The capital
mexico city
Time
There are 3 time zones in the country. Time from Moscow in different regions is 9, 10 or 11 hours behind.
Language of Mexico
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In the resort areas of the country, French, English and German are also well-spread. They are practically not used by the province. See liuxers for Mexico customs and traditions.
In the country, more than 50 dialects are also used by local ethnic groups – Otomi, Totonac, Tarascos and others.
Currency
The country’s currency is the new peso (MXN).
Currency exchange is carried out at a bank branch, at the airport, large hotels or in “casas de cambio” – specialized currency exchange offices. The resort areas of the country have a very well-developed network of ATMs.
Banks work on weekdays 9:00-17:00, on Saturday – 9:00-14:00. The day off is Sunday. Some banks located in resort areas are open on weekdays 16:00-18:00, on Saturdays – 10:00-13:30, 16:00-18:00, on Sundays – 10:00-13:30.
Credit card payments are accepted in most restaurants, hotels, travel agencies and shops.
Difficulties in exchanging currency may arise with banknotes of the old series or shabby banknotes. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere in the country.
VAT in Mexico is 15% and is generally included on all bills, phone calls, prices and rentals. Some expensive hotels produce prices without VAT.
Payment in cash entitles you to a tax refund, but only on purchases between 1200 and 3000 MHR (including VAT). A payment made by a bank card has no limits on the amount of the purchase.
VAT refunds are made at Tax Back offices. When returning, you must have a passport, checks from stores, a boarding pass, a copy of the immigration questionnaire and a Tax Back form. TV service employees also have the right to ask for a purchase if the amount for it was more than 5000 MHR.
Only half of the tax amount is returned in cash, the rest is transferred to a bank card or tourist account.
1 MXN = 100 cents, 1 EUR ≅ 16.86 MXN, 1 USD ≅ 12.32 MXN.
Connection
Internet
There are a lot of Wi-Fi access points in the country. Russian operators do not have GPRG roaming. You can access the network at Internet coffee shops located in many cities.
Telephone communications
In the country, international telephone calls are carried out from the post office, hotels and specialized points of contact. Telephone machines work on cards.
Phone country code – 52
To call from Russia to Mexico: 8 – 10 – 52 – city code – subscriber number.
Emergency numbers: fire, police, ambulance – 06.
Mexico city dialing codes: Acapulco – 744, Mexico City – 55, Leon – 477, Poza Rica – 782, Durango – 618, Tijuana – 666, La Paz – 612, Monterrey – 81, Veracruz – 229, Puebla – 222, Navojoa — 642.
Shopping and shops
Shops are open from 9:00-10:00 to 18:00-22:00, lunch – 14:00-16:00. Sunday is a day off.
Transport
Intercity Mexican buses are relatively comfortable, clean and punctual. There are three types of buses: regular, first class and LUX class. Each region of the country is served by a specific bus company, so you should familiarize yourself with the schedule of routes and traffic in advance. The fare generally depends on the speed and comfort of the bus.
City buses operate in all major settlements. Tickets are purchased from the driver or at specialized kiosks. Shuttle taxis operate in all tourist areas.
Every major city in Mexico has several types of taxis. You can hire a taxi by phone, or stop on the street, but only if the car is free, this can be determined by the burning sign “Libre” – “free”. The fare per kilometer in the daytime is $ 0.5, at night after 22:00 – $ 1.
Some taxis run without meters, in which case the price should be negotiated in advance. In large cities and tourist areas, taxi drivers often demand more money from tourists than is customary. Therefore, it is highly recommended to agree on the fare in advance.
Car rent
You can rent a car in the country if you have Mexican insurance and a credit card. The world’s major car rental companies operate in Mexico. In different companies, the amount of rent is different ($40-70 per day), excluding VAT.
Most companies provide insurance for a fixed period, if the car is returned before the end of the insurance period, the unused time is reimbursed.
Tips
As a rule, tips are from 10% of the amount indicated in the bill. It is customary to leave a tip in restaurants (up to 15%), porters ($ 1-2), as well as the guide and driver for the tour.
Tourist safety
The high level of crime in the country still persists, first of all, many robberies and pickpockets are committed, so it is recommended to travel by bus, car or train only during the daytime.
Hiring a taxi is recommended only at the “sitios” stands, otherwise you can easily become a victim of a robbery. It is advisable to call a taxi by phone, be sure to specify the taxi driver’s license number and the car number from the dispatcher.
At the Mexico City airport, it is worth hiring a yellow taxi with the symbols of the airport on the door, paying in advance for a call at the Transportacion Terrestre kiosk, which is located in the airport lobby.
It should be remembered that toll roads are the safest. In provincial areas, solo trips are recommended to be avoided. There are also cases of money extortion by people in uniform.
If you need to travel to areas where armed insurgents operate, you should follow the recommendations given by local authorities.
Most public places are non- smoking. Smoking in public places in Mexico City threatens with a fine of up to 1,500 pesos, with a second violation – arrest for up to 36 hours.
