Stuff To Know About Cancun, Mexico

Shopping

Shopping
Cancun is a cosmopolitan city with all manner of shopping opportunities and facilities. It has plazas and large shopping malls where one can acquire handicrafts from all over the country, leather articles, tobacco, and other imported goods in modern shops, and many small gift shops scattered around, and of course, a proliferation of street and beach vendors.

Many of the larger stores will have staff that speak English, though not all, and some of the smaller shops will also have some working knowledge of English, but you can still shop successfully with only a few basic phrases - Cuanto questa? (How much does this cost? Most often you can simply say "Cuanto?" - how much?) and either ask them to write the amount (numerals are the same) or use the fingers of your hand to indicate how much you're willing to pay (see the section below on "bartering"). Be sure to thank the vendor with a hearty "Gracias!" (Thank You!) when you leave with your treasures!

Although nearly all of the stores and vendors will be happy to accept US Dollars, very few, if any, will be willing to give you back change in anything but Pesos, so be sure that you have small bills on hand for your shopping venture. In stores where credit cards are accepted you may want to take advantage of what is generally a better exchange rate by using them (check in advance with your credit card company for their current exchange rate - it may vary slightly from the bank exchange rate, and often more than slightly from the street rate).

ALSO, be sure you understand the various currency denominations, and always count your change - althought it's rare that a vender will knowingly give you back the wrong change, it DOES happen, so play it safe and double check whenever you make a purchase.

Bartering - Mexico Style
Negotiating a price is still common, but not everywhere.  You'll find that in most small boutique-style shops and with street vendors it's still practiced, but not generally at very large or upscale stores or malls.  If a vendor is willing to negotiate, then a good rule of thumb is to always get at least a 30% discount, sometimes more.  In most, but not all, stores the prices are fixed, just as they are at home.  If you are making large purchases or if there are several people in your party that are buying something, you can always ask for a discount.

Arts and Crafts
You can find a wide variety of handicrafts in Cancun. These are not only locally produced but also brought in from several places in Mexico. The handicrafts made in the state of Quintana Roo are very similar to those produced in Yucatan, Campeche and other regions of the southeast.  Examples of these include: huipils, (beautifully embroidered blouses), hammocks, objects carved out of wood and jewelry made from silver, turquoise, sea shells and stones, among others.