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Things to see and do
Organise your stay
Where to sleep?
Mexico Leisure tips
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Practical A to Z
Practical A to Z
- Eating out
- Electricity
- Embassies and consulates
- Getting around
- Health
- Money
- Post
- Public holidays
- Safety
- Shopping
- Telephone
Eating out
Opening times
After a frugal morning coffee, Mexicans eat desayuno (breakfast) around 11am; the main meal (almuerzo or comida) between 2-4pm; merienda (tea) later on and a light dinner in the evening between 7-9pm (10.30pm in large tourist towns).
Tips
Tipping (propina): 10% minimum and 15% maximum of the bill. Some tourist restaurants already include a service charge in the bill.
Establishments
Comedores – Humble and cheap. Limited choice.
Fondas – Very reasonably priced daily menu.
Taquerías – For traditional tacos.
Torterías – Sandwiches and fresh fruit juice.
Loncherías – The classic antojitos.
Cantinas – A genuine institution where civil servants meet to drink beer, nibble snacks and play dominoes.
Cevicherías or ostiomerías – For seafood and fish.
Cafeterías – For snacks…
Electricity
The voltage in Mexico is 110V and 60Hz with flat-pin plugs. European 220V devices will require an adaptor.
Embassies and consulates
British Embassy – Río Lerma 71 - Col Cuauhtémoc - 06500 México DF - t 55 1670 3200 - http://ukinmexico.fco.gov.uk/en/
British Embassy Consular Section – Rio Usumacinta - Col Cuauhtémoc - 06500 Mexico DF – t 55 5242 8500 - consular.section@fco.gov.uk
Irish Embassy –Cda. Blvd. Avila Camacho, 76-3 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec 11000 Mexico DF – t 55 5520 5803 - http://www.irishembassy.com.mx/
Getting around
By collective taxi
Collective taxis run regular links between places that are little or not at all served by bus lines. Combi stop on request and leave according to a regular timetable, while colectivo only leave when they are a minimum number of passengers.
Health
Also see Know before you go.
Illnesses
The most common problem is turista (diarrhoea).
Food and water
Only drink mineral water and never accept ice cubes. Food poisoning is mainly caused by eating seafood, undercooked meat and poorly washed vegetables or fruit. Never eat already peeled fruit.
Emergencies
Emergency services – t 065
Fire brigade, police, ambulances – t 080
Money
Currency
The currency of Mexico is the Mexican peso (MXN), subdivided into 100 centavos.
Exchange
American dollars are the easiest currency to exchange. Money can be changed in banks (Banamex, Bancomer, HSBC, Santander, etc.), but not all day long.
Traveller’s Cheques
Take traveller’s cheques in US dollars. Most banks and some hotels change traveller’s cheques. Keep cheques and receipt slips in two different places.
Credit cards
Few establishments accept credit cards. Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted cards. ATMs are widespread and accept most international cards.
Average budget
Allow MXN870 per day and per person in a comfortable hotel, at least one good restaurant meal and travel in first class or “deluxe” coaches.
Post
Post offices (correos) are generally open Monday-Friday 9am-3pm or 5pm, and sometimes Saturdays 9am-1pm. Mail will take between 10 days and 3 weeks to reach Europe.
Public holidays
1 January – New Year’s Day
5 February – Constitution Day
24 February – Flag Day
21 March – Anniversary of the birth of Benito Juárez
March-April – Easter Thursday and Good Friday
1 May – Labour Day
5 May – Victory of the Mexicans over the French army at Puebla
16 September – Independence Day
12 October – Columbus Day
1-2 November – All Saints
20 November – Revolution Day
25 December – Christmas Day
Safety
In addition to the usual precautions, at night time: don’t withdraw money from ATMs, avoid bus journeys in the south and in out-of-the-way parts of town and use radio taxis for trips about town.
Shopping
Opening times
Shops: Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm. Some close from 2-4pm.
Permanent markets: generally from 9am-6pm.
Bartering
While expected in markets, bartering is considered offensive and rude in shops.
Where to shop
In tourist mercado de artesanías, independent and private shops are run by the government, FONART.
Souvenirs
A vast choice of arts and crafts for holiday souvenirs and gifts awaits the tourist ranging from pottery and ceramics, leather and wooden objects, wickerwork to jewellery and musical instruments.
Telephone
To call Mexico from abroad
Dial 00 + 52 + town code + 7-digit number (or 8-digit number for Mexico City).
To call abroad from Mexico
Dial 00 + country code (UK 44 and Ireland 353) + the number of the person (without the first 0).
Local calls
Dial the 7-digit number (or 8-digit number in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey) of the person.
Inter-regional calls
Dial 01 + 3-digit town code + number of the person.
Calls to mobile phones
From a landline – Dial 044 + town code for a local call (or 045 + town code for an inter-regional code) + number of the person.
From a mobile phone – Dial 01 + town code + number of the person.
