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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan
Showing posts with label Budget Backpackers Off The Beaten Path. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget Backpackers Off The Beaten Path. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Nomadic Matt's Travel Tuesday

Greetings from NYC! Fall is in full swing and I am loving it. I'm in the middle of planning my trip to Peru and getting the final edits of my next book done. Other than that, there's not much going on.

This week, I simply wanted to remind everyone about our upcoming events (we have FOUR events coming up!) as well as some recent article updates.

Here are the events:

Everything You Need to Know About Annual Travel Insurance - Since annual travel insurance coverage is one of our most asked about topics, we’ve partnered with World Nomads to help shed light on this important topic. They'll join us to share everything you need about annual travel insurance! The event is on October 29th at 12pm ET. You can sign up here. (It's free!)

How to Boost Your Affiliate Revenue with Stay22 - If you're a blogger or travel creator, affiliate income is an important part of your passive income. In this webinar, I'll be sitting down with Stay22 to learn what they do, how they work, and how they can help you earn more money from your affiliate links. Stay22 has helped me earn around 30% more from my affiliate links. They can help you do the same! The webinar is on November 5th at 12pm ET. You can sign up here. (It's free!)

An Insider's Guide to NYC: How to Plan an Epic Visit - New York City is one of the most popular destinations in the world. It's a special place, and there is a lot to do here. I've been living in NYC for years and, in this webinar, I'll help you plan an epic visit to the Big Apple by showing you where to go beyond the highlights — and how to save money when you visit (because NYC can get pricey!). The event is on November 12th. You can sign up here.

Demystifying Cheap Flights: How to ALWAYS Find the Best Deal - Whether you’re a budget solo traveler or a family looking to vacation abroad, finding a cheap flight deal can be what makes or breaks your ability to travel. In this webinar, we'll be sharing all the best tips and tricks to help you ALWAYS find the best deal. The event is on November 19th. You can sign up here.

Note: Everyone who signs up for a webinar gets a recording so be sure to register even if you can't attend!

Additionally, the team and I have been working hard to update lots of articles and guides! Here is the latest batch of posts that have been updated:

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That's basically it this week! As always, if you have any questions, reply to this email. I'll be happy to help.

Sincerely,

Nomadic Matt

P.S. - Booking a trip soon? Here are some resources to use:

By using our links when you book, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. This allows us to produce free articles that help you travel cheaper and better.

Today's rate for USD to MXN 1 USD = 19.469 MXN Rates correct as of 2024-10-15 12:00:00 UTC

Today's rate for USD to MXN

1 USD =  19.469 MXN

Rates correct as of 2024-10-15 12:00:00 UTC

Friday, October 11, 2024

Luggage wars: The reason airline passengers are losing their cool

Angry luggage

Airlines are hiking baggage fees and cracking down on carry-ons, leading to a rise in "luggage rage" among frustrated passengers.

Getting ready for Mexico: What to do before you get here

From packing the right stuff to to knowing what to say once you're here, don't forget to go over Sarah DeVries' checklist when you're planning a trip to Mexico.


Getting ready for Mexico: What to do before you get here

The first time I got on a plane to Mexico, I freaked out pretty thoroughly.

It started when the flight attendant began giving instructions in Spanish. To my dismay, even after two years of studying the language, I didn’t understand a single word she was saying.

(Unsplash)

My nervousness continued after I bumped into someone at the Mexico City airport. I wasn’t exactly sure how to say “I’m sorry.” I think I said “lo siento” too late, but no matter; it should have been “perdón” anyway. Later I realized that in packed places like Mexico City, most people don’t even bother saying “excuse me”; bumping into others is kind of expected.

This was 22 years ago, by the way, the time before everyone carried the internet — and potential immediate contact with all their people — in their pockets. My initiation felt rough, but after a couple of months, I was pretty well acclimated.

It’s been a while now, but I remember the surprises upon landing well. So if you’re planning on any kind of extended trip to Mexico, I’ve got your back! Here’s a list of things you can do to prepare.

1. Try to leave your cellphone in your bag. I know, we’re all addicted these days. And even if you don’t need to do anything with it, a cell phone is the perfect accessory to distract you and others from awkward situations, of which there will be many.

Girl watching her cellphone
(Julia Viniczay/Unsplash)

But trust me: they may be a habit, but they’re not your friend if you want to really learn about Mexico. They’re also designed to keep us hooked and distracted. I can’t count how many times I’ve taken my phone out to look something up, then gotten distracted and forgotten about the original thing. I’m also 100 percent sure I would not have learned Spanish as well as I did if I’d had the option of distraction and comfortable at-home content. When you’re on your phone, you’re not talking to or noticing what’s in front of you. Put it away!

2. Pack for all kinds of weather. It’s a common belief abroad that Mexico is all desert. If you’re reading this you probably know it’s not, but you still might be surprised by the variety in temperatures. Once I went to Catemaco — a place that’s supposed to always be hot — just as a cold front blew in. My sandals and sleeveless t-shirts were not cutting it. Even if you’re going to a coastal destination, take a couple sweaters and a few pairs of socks. You’ll be glad you did!

Ezoic

3. Have a money plan. You’ve probably heard that it’s best to use ATMs rather than exchange money. This is true, but there’s a tad more you should know about them. Some charge a lot and should be avoided — looking at you, BBVA — while others are free.
Another thing that I want to make sure you know: sometimes a screen will pop up that offers the choice to be charged in your own currency or pesos. You’re basically being asked “May we charge you at a more favorable-for-us exchange rate?” 

Know this: you are allowed to say no, and you will still get your money. Just be sure to let your bank know you’re going, though. Even though mine knows I’m usually in Mexico, my cards get frozen once in a while.

Hands holding 50 peso notes
(Cuartoscuro)

Finally, remember that Mexico is both a cash economy and one in which no one ever has change. Ever. This is unfortunate, as ATMs routinely spit out 500 or even 1000 peso bills. Your best strategic bet is to buy something small at a large store or chain and use the 500 there. And if you’re partial to giving tips and donations to people, try reserving one pocket just for small change.

4. Be safe, but don’t worry too much. Though you don’t want to encourage would-be petty criminals through too-trusting behavior, rest assured that most people are nice and honest. Sure, there are precautions to be taken. But for the most part, you’re not typically in danger any more than in your home country.

Mexico has a lot to offer and a lot to learn from. I’m even a little jealous of those who are getting to know it now for the first time. You’ve got a wild, fun ride ahead!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.