Travel Information Mexico Helpful Information We want you to know that if you have any questions before your journey, please do not hesitate to contact us in our Frankfurt office. Our team will be glad to help you. We are available from 09:00 to 19:00h, Monday to Friday: Telefon: +49 69 / 61 09 12 15 Fax:+49 69 / 61 04 31 E-Mail: mexico@sprachcaffe.com Gartenstraße 6 60594 Frankfurt More information and photos can be found on our official website: www.sprachcaffe-mexiko.com Checklist for your journey Travel guide, e.g. Lonely Planet Travel brochures Language dictionary Credit card Valid passport & emergency contact numbers, e.g. your doctor s Sprachcaffe informed details of your arrival time and pick up Medical, travel and luggage insurance Travel pharmacy Medicine against flu or cold Medicine against gastro-intestinal problems; plasters Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 1
Sunscreen Personally necessary medicine Pain-killers Sport & Hobby Other Photo or video camera Film Alarm clock Sun-glasses Insects repellant CDs; radio Electrical adapter (as in the USA) Chargers Sports equipment Sewing kit Backpack and money travel purse Day of your journey the most important check! Money; credit cards Passport and tourist card Travel documents Insurance documents Sprachcaffe Travel Pack (documents) Journey Flight If you have booked your flight with Sprachcaffe: You will be issued an E-ticket (electronic). On your flight ticket you will find the important check-in code which you need to present at the flight s check-in desk. Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 2
Please make sure you arrive 2 hours before take-off at the departures hall. Depending on your take-off place and time, the flights from Central Europe to Cuba last approx. 12-13 hours. If you are flying with Iberia, you will be transferred to a connecting flight at Madrid. If you are flying with Air France, then you need to transfer in Paris. The arrival airport in Mexico is the Cancun International Airport. If you have booked an Iberia flight through the Amigo-Program for an overnight accommodation in Madrid, once you arrive in Madrid, please go immediately to the Amigo desk point in Terminal 1 at the arrivals hall. Please note that it is not allowed to smoke during your flight. Your luggage should not exceed the usual weight of 20kg. You can find this information also written on your ticket. We recommend you to not exceed this limit especially on your return flight from Mexico as Mexican airport officials strictly control and charge high prices for overweight luggage. Having booked with Iberia, Condor, LTU or Martin Air, you should make sure to confirm your return flight in time, usually not later than 3 hours before your return flight. Therefore the contact numbers in Mexico are as follows: Iberia: (55) 110 115 15 Air France: (52) 36 30 37 07 Condor/LTU: (52) 998 886 0765 Martin Air: (52) 998 886 00 70 New travel safety regulations Please note that there are strict safety regulations regarding liquid transportation on flights and you can expect many checks along the way. These measures are applicable to all travelers, as by the new European safety rules. Only small quantities of liquid can be carried in your hand-luggage. Such liquids should not exceed 100ml per container. They have to be singled out in a transparent plastic bag with a tape or a zipper, with a total limit of 1l per flight. You can pack the remaining liquids in your checked-in luggage since the new measures apply for hand-luggage only. You are able to carry food, medicine and baby food in your hand-baggage, sufficient for the flight only. Sometimes you might be asked for a written proof explaining why you are carrying food on board the aircraft. Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 3
Transfers with Sprachcaffe If you have booked your airport transfers with Sprachcaffe, our colleagues will be informed about your arrival time and flight number, and happily wait for you at the airport in Havana. You will recognize them by a sign with Sprachcaffe or Tierra Maya and your name on it. In certain circumstances we must ask you kindly for some patience, as our team sometimes have to collect several clients arriving by different flights. But they are doing their very best to collect you on time! You will be taken directly to your booked accommodation. If you have booked your own flight BUT transfers will be arranged by Sprachcaffe, we ask you to inform us about your arrival time and flight number not later than one week before your departure flight from Europe. Transfer on your own We can recommend you to take a taxi once you have arrived in Cancun airport. You can already pay the taxi fare in the airport building. This saves you negotiating with the taxi driver about the fare. In addition, you avoid the trip with illegal taxis. You must organize your return transfer (on the day of your departure from Mexico) at least 4 hours in advance. Important: We kindly ask for your comprehension in case of any inconvenience due to delays or cancelled flights as Sprachcaffe cannot guarantee for this. Accommodation & Hotels Generally, all standard hotels in Mexico offer an appropriate comfort. In addition, standards and services also depend on the hotel s category. Occasionally, there may be slight differences in quality. The country star category is about 1-1.5 stars lower as the European standard. Our office in Havana If you have any questions you can contact our colleagues working in Playa del Carmen, at the following address: Sprachcaffe Reisen Playa del Carmen Hotel Avenida 20 Norte Entre Calle 2 y 4 Colonia Centro, Playa del Carmen; Mexico Phone: +52 984 873 3178 Mobile: +52 1 984 879 0495 You will be talking to: Mr. Edgar Cruz Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 4
This number is reachable on 24hrs basis. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT OUR COLLEAGUES AT SPRACHCAFFE TEAM IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN! Helpful information about Cuba Money The Mexican currency is the peso, which is usually abbreviated with a $ sign. Since the currency reform in 1993, the bills of 2000 pesos do not have value anymore. You can easily swap cash (U.S. dollars or euros) in banks or exchange offices. The best way to travel in Mexico is with the EC/Maestro card with which you can withdraw cash from any ATM. The credit card companies Visa and Mastercard are the most widespread in Mexico. Restaurants and hotels generally accept them, however, reluctantly. Therefore, you should always have enough cash on hand. Absolutely necessary will be a credit card, if you want to rent a car. PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU ARE EXCHANGING YOUR MONEY IN LEGAL AND PROPER MONEY-EXCHANGE OFFICES AND HOTELS (THOSE OFFERING THIS SERVICE) & BE CAREFUL OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND FRAUD! Tipping In restaurants, a gratuity of 15% will be accepted gladly. In hotels, it is common to give a tip for the maid and concierges, as this is their income. At the reception, you will often find information about the appropriate amount of tip. At gas stations a tip for the gas station attendant is also common. Banks Monday - Friday: 09:00-15:30h. But from ATMs (Caja Automatica, Caja Permanente, ATM) you can always withdraw cash. Exchange Offices (Casas de Cambio) They have longer opening times, open on weekends and sometimes have very different exchange rates. Museums Museums are not open on Mondays. Tuesday Sunday: from 10:00h to17:00h Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 5
Phone calls to/from Mexico The international dialing code for Mexico is + 52 plus the number to call. Would you call from Mexico to Germany, you use + 49, + 43 to Austria and + 41 to Switzerland, plus the number to call without zero. In Mexico you can buy phone cards. With cards of providers like Andina, Amiga or Saludo, the price per minute for a call to Europe is at about 4 pesos. To make or receive mobile calls during your stay in Mexico, you need a tri-band phone with GSM or TDMA. But only in the big cities, the network is well developed. Roaming costs are horrendous. Please check with your network operator for those costs. Time Standard time in Mexico is 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time or GMT-7. Insurance We recommend that you take travel insurance prior to your journey. The loss of luggage, damage or missing valuable items can always ruin one s holiday. Having a proper insurance minimizes such risks considerably. Travel documents To be on the safe side, make copies of your travel documents, e.g. plane tickets, insurance, passport, rented car documents etc. This could help you retrieve some important information in case your originals went missing. Health We absolutely recommend that you already take care of all your check-ups in your own country as medical treatments for foreigners in Cuba are limited to special hospitals and can be very expensive. There are no obligatory vaccinations when traveling to Mexico. However, standard protection against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Diphtheria is recommended, as well as Hepatitis B and Typhoid fever. For more information please visit: www.fit-for-travel.de and www.crm.de. Keep in mind during your stay, to drink more than usual. Be sure to use sunscreen and/or a cap as the sun is at its strongest, to prevent skin burns. Electricity Alternating current of 110V. The same adapter as used in the USA is required. Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 6
Climate The Yucatan Peninsula is characterized by a year-round warm to hot and subtropical climate. Inland temperatures are often higher than at the coast, the north is a bit dryer. In June and September stronger rains can be expected and storms and hurricanes also occur occasionally severe. Light clothes, comfortable and sporty, are recommended in addition to your swimming clothes and do not forget your sunscreen! If you plan to travel further into a rain forest, bring your insects repellant. If you plan your journey for the winter months, take a sweater with you for cooler days. More information on: www.wetteronline.de Language The national language is Spanish; Mexican Spanish is a sound and imaginative variation. In addition, there are many indigenous languages. In the tourist areas, however, English is spoken everywhere. Taxi Taxis in Mexico are green, white or yellow. Before starting a cab ride, one should negotiate the fare (approximate prices at the hotel reception). You should also carry the exact or similar agreed amount, because taxi drivers often do not have money change with them. Bus In Mexico there are many bus companies that cover different areas and offer various standards of comfort. Recommended are the Bussed luxury and first Class. On the Internet you can find schedules and connections: www.ticketbus.com.mx. Rental cars The simplest and most comfortable way to get to know the Yucatan Peninsula is by renting a car. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 (sometimes 25). A credit card deposit is necessary. Find out the total distance of your planned route before you start driving. 100 km can sometimes drag on for many hours. Some roads are in a very good condition. There are old toll-free highways as well as new toll roads. Beware to not take too long distances in any case. Petrol In Mexico there are state-pemex gas stations. Petrol is about half as expensive as in Germany. Diesel (red pump) is much cheaper. The rates are at all stations the same. Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 7
Payment by credit card is not possible. The gas station attendant usually gets a tip for his servies. Customs regulations You should take only these things that are for your personal use. Avoid introducing fresh sausages, dairy products, vegetables, fruit or weapons. These will be confiscated at the border, because the import is banned for health reasons. Electrical equipment may also be introduced only by proportion intended for personal use. The export of archaeological artifacts, gold and cacti is prohibited. Upon re-entry into the EU make sure that you do not import any animals, animal products or souvenirs which are considered within the Biodiversity Convention. You can take with you without problems: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine, 500 gram of coffee as well as souvenirs worth up to 175. Visa & entry regulations Travelers whose domicile is in the European Union need a valid passport (at least another 6 months) to enter Mexico. At the airport, in migration modules, you will receive an entrance card, which allows you to stay in Mexico usually for 90 days, but it can be extended by the competent authorities in Mexico. This card should be kept in a safe place, as it will be required on departure, too. Feedback After your return from Mexico, when the daily duties start catching up with you, we would really like to hear about your Mexico experiences, positive or negative. Your feedback by email or letter would be highly welcomed! Send your comments to our email: mexiko@sprachcaffe.com Other sites with important information www.visitmexico.com www.merida.gob.mx/turismo/index_in.htm www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1205074.stm Co Reg No: HRB 25400 VAT Reg No: DE4523826115 Directors: Marcello & Alberto Sarno Page 8