Sole woman traveling in Mexico

sereneintexas · Mar 6, 2008

:up:Right on girl, do your own thing! I can't give you any answers but I can cheer you on. I can understand your loved ones concern for you but you gotta go where your heart calls. I'm older and was never as brave as you and I regret it. At this time I'm trying to get up the nerve to be a traveling nurse. I keep telling myself that I can do anything for just 13 weeks.

Have fun and God go with you!

KatieBell · Mar 6, 2008

Hi folks,
Has anyone (preferably females, males are okay, too :)) experienced nursing or traveling in Central America? I'm going on a medical trip to Belize and will be flying into Cancun, Mexico. To get to Belize, I'm taking a bus on my own and will be meeting the group in Belize City (it's about a seven hour bus ride with one stop to change buses).
Please send tips for a sole woman traveler. How much money to carry, what to carry (are money belts useful?), what to look out for, what to be aware of.. etc. I've traveled on my own in the USA before.. but never internationally. I'm freaked... and excited!
And for all you caretakers (i.e.: everyone on this darned site, I just know it), resist the urge to tell me what a crazy idea this is to do on my own. I've got two parents, two sisters, two roommates, and three best friends that can (and have) done that for you already. :nuke:
Thanks!

Money belts are not useful, they are hard to get into when you need money.

Now, if I get this right you are going to fly into Mexico, and then get on a bus, and meet the group in Belize? then you are going to be with th rest of the group for the trip? This should be simple.

Do not give money to strangers, beggars, or sad looking children.

Don't wear expensive jewlrey,or flash about a lot of cash. Easiest thing to do is to pu thte cash you will be using in a pants pocket, and the rest somewhere else. Money belt if you feel you need it (I have been all over and never carried a money belt).

Try to look bored if at all possible.

Sit near the bus driver if you can.

And you should be fine. Enjoy your trip.

travelinjones · Mar 7, 2008

Ditto what KatieBell said.

Adding to that, I always photocopy my passport info page and keep it in a seperate but secure place, and memorize my passport number. I write my credit card numbers and add four fake numbers (usually 1808) at the beginning[no particular reason for those numbers], and the last 4 numbers I add the exp date followed by the 800 number for the credit card company...all in a row with no spaces or dashes. Just looks like a bunch of numbers... but I'll be able to call my CC company if I lose my cards. I had to use it in Italy once, and weird as it sounds, I was so glad I did it! example: 1808123456781234567812108005551212

I also write the telephone number for the US embassy of the countries I'm going to. Didn't do that in Turkey and wish I did!

And another thing... I took that bus ride from Cancun/Tulum/Belize once years ago! Good times! It was very local, and we shared the ride with several chickens and one piglet, no AC and it was overcrowded, but people were singing and having a blast, passing food around, so friendly. I hope not to offend anyone by saying as a female, try not to strike up random conversations with the men, but be respectful if you know what I mean. Sometimes the international flirting gets carried to a level that makes most U.S. female travelers uncomfortable.

HAVE FUN!!!

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Mar 7, 2008

I hope not to offend anyone by saying as a female, try not to strike up random conversations with the men, but be respectful if you know what I mean. Sometimes the international flirting gets carried to a level that makes most U.S. female travelers uncomfortable. HAVE FUN!!!

I will second that. It's not against the law or anything like that, but in traditional Mexican culture, women just don't talk with men they aren't related or married to, especially foreigners. If you are overly friendly with one of these sorts, you'll likely find yourself with more attention than you'd like.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 10, 2008

Bigger question for you:

Why are you not flying into Belize directly?

I do not trust the Mexican buses, that is for sure. Have seen too many crazy things happen down there with the actual bus ride, forget about anything else. They do not follow the same rules that the buses do up here.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 10, 2008

Going to move this to the International Forum since it is more specific with the travel part and not doing a travel assignment, but mission work for a short time.

You may also get more responses there, also from some of our members that are from the Cancun area, etc. They usually do not look at the travel forum. This is more for actual travel assignments in the US.