Cancun Travel Tip #2: Don't Worry About IceWhile you should not drink the water in Cancun, the ice at hotels and restaurants here is usually filtered and purified so you can have ice in your margarita without getting sick.
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As Mexicans, we are used to drinking tap water, so our immune system is used to the elements (good and bad) found in it, but visitors, please use bottled water, it's available everywhere. Bagged ice is not made from tap water, but from water bottling plants, so it's usually safe.
When traveling, it's natural to have concerns about the safety and cleanliness of the food and drinks you consume. One common question that many people have is whether hotel ice is safe to drink. If you're short on time, here's a quick answer to your question: yes, hotel ice is typically safe to drink.
It doesn't matter if you're staying in an all-inclusive 5-star resort in Cancun or in a budget hostel somewhere else. Always insist on bottled water. You should also make sure that the food you're eating is prepared using filtered water, and the same goes for the ice cubes you use.
Much like in the U.S., in Mexico, it is customary to tip service workers in restaurants, hotels, and Ubers. The standard tip is 10% of the bill, but you can give more or less depending on the quality of service. Tipping is not required, but it is appreciated.
As a precaution you should not drink tap water in Mexico even if it's purified at the source. Most resorts and hotels provide bottled water or large jugs of purified water for you to refill your bottle.
Conclusion: How Not to Get Sick in MexicoTo recap, avoid consuming tap water, be cautious of food and drinks, don't avoid street food altogether, and stay hydrated. An upset stomach will not be the only sickness tourists contend with in Mexico. Heat exhaustion is also one of the most common conditions.
The resorts filter their water or buy ice. I've brushed teeth with the water at resorts as well without issue. Outside of that area I would not suggest ice unless you are 200% certain of how/where they make/get their ice. Sticking with bottled beverages you can open is your safest best.
Keeping up with ice demand is pricey for hotels, so when ice machines came along, hotels were some of the first customers, per Slate. The machines not only make it easy for customers to get their own ice, but they also keep costs down for hotels, too. In a few years, these hotel amenities might not exist.
To expand on the other answers here, the ice buckets are meant to be used to keep drinks cold of course, but also to fill up coolers with ice. Many people in hotels are traveling and only stopping to rest for a night before moving on. A lot of them will have coolers with lunch-meats, drinks, ect.
Yes, it is! The temperature inside the Hotel de Glace is always below freezing, so you'll want to be in full winter gear the entire time, just as if you were outside. And yes, the bed frame is completely made of ice.
Can you drink at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico? Some resort may offer wine by the glass but not by the bottle. Some resorts will only include well drinks but charge extra for higher end or top shelf brands. Still, at some level, all AI's include booze (as far as I know).
Finally, street side fruit should absolutely be enjoyed in Mexico, giving the abundance of it. Typically pre-chopped and bagged, this ideal on-the-go snack is as healthy as it is delicious, so…why shouldn't you eat it again? Well, this comes down to circumstance.