So last week we took the kids to Mexico for the first time, man, total chaos almost ruined the trip. Saw that street taco stand right outside the hotel, smelled amazing! Grabbed some for lunch – big mistake. By midnight, my youngest was throwing up everywhere, just non-stop, scared the hell out of us. Hotel staff helped get a doctor, thank god, but that feeling? Pure panic. Never again. Went back to our room feeling like the worst parent ever. Knew I needed a damn plan before we even thought about leaving the hotel again.
Figuring Out the Rules
Next morning, while the kids slept it off, I pulled out my laptop. Scoured travel blogs, health sites, anything I could find about not poisoning your family abroad. Talked to the hotel manager too, got some local tips. Basically boiled it down to super simple rules even the kids could remember. Wrote them down on a hotel notepad, real basic stuff.
My Must-Follow Rules Now:
- No tap water, ever. Not for drinking, not even for brushing teeth. Bottled only, and make sure the seal is intact when you buy it. Like really check it.
- Nothing raw or washed with tap water. That means no pretty fruit salad, no lettuce on burgers, nada. If it didn’t just come off the tree whole or get boiled/fried to death, skip it. Peel everything yourself, right before eating.
- Hot food served piping hot. If that taco or soup ain’t steaming when they hand it to you, walk away. Lukewarm is sketchy as hell.
- Avoid street vendors that look empty or dirty. Sounds obvious, but when you’re hungry? Look for the busy places where locals line up. Clean surfaces are a must.
- Ice? Forget about it. Seriously, just tell the kids upfront – no ice in drinks, period. Juice boxes and sealed bottles are lifesavers.
Putting It Into Practice
The rest of the trip was basically boot camp for these rules. Before heading out for the day, we had the chat: “Remember the rules, guys!” Pointed at stuff in markets, explained why we couldn’t buy it. At restaurants, became that annoying customer: “Is the lettuce washed in bottled water? No? Okay, hold the lettuce please.” Ordered grilled chicken strips cooked extra long, saw the waiter roll his eyes but didn’t care. Kids whined about missing ice cream once, but that’s where packed dry snacks like crackers and granola bars saved the day. Found a supermarket with sealed yogurts and packaged pastries that became our go-to breakfast spot.
Saw another tourist’s kid barfing near the ruins on day three. Felt terrible for them, but also damn relieved we stuck to the plan.
Wrapping It Up
Flew home feeling like warriors. Zero sick kids on the plane, which is a damn miracle in my book. Packing now? Top of the list are tons of sealed snacks, a travel kettle for the room (great for making instant noodles or sterilizing stuff), and more bottled water than anyone thinks is sane. It feels like overkill, maybe, but seeing your kid suffer with icky tummy stuff thousands of miles from home? That’s the real overkill. A little boring food is a small price to pay to actually enjoy the vacation.
