Frequently Asked Questions
The Trip
What is and isn't included in the trip cost?
The trip costs includes all lodging, ground transportation (and boat ride at the coast), distillery tours and tequila tastings. It includes about 60% of your meals (you will want to have some meal times on your own, and food is cheap in Mexico). A drink is included with all dinners.
The trip cost does not include airfare to and from Guadalajara ($300-500 from major US cities), mandatory travel insurance (around $80), some meals, bar tabs, tips or additional optional activities (boat, snorkel, fishing or other equipment rental, museum, concert or other admission, etc).
Who is this trip for, really?
It's for anyone and everyone who is excited by the trip description. Individuals, couples and small groups of friends are welcome. Guests should be in reasonably good physical condition, as there is some walking involved and Mexican sidewalks aren't always in the best shape. The people most likely to enjoy this trip are laid-back, fun and take their food and drink seriously. They want to relax and have a good time, but learn something authentic in the process. If you are looking for a spring break/ "Girls Gone Wild" / booze cruise type of thing, this is not it.
What about insurance?
All guests are required to purchase travel insurance. This protects both the traveler and Experience Tequila. The insurance is reasonably priced (starting at $70) and covers medical, baggage, trip delay and a whole slew of other things. You can even purchase insurance that refunds your money if you decide not to take the trip (this does cost more).
What kind of food will we be eating?
Primarily Mexican food! Breakfasts will generally be at the hotels, and range from simple and traditional (eggs, bread, coffee) to luxurious spreads of fresh fruit, cooked-to-order tortillas and an array of fillings made of local, fresh ingredients unlike anything you'll have seen at a Mexican restaurant in the US. Lunches at the distilleries are catered and tend toward high-end Mexican cuisine. Dinners range from typical Mexican family-style cooking to a night at Tequila's most elegant establishment and a fresh seafood feast on a tiny island. The meals that we don't eat as a group afford you the opportunity to explore the local cuisine high and low - from popular and delicious taquerías and habit-forming street food to elegant fusion restaurants and foreign food (see Mexican food below).
Tequila
(Please see also "The Tequila" page.)
Does or should tequila have a worm in the bottle?
No, not ever. That's mezcal (see below).
What's the difference between tequila and mezcal?
The short answer is that tequila is a type of mezcal, and that most mezcals are not tequila. Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from dozens of the hundreds of types of agave, and the agave is generally cooked in a covered pit. Tequila (once called "mezcal wine" and "Tequila mezcal") is a distilled spirit made only from blue Weber agave under the norms established by the Mexican government.
Can I bring tequila back with me?
Yes. The federal government permits you to bring in an amount of liquor for personal use without paying duties (frustratingly, what constitutes "personal use" is not clearly defined). Individual states have different regulations about how much liquor can be brought in, and some are quite strict. Arizona, for example, limits each adult to one liter of liquor, and they will destroy the rest. Since you have to clear customs in the state you first land in, I do not recommend flying US Air through Phoenix. I strongly recommend bringing a hard-sided suitcase for transporting your tequila back. Using an $80 plastic rolly-bag and carefully packing the bottles in my clothes, I have brought back dozens of bottles and never lost one.
Does tequila give you a worse hangover than other liquors?
There is no reason why that should be true, for as much as some people will swear it. Hangovers result from alcohol intoxication, which of course can happen with any kind of booze. It is always a good idea to moderate your drinking, eat food, drink a glass of water for every tequila you have, and take some ibuprofen before bed. Personally, I find that 100% agave tequila treats my body more gently than anything else (after all, its only ingredients are agave and water). Drinking too much of a reposado or aņejo is likely to give you a worse hangover than drinking too much of a blanco (since the former two soak up attributes of the oak barrels), but at the end of the day, if you drink a whole bottle, you're probably going to get hung over! Should this happen to you, the good news is that Mexico is full of folk hangover remedies and everyone loves to share the one their abuelito taught them.
Mexico
Do I need a passport to go to Mexico?
Yes, starting June 9, 2009 a passport is required to re-enter the US from Mexico.
I'm concerned about the violence I see on the news. Is Mexico safe?
Yes. According to United Nations and Interpol statistics, in 2000 (the last year for which data were available), the US crime rate was nearly 5 times that of Mexico. That said, it is true that Mexico is currently experiencing a wave of drug-related violence.
The vast majority of the violence occurs in areas that are at the heart of the drug trade -- primarily along the US border (Tijuana, Monterrey, Ciudad Juárez, etc). Our trip takes place 900 miles south of the border in a region virtually free of drug trafficking, production and the related violence.
In any case, most drug violence involves people involved in the drug trade, police, soldiers, journalists, and their families. While this is horrific, it is also true that foreigners are largely unaffected, and I am unaware of any American having been victimized by narco-violence.
What about swine flu?
The situation in Mexico is back to normal, and experts now believe it may not have ever been as bad as feared. As of May 15, 2009, the US Centers for Disease Control lifted its travel advisory against Mexico, and reports that cases of H1N1 ("swine flu") are on the decline in Mexico. In any case, all Experience Tequila guests are required to carry travel insurance and we will never be far from American-calibre medical facilities.
What is the weather like?
Beautiful. Expect warm days and cool nights. In November and March, the Guadalajara/Tequila area averages highs around 80 and lows around 50. On the coast, temperatures will be a few degrees warmer. You can wear shorts and a tank top during the day, but might want a light jacket at night.
Can I drink the tap water?
Generally, no. This goes for Mexicans as well as foreigners for the most part, and bottled water and soft drinks are widely available. Soft drinks made on-site like aguas frescas (kind of like fresh-fruit Kool-Aid) and licuados (smoothies) are made with purified water in any respectable establishment, as is the ice. It is far cheaper for a business to buy purified water and ice than it is for them to have even one customer get sick. However, if you are ever in doubt, go without ice. Brushing your teeth with Mexican tap water is fine.
What is real Mexican food like?
Generally, much better than "Mexican" food (most of it Tex-Mex, really) served in the US. Tacos, yes (almost always on small, soft corn tortillas), burritos, no. The quality of the food, of course, depends on the quality of the ingredients, and it isn't hard to find vendors and restaurants using fresh and local produce, meat and cheese. Speaking of which, Mexican food doesn't have nearly as much cheese (or beans, for that matter) as what you'd expect from America. Meals do tend to be meat-heavy, but fresh fruit and vegetables (both raw and prepared) are never far away. Mexican food isn't generally that spicy - it's up to you to add the salsa picante if that's what you're into.
Do people really get Montezuma's revenge?
Some people do, though in 14 years of travel and living in Mexico, I never have. Most people find that they do visit the bathroom more often than usual, but that they are able to plan for it. While I've never had to use it, I always carry a supply of Imodium AD in case of emergency. It's not a long-term fix, but it will make you capable of riding a bus if you have to without spending the whole time in the bathroom.
I'm vegetarian. Am I going to be able to eat?
Yes. You have to work at it a bit more than in the US, but it's entirely possible to eat vegetarian in Mexico. Mexican street food is rife with fresh, yummy treats like corn on the cob, roast yams, sliced jicama, cucumber and mangoes, veggie tamales, roasted nuts and seeds, and more beverages and sweets than you can imagine (horchata, coconut candy, homemade ice cream and sorbets, etc). Restaurant meals do tend to focus on meat, but Mexican vegetarian soups tend to be excellent. Nopales (paddle cactus) make for a hearty filling in any taco, while enchiladas and chiles rellenos (stuffed peppers) are often prepared without meat. On the other hand if your diet is vegan, kosher or halal, eating in Mexico is more challenging.
Should I tip? How much?
As in America, workers in the service and hospitality industry are modestly compensated at best and depend on tips for their survival. It is appropriate to tip waitstaff, taxi drivers and housekeeping staff. While 10% is a good general guide, employees in fancier restaurants usually get a percentage more on par with American tips, and in more modest eateries, leaving what change you have handy usually suffices.
WiIl I be able to use the Internet?
Yes. Internet cafes are widespread and economical, which often makes me miss the days of postcard dependency and truly not having people know where I was. For better or worse, we won't be anywhere where an Internet cafe is more than a couple blocks away.
What about my cell phone? Can I use it in Mexico?
Probably, but you'll have to check with your wireless company. Most people find that making or receiving cell phone calls is prohibitively expensive, but texting is affordable. When you want to call home, I recommend using a phone card you can buy at any corner store and a public phone. It is considerably cheaper. If you need privacy, you can pay a bit more and use a private booth at a business that sells long distance phone calls. Of course, you will have the numbers for all our hotels as well as my cell phone number to leave with anyone at home who needs them.
Do I need a special electrical adaptor to plug things in?
No, Mexico operates on the same type of current as the US, and your alarm clock, razor, etc. will work just fine. You may want to bring an adaptor that converts a grounded (three-prong) cord to an ungrounded (two-prong) cord, since ungrounded outlets are common in Mexico. If you are going to bring a laptop for some reason, I strongly recommend a surge protector, as power surges are more common in Mexico.
Have a question that's still unanswered? Email us and we'll respond as soon as possible.
