We’re pretty tech-savvy 60+ travelers and use several of these iPhone apps daily. We also know that this might not be true for many of our followers.
So here are 7 apps that were a big help in navigating Merida, Mexico
Uber
While it’s not the case all over Mexico, Uber is HUGE in Merida. It’s safe, there seem to be tons of drivers, and it’s unbelievably cheap.
Obviously, if you do not speak Spanish being able to plug in an address and pay through the app makes it all the more valuable.
The one thing to know is that Uber drivers are not permitted to pick up inside the airport. But a short walk away, you should be able to pull up a pick-up address.
EVERYONE in Merida seems to use WhatsApp! It’s not just family and friends, but we learned that a majority of business professionals would give you their WhatsApp contact as well.
We’ve talked to people who order food, communicate with their local delivery drivers, and use the app to make many of their daily appointments.
Again, if you aren’t fluent in Spanish, being able to hold a conversation using a translation app and pasting it into the conversation will be a lifesaver.
iTranslate
While there are many good translation apps out there, we fell in love with this one for one very simple reason – you can select Mexican Spanish! {yes, there IS a difference!} This is GENIUS!
Yes, there is a difference. And honestly, if your high school Spanish has stuck with you, you’d figure it out. We found it very helpful.
Truthfully, we’ve skipped over the paid access -for now – and still found the translation to be amazingly helpful.
Surprisingly, the Spanish Mark leaned back in the 80s running a kitchen in Texas came back pretty quickly when grocery shopping and reading menus.
QR Code Reader
Do not pass go, do not collect 200 pesos until you download a QR code app!
You’ll thank us later. Nearly every restaurant we went to, because of COVID precautions, had done away with hard menus and gone to QR codes.
We’ve both had this downloaded for ages. It seems the US had a short period a decade ago where we saw them everywhere. They have disappeared from the mainstream. With continued safety protocols in the US, we’re sure you’ll see them again.
Xe – Currency Converter
Again, something we’ve both had on our phones forever! We’ve used them to convert us dollars to Kenyan Schillings, Thai Bhat, and early last year (pre-covid) to Indian Rupees.
It updates regularly to give you the most current market equivalents. And while we don’t really need to calculate down the penny – we like knowing what we’re paying.
FYI – Mexico uses the dollar sign, just like we do here in the US. So, in tourist areas that cater to Americans, you might want to double-check the pricing. Merida was all pesos – so don’t get sticker shock when you see $18 for a taco.
Yelp
Aside from using Yelp at home, most of the places we’ve traveled the past few years aren’t on Yelp. This makes Mark crazy. As an Elite Yelper for several years, not only can’t he find reviews, but he has nothing to review when we get back.
But Merida, and we hope most of Mexico has a big Yelp presence. It was great to find local places near our Airbnb and read reviews on places recommended to us.
Additionally, the directions function helped us find our way while wandering the city on more than one occasion.
Google Maps
Last but not least, Google Maps! Merida is laid out on a grid system with odd-numbered Calles running in one direction and even numbers in the other.
But, some streets don’t go all the way through, others run at an angle, and some of the street addresses we were looking for seemed to not run in succession. So, using Google Maps allowed us to find the most direct walking route to some locations.
Hopefully, you’ll find these apps helpful in navigating your trip to Merida, Mexico, as we did!
What are some of your MUST HAVE travel apps?
I’m not a 60+ adult but I think you use more apps than I do! It’s always inspiring to see older travellers who remain independent and don’t force all the technical burden on younger family/friends/strangers
LOL, ya, in general, we’re both pretty tech-savvy – wait until we launch a YouTube Channel for over 60 travelers!
Love all of these! Interesting to know they are regular users of Uber there! And Whatsapp is literally the best – literally every single country uses it except the US and China lol!
My must have travel app is GasBuddy – for road trips of course! Driving around different cities when it’s time to fill up your car can be a challenging decision. I’m from Louisiana where gas is a little over $2 a gallon, so when I was driving in Los Angeles, not knowing what the average price of gas is, it was great to know NOT to buy $4 a gallon, when further down the road was somewhere for $3.30!
It seems Uber isn’t available in many places in Mexico, but it’s EVERYWHERE and the safest way to get around in Merida. I think China might have WhatsApp beat with WeChat – it’s used for communication, and we saw people paying for streetfood through the app with a QR code – only tourists were using cash.
Have to check out GasBuddy for our next road trip!
I was curious how safe you felt, both using these apps and overall in Merida. I have heard mixed reviews – full disclosure I’ve never been but I was totally comfortable in Mexico City, Cabo, Mayan Riviera.
LOVED Merida! Obviously traveling there during COVID was a different experience but it’s totally walkable, safe and we can’t wait to go back when things start to reopen. The apps all came in handy
Uber is certainly one of the first things we check for when we visit a new spot. Good to know that Uber is huge in Merida. Depending on the currency rate, I sometimes avoid doing the exchange calculation. When I visited London the first time, the exchange rate was so high I might never have eaten a meal out if I converted it to Canadian dollars first!
LOL, ya the conversion rate can be a sticker shock in some places… we just like to make sure we’re not grossly overpaying
I’m been to Mérida a couple of years ago and as far as I remember, it was pretty overseeable. I remember some fun fiestas with cheezy Ranchera singing. Also, I went on a great tour of some minor Maya sites on a public bus. Mexico is just lovely.
So we’ve heard… Merida during COVID meant living like a local and not seeing a lot of the touristy things that were closed. But it was a wonderful, safe getaway.
I wonder where I was before all these apps. I remember my first big travels and not having a smart phone, it was challenging to say the least. These apps are all ones I use regularly now for trips domestically and internationally. Thank you for sharing.
LOL, we are both old enough to remember traveling before apps, before the internet, and having travel books and paper maps!
I think that these apps are useful not only in Merida. But they are generally helpful during travel. I haven’t used iTranslate yet. I have to try sometime.
We’ve used several of them on other trips.. the QR Code Reader was especially helpful and we OVE being about to use iTranslate for Mexican Spanish
This is a very helpful post regarding travel apps that can come in handy for not just Merida, but for any place one travels to. Didn’t realize how extensively QR Code Reader is being used – even in restaurant menus now! Will keep in mind to have that added to our travel apps as well for the next trip.
We LOVE the QR Code Reader… it makes for a wonderful touchless menu
I haven’t been to Merida, but these are some of the useful apps not just pertaining to Mexico, but to any city, or place. I have never used QR Code Reader app so far! Looks like a worthy app!
Oh, trust us we were in India last March, and the iTranslate app was a HUGE help. Obviously, others work all over the world, we just found them particularly helpful on this trip.
Oh, I have yet to download Itranslate. I just use google translate but I have noticed recently it’s fairly inaccurate, especially in German the language where I live. I will give that app a try thanks for sharing!
We like it a lot – especially because it offered Mexican Spanish, which helped!