When planning a trip to Mexico, it helps to know how much you can afford to spend. Put a dollar limit on your budget before you begin to make plans, and plan to stay within your allotted amount. The total amount you will spend will be determined by how far you want to travel, what type of accommodations you choose, what you want to see and do, and how you want to see things, either independently or in a group. While group travel may work for adults, it doesn't work well for families.

To figure a budget for your trip, you'll need to decide how many days you can travel based on the total amount you can afford to spend. If you want to travel in luxury, plan on spending $500 or more per day for each adult and half that for children. More moderate accommodations will cost $250 to $350 per day per adult if kids can stay free in their parents' room and more if they don't. Budget travel will cost $75 to $150 a day per adult, but only if your family camps in an RV. These figures apply to a-la-carte travel. Using travel packages can substantially reduce the total amount.

Budgeting for Your Family's Comfort Level

Unlike traveling in the United States or Canada, where budget hotels may provide good traveling comfort and amenities for your family, Mexican hotels in this category cater mostly to traveling Mexican salespeople, and they offer few amenities. You should travel at a comfort level that your family is used to at home; otherwise, your family members may find themselves quarreling a lot due to lack of rest and general dissatisfaction.

All-Inclusive or Pay as You Go?

The all-inclusive concept has taken off like a rocket in Mexico. While regular resorts often have the same facilities, nothing but accommodations can be paid for in advance. You need to carry lots of cash, traveler's checks, or credit cards to pay for all the extras, especially food, which is usually expensive. At an all-inclusive resort, like the Allegro Resorts in Mexico, about the only thing you'll have to watch is your weight and the sun. The all-inclusive price includes unlimited alcohol, soft drinks, and juices, the manager's cocktail party, entertainment, a kids' activity program, some scheduled on-site sports and activities, and clinics for all sports. Baby-sitting and other sports and activities may also be available for an additional fee.