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U.S. and Canadian visitors to Mexico are not required to have valid passports. A tourist permit, issued without cost and valid for up to 180 days (the length of time is specified on the permit), can be obtained at the border on presenting proof of nationality (passport, birth certificate, voter's registration card). Those who travel by air can obtain the tourist permit from the airline at the time they purchase their tickets, or from their travel agents. If your intention is to remain in Mexico for the maximum time (l80 days or six months), you should insist on this period being specified on the tourist card. Obtaining extensions once you are in the country is bothersome. U.S. citizens are not required to show proof of smallpox vaccination to enter or leave Mexico, unless they are arriving from a nation from which proof of vaccination is required. In the latter case, Mexican health authorities will administer the necessary vaccination without charge.
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In addition to clothing, and photographic and sports equipment for their personal use, all passengers entering Mexico are allowed US$300. Additionally, merchandise worth up to $3,000, by air, or $1,000, by land, per person, may be introduced but will be subject to a 38.8% global tax. Each incoming traveler must complete a Customs Declaration Form and the belongings of all incoming travelers (except diplomatic personnel) are subject to spot check inspection by Mexican Customs authorities at entry points, land or air. For regulations concerning entering Mexico with a vehicle, please see "Transportation."
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Each U.S. citizen returning to the United States has a personal exemption of US$400, and not more than 100 cigars or one quart of alcoholic beverages can be included in the exemption. There are restrictions on firearms, fruits and vegetables, as well as gold coins and jewelry containing them if minted after 1959. Naturally, narcotics and illegal drugs are prohibited, as are lottery tickets, products made from crocodile skins, ivory, sea turtles, wildcat fur, and animals (live or stuffed) such as birds or iguanas. The Generalized System of Preferences no longer includes most hand-crafted items, but duty charges are quite low, so this shouldn't keep you from making a purchase. Canadians may bring back duty-free purchases of US$100, or $300 if they've been away for seven days or more. This includes 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, two pounds of tobacco, and 40 oz. of liquor. Packages marked "unsolicited gift -- value under 25 U.S. dollars" may be mailed to Canada duty free. British residents may return with US$250 of duty-free purchases plus 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco), one liter of alcohol over 38.8% proof (or two liters of alcohol under 38.8% proof), two liters of table wine, and 50 grams of perfume.
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Banking hours generally run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, although certain branches open earlier, stay open later, and open Saturdays. Peso bills come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Coins come in denominations of five, 10, 20 and 50 centavos (cents) and one, two, five, 10 and 20 pesos. The peso-dollar exchange rate stands at about 7.8 pesos to the dollar. Whatever the current rate is, it will be posted prominently in all banks and places providing services to tourists. Those who bring dollars or travelers checks are not required to exchange them at the point of entry, but can change their dollars for pesos as the need arises. Major credit cards, such as American Express, Master Charge and Visa, are accepted at most establishments. A few places also accept Diners Club. Travelers checks can be exchanged or used for purchases with normal identification procedures. Technically, the peso is the only legal tender in Mexico, but some businesses in Los Cabos, Cancun and other resorts accept dollars readily.
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For an emergency health problem, there are excellent hospitals in Mexico City with modern facilities and English-speaking staffs. The American British Cowdray Hospital, or the ABC, tel. 272-8500, emergencies 230-8162, is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and a member of the American Hospital Association. The ABC will recommend English-speaking specialists in other Mexican cities and tourist resorts, as will the U.S. Embassy, which also supplies dental references. Hospital Angeles del Pedregal, 652-2011, is also excellent.
Check the fine print on your insurance policies as to their applicability in Mexico. There are special policies for travelers, covering medical and life insurance, that can be purchased just for your trip. It is advisable to deal with these matters before leaving home. American Express offers Global Assist, a reliable medical referral service, to card holders. You are given a collect number to call for a list of English-speaking physicians and hospitals anywhere in the world. The service will also make arrangements for necessary hospitalization or transportation, and will guarantee you the right to charge up to US$5,000 for your medical bills. The referral service is free of charge; any monies advanced must be repaid according to your regular contract with American Express. For further information, call 531-4306, in Mexico City. If the worst should happen and you or a traveling companion needs to return home for medical care, Air Ambulance America is on 24-hour standby to fly out sick or injured tourists from any point in Mexico. Their U.S. toll-free number is (800) 222-3564, or call (512) 479-8000 in Austin, Texas.
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The U.S. Embassy is located at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Mexico 06500, D.F. Tel. 211-0042. The Canadian Embassy is at Schiller 529, Mexico 11550, D.F. Tel. 724-7900. The U.S. State Department operates a Citizens Emergency Center hotline, where callers receive up-to-date information on relevant matters, such as political unrest or health hazards at a prospective visiting site. The center will contact authorities abroad in an attempt to locate a traveler, deliver an urgent message and offer general assistance in emergencies. Phone: (202) 647-52 5 5, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Public phones in more than 150 cities throughout the country operate with phone cards. The 20-, 30, 50- and 100-peso cards can be purchased at newsstands, convenience stores or any establishment displaying a sign that reads "LADATEL de venta aqui" (LADATEL sold here). Public phones offer long-distance service, and those run by the national telephone company, Telmex, offer the best rates. Telmex phones are usually marked "LADA." International long distance (090) has English-speaking operators. It is considerably less expensive to make international calls collect as there is an additional 39% tax, plus another 15% value added tax (IVA), figured into your bill in Mexico, neither of which is added if you reverse the charges. From your hotel room, consider using the special international long-distance services that major U.S. telephone companies, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint, offer card holders. Special direct-dial toll-free numbers connect customers with a stateside English-speaking operator. Non-card holders can use these services for collect calls only. To dial an 800 number in the U.S., dial 001+880 then the number. Finally, cellular phones and pagers are available for daily rental. Following are some useful numbers:
National Toll-Free 24-Hour Tourist Assistance: (01+800)
9-0392 In Mexico City Tourist Assistance: 250-0123, 525-9380
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Post offices in most all major cities are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. An airmail letter or postcard to the U.S. or Canada costs 3.50 pesos, with every additional 20 grams carrying an added charge. Surface mail is not recommended unless you don't care when the letter arrives. For especially urgent matters, you may want to use a courier service . Most have offices throughout Mexico ; listed below are their Mexico City telephone numbers.
Aeroflash Tel. 627-3030
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There is a 15% value-added tax (called "IVA" in Spanish) at the retail level for all consumers, although some items (medicines, for example) are exempt and a few luxury goods carry a higher tax. Shops and suppliers of services are required to include the tax in the sales price, which means that restaurant and hotel bills will have a 15% tax included. It is not always itemized separately on your bill. The IVA is 10% in the states of Quintana Roo and Baja California. For baggage handlers and porters calculate a dollar per person; chambermaids a dollar per day, and tour guides and drivers a dollar a day, minimum. A parking lot attendant, or "car watcher," should get 2 to 5 pesos. In restaurants that don't charge for "valet" parking, a 5-peso tip is in order; at restaurants where there is a charge for parking, 2 or 3 pesos is sufficient. Taxi drivers only expect a tip when they provide an extra service. In restaurants, leave roughly the equivalent of the 15% value-added tax that is applied to your bill.
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Jan. 1* New Year's Day Jan. 6 Three Kings Day Feb. 5* Constitution Day Feb. 25 Ash Wednesday March 21* Benito Juarez' Birthday April 5-12 Holy Week (Easter) May 1* Labor Day May 5 Battle of Puebla Sept. 16* Independence Day Oct. 12 Day of the Race (Columbus Day) Sept . 1* President's State of the Union Address Nov. 1-2 Day of the Dead Nov. 20* Revolution Day Dec. 12_ Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe Dec. 25* Christmas Day *Legal Holidays _Banks Closed
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The Tourism Ministry is located in Mexico City at Presidente Masaryk 172 in Polanco, with an information office at Juarez 92. You can call their 24-hour English-speaking information service at 250-0123 or 525-9380 with any questions or problems. For information from anywhere within the country, there's a 24-hour, toll- free number you can call: (01+800) 9-0392. For complaints about prices, customs, traffic patrols or any abuses of tourists call 250-0123 in Mexico City, or you can write, in English, to: Direccion General, Depto. de Quejas, Secretaria de Turismo, Presidente Masaryk 172, Mexico 11550, D.F. Regional offices are located in most major tourist centers in the country, listed in the telephone directory under Secretaria de Turismo. |
