Video Quick Notes

01. Navigating the cops

This video is about how to navigate the cops.

They might have a bad reputation, but my experience has been overall pleasant with them.

I believe if you are well-informed, you will minimize any potential issues.

1. Make sure to be friendly, kind, and smiling. If you give serious, rude, or stressed energy, they will feel that and increase your chances of paying them off. People want to help people who they like, so treat them warmly, and it will benefit you. Always lean toward being apologetic and respectful.

2. You need to understand that they are not going to put you in jail or harm you. The worst-case scenario (99% of the time) is that they will just try to get a little cash, which is illegal.

So, if they try to get cash, start by showing them the screenshot you should have taken that states you get two free infractions. If they try to say it’s not real, confidently tell them that you know it worked for a friend of yours, so you know it is real and would appreciate it if they can talk to their supervisor to confirm.

If they are still not budging, remember it’s ALWAYS a negotiation. NEVER give them the amount they are asking for. If they ask for 10,000 pesos, always lowball.

You must keep your license and 200 MXN pesos separate from your money in a dummy wallet. If they see it, you lose the bargaining chip, so make sure to hide the other money.

I’d say, "I’ve only got 200 MXN pesos, can I please just give that to you and go?" Playful and light energy.

If that’s not working, you can always negotiate at the station. You can say very kindly, "I’ll just take the ticket." At this point, they may just let you go. If you take the ticket, text me, and I will support you with the next steps to negotiate at the station. It’s a fairly simple and easy process.

One thing you can also do is go to a local papelería (paper store) and make a laminated copy of your license. In Mexico, it’s about 3 USD. The way they enforce you to pay your ticket is to take your license. They see hundreds of different types of licenses from all over the world, so it’s very hard to know it’s laminated.

One last important thing

Minimize looking like you have money. Don’t say you are going to or from somewhere expensive, don’t wear expensive things (this makes you a target). You are in a place where there is a LOT of poverty. Don’t say you’re renting a scooter or ATV, as that shows you have money. You can simply say you are using a friend's vehicle. That’s allowed.

FINAL NOTES

1. They won’t speak much English, so you may need to use your translator.
2. Watch them as they go through your stuff just to make sure they don’t take anything out or put anything in.
3. I don’t promote drug usage, but if you are going to go out, make sure to hide any party favors well.
4. It's zero tolerance for alcohol, so if they breathalyze you, make sure not to be drinking or they will fine you.
5. The top two reasons people get pulled over are: 1) no helmet, and 2) driving down a one-way street the wrong way. If Google Maps says to go down a one-way or even if you see another car doing it, don’t listen. Follow the street signs. The third reason is the checkpoints when coming back from the beach. I just try not to make eye contact and cruise through. I try to have a car in between me and the cop to avoid being the one chosen to pull over. They might say "hey," but if I can pretend like I didn’t hear them, I will and just keep going.
6. If you are in a group, don’t have everyone pull over. That just makes more of you targets. If it’s two scooters at night, both stop. During the day, just the one that’s getting pulled over should stop. The other person should just wait a little ahead. In larger groups, it’s the same thing.
7. The group that usually has the most issues is younger guys, and groups of guys. Couples, single girls, families, and older couples are less likely targets unless you’re actually doing something wrong.

02. Driving In Tulum

1. Always wear helmet

2. One ways are the biggest reason people get pulled over. Don't follow google maps if it tells u to go down a one way- the arrow will be painted on the road or youll see an arrow on the sign that shows the street name. 

3. because people don't drive well here &  lots of people run stop signs so always look both ways even on one way streets in case someone is going down a one way the wrong way.

4. e with a slash is a no parking sign

5. no parking on the beach road. always park in a hotel or restuarant. in your resource guide is a list of free places to park and places with no minimums to enter
6. no parking  in front of doors and drive ways

7. no parking on corners- the law 10 meters basically so just always park at least two car lengths away from ALL CORNERS

8. LOTS OF POT HOLES and unmarked speed bumps. You have to be aware and paying attention. who ever was incharge of the raods here should be fired.

9. from my la veleta store and down to the beach is ALL dirt roads. so always take kukulkan which is the main road to and from the beach. its paved an way more comfortable so you can avoid the dirt roads.

10. if you do end up on a dirt road, go super slow, go wipe on puddles or around because some have holes in side them that you cant see because of the water. 

11. go slow on gravel and sand, bikes will easily slide out if not careful.

12. No highways- 5-7 mins on the highway is ok, but no more. gran cenote, vesica, the ruins are okay, but not much further than that.

13. No sian kan visits

14. If you want to go on the highway, you can take the collectivo. you can park at the super aki or ado bus station and hope on . its fast er,safer and cheaper. they come every 5 mins. 50 pesos to playa del carmen and 30 pesos to most cenotes. the resource guide you have has link for more info or txt me 

15. always lock the bike when not with it. left break is the main break. right break is for emergencies when you really need it

16. 15. always carry license and you can do a photo of passport on your phone.

17. atvs dont have blinkres so you will need to use your hands when turning

18. You will recieve your vehicle with a full tank of gas. if you dont return completely full, you can pay us 300 pesos to do it for you.

03. Avoiding Scams

ATMs conversion rate

Always decline converting money for you, this is just extra money you’ll pay for no reason.

Don’t use exchanges, they take an additional percentage of your money. Always use ATMs—gas scams for cars and scooters—always watch it starts at zero and make sure they don’t click a button that shows a specific dollar amount. They can say 200 pesos but it’s actually only 100 pesos. Always watch them.

Giving change scam

Make sure you pay attention when paying. Cashiers will give you the wrong change by pretending you gave a different bill.

Taxis

If you want affordable taxis, message me. Taxis are known to overcharge here.

Car rentals

They will look cheap, but have hidden mandatory fees/insurance.

04. Money Saving Tips

• Free parking at Selina and Delek.
• Pay to go to the public side—about 60 MXN.
• Free day bed at Selina (you need to watch the video for this hack).
• Delek has no minimum on day beds. After 1:30 if their guests aren’t using them, you can. Before 1:30 you can use the bean bags.
• Get a Charles Schwab card for Americans—this gets you free debit card pulls.
• Town is cheaper, beach is expensive.
• Taxis—ask me for my peeps and I will send you to them.
• Beach access: Ask for the beach access.

05. Safety In Tulum

• Leave your Louis bags and Rolexes—Locals will drive around looking for people with these items and rob them.
• Is it safe here? Yes, just walking around at night. Keep nice things hidden. (Video elaborates)
• Walking at night—women’s safe list for taxis, use one of the approved safe taxis: The Safe Ride List
• Neighborhoods—La Veleta, Aldea Zama, El Centro & Beach are the main areas of Tulum.

06. Things To Do Weekly

• Dinner club—Thursdays at 7 pm: Join the group: Dinner Club WhatsApp
• Girl Gang: We have multiple events a month. The Girl Gang
• Palma Central: Tuesday at 7 pm is the salsa class for 50 pesos & entrance is 60 pesos to enter Palma central. 8:30 is live salsa band till 11:30. Lots of food trucks and a bar.
• Leaf’s Spa: Go relax at Leaf’s. Location is in Central Park.
• Habitas: Sunday from 1 pm-6 pm. Go to the IG to access the registration to go. Event is free and very cool.

Message me with any questions

Thanks and I hope this helps. It's not to scare you, there is nothing to be scared of. It's just that information is power. By knowing this info, it's less likely to get scammed.