tell us everytime we ate out.....I have heard that ice cube water is more filtered so as not to clog up the machines that make them, so actually cleaner water.....but have no idea if this is true or not. But made interesting conversation with gram, EVERY TIME.

9. Most places bring you very expensive environmentally unfriendly bottles of water when you order. Please make sure you throw these into the ocean so they can wash up on some beach somewhere. Email rumor has it that plastic shouldn´t be heated or cooled with water in it.........

That´s all I can think of for now....I´ll let you know if I can come up with a TOP 10 way to avoid problems......glad there´s an edit feature!

Peace,

M:beerchug:
__________________
:surfing:Already There......
Come on down!:margarita:


Wise words from a wise woman :)

[ildipoo]

Interesting about the grapefruit seed extract. I can't seem to find any info about it. Do you find it at a vitamin store? Don't forget the limes. They are supposed to be good for killing bacteria as well.

[Margoinmexico]

Interesting about the grapefruit seed extract. I can't seem to find any info about it. Do you find it at a vitamin store? Don't forget the limes. They are supposed to be good for killing bacteria as well.

:wave:Yup, limes are great, if they are not on your table, then ask for some, on my first big trip to mexico I fell so in love with the limes, then went home and what would cost les than a peso here was a dollar in the states~! They truly are one of the reasons for living here.....
Also Garlic and Onions for increased immune system....

GSE as it is commonly referred to is available in any healthfood store, and probably most drug stores. Again, do not get the liquid.....

And go and check out number 10........:eek: Opps, no puedo, I didn't post it, so I can't edit it!

[Margoinmexico]

:wave: 10. Make sure you pick up plenty of tequila at the airport. From my experience, it doesn't matter what is wrong with you on this side of the border, the prescription is going to be 3 shots of tequila!!!!!:eat-drink:

[itsjustme]

:wave: 10. Make sure you pick up plenty of tequila at the airport. From my experience, it doesn't matter what is wrong with you on this side of the border, the prescription is going to be 3 shots of tequila!!!!!:eat-drink:


At least 3!! :D:D:D:D

Margo you have a personal invite for our style of morning fruit smoothies in March at Casa Mexicana. Ice, fresh fruit, yogurt, strawberry or any type fruit juice, tequila or pear vodka. A nice healthy breakfast!!

[drewski709]

Hi -

I just got back from 10 days in Tulum, staying at Suenos, and I have to tell you, I found that quite a few places are now accepting debit/credit cards. Just off of the top of my head, Ocho Tulum, La Vita e Bella, Charlie's (in town), Casa Banana ... of course, cash is always the safest bet, but it was nice to not have to worry about how much cash we had for dinner constantly.

[ildipoo]

Great to know. Thanks for passing on the info.