Visitor Information- Mexico

frommers.com

The Mexico Tourism Board (tel. 800/44-MEXICO in the U.S., or 01-800/006-8839 or 078 from within Mexico; www.visitmexico.com) is an excellent source for general information; you can request brochures and get answers to the most common questions from the exceptionally well-trained, knowledgeable staff. You can also call the Cancún location at tel. 998/884-8073.

The Mexican Government Tourist Board's main office is in Mexico City (tel. 55/5278-4200). Satellite offices in the U.S. are in Chicago (tel. 312/228-0517), Houston (tel. 713/772-2581), Los Angeles (tel. 213/739-6336), Miami (tel. 786/621-2909), and New York (tel. 212/308-2110). In Canada, you may call the Toronto office at tel. 416/925-0704; and in the United Kingdom, offices are in London (tel. 020/7488-9392).

The Chiapas Tourism Board is at Blvd. Belisario Dominguez 950, CP29060 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas (tel. 961/613-9396). The Quintana Roo Tourist Board is at Carr. a. Calderitas 622, CP77010 Chetumal, Quintana Roo (tel. 983/835-0860). The Tabasco Tourism Board is at Av. Los Rios s/n, Tabasco 2000, CP86035 Villahermosa, Tabasco (tel. 993/316-5134). The Yucatán Tourism Board is at Calle 59 No. 514, Centro, CP97000 Mérida, Yucatán (tel. 999/924-9389).

The Mexican Embassy in Canada is at 45 O'Connor St., Suite 1000, Ottawa, ON, K1P 1A4 (tel. 613/233-8988; fax 613/235-9123). Consulate offices are at 2055 rue Peel, Bureau 1000, Montreal, QC, H3A 1V4 (tel. 514/288-2502); Commerce Court West, 199 Bay St., Suite 4440, Toronto, ON, M5L 1E9 (tel. 416/368-2875); and 411-1177 W. Hastings St., 4th Floor, Vancouver, BC, V6E 2K3 (tel. 604/684-1859).

The Mexican Embassy (Consular Section) in the United Kingdom is at 16 Georges St., London, W1S1FD (tel. 020/7499-8586).

The Mexican Embassy in the United States is at 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006 (tel. 202/736-1600).

What's Up With Mexico Utilities - Water, Toilets and Phone?

about.com

By Kathleen Crislip

Question: What's Up With Mexico Utilities - Water, Toilets and Phone?

Answer: Yes, you can drink the water in Mexico. Carefully.

About Drinking the Water in Mexico

Drinking the water from the tap in Mexico is asking for digestive trouble unless you're going to be there for more than six months and your innards can get used to the local bugs. Even then, you may be ingesting parasites and raw sewage that can cause the mega travelers' trots.

• Hotel room tap water
  • Sink water - even the cheapest Mexico hotel will supply bottled water in your room if the tap water is not potable (shouldn't be drunk). If you don't see bottled water in your Mexico hotel room, look for aplaque or sign proclaiming potable tap water; even with that disclaimer, you may prefer bottled water but you can be assured brushing your teeth is safe.
  • Shower water - if you can't drink the sink water (see above paragaph), don't let the shower water into your mouth. A partial mouthful of water in Mexico is enough to make you sick. Nothing in the water is going to hurt your external body during a shower.

Tip: remember to buy extra bottled water for your hotel room at night if you're drinking booze -- don't be double sick the next day from dehydration *and* guzzling the tap water.

About the Toilet in Mexico

If there is a wastepaper basket next to a toilet in Mexico, it means you are to deposit your used toilet paper in the wastepaper basket. The wastebasket's placement may mean that a septic system is in use which can't handle loads of toilet paper without expensive maintenance. It's tough not to automatically put toilet paper in the toilet in Mexico -- remembering that you could accidentally wreak havoc helps.

How to Make a Phone Call in Mexico

The long distance code in Mexico is 01. If calling the United States, first dial 001. To make other international calls, dial 00, and then the country and state and / or city (area) codes.
You can buy phone cards good for making calls in Mexico for 30, 50 and 100 pesos (about $3-5-10 USD).

Emergency Mexico phone numbers

• Police - 060
• Fire department and ambulance - 080
• Highway emergencies - 078
• Tourist security - (55) 5250-0123 (it's meant to be used)

Call (55) 5658-1111 in Mexico for Mexico information (like 411). Use country code 52 if calling Mexico from another country.

Women's Bathroom Tips in Mexico

• Don't flush tampons; put them in the same wastebasket used for toilet paper.
• Don't count on finding machines dispensing tampons or pads in public bathrooms, including those in hotels or restaurants.

Calling To and From Mexico

mexico.com

We all wish our smart phones were, well, smart. But until someone invents a phone that can automatically decipher a phone number and determine what country it is and how to dial it, you are going to have to rely on your noggin. So we've created some handy tips to help you puzzle through making a phone call from the United States to Mexico and from Mexico to the United States.

How to call Mexico from the United States

1. Dial, 011 the exit code, must be dialed first for all international calls.
2. Dial 52, the country code for Mexico.
3. Dial the area code for the city you want to call, they are three-digit area codes, except for the three largest metro areas. Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey have only two digits these are; Mexico City 55, Guadalajara 33, Monterrey 81.
4. Dial the seven digit local number.

Note 1: If you are calling a mobile number in Mexico, the process changes after Step 3. Add 1 after the country code and before the city code (e.g. 52-1-81) if you are calling a mobile number.

Note 2: There are three official Time Zones in Mexico which correspond to what we know in the U.S. as the Pacific, Mountain and Central Times.

• Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Maya are on Central Time
• Los Cabos is on Pacific Time

Note 3: From any other country the exit code will vary.

How to call from Mexico to the United States

1. Dial 00 the exit code, must be dialed first for the United States.
2. Dial 1, the country code for the United States.
3. Dial the three digit area code for the city you want to call.
4. Dial the seven digit local number.

Note: If you take your U.S.-based mobile phone, you are able to make calls with the carrier's applicable roaming charges.

How to read/write an address in Mexico

For those having trouble deciphering Mexico street addresses, here are a couple of handy tips using this address as an example:

Crucero Princesa
Paseo de las Garzas 100 - B
Zona Hotelera Norte
CP 48333 Puerto Vallarta Jalisco
Mexico

1. Name of the person or business.
2. Street name for the business or residence and street number after the name. (This is the opposite of how addresses are written in the US/Canada)
3. Name of the district. It might refer to the Colonia (neighborhood) or Fraccionamiento (housing estate)
4. The five digit postal code (codigo postal), it can be preceded by the abbreviation C.P.
5. Name of the city and state
6. Country name, Mexico