Traveling to Mexico tomorrow... how to avoid Montezuma's revenge?

[Tishabet]

So tomorrow the Fiancee and I are flying to the Pacific coast of Mexico to attend a friend's wedding. I haven't been to Mexico since I was 8, and she's never been there are all.
Any tips from more experienced travellers on avoiding the dreaded Montezuma's revenge?
Thanks!

[IROC]

Drink nothing but beer the whole time you're there. It's worked for me on more than one occasion. :>)

Mike

[Tishabet]

That's already part of the plan

[IROC]

Seriously, the last resort we stayed at promised us that they treated their own water, but someone we knew there still got sick. We bought bottled water for brushing teeth, etc., but other than that I learned to say, "Dos Equis con limon, por favor" really well.

Mike

[JavaBrewer]

After checking into your hotel go to the local market and stock up on bottled watter and beer. We recently spent 4 days in Puerto Vallarta and had zero problems. I didn't go so far as to brush my teeth w/bottled water but I guess that depends on how much water you gulp down in the process

[onlycafe]

no ice in your drinks.

[bigchillcar]

yup, bottled water and cerveza..

"Agua en botella, por favor.." good sentence to commit to memory.

pronounced: 'a gwa in bo tay ya, poor fah vor'
good luck!

[Tishabet]

No ice in drinks....check
Bottled water only....check
Drinking lots of beer....check

I know I can't trust piped water; any foods etc to avoid? What about soda and the like?

[Dottore]

Originally posted by Tshabet
No ice in drinks....check
Bottled water only....check
Drinking lots of beer....check

I know I can't trust piped water; any foods etc to avoid? What about soda and the like?

Avoid leafy vegetables, salads etc.

And take tequila shots regularly. Kills the bacteria, settles the stomach and makes you feel better.

[javadog]

Originally posted by Tshabet
I know I can't trust piped water; any foods etc to avoid? What about soda and the like?

Soda is fine, provided you can drink it without ice....

If you stay in the larger resorts most of the food isn't a problem. The further down the food chain you go, the higher the risk. The problems come from poorly stored or poorly washed food; that, and a lack of handwashing. Take a look around you in the restaurant, if things are clean and neat and the bathrooms are clean, you have better odds than if not. If you eat raw foods, your risk is higher.

Grilled red snapper on the beach is nice....

If you do get sick, go on a clear liquid diet for 24 hours. No solid food at all, no alcohol, and no drugstore remedies.

Have fun,
JR

[Moses]

Cipro.

Yes, I'm cheating. Yes, it works.

Talk to your doctor and see if a small daily dose of Cipro is right for you!

Disclaimer: I am not offering this advice as a physician, just another moron with a keyboard.

[RickM]

Last I went a Gastroenterologist friend told me to take a tablespoon of Pepto Bismol once a day.

I also didn't eat popsicles, local lettuce or greens and as mentioned "local" water.

Lots of tequila and beer though. I made through 100%.

Disclaimer: I am not offering this advice as a physician, just another moron with a keyboard.

[Moses]

With Cipro, I don't worry about what I eat in Mexico. Not a bit. No reason to drink the water with so much beer on hand, though.

[charleskieffner]

drink only BOOZE!

eat off EVERY lil vendor cart ie. camerone tacos, pollo asada,carne asada.

avoid high class "americanized restaurants at all costs. may as well go to some chain restaurant in u.s.

avoid fields with 5 leaf 10ft tall plants! do not buy pot there! standard drill is kid will ask you if you want any pot, you say yes. he brings pot............and about 60 seconds later federales come in and GET YOU! kid gets pot back and a reward from federales. you are NOW SCREWED BIG TIME(possibly literally.) refer to part about porno tapes/marlboro cigs/and peeling benjamins off muy rapido!

avoid militars(HK-G3's full auto and HK-21's belt fed .308)

avoid federales(chrome shiney .45's)

can all be bought off with carton of marlboro cigarettes/old porno tapes. ask me how i know this one! LOL! works everytime with exception of capital crimes, then.........you will have to start flipping benjamins at muy rapido speed!

buy bottle of pepto bismol...........or (5) by the case is cheaper!


try every kind of salsa........you'll figure it out!

dress g/friend/wife down when traveling. no revealing clothes for checkpoints or you will be there for EVER! ask me how i know! save bikini for only poolside or beach!

go fishing!

go diving!

go snerkling!

bring plenty of sun screen for your white a$$!

typical day....

1) wake up make tecate/clamato/lime juice drink. drink alot!

2) find desayunos type place........huevos rancheros or chiliquiles.

3 drink tecates by themselves(lots of acid in clamato juice)

4)watch world go by, think about quitting job and telling boss to go fuch himself!

5) go shopping and check out street vendors for food. take your pick. feed your face!

6) take siesta(pass out) on beach............get REALLY SUNBURN!

7) go back to room,take shower and then lather down with highly illegal in u.s., tortuga (turtle lotion), will make 3rd degree sunburn feel bearable.

8) make high quality tequila sunrise(no rot gut joe cuervo crap). stroll around downtown and find happening cool guy disco.

9) order multiple rounds of shooters for everyone in bar. they will ALL BECOME your friends. drink like no tommorow! dance on bar! they like that action! buy more rounds for everyone! tell everyone your ELVIS! they will believe you by now. start conga line to beach, drink last of the bottle of $100 tequila...........pass out on beach! become walking sand flea infested individual.

10) drag dead a$$ back to hotel room.........pass out in shower.

11) wake up at 8pm w/splitting sledge hammer headache.....start on tecates con clamato to feel better.

12) avoid bar from last night.............go to new bar and start process over!

13) TIP HEAVILY! and be nice to everyone. the only thing you'll hear muttered under their breath will be........"muy loco cabeza"

14) get picture of yourself w/obnoxiously muy grande(large) sombrero un serape over shoulder.

15) buy lots of trinkets.

16) and my favorite...........get ceremonial picture of yourself with non-traditional gringo style 12-pak TECATE BOX ON HEAD, to prove you had more fun than anyone else!

17) oh yea.............learn some freeking spanish. it really helps to be bilingual.............all the so called "dumb mexicans" are bilingual.

via con dios!

[cashflyer]

It has been my experience that Cipro also works on Salmonella.
And Anthrax, they say.

I like Moses' advice. It really diminishes your vacation enjoyment to be constantly worried about your water & food.

[Tishabet]

Wow, a lot of good info here
Moses, in your experience would a GP be willing to prescribe Cipro without an office visit if you tell them you're heading to Mexico?
charleskieffner: Fishing, snorkeling, sunburn, box on head...Check!

[Moses]

Originally posted by Tshabet
Wow, a lot of good info here
Moses, in your experience would a GP be willing to prescribe Cipro without an office visit if you tell them you're heading to Mexico?
charleskieffner: Fishing, snorkeling, sunburn, box on head...Check!

Possibly, but remember, Cipro is over the counter in Mexico!

Rumor is that 250 mg/day keeps the bugs away.

[Tishabet]

Originally posted by Moses
Possibly, but remember, Cipro is over the counter in Mexico!

Really!?!? I had no idea. That's good to know.

[KFC911]

Originally posted by charleskieffner
...8) make high quality tequila sunrise(no rot gut joe cuervo crap).

...Try some of the Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Famalia, and you'll change your mind

ps: I wouldn't dare mix it...it's too gooooood...best stuff I've ever had!

[bigchillcar]

i like sauza..hornitos tequila. drank bucket loads of it in el paso (when i wasn't flying)..