Mexico Holidays 2025 & 2026

Whether you need a car for a holiday in Mexico depends upon your itinerary. Many travellers opt to visit one destination in Mexico, stay in a resort and use excursions to explore a specific area. However, the country is huge, so car hire can help you uncover all of the best holiday spots in Mexico. Just make sure you’re aware of any road laws, know your routes, and bring your UK driver’s licence.

Cancun holidays or Cabo San Lucas escapes typically have higher-priced restaurants and bars in tourist hotspots. However, local eateries can be found almost everywhere selling reasonably priced dishes like tacos or quesadillas, and going outside the main tourist zone is the best way of finding more budget options.

There are so many places to discover in Mexico, here are some highlights...

Cancun - On the Yucatán Peninsula next to the brilliant blue Caribbean Sea, Cancun is a popular tourist destination. Here, you can snorkel in the world’s second-largest barrier reef, visit the ancient ruins at Chichén Itzá and swim in magical cenotes like Cenote Dos Ojos. The hotel zone is packed with restaurants, bars and activities, or off-the-beaten-track you can find blissful beaches with soft white sand and calm waters.

Riviera Maya - For more to explore, Riviera Maya holidays promise stunning beaches and luxury resorts, in popular areas such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Top of your list should be exploring the Tulum ruins, going on a day trip to Mexico’s largest island of Cozumel and for families, visiting Xcaret Park to swim with dolphins or watching a live performance.

Cabo San Lucas - For sun, sea and more sun, Cabo is the place to be. On the Baja California Peninsula, it’s one of the most popular places in the world for whale watching. It’s also got endless marine adventures such as snorkelling, diving and sailing, incredible beaches, including Lover’s Beach and the famous El Arco natural rock archway, not to mention entertainment and restaurants that cater to every type of visitor.

To enter Mexico, UK citizens do not need a visa. Your passport will be stamped and you’ll also need to fill out an immigration form online. However, if you are travelling to Mexico via the USA, regardless of whether you are leaving the airport, or simply transiting through, you will need to apply for and be granted an ESTA.

You can apply for an ESTA via website of the Department of Homeland Security.

There are a couple of taxes to be aware of when visiting Mexico. Tourists need to pay a departure tax, which will be included in the cost of your airfare. Certain regions, excluding Puerto Vallarta, require tourists to pay an Environment Tax upon checking into a hotel, and if you are visiting Quintana Roo, you will need to pay the tourist tax, equal to around $10-11 USD. This can be paid online at the Visitax website.

Yes, Mexico is easy to pair with other destinations, and one of the most popular options is a multi-centre holiday with the USA. Since tourists often fly to Mexico via the USA and will need an ESTA regardless, spending time in an exciting US city before heading to Mexico can maximise your holiday.

Some perfect pairings include Mexico and Las Vegas packages, and Mexico and Orlando holidays, which both offer family friendly attractions to fill your days, before heading on to a few relaxing days on the beach. However, Mexico’s location means it can be paired with so many other beautiful spots across the Caribbean too.