Mexico’s largest airport is Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and it is also known as Benito Juárez. It is the busiest not only in Mexico but in whole Latin America. Here are a few tips how to pass easier through the customs.

Card
If you are foreigner, for sure you should fill in tourist card form. The cabin crew in some airplanes will provide you with these. If they don’t, then ask for one when you arrive at the immigration counter. Fill it carefully and as much completed it is, better. This is valid for all tourists that are visiting the country, no matter if they are coming from USA & Canada or Europe. It is important to remember and keep this card because you’ll be asked for it when you leave the country. You might even be stuck in Mexico without it and have troubles with the administration.

Customs
When you claim your luggage you might take a short break from your airplane flight. Check if everything is on its right place and prepare your documents before heading to the customs. Have your passport in a place easy for your to access and hard for the thieves. The airport is safe, but some precaution won’t hurt your feelings.

The inspection system at the airport is computerized. This means that if everything is okay but the customs inspector says that you should be search, it is not his personal decision. It is the so called red-light/green-light system that takes these decisions. Its main idea is to eliminate the personal factor determining who should be searched.

Money
Search for Casa de Cambio that is the name of the money exchange office. There are many offices where you can do this and generally speaking the rates are better that those you could cave in USA for example. Some of the Casas de Cambio work 24/7 which makes your life quite easy if your flight arrives too late at night.

ATMs (cajeros automáticos) can be used too but that depends on the type of card you have. For sure you won’t have problems if your bank has an agreement with the system Cirus and Plus and if you have valid credit card such as MasterCard, Visa or American Express.

Be careful who is hanging around and offering help. Be suspicious. My advice is to have some cash exchanged in official exchange office.

The approximate official rates now are as follows:
1 UDS = 10,70 pesos
1 GBP = 20 pesos
1 Euro = 15,45 pesos