Back from trip to Merida, Yucatan for dental work. It went very well, better than I expected.The rundown on costs:
$350 for dental work, this included first visit and consultation, one crown, cleaning, and panoramic x-rays. It took two visits. The estimate for what I needed from my dentist back home was over $5,500. However, the dentist in Merida said I did not need 3 crowns, just one, as the other ones were in good shape. Also did not need to root planing cleaning, he said, as there was only mild dental disease. I had two ladies work on my teeth, after his consult. All the work was excellent, they were very gentle and thorough. I got a gold on the inside, porcelain on the outside crown.
Hotel was $35 a night including hot buffet breakfast.
Food out at restaurants was typically anywhere from under $1 (delicious tamales at the local market) to $10 per person. Once you find out where the good restaurants are, you can eat for around $4 per person.
Taxis were generally $2.50 to $4 depending on where you went and were picked up.
Local city buses were 7 pesos, so maybe 35 cents U.S. at most. We took those when we did not have a lot of luggage to carry or were lazy. Mostly we walked everywhere.
Fruit drinks, bottled water, pop etc. were from 50 cents to a dollar or slightly more in the higher end restaurants.
First class bus from Cancun to Merida was $30 each way. You can just fly into Merida and skip the bus ride, but I used Southwest which flies in to Cancun, and only paid around $50 for taxes and fees, because I have the Southwest Credit card so earn points to pay for the ticket.
Tips for services were anywhere from 10-40 pesos depending on what they did. That is 50 cents to $2.
For entertainment, we took a couple tours to fantastic ruins, and underground river inside caves. They cost about $25 for the basic tour, plus some inexpensive entrance fees and tips.
Also there was a lot of free music and folkloric dancing in town several evenings each week in the plazas, free. Went to one symphony concert that was $7.50 and was fantastic.
Tons of ancient buildings (like back to year 1540), churches, mansions, etc. which can be toured. Some free, some with small entrance fee.
I highly recommend visiting this city for dental care. Very nice people, safest city in Mexico and lots of interesting things to do, at a bargain price! Medical and dental care is excellent.
Let me know if you have an questions! I plan to go back, I fell in love with the city.
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Originally Posted by sweetana3
