Capítulo 12
Getting Around
Taxis, rideshare, buses, directions — moving around in your host city.
Between the airport, your rental, the INM, the bank, the grocery store, and a few restaurants, you’ll be in a lot of taxis and Ubers. Drivers are chatty and often want to ask where you’re from — use this chapter to hold up your end of the small talk, plus handle the fundamentals: where to go, how much, and how to pay.
The universal opener
- Good afternoon. To [destination], please.
- To this address, please.
- Can you take me to…?
Common destinations:
- to the airport
- to the hotel
- downtown / to the center
- to the INM office
- to the bank
- to the supermarket
- to the pharmacy
- to this address (while showing your phone)
Price — ask up front for non-metered taxis
Uber / Didi set prices in-app. Street taxis don’t; always ask the fare before getting in.
- How much does it cost?
- How much to downtown?
- Do you use a meter?
- Sounds good to me
- That’s too expensive
- Can you give me a better price? (fine to negotiate street taxis, not Uber)
Paying
- Do you accept card?
- I only have cash
- Do you have change for 500?
- Keep the change
Tip convention: Mexican street taxis don’t expect tips. Uber drivers you tip in-app if you want. For longer rides, a small round-up is polite.
Directing the driver
- Straight ahead
- To the right
- To the left
- Turn here
- At the next corner
- Two more blocks
- Stop here, please
- A little further ahead
- Here is fine
Asking for directions on foot
- Excuse me, how do I get to…?
- Is it far?
- Is it close?
- Can I walk there?
- How long is it on foot?
Landmarks you’ll hear:
- street
- avenue
- block
- corner
- plaza / town square
- park
- church (often used as a landmark)
- traffic light
- speed bump (you’ll see these everywhere)
Buses & shared transport
- bus (camión is the common Mexican word)
- bus stop
- bus terminal
- ticket
- What time does the next one leave?
- How long does it take?
- Does this bus go to…?
- One ticket to Guadalajara, please
Small talk with drivers (optional but nice)
Mexican drivers often ask where you’re from, especially when they realize you’re not local. You can handle it with the phrases from Chapter 04, or these bite-sized ones:
- I’m from the U.S.
- It’s my first time in Mexico
- I like it a lot
- I came for my residency process
- I’m learning Spanish
- Sorry for my Spanish
When something goes wrong
- I got lost
- I think we’re going the wrong way
- I left something in the taxi
- Can you wait a moment?
- Can I get a receipt?
Rehearsal: street taxi to the INM
Usted:
Taxista:
Usted:
Taxista:
Usted:
Taxista:
Usted:
…arriving…
Taxista:
Usted:
Taxista:
Next: Chapter 13 — Money, ATMs & Pharmacy. The two most likely places you’ll interact with a Spanish-speaking professional outside the INM context.