Article: Tips and Tricks for Traveling to Tulum
Tips and Tricks for Traveling to Tulum
Tulum, Mexico has become a popular luxury spot for those wanting a beach vacation. The town is located on the Yucatán Peninsula along the Caribbean coastline. It is known for its stunning beaches and historical Mayan ruins. The town has a little bit of everything: lowkey beach clubs, exciting nightlife, high-end restaurants, fun local shops, and so much more!
We often get questions about traveling to Tulum, so I will be providing some of the best tips and tricks when it comes to the beach town. So much of this information has been learned from my many trips to the destination, so you can truly rely on all of the advice in this article. We want you to feel prepared and informed about your Tulum trip, so keep reading to get the inside scoop!
Upon Arrival:
When getting to Tulum, I recommend getting a private shuttle through Canada Transfer or US Transfer. You can pay a little extra to have water and drinks on the ride. It is about a 2-hour drive from the airport to Tulum so I would advise getting some extra items on this shuttle. It is less expensive to purchase drinks here than to buy margaritas and drinks at the airport when you land. It should cost $200-$300 round trip.
If you are staying for an extended period of time, ask your driver to stop at Selecto Chedraui Tulum. It is a supermarket similar to Walmart and has a wonderful selection of food with lots of incredible fresh produce. Making this stop will help you stay stocked up on food for your stay when you aren’t in the mood to eat at a restaurant. If you stop at Selecto Chedraui Tulum, make sure to bring your own backpack or grocery bags as they don't provide any for free and you will have to purchase them there.
Money Tips:
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Always bring pesos with you! A lot of places don’t even take cards, and when they do there is often an extra charge to do so. This means always having cash on hand and using it when you can be charged less for it. When you happen to come across a shop or restaurant that accepts credit without an extra fee, take advantage of those opportunities: collect those credit points and save the cash for when it is required!
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Speaking of money, alert your bank of your upcoming travel before you leave for Tulum. This is very important if you plan on using a debit card otherwise they will flag your first purchase and may shut down your card.
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Also, check with your bank on their policies for international purchases as some banks charge fees. I have found that my Amex card has been a lifesaver because it is one of the easiest credit cards to use in Mexico. The Amex card has no extra fee attached, but remember that cash is the most important payment method to have available in Tulum!
- This should go without saying but DO NOT take all of your money to the beach with you. Even if you plan to be near the beach all day or have your bag all day, it is not smart or safe. I typically take $75 - $100 US dollars with me a day. I would take an extra $50 USD if you are going to be taking a taxi instead of riding a bike.
- Additionally, I always take my Amex card with me as you never know what type of large purchase you may want to make at a shop. Of course, a credit card can always be canceled immediately if stolen. Keep your other credit or debit cards back at your condo or hotel.
- DO NOT take any other personal identification with you to the beach like a passport or an ID. Take a photo of the passport on your phone and take your phone with you.
- DON’T wear diamonds or anything of expense. That is very easily putting a target on your back for possible theft at the beach or beach clubs, as well as taxis charging you more.
Resort Booking Tips:
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Tulum itself does not have all-inclusive resorts: plenty of all-inclusive resorts will call themselves part of Tulum, but they aren’t as close as you think. I personally stayed at one in December called the Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive. It ended up being a 30+ minute and $50+ cab ride each way. Be very aware of that as you book. The actual beach road of Tulum does NOT have all-inclusive resorts. They are all boutique hotels with hefty price tags.
We will be providing another Tulum blog post soon that will inform you about places to stay in town and some of the best restaurants in the area. Stay tuned for that upcoming post, and until then visit our current swimsuit collection by heading to our homepage. Happy shopping!
