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Practical

Transportation, money and SIM cards, pharmacies and English-speaking doctors, what to do if you get sick, and what to do if the ground starts shaking.

Getting around and communicating

Walking covers a lot within a single neighborhood; Uber is the default for anything crosstown. The Metro is fast and absurdly cheap but has a learning curve. A handful of Spanish phrases, and knowing when to use usted, cover most of what comes up along the way.

Money & SIM cards

Cash still matters more here than in the US for smaller purchases; a local SIM or eSIM is easy to set up on arrival.

Health & medical

Pharmacies are everywhere and many can help with common issues without a doctor visit, if you know a few key phrases going in.

Emergencies

Mexico City's public seismic alarm can give up to a minute of warning before shaking arrives — worth knowing what to do with that minute.

Avoiding scams

Most booking scams route around the platform you found the listing on, asking for payment by wire transfer, crypto, or a WhatsApp deposit before you've gotten a real confirmation. The more common trap is a real listing that's just misleading about what you're getting.

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Where to StayTrip PlanningItineraries & To-DosDay TripsFood CultureHistory

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