This article was recently featured as a guest post on Almost Fearless.

If you are watching the economy it is very easy to get depressed and not plan any vacations. However, now is actually the time to travel, it is the time to see the world, to discover your inner college backpacker. Although, it would help to make your traveling as cheap as possible.

With that in mind we have already written an article about what to do as an expat in this economy. What about as a tourist? One of the first things visitors notice is that Mexico is not as cheap as they expected it to be. Prices in Mexico can easily be as expensive as any high-class resort or city in the US. Is it possible to travel in Mexico for cheap?

The answer: Yes!

The following article will explain how you can travel in Mexico for $45 a day (including accommodations). The focus is on Manzanillo Mexico, but the principles will apply anywhere you go in Mexico.

When to go

When you go largely dictates how much you will be spending. Tourist high season is from October-April. This is when all the snow birds and cruise ships come in. Prices can easily double during this time in most touristy areas of Mexico.

To get the best prices and deals, try visiting in September and early October. Most hotels and businesses are hurting for customers at this time and offer some great deals to attract business. Temperature and humidity can be very high during these months. If this is too hot for you, prices also start to drop off again in May and the weather is much more agreeable. More info is available on our Manzanillo information page.

Be cheap, but be comfortable

Hotels in Manzanillo range from $25/night at the Hotel Colonial to $350/night at Karmina Palace. So you can stay as cheaply or as expensively as you like. You could even camp on the beach for free, but that is not generally recommended and is wayyy less romantic than it sounds. If you want to travel cheap, come with a friend so the cost of accommodations can be shared between the two of you.

However, staying at the cheapest hotel in Mexico can ruin your vacation if it is not clean and comfortable. We recommend a balanced approach. For about $50 a night you can get a decent, air-conditioned, comfortable room in a hotel like the new Hotel La Posada in the neighborhood of Santiago (review coming soon). They are centrally located, English speaking, and even have free wifi! If you are trying to travel cheap you do not need a pool, spa, or other luxuries. Gorgeous and relaxing beaches are just minutes away no matter where you are, and there is tons of Manzanillo to explore for fun.

*Note, if you are looking to really save by staying at a hostel- check out Manzanillo's Mismo Sol hostel in Santiago.

Eat where the locals do

Restaurants in Manzanillo are expensive to the budget traveler. If you want a Burger King meal, Starbucks, or KFC you will be paying exactly what you do in the US. However, you didn’t come to Mexico to eat the same stuff you can find anywhere. You came for the authentic flavor that is world famous. To do this you have to eat where the locals do.

Taco stands on the streets offer great cheap eats in Mexico. You can easily get a taco and cup of hot consome (a local broth soup) for under a dollar. This is probably your best bet for eating cheaply in Manzanillo. You can usually tell the quality of the food by the popularity of the taco stand. Do a lot of locals eat there? Then, the food is probably fresh, cheap, and good. Also check the cleanliness of the stand. Many owners meticulously clean every utensil until it shines every day. If it looks clean and popular, then you have a go.

If you want something a little nicer you can look in the neighborhoods off the tourist strips for the small family owned restaurants. These places can be diamonds in the rough, offering you an unforgettable experience and authentic local flavor. Usually you can eat for less than five dollars a meal. A popular restaurant in Manzanillo is La Sonrisa with their giant chorizo and asada quesadillas for 35 pesos. Check our blog for other gems.

However, it wouldn’t be a vacation if you didn’t splurge at least once. If you are going to do it in Manzanillo, we recommend going to El Vaquero. You will get some of the most delicious Arrachera served sizzling on a hibachi grill with live coals. The queso fundito is the perfect side to accompany your freshly grilled steak. This will probably set you back $50 for two people, but trust us it is well worth the price!

Shop the Mercados

If you are staying for an extended period of time, or just want some fresh produce the local markets, fruit stands, and convenience stores (abbarotes in Spanish) are always going to be cheaper than the larger grocery stores like Walmart and Soriana. Shop at the local markets and abbarotes to get great deals on fruit and vegetables, as well as local arts and crafts.

Be sure to try out the local fruits. You can usually get a cup of mangos or a mix of fruit with chili, salt, and lemon on it for 10 pesos. This is a uniquely Mexican way to eat fruit, and is an acquired taste for many. Be adventurous, give it a try! A life saver when eating local produce is Microdyn, it cleans and purifies anything with just a few drops.

Prices for goods (not food) are usually not set in stone, there is usually some amount of bargaining you can do. Again, however, there is a balance to be had. Be aware that the locals don’t make much money off most of their items. They try to keep their product as cheap as possible to bring in the business, so they probably need the few extra pesos more than you.

Take local bus

Getting around in Manzanillo couldn’t be easier. Manzanillo has a great and easy to use bus system. It costs 5 pesos (.50 cents) per trip. Take note of what buses stop where you are so if you ever want to get back you can catch it. If you see the bus you want, the direction and general area they are going is plastered on the front windshield, just wave your hands and they will probably pull over. You can jump off at any time by tucking and rolling, or we recommend hailing the driver and he will stop kindly for you.

Also if you want to go on a day trip you can easily get a cheap ticket on a bus at the bus station to take you wherever you want. For instance to get to the nearby beach town of Barra de Navidad (about an hour’s drive) the ticket is about 80 pesos. Much cheaper than renting a car or taking a taxi.

Have fun!

If you brought your own gear, snorkeling is a cheap and fun activity. Manzanillo has some great coral reefs on the Northern side of Santiago bay in a beach called La Boquita. Also in the South of Manzanillo Bay in Las Brisas there are a few rock jetties that offer some fun free snorkeling.

You can usually rent a body board for cheap for the day. An umbella, chairs, and table on the beach will cost you about $10. If you bargain you might be able to get them down a bit. If this isn’t to your liking, Soriana offers a personal beach umbrella for 89 pesos that you can use again and again. (Guess which one we use?)

Want to try something unique? Ice skating at Club Maevea. For 35 pesos you can now ice skate on the beach at Club Maeva. Ok, it’s not actually ice, but it’s close enough.

Other cheap attractions are the local circuses. If you are fortunate enough to have one in town while you are visiting the price is 20 pesos for admission. Never thought you would see lions and tigers on your Mexican vacation did you?

In consclusion

It is very possible to travel in Mexico cheaply! These suggestions are focused on Manzanillo Mexico but you can take the principles and travel cheap anywhere in the world. Remember: Be smart, be safe, but most of all have fun!

Sample budget breakdown:

Comfortable Rooming-$40-$50/day (traveling with friend cuts expense in half)
Food- $10-$15/day
Transportation- $2-$10/day
Activities and other expenses- $10/day

Grand total: $62-$85 a day.
With a friend: $42-$60 a day

*note this was written with the peso at 10/1. Now the peso is at around 14/1 for USD. That means the $45 a day just became about $27 a day!!

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Related posts:

1. How To Travel By Bus In Mexico, And My New Super Power
2. Lonely Planet 2009 Travel Blog Awards
3. Manzanillo Guide Recommended Reading List
4. Being A Vegetarian In Mexico
5. Manzanillo Rainy Season