Critical Shopping Guidelines While Vacationing in Mexico

Purchases in Mexico: Guidelines for Travelers 

Mexico is a superb place to go to and is known for its excellent resorts, seashores, and rich history.  It is also known for great bargains and exquisite boutiques.  When traveling to Mexico, many travelers are excited to browse through the varied shopping stores.  As  Cincinnati Travel Agents, we get a lot of questions and hear some horror stories from people who ignore some very serious regulations.

When shopping in Mexico, it is very important understand that there are stringent rules which are enforced concerning the purchases that can be made in Mexico, as well as what might be brought back in to the States.  Before you leave, it is usually wise to go through the United States Customs and Border Protection rules. These regulations will let you know what you can purchase in Mexico and bring home with you.

Endangered species aren't allowed to be bought and brought back into the United States.  Since Mexico has such a wide range of wildlife, there's lots of products that are available for sale there. Many of the products are considered illegal and will be taken by United States Customs and Border Patrol.  You could be given a fine if you buy these items and attempt to bring them over the border; however, other action may be taken.  When it doubt you are encouraged to steer clear of wild animals that are for sale. In addition to the critters themselves, you ought to be wary of products which could have been made from these animals.   

Crocodiles are on the endangered species list.  Though it may seem enticing to have a new pair of Crocodile boots or a handbag, it's best to avoid these items at all costs.  You may find that the federal government takes these violations seriously.  They are going to make routine checks at inspection points looking for any items that are deemed endangered.  Stuffed wildlife is also forbidden, so if you see any of these and they appear appealing, resist the urge to acquire them and leave them be. 

Mexican birds are interesting and exotic.  For those who deal with live trade, it could appear that buying exotic parrots from Mexico is an excellent idea, but you might want to think again.  Purchasing birds from Mexico is also considered violation.  To stay on the safe side, you must avoid choosing any wildlife or wildlife products.  Even stuffed birds are against the law.  Even you may see these in great quantity at shops and street markets, do your homework, and pass them up.  There are lots of other amazing souvenirs that you can purchase that are legal but will pass through the border.

Antiquities and glazed ceramics are beautiful and appealing to a lot of visitors.  Yet, Mexico considers their antiques to be property of the government.  This means that should you come across any artifacts and attempt to bring them back to the United States, you will be prosecuted for theft and perhaps even face supplementary charges.  It's best to leave any authentic looking artifacts in Mexico where they belong.

Glazed ceramics look stunning and may even be a beautiful addition to your house.  However, many of the ceramics made and located in Mexico are created using lead.  It is for that reason that it is best to avoid purchasing glazed ceramics from Mexico.  Should you do make the purchase, you need to make sure that everyone in the household is conscious of the potential dangers.

While it could appear as if you are prohibited from buying many items sold in Mexican shops, there are additional items that you could purchase. When buying in Mexico it is important that you follow all rules and regulations. Staying on the safe side will make certain that you can benefit from your Mexico vacation with no problems.

We've been operating as Cincinnati Travel Agents since 1974 and we've seen people who are normally law-abiding do some very risky and often foolish things to bring items back into the United States and end up in very serious trouble. Customs officials take there jobs quite seriously and are not to be taken lightly. Risking jail time for some souvenirs is not a real great idea.

Know the law and follow it to avoid major problems with the law. You can have a great time on a Mexican vacation. If you want great memories and mementos, take photos and buy only legal and approved products.

Cincinnati Travel Agents

Back when I was in the corporate world, I did a fair amount of travel for my job. I just asked my secretary to make the arrangements and the tickets and itinerary were on my desk a day or two before I was scheduled to leave. I knew we had a travel agent handle the reservations but really knew nothing about what they really did.

That was back in the eighties. Since then, I've traveled a lot for business and vacations. The internet has made researching and finding vacation spots really nice. Initially, I thought it would be great for finding flights, rental cars and hotels for my business trips.

It didn't take long for me to change my mind. I found myself spending an hour or more for a simple one or two day business trip. I own a business and it got to be a real headache and waste of time to search and make travel reservations.

For my driving vacations to find a cabin in the woods, the internet was fine but when I wanted suggestions and to get the inside information about cruises, international travel, quality resorts and other vacations, I go to a Cincinnati Travel Agent named Prestige Travel that I've used since 1990. They are part of a network called Travel Leaders.

The ability to send an email or go online to get details and send a request to get everything taken care of is, for me, a huge time savings. The other things I like about using my travel agent is the 24h-hour toll-free service so I have a number to call if I need help. Recently, when my flight got canceled, there was a huge line to get alternate flights. I called the 800 number and got my changed and booked while the others were still waiting in line.

For vacations, it's helpful to talk to someone who knows something about where I want to go. Getting advice about where to stay and what to do makes it pretty nice. A couple of times, they steered me away from my original choice of resorts because of problems they were having at the property. 

I like the fact that my Cincinnati Travel Agent is a local business and that I am supporting someone local rather than  something like an airline or an online company like Travelocity or Expedia. I can get the same discounts and convenience and have found that by having an agent that is working for me gets me better pricing and travel plans.

When the first online travel companies appeared a, lot of local travel agents were going under and many predicted the end of the local agents but the good ones like the agent I use seem to have found a way to stay in business by providing good service, a good web site and experienced travel agents who know what they're doing.