Get ready for Mexico! This guide will help prepare you for your incredible adventure. Please read this carefully, and if there is anything we have not addressed, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. Can’t wait to show you this amazing country.
What to expect:
- Mexico’s climate is tropical, so it can get really hot and humid. Wear loose clothing and make sure to stay hydrated.
- This trip can involve a lot of walking. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes.
- All vehicles are modern and have air-conditioning and are fitted with seat belts.
Physical level
None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate.
Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day’s activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don’t want to participate.
Inclusions
exclusions
Itinerary
Your general Mexico itinerary can be found on the Mexico Meetup Tour webpage. Daily schedules will be given by your guide when you arrive in Mexico. Because the seasons, operating hours of inclusions, traffic, and many factors can affect the daily schedule, specific timing will be determined by your guide to give you the best possible experience. If you have questions about when to wake up, how long you will spend at a particular site, etc. please feel free to ask your guide at any time.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this guide may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travelers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour.
Joining Point
Real Maestranza Hotel
Calle Francisco I. Madero 161, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Joining Description
Your arrival airport is the Aeropuerto Internacional Miguel Hidalgo (GDL). We have organized an airport transfer for you according to your arrival time on Day 1. Look for a person holding a sign with the SoFe logo on it. The driver will take you directly to our hotel to check in. Your welcome meeting will be at 6pm that evening in the hotel lobby!
We suggest scheduling your flight to arrive before 3pm in order to give you some time to get settled before our welcome meeting at 6pm. However, we will pick you up from the airport anytime on Day 1.
If you arrive before Day 1, an airport transfer is not included. We can arrange one for you at an extra cost. Please contact SoFe if you’d like to arrange an early airport transfer.
Check in for the tour is at 6pm in the lobby. You are welcome to check in to the hotel earlier independently. If you arrive before check-in, the hotel will hold your bags while you explore the city. If the majority of travelers arrive after 6pm, your leader may reschedule your welcome meeting. You will be informed of any changes by the hotel staff.
Finishing Point
Ximena Hotel Boutique
C. Miramar 9, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
Finishing Point description
Fly out of the Puerto Vallarta International airport (PVR) anytime on the tour end date. We recommend staying for a final breakfast together and departing after check out.
A departure transfer is not included, but your tour leader will happily help arrange a ride for you!
Problems and emergency contact
While we always endeavor to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognize that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction – if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still traveling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For emergency contact while in Mexico, please call or text:
+1 647 617 5243
Local emergency lines in Mexico are 911.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://thesolofemaletravelernetwork.com/contact-us
Payment schedule
You are required to pay a non-refundable $550 deposit at the time of reservation. This non-refundable deposit confirms your Meetup Tour booking and you will receive a confirmation email detailing the terms of your reservation. Once the confirmation email has been sent to you, a contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice.
Please refer to your booking confirmation for specific dates, deadlines and details regarding final payments for your Meetup Tour. For standard Meetup Tours, the program fee balance payment is due 90 days before the departure date. SoFe’s payment system allows you to input the dollar amount for each payment you submit, so you are welcome to make as many payments in any dollar amount as you prefer before the final payment is due.
The final payment deadline is 90 days before the Meetup Tour start date, with the exception of Antarctica and Polar destinations.
If you have not paid the full balance, requested a cancellation and/or transfer by the final payment deadline, your credit card on file will be automatically charged the remaining balance of the Meetup Tour program cost. A $100 late payment fee will also be levied. Additionally, SoFe reserves the right to treat your booking as cancelled.
Feedback
Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travelers like you. Share your experience with us by emailing [email protected]!
Before you leave
Important notes
Food and dietary information
Generally speaking, vegetarians can expect a reasonable range of vegetarian venues and/or vegetarian options within tourist restaurant menus. However, vegetarianism is not the norm in this part of the world so options can be limited when eating at small local restaurants, street stalls, markets, etc.
More restrictive diet requirements (vegans, coeliac, gluten intolerance, fructose intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc.) can also be accommodated along this trip but you should expect a lesser variety than what you can expect at home. We recommend that, if possible, to bring your own supply of snacks with you.
Please notify us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.
Money Matters
Spending money is a personal choice, and everyone will have different spending habits and needs. It is best to budget a reasonable amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need. Please have a thorough look at the itinerary and at what is included so you will be prepared for what isn’t included. Our Meetup Tour is very inclusive, however some meals and extras are not included. This guide should make budgeting a little clearer.
You can pay with major credit and debit cards at many hotels, restaurants and stores but otherwise plan on making cash purchases with pesos. You can use major credit cards and some debit cards to withdraw pesos from ATMs and over the counter at banks. Few businesses accept US dollars however this is the easiest currency to exchange.
If you want to bring cash from your home country and exchange it, the best place to do this is at the airport. We can not guarantee that there will be time to visit a money exchange place on the tour. The best way to get local currency is by using an ATM with a debit card. Few businesses accept US dollars however this is the easiest currency to exchange.
Most tips are included on this trip, covering hotel staff, included experiences, included meals, and the people who will take care of you during your travels.
This amount does not include a tip for your leader or driver, so you may wish to set aside some funds for this. It may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry.
The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travelers:
Drivers: For your driver that will be with you for the entirety of the trip, $5-$8 per person per day is generally appropriate.
Your Group Leader/Guide: You may also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $8-12 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip.
Tipping in local currency equivalent is perfectly acceptable and often preferred.
Restaurants: Round your bill up to the nearest US$5. More up-market restaurants we suggest 10% of your bill.
The official currency of Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN).
Climate information
The climate in Mexico is tropical with a rainy and dry season and little temperature fluctuation from season to season.
passports, visas, and entry requirements
Most nationalities are able to travel to Mexico without a visa for a maximum stay of 180 days, including Canada, United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and any of the European Union States. Please check the Mexican visa requirements for your nationality before making travel arrangements.
You need a valid passport to travel internationally. Most countries require that your passport does not expire for at least 6 months after the date you enter. We require your passport details 45 days before departure. When booking your Meetup Tour, please enter your name as it appears on your passport and contact us immediately if there are any errors.
We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leaving copies at home with family or friends.
Packing
On this trip, we suggest packing light because you will be expected to carry your own bag and, although you won’t be required to walk long distances with your luggage, you will be carrying your bags in transit in many cases.
You are welcome to bring whatever type of luggage suits your needs. You’ll also need a day pack/bag for activities and day trips.
- Travel documents: passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, air tickets or e-ticket receipts and a copy of this document.
- Photocopy of main passport pages, visa (if required), travel insurance and air tickets.
- Personal medical kit. We recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and Band-Aids.
- Daypack
- Watch/Alarm clock or phone that can be used for both.
- Power adaptors
- Insect repellent
- Sun protection – hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Earplugs and eye mask
- Water bottle.
- Wind and waterproof rain jacket
- Clothes to dance in
- Toiletries
- Travel Towel
- Closed in, comfortable walking shoes. As most of our trips include some walking elements, we highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes.
- Camera with spare memory cards and batteries
- Swimwear
In Mexico, they use power sockets (outlets) of type A and B, like in the United States. You need a power plug adapter in Mexico for sockets type A. Sockets type B can fit your plugs, but may not always be available locally. We always suggest bringing a universal adaptor.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory on all our Meetup Tours. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are traveling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travelers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
We recommend that you check your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
on the road
group leader and Guide
All tours with The Solo Female Traveler Network are accompanied by a guide who is with the group for the whole trip. The guide’s role is to be the local expert of the destination and coordinate a lot of the on the ground logistics. Premium leaders are SoFe’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your guide will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At SoFe, we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialized information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
Accomodation
We use a range of accommodation that we choose based on season, group size, and availability and because of this, we can not provide a confirmed list of hotels before the tour. However, here is a list of the accommodation we are most likely to use. Feel free to request a confirmed list of all accommodation from your guide on Day 1.
We do provide the confirmed start and end accommodation to help you plan transportation, pre/post travel plans, or visa needs. You can find this in the “joining point” and “finishing point” sections of this page.
Guadalajara: Real Maestranza Hotel
Tequila: Matices Hotels Barricas
Sayulita: Ximena Hotel Boutique
Rooms are twin share with an ensuite unless you upgrade to a private room, based on availability. The accommodation indicated on the webpage is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to lack of availability. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
In the base cost of the tour, a shared room is included. You may choose to upgrade to a private room for an extra charge as long as there is availability. Upgrading to a private room once in Mexico is more difficult and may result in a higher cost than advertised on the webpage.
We will be staying in premium 4 and 5 star hotels and boutique hotels. We have given you a list of hotels that will most likely be your confirmed hotels, but based on group size, availability, and season, these can change. The standard may be less than what you are used to in terms of design, facilities, and inclusions. If there is a problem with your accommodation, always alert your tour leader so it can be remedied, if possible.
Extra nights at our hotel may be available if you are arriving a day early or leaving a day late. You may have to switch rooms at the beginning or end of the tour. Contact us at [email protected] for details.
Optional Activities
A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travelers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn’t an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it’s recommended that travelers pre-book these activities, for most, they can either be organized independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist.
Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organizing these activities. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.
Transportation
Transportation throughout the itinerary will be in private air conditioned vehicles.
a few rules
Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewelry at home – you won’t need it while traveling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you’ll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your SoFe itinerary, and SoFe makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it’s deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country.
We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before your departure and that you ensure your travel insurance covers you for all areas in your itinerary. The safety of our travelers and staff is our first priority. We continue to monitor the situation through official travel advisories and our local operations team, and we’re able to quickly change arrangements if for any reason we become concerned. If there should be any changes to the situation you will be advised immediately.
When not with your guide, we recommend the following:
- Do not walk in isolated areas or at night by yourself
- If hotel staff need to enter your room, arrange to be either on tour or in the lobby, so you are not alone.
- Respect the local customs.
- Do not hire a driver or guide for tours from the street. Always go with a reputable company or ask us to help you arrange any pre or post experiences.
- Do not accept any invitations for anything from random people on the street.
- Always carry your tour guide’s contact information and hotel address with you during solo time.
- Alert your guide of any inappropriate behavior or perceived risk to your safety
phone and internet access
While our hotels offer dependable WiFi, it’s important to note that relying solely on WiFi during your travels may not always be reliable. To ensure continuous connectivity, you should consider acquiring a prepaid SIM card upon arrival for data usage. Telcel and Movistar stand out as Mexico’s predominant providers, and you can conveniently purchase a SIM card either at the airport or inquire with your guide for alternative locations.
Alternatively, ask your home service provider for international plans.
WhatsApp is a popular way to communicate in Mexico. We recommended downloading WhatsApp prior to departure to communicate by text with your group leader or local representative and group members during the tour.
medical and health
All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements as they may not easily be obtained while traveling.
traveling with a group
With almost all of our travelers coming on the Meetup Tour solo, we have women from different countries, backgrounds, perspectives, and opinions. This is part of what makes our tours so special and what often leaves our travelers with couches to crash on around the world and even long time friendships. Like any group, especially one consisting of people of different ages coming from all corners of the world, this can also cause clashes in culture and disagreements. We promote an environment of kindness, empowerment, and communication, so certain behaviors will not be tolerated for the benefit of everyone’s experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don’t keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well – this takes just a little effort on your part. Bullying, threatening, and violence of staff, locals, and fellow participants will not be tolerated on our trips.
