5 Things You Need To Know If You Get Sick During Your Cancun Vacation

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I always get that nagging anxiety before my flights to Cancun. I spend time planning the perfect trip, and my biggest fear is catching a bug on the flight down. Inevitably, if you travel to Quintana Roo as much as I do, it is bound to happen eventually. I just returned from Cancun yesterday, and unfortunately, it was one of my most physically miserable trips ever due to a brutal head cold.

Getting sick in a foreign country is stressful. For the American traveler navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system, knowing exactly how to handle a medical hiccup will save you hundreds of US dollars and a lot of unnecessary panic. Here is exactly what you need to know if you end up coming down with a cold or flu during your beach getaway.

1. Know When To Actually Pay For The Resort Doctor

Almost every major all inclusive property in the Hotel Zone has an on site doctor available 24 hours a day. If you have a minor head cold or a sore throat, it is best to skip this service entirely. The consultation will cost you anywhere from $100 to $300 upfront, and that fee does not include the price of the medication.

However, if you are severely dehydrated from a stomach bug, running a high fever, or physically immobile, you should absolutely use them. Paying the premium saves you from dragging yourself out into the intense heat, getting into a taxi, and trying to navigate a local clinic while feeling miserable. The doctor will diagnose you right in your bed and ensure the exact medications you need are delivered straight to your room.

2. Avoid The Overpriced Tourist Pharmacies

By day 3 of my recent vacation, I knew a severe cold had fully taken hold. I needed medication, so I took a taxi to the nearest standalone pharmacy in the Hotel Zone. It was an independent tourist pharmacy, and I knew immediately I was overpaying for basic decongestants. Do not make this mistake.

Instead, look on your phone map for established national chains like Farmacias del Ahorro, Farmacias Similares, Farmacias Guadalajara, or Farmacias Yza.

These corporate pharmacies are spread all over the Hotel Zone and downtown Cancun. They offer strictly regulated, excellent prices on highly effective medication. You will not get scammed, and the products are exactly what the locals use.

3. Leverage Delivery Apps To Stay In Bed

If you are dealing with a standard cold and know exactly what basic over the counter medication you need, you do not even need to leave your resort. Mexico has an incredibly robust delivery app infrastructure. Be sure to call the front desk and ask first if security will allow deliveries to your specific resort.

Apps like Rappi and Uber Eats have dedicated pharmacy sections built right into their platforms. You can browse the inventory of a local Farmacias del Ahorro, select your ibuprofen, cough syrup, and throat lozenges, and have a courier bring it directly to your resort lobby for a delivery fee of just a few dollars. It is the ultimate travel hack for getting exactly what you need without having to step out into the humidity.

4. Do Not Infect The Rest Of The Resort

When you realize you are officially sick, try to not infect the entire property. Do everyone a favor and adjust your vacation habits. I was incredibly careful to wash my hands fully and constantly. I utilized the hand sanitizer stations posted outside every buffet. I actually saw multiple people that were sick and obviously taking zero precautions. Just use some basic common courtesy.

If I was having a particularly bad coughing fit, I simply decided to skip the crowded dinner service and order room service to my balcony instead. You can still enjoy the sunshine, but maybe skip the crowded swim-up bar.

5. Managing The Discomfort Of Flying Home Congested

The logistical reality of getting home is the part that many travelers fail to plan for. Flying with a head cold is probably not going to put you in the hospital, but it is an undeniably grueling experience when you are feeling terrible. My ears felt absolutely awful when landing yesterday as the pressure and congestion combined created symptoms I was not prepared for.

You want to make sure you stay as uncongested as possible because the rapid pressure changes in the aircraft cabin can cause severe discomfort in your eardrums if your sinuses are completely blocked. To make the journey bearable, make sure to chew gum during takeoff and landing, take a strong over the counter decongestant, and do your best to aggressively fake yawn as the plane begins its final descent. Our editor in chief, learned this lesson the hard way on a recent trip. He flew home heavily congested and his ear remained stubbornly clogged for weeks after his flight out of Cancun. Do yourself a favor and clear your sinuses before you ever step foot on the tarmac so you can land as comfortably as possible.