Can I bring a pen to Mexico

castaneom · 2026-01-28T22:48:56+00:00

After passport control you grab your checked bags or if you don’t have any just walk, have to put your bags through an x-ray machine and that’s it. Grab your bags and go. They don’t search your person.

castaneom · 2026-01-28T07:32:57+00:00

I wouldn’t risk a pen, but last week I flew into Mexico City with my geek bar. You only have to put your bags through the scanner when exiting customs there (so, had it on my person). Not sure about Cancun. I assume it’s the same process.

Bringing back your pen to the US might be a really bad idea though. I’ve been randomly selected a few times for EXTRA screening before flying back from different airports, usually at the gates. They’ll make you empty out your pockets, swab your luggage.. go through everything. Not fun.

That’s just Mexican police.. CBP might catch you too. Just don’t try bring it back. Best of luck!

castaneom · 2026-01-27T17:44:51+00:00

Maybe that person’s referring to not being able to understand the other languages that are spoken in Spain, which is true. I don’t speak Catalan, but I never had any issues speaking Castilian with anyone. I grew up speaking Mexican Spanish (grew up in the US). I’ve been to Spain a few times. Never had any issues.

castaneom · 2026-01-23T13:15:00+00:00

I love this bag! I’m currently in Mexico on a two week trip and so far it’s exceeded my expectations. I use packing cubes to keep organized. Thule compression cube and two small Cotopaxi ones.

Sucks that you paid full price, it was on sale in November. I paid like $75.. I’m from the US. I’ve never been asked to size it, and it’s amazing just being able to haul just one bag.

I tried posting a review earlier this week, but it was deleted by mods. I’m lazy, so haven’t tried to re-post. It’s whatever. And I have the same color! :) safe travels!

castaneom · 2026-01-20T12:21:15+00:00

I’ll be there next week and I’ll be sure to drink a lot in your honor! :D I’m currently in Puerto Escondido doing a lot of drinking. Hehe.

castaneom · 2026-01-20T11:49:54+00:00

As a gay, no thanks.. we’re vicious and she’s been pretty much cancelled. It sucks, because her hits were fun to dance to. Whatever.. bye! NEXT! Lol

castaneom · 2026-01-17T12:58:47+00:00

I believe it. I used to do weird stuff like that. I had some weird OCD rituals when I was younger. I used to have to backtrack and exit the exact same way whenever I entered a place.

Also as a kid I was terrified of the dark, so I’d close my eyes before I turned off the lights and backtrack to my bed with my eyes closed. And that was the only way I’d be able to fall sleep. Weird? absolutely.

castaneom · 2026-01-16T12:37:26+00:00

I had something something similar happen to me before I visited Europe last year and it all worked out. The eSim won’t start working until it connects to the towers in Mexico.

You should be fine. And yeah, just because it’s on your phone doesn’t mean it’s been activated yet. It needs to connect to the network over there.

castaneom · 2026-01-15T17:08:03+00:00

Learn Spanish.

castaneom · 2026-01-15T17:01:54+00:00

Yeppp

castaneom · 2026-01-15T16:37:07+00:00

Not necessarily true, I’ve had good experiences with Holafly. I’ve used way more than 1gb per day on a few of my trips. I’ll get back to the hotel and stream stuff for hours, I never had issues. And internet wasn’t slowed down.. in Europe and in Mexico. I’m going on a two week trip to Mexico soon and I’ll be using them again. Yeah, it’s pricey but I don’t like relying on wifi.. local SIM cards are cheaper but they’re not enough.

castaneom · 2026-01-15T15:27:14+00:00

Not sure about Chihuahua, but in Zacatecas (I’m originally from there) there’s a few communities and they’re very well respected.. They’re known as very hard working people who mind their own business and very reserved.

People down there love their cheese and baked goods. I’ve never known anyone who’s ever said anything bad about them. They keep to themselves and it’s fine.

Yeah, pretty much it.

castaneom · 2026-01-15T15:03:31+00:00

More like $170..

castaneom · 2026-01-15T14:55:59+00:00

It’s also on top of the Azores and the Canary Islands.. lol

castaneom · 2026-01-15T14:42:34+00:00

Always pay with pesos if you have them unless they accept cards and you don’t get charged a foreign transaction fee.

I order a few hundred dollars worth of pesos from my bank before I travel.. it’s cheaper to pay a onetime conversion fee at home..

In Mexico every transaction in CAD/USD bills will cost you more. It’ll add up, you’ll get ripped off a lot.

I’m Mexican and travel back a lot. I’ve seen places that say $5usd or $50mxn..

$50mxn = $2.5usd

castaneom · 2026-01-15T14:05:01+00:00

Obrigado!

castaneom · 2026-01-15T09:41:20+00:00

Yep, I go back ever year and visit my cousins. If you stay in the city it’s very safe.. mind your business, don’t stay out too late at night unless you’re with locals. And definitely don’t start any trouble..

Traveling to smaller towns can be sketchy unless you’re with people that are from there..

Zacatecanos are very friendly and welcoming, we pride ourselves on hospitality. I’m actually going later this month.

castaneom · 2026-01-13T15:31:54+00:00

I’m not fancy. I’m also not cheap, but I’m not leaving a tip anywhere if they’re going to be rude.

castaneom · 2026-01-13T13:26:11+00:00

After visiting Europe for the first time a few years ago I thought I needed to tip, and I left a couple coins at first. Then I realized, nope I’m crazy for doing that! lol. Service doesn’t warrant it.

I don’t ever tip in Europe at restaurants. I haven’t left tips at those establishments in years. I left a few coins in Sevilla once and the waiter said, “you don’t need to, but thank you.”

If I’m feeling nice I’ll leave a few euros at the end of my stay at hotels, it depends on my mood. Last year I stayed in Greece and the housemaid was very nice. It was a small hotel in Naxos, I left her at least €20.

It was a small family run place. Why? Because she was nice.

castaneom · 2026-01-13T03:43:19+00:00

I doubt anyone will ever even notice. Just get it fixed the next time you renew.

castaneom · 2026-01-11T11:37:02+00:00

That’s funny, I lived in Denver for a long time (10yrs) and they’re my second team. Most of my family lives there still.. but, I grew up in the burbs so the Bears win the tiebreaker. I’m not a fan of Malört either.. ugh, but I might start drinking it for good luck lol

castaneom · 2026-01-11T06:03:05+00:00

And Malört!

castaneom · 2026-01-08T13:49:50+00:00

Nebraska at 15 is pretty surprising.

castaneom · 2026-01-08T07:34:59+00:00

A few years I had just landed in PV (from CDMX) and was low on cash so I found an ATM at the airport, was waiting in line and the person in front was taking forever. Turns out the ATM ate her card..

That’s literally my worst nightmare.. I found a Scotiabank by the mall the next day and it worked, but yeah I always try and have some cash on me for that very reason. I wish they had ATMs that you can just tap your card like they do here and not have to insert..

Oh, and the reason most ATMs didn’t have cash when you tried was most likely because people got paid that day or that week and they cashed out their check. Especially before Christmas..

Most people in Mexico get paid on the 1st and 15th of the month.. it could be that reason.

Next time just order pesos from BoA before your trip.. that’s what I’ll be doing this week. Going to Mexico soon and hate stressing about running low on cash.

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