Spanish is the official language. Some English is spoken in tourist regions.
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Mexican currency is the New Peso (MXN) divided into 100 centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Travelers checks are generally accepted, and are best taken in U.S. Dollars. ATMs are available in most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money, but for safety reasons they should only be used during business hours. Although most businesses will accept foreign currency it is best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many
casas de cambio(exchange houses), which have longer hours and offer a quicker service than the banks.
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The international access code for Mexico is +52. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)55 for Mexico City, (0)744 for Acapulco and (0)998 for Cancun. Some U.S. long-distance phone companies have access numbers which can be dialled in order to use your phone card - calls are usually cheaper than direct-dialed calls from a hotel room. If calling internationally from a phone booth only use the official TelMex phone booths, as all others charge very high fees. GSM 1900 mobile networks cover most of the country. Internet access is widely available in most of the country, especially in tourist-oriented areas.
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Tips are expected in Mexico by almost all services; waiters and bar staff should be tipped 10 to 15 percent if a service charge hasn't already been added to the bill. The American custom of tipping 15-20 percent is practised at international resorts, including those in Los Cabos. Taxi drivers are not usually tipped unless they have helped with luggage.
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There is a risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks in public places. Crime is high in Mexico, especially in Mexico City, where robberies and muggings are prevalent. Travelers should avoid displays of wealth and be particularly vigilant on public transportation, at stations and tourist sites. Only use authorized taxi services. All bus travel should be in daylight hours and if possible it is advisable to travel first class. Women traveling on their own should be alert, especially in tourist areas; a number of serious sexual assaults have occurred in Cancun recently. Visitors drawing money from cash machines or exchanging money at bureau de change should do so in daylight hours and be especially vigilant on leaving. Visitors are advised to be wary of people presenting themselves as police officers attempting to fine or arrest them for no apparent reason, leading to theft or assault; if in doubt ask for identification, and, if possible to make a note of the officer's name, badge number and patrol number. The practice is most common in Cancun where increasing numbers of motorists inrental cars have been stopped and threatened with imprisonment if an immediate fine is not paid. Hurricanes may affect the coastal areas between June and November. Demonstrations relating to the contested July 2006 elections have led to severe disruption in Mexico City; visitors should avoid all such demonstrations, which have the potential to become violent. In Oaxaca, southern Mexico, an ongoing protest by teachers has resulted in violent demonstrations leading to several deaths and a threat to the tourist industry; visitors are advised to be extremely cautious in the city center.
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Those entering Mexico from an infected area require a yellow fever certificate. There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Mexico, however visitors should take medical advice if traveling outside the major tourist areas. Immunization against hepatitis A and typhoid is generally recommended. A malaria risk exists in some rural areas, but not on the Pacific and Gulf coasts,and the dengue fever mosquito occurs. Other risks include dysentery and diarrheal diseases, and sensible precautions regarding food and water are strongly advised, visitors are advised to be cautious of street food and stick to bottled water. Medical facilities are very good, but medical insurance is recommended.
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130 volts, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade attachment plugs are standard.
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