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Mexico

General Information

Capital City:
Mexico City
Population:
112.33 million
Area:
761,602 square miles
Language:
Spanish
Electricity:
110V AC 60Hz
Direct Dial:
52
Driving:
Driving is on the right. National licence or International Driving Permit required
Currency:
Mexican Peso (MXN 1 = 100 Centavos)

Business Hours

Bank:
0900-1700 Mon-Fri (some branches open 0900-1300 Sat)
Office:
0900-1400 & 1500-1800 Mon-Fri
Shops:
0900-2000 Mon-Sat (Mexico City), 0900-1400 & 1600-2000 Mon-Fri (rest of country)
Public Holidays:
<b>2012</b> 01 Jan : New Year's Day 06 Feb : Constitution Day 19 Mar : Birthday of Benito Ju�rez 05 Apr : Maundy Thursday* 06 Apr : Good Friday* 01 May : Labour Day 05 May : Anniversary of Battle of Puebla* 16 Sep : Independence Day 12 Oct : D�a de la Raza (Columbus Day)* 02 Nov : D�a de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)* 20 Nov : Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 12 Dec : Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe* 25 Dec : Christmas Day Holidays marked * are optional public holidays. This means they are not compulsory but are often granted. In addition there are many local holidays. For details, contact the Mexican Tourism Board. Holidays falling at the weekend are not celebrated on the previous or following weekday.

Business and social hints

General:
Business is usually conducted in Spanish. Many executives speak English. On social occasions be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years
Tipping:
There is usually no service charge, tips are around 15%
Clothing:
Lightweights for summer, mediumweights and rainwear for winter evenings
Emergency Services:
Police: 060/080. Fire: 5768-3544. Ambulance: 5557-5758
Hotel Classification:
Until 1993 Mexico had an official government-controlled system of classification ranging from 1 star up to 5 star plus a top de luxe rating of GT (Gran Turismo). Most higher-category hotels still use the old star system although generally quality and service are those expected of a lower-rated hotel, ie a 5-star hotel is equivalent to a normal 4 star; Gran Turismo is equivalent to 5 star. In addition, the American Automobile Association (AAA) operates a voluntary scheme in Mexico similar to that used by our own AA/RAC. This awards diamonds on a scale from 1 up to 5. AAA gradings are very strict and are usually equivalent to the next highest category (so a 3-diamond hotel is probably equivalent to a normal 4 star). Where properties have no star or diamond rating, our usual arbitrary categories of � up to ����� are given based on rack rates, facilities and perceived quality which equate to the commonly used 1- to 5-star system. These categories serve only to compare relative standards within any given area.

Climate

Almost two thirds of the country has a warm temperate climate whilst other parts have a tropical climate where temperatures are governed by altitude. The coastal and lowland areas are hot and humid while the central plateau region has a temperate climate. The highlands tend to be fairly mild but can experience sharp drops in temperature at night. Rainfall varies greatly from region to region. Only the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the state of Chiapas in the far south receive any appreciable amount of rain during the year with the wet season running between Jun-Oct. All other areas have rainless seasons. Some snow in the north in winter. Dry season runs from Nov-May

Mexico City

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum Temperature °C 19 21 24 25 26 24 23 23 23 21 20 19
Minimum Temperature °C 6 6 8 11 12 13 12 12 12 10 8 6
Average Humidity (mornings) % 79 72 68 66 69 82 84 85 86 83 82 81
Average Humidity (afternoons) % 34 28 26 29 29 48 50 50 54 47 41 37
Average Rainfall 13 5 10 20 53 119 170 152 130 51 18 8

Customs

Import Allowances:
For persons of 18 years of age or older: a) 400 cigarettes packs or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco b) 3 lit of wine, beer or spirits (alcoholic beverages) c) A reasonable quantity of perfume & eau de cologne d) Various objects with a value up to USD 300 or equivalent
Contraband:
Uncannded foodstuff and derivatives

Health

None.

Compulsary Vaccinations
None.
Recommended Immunisations
Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid. <b>In addition:</b> Diphtheria & Rabies are also recommended to those travelling to Mexico frequently or intending to spend extended time here.
Risks
- <b>Malaria</b> - Risk is due almost exclusively to the benign form throughout the year and is moderate in some rural areas not normally visited by tourists in the states of Chiapas and Oaxana. Risk is low in other areas. <b>GENERAL INFO FOR ALL TRAVELLERS:</b> Details listed can occasionally change at very short notice and it's recommended that all travellers seek advice from their Practice Nurse, GP or Travel Clinic when planning a visit to Mexico. It should be noted that some vaccinations and treatments may require one or more visits and should be planned well in advance of travel. Primary courses and boosters should always be up to date as recommended for life in the UK. This should include vaccines given to special groups due to complications or risk exposure such as Hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly etc.

Immigration and Passport

Passports and passport replacing documents must be valid on arrival. Exempt: a) Expired passports issued to nationals of Mexico.

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Mexico. 2) For tourist stays up to 180 days by: a) Nationals of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR China passports), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep. of), Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR China passports), Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau Islands, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Rep., Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Uruguay and Venezuela b) Holders of British passports endorsed "British Citizen", "British National (Overseas)" or "British Subject". 3) Nationals of El Salvador, Jamaica and Malaysia - Providing they hold a consular stamp in the passport. 4) Nationals of Brazil, Russian Federation and Ukraine, providing holding an (SAE - Electronic Authorisation). 5) Alien residents of the USA holding proof of residence. 6) Alien residents of the USA holding a valid US Immigrant visa. 7) Alien residents of Japan holding proof of permanent residence. 8) Alien residents of Canada holding proof of permanent residence. 9) Alien residents of the UK or a Schengen Member State holding a permanent residence permit.

Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with the Mexican Embassy or Consulate.

Useful Contacts

Embassy

Embassy of Mexico to the United Kingdom 16 St George Street London W1S 1FD tel: +44 20 7499 8586 fax: +44 20 7495 4035 e-mail: consulmexuk@sre.gob.mx; embgbretana@sre.gob.mx website: www.sre.gob.mx/reinounido hours: 0900-1300 & & 1500-1800 (Mon-Fri)

Airports

  • Acapulco Int'l General Juan N Alvarez
  • Cancun
  • Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo
  • Mexico City International
  • Minatitlan National
  • Puerto Vallarta Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz

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Trafalgar Tours

Trafalgar Tours:

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Brendan Vacations:

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For over 60 years, our award-winning First Class tours have been providing incredible value escorted tours, not only showing you the major sites and attractions that you would expect to see but also surprising you with exclusive Hidden Gems along the way, that only a true expert would know. Enjoy the comfort of first-class hotels, travelling by air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and restroom, included meal plans and the services of our professional Tour Directors.
From exclusive Be My Guest dining experiences to in-depth insights provided by expert local guides, our First Class tours offer an enriching travel experience where you come away with a wealth of local knowledge and a photo album packed with memories.

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On a Premium Class escorted tour you'll be travelling with a smaller, more personal group of like-minded travellers (maximum 40 guests on board) on coaches featuring business-class-like legroom and spacious comfort.
And you'll be staying in superior quality hotels in the heart of every destination. We select only premium brands of major hotel groups. Your expert Tour Director will act as your 'personal concierge' throughout and will be assisted by local guides, passionate on the life and history of their own city. We include many special dining evenings such as authentic local lunches, Highlight Dinners and our unique Dine-Around experiences featuring smallgroup dining at a choice of restaurants.

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Premium Gold:

Premium Gold is an exclusive collection of deluxe tours, each celebrating the fine art of luxury travel. All of the luxury hotels exude elegance and style, with many being members of the Leading Hotels of the World or other internationally recognised upmarket hotel associations. Premium Gold itineraries are leisurely-paced with relaxed stays in the most sought-after locations and with ample free time for personal exploration.
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