FAQs

Question

How can I get around the city besides walking?

Answer

For transport within the city, we recommend downloading the Uber app and making that your go-to during your stay. Each regular ride costs between $2-7, and is a reliable and simple option. Didi is another popular ride app. There are local buses as well, but most of them require a bus card (they don't take cash/coins). If you want to leave the city to explore somewhere farther away, your best bet would be a bus (Primera Plus is a popular bus company, and you can buy tickets from the Queretaro bus terminal online). We wouldn't encourage renting a car for just a few days; it won't be necessary. Don’t take yellow taxis, as they will overcharge you.

Question

How can I pay for things? Do I need to bring dollars to exchange?

Answer

Most places accept major credit/debit cards, so you don’t need to rush to get cash right when you arrive. Street vendors and very small stalls/shops will only accept cash, so it’s good to have if you want to buy souvenirs or try local food. We recommend going to an ATM to withdraw cash using your U.S. card. Citibanamex is a bank right next to Jardín Zenea downtown, and their ATMs have a $1.50 flat fee for all card withdrawals. That’s our go-to! There are places to exchange cash dollars for pesos, but you’ll end up losing much more money from their exchange rate.

Question

Can I drink the tap water?

Answer

NO! Do NOT drink the tap water. You’ll need to buy bottled water to drink during your stay, which you can get at a good price from convenience stores like Oxxo, SuperQ, and Farmacias Guadalajara. If you’re staying for longer than a few days or you have several family members with you, Ricardo would be happy to deliver a 5 gallon jug of water (called a garrafón) to where you’re staying so you don’t have to lug water around town multiple times; just let us know!

Question

I don’t speak Spanish!! What will I do?

Answer

Most airport staff you’ll interact with speak some English, as do many hotel employees and other people who interact with tourists often. However, the average person in Querétaro does not speak English or only knows a few words/phrases. Download Google translate and make sure you have offline access to English-Spanish translation so you can use it in restaurants, stores, and daily interactions. If you have time, try to learn basic greetings and phrases before you go (hello, thank you, nice to meet you, goodbye, etc). Don’t be afraid to use any Spanish you know; people will appreciate that you’re trying to learn! Also, if you choose to go on a guided tour with a tourist agency, English tours are available.

Question

Will my phone still work in Mexico?

Answer

You’ll need to check your phone plan to see if it includes coverage in Mexico, as many do. You can choose to add on coverage to your U.S. plan and use your current SIM card, or you can buy a new SIM card in Mexico. Emma has experience with both, and for a short trip, we recommend sticking with your current SIM card and making sure it has coverage in Mexico before you go. People in Mexico use WhatsApp instead of regular texting, which can be done over WiFi. iMessage should still work on WiFi as well if you have an iPhone. All hotels, Airbnbs, and most public cafés will have free WiFi available.

Question

Do workers expect tips in Querétaro?

Answer

Yes, you are expected to tip basically everywhere you’d tip in the U.S. Restaurant servers at a sit-down restaurant/café expect 10-15% of the bill as a tip, which you can add to your card payment or leave in cash. If you buy something to-go, you’re not expected to leave a tip. If you want to add a tip to a card payment, when the waiter asks you if you want a “cuenta cerrada” (closed bill without a tip), answer “no,” and tell them how much you’d like to leave in a tip (tip = “propina”). Another example of when tipping is appropriate is if a hotel worker helps you bring your bags upstairs, they would appreciate a small tip.

Question

Should I give money to people who talk to me about their charities/foundations?

Answer

You’ll probably notice that, when walking around downtown, strangers approach you (often able to speak English), tell you about their charity organization, and ask for donations. We generally don’t recommend donating to these people, although you can use your judgement and decide based on the situation. There are two reasons we don’t recommend it: first and most importantly, their organization may or may not be legitimate, and second, there are so many people asking for money that you can’t give to everyone or you’ll soon run out of cash.

Question

Should I give money to street performers and beggars?

Answer

This is up to you! It wouldn’t be bad if you didn’t give to anyone, but if you are feeling led to give to some people, that’s fine and your decision. If you sit and enjoy a street musician/performer for a while and want to give them some money, anything from 20-50 pesos would be appropriate ($1-$2.50). If you want to give to a beggar on the street, you can give any amount from 10-60 pesos ($0.50-$3) as you feel led. $3 may not seem like a lot to you, but it will seem very generous as it goes a long way in Mexico (anything over 60 pesos/$3 will seem like a lot).

Question

Should I try to negotiate prices/bargain when shopping?

Answer

Generally, if a store has marked prices, you should not negotiate. The price you’re seeing is what everyone is expected to pay, and if it seems unreasonable to you, it might be better to go to a different store. Querétaro is not as touristy of a place as Cancún, Cozumel, Cabo, etc, and most vendors are honest and are not trying to trick you into paying an unreasonable price. It may be seen as rude if you try to haggle a price in a large store, but you can try to negotiate prices, especially if you are buying multiple items, with street vendors (think souvenir shops or clothing shops that are open to the street). If you’re not sure whether a price is fair, we recommend asking the price of similar items at a couple other places before you buy. You certainly shouldn’t be paying more in pesos than what you think the item would be worth in dollars ($1 is around 20 pesos).

Question

Should I bring adapters for my electronics?

Answer

Nope, the outlets are the same as in the U.S. :)

Question

What kind of clothes should I pack? What is the weather like?

Answer

The temperature in the heat of the day is in the 70s and 80s, and at night it can get down to the 50s. Pack mostly summer clothes. Querétaro is a bit conservative, so avoid wearing short shorts and skirts to avoid unwanted attention. Jeans, pants, capris, and knee length or longer shorts/skirts/dresses are appropriate. Bring one cardigan, windbreaker, or light jacket to layer in the evening. It hardly ever rains, so a rain jacket/umbrella probably won’t be needed. Due to the high altitude and warm, dry climate, Querétaro gets a lot of direct sunlight, so bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat is a good idea. Make sure to pack good, comfortable walking shoes for exploring the city. For the wedding ceremony and reception, pack semi-formal or nice church clothing with comfortable shoes like flats, loafers, or sandals. If you want to wear heels, a block heel or wedge is best since the streets are uneven and made of brick and cobblestone.