General Information
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MEXICO CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Mexico City International Airport is located 8 miles (13 km) east of the historical city center. Considered one of the busiest airports in Latin America, it is the nation's commercial flight gateway. Transportation to and from the Airport
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Mexico City offers a wide variety of restaurants where you can enjoy delicious national cuisine, such as sopas, guisados, tacos and antojitos (which are a fusion of indigenous and Spanish culinary traditions). The city is also well known for its gourmet and international fare. In restaurants with many years of tradition, such as the Hacienda de Los Morales, the San Angel Inn, and El Arroyo, you can try a wide array of soups, entrees and desserts.
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The Mexican Peso Mexico's currency is the Mexican Peso. There are one hundred Mexican cents to every Peso. The symbol for the the Mexican Peso is $. To distingush this from the Dollar, you sometimes see it presented as MX$ or e.g. $100 MN. The MN stands for Moneda Nacional, or National Currency. Mexican Bank notes are printed in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Pesos.
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In November 2001, Mexico's telephone exchange numbers underwent a major upgrade. Refer to the Telephone Dialing Codes Table for Mexico for a list of cities and dialing codes for cities and towns in Mexico. Calls to and From Mexican Phones (Land Lines) Local Calls International Calls Dialing TO Mexico From overseas Calling Toll-Free Numbers in the USA from Mexico: "001" then the 10 digit 800 number excluding the 1 Calls to Mexican Mobile Phones in Mexico and from Abroad Dialing Cell Phones From a Land line in Mexico For calls to a local cellphone For calls to a non-local domestic cellphone For the latest prices on telephony in Mexico connect to the Mexico Price Index on Mexperience. Dialing Cell Phones From a Mexican Cell Phone in Mexico Dialing a Cell Phone in Mexico from Outside Mexico For example, if the cell phone number in Mexico is listed as 044 55 1234 5678, you would ignore the "044" or "045" (see notes above about these codes), and place a "1" in its stead. Then you would dial the area code (55) and then the number (1234 5678). So, from the USA/CA, you would dial: 011 52 1 55 1234 5678, and from Europe you would dial: 00 52 1 55 1234 5678 |
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The electricity standard is 110 volts, the same as in USA and Canada. |
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Nearby Medical Facilities:
Clinica Londres in Durango, # 50 Col. Roma |
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Spanish is Mexico's official language. Mexican Spanish is polite, clear and easy to understand by Latin American standards. The speed at which the language is spoken is not as accelerated as it is Spain and some South American countries and pronunciation is softer, making the language easier to 'pick-up' and easier to learn. |
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Registration and attendance at the meeting is free. You are required to pay for your accommodations and meals. Coffee breaks are provided during the meeting. |
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As in any other big city, it is important to take responsibility for your personal safety and exercise precaution. BEFORE YOU GO Think preventively when packing for your trip; consider leaving behind expensive jewelry, watches, and items of sentimental value. A smaller, inexpensive camera may be a better choice than larger, expensive models. You may not need to take an ATM card if your credit card and a limited amount of cash will suffice. Avoiding crime is often a matter of keeping a low profile. Consider exchanging some currency to Pesos before you begin travel and avoid displaying large amounts of cash if you use the exchanges at the Mexico City airport. GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO YOUR HOTEL Taxis are regulated and passengers should pay in advance at the taxi counter in Arrivals. Taxi fare from the airport to the Meeting venue and nearby hotels should be approximately 127 Pesos. Use only the clearly marked “AUTHORISED TAXI” service. These cars are white and yellow with black airplane stickers on the doors. A drawing of a car on the ticket will tell you what type of car the ticket is valid for. It is not recommended to walk outside the airport terminal in search of cheaper taxi service unless you have pre-arranged your service. Do not use the Green and White taxis. More information about Taxis from the airport is available at: DURING THE MEETING When leaving your hotel room to go out at night, take only the cash you need for each excursion and consider leaving your credit cards, watch, and jewelry behind in the hotel room safe. Keep your ICANN conference badge with you for quick reference to the venue address and emergency telephone numbers, but avoid wearing your badge on the street. Be aware that laptop bags and exposed mobile phones are tempting items for thieves. Use the available after hours shuttle buses between the hotels or request a taxi from the hotel and ask the concierge for a street map. Keep low profile. Avoid taking the Metro and hailing taxis or asking strangers for directions on the street. Use Common Sense. If you must walk at night, walk with companions, avoid the empty streets and keep to the major thoroughfares, even if that means walking a few extra blocks. What may look like a safe side street in the daytime, may pose greater risks after dark. Many pickpockets and street criminals employ distractions by accomplices. Avoid stopping to help someone in a busy place, even if it's a child or elderly person. If you are accosted on the street, keep your cool, hand over your valuables, and don't try to fight back. The person confronting you may not be alone. Be careful near traffic. Automobile accidents are not uncommon and vehicles do not defer to pedestrians. Some sidewalks in older areas may be in need of repair - so watch you step and avoid distractions such as talking or texting on your phone while walking. Avoid crowds of demonstrators. Demonstrations near the meeting venue are common, and usually peaceful. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate to violence and police arrest unexpectedly. If you need to use a cash machine, use those located in hotels or banks. Avoid cash machines on streets or less busy areas. If you need help, ask an employee at the bank or hotel. Keep your belongings in sight particularly in open areas like restaurants, bars, parks, and even in the rooms at the Meeting venue. Don't leave purses, laptop bags, or cameras hanging on chairs or on the floor. Additional Resources & Travel Advisories for Mexico Australian Government: U.S. State Department: Solutions Abroad: Trip Advisor: Safety Tips Article from Business Week:
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In Mexico, not only is it customary, it is expected and appreciated in return for good service. Most people working in Mexico's tourism and service sectors rely on your tips to supplement their basic pay and they give good service to prove that it makes a significant difference to them. When you are traveling in Mexico, always keep some loose change in your pocket because you never know when you're going to need some of it for a tip. Even fringe services like someone at a taxi rank opening the door for you (and perhaps putting your cases in the car's trunk) should receive a small tip (just 1 or 2 pesos will suffice in these cases). Some hotels and tours indicate that "all tips are included in the price"; if this is the case, fair enough, and there is no need to tip further. You may still wish to leave a small tip for the maids at the rooms you stay in, or offer the tour guide a small tip at the end of the program. Although tips are frequent in Mexico, the amounts are relatively small, and they really can make a different to the person whom you are rewarding. |
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GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO YOUR HOTEL: Taxis are regulated and passengers should pay in advance at the taxi counter in Arrivals. Taxi fare from the airport to the Meeting venue and nearby hotels should be approximately 127 Pesos. Use only the clearly marked “AUTHORISED TAXI”service. These cars are white and yellow with black airplane stickers on the doors. A drawing of a car on the ticket will tell you what type of car the ticket is valid for. It is not recommended to walk outside the airport terminal in search of cheaper taxi service unless you have pre-arranged your service. Do not use the Green and White taxis. More information about Taxis from the airport is available at:
AIRPORT/HOTEL TRANSFERS: Cars can be hired for $900 Mexican pesos (round trip) for up to 3 passengers per car for hotel/airport transfers. Contact: cgonzalez@sheraton.com.mx Cars can be hired for $900 Mexican pesos for up to 3 passengers per car for hotel/airport transfers. Contact: Cesar Velasco, concierge@melia-mexico.com.mx Cars can be hired for $750 Mexican pesos for up to 5 passengers for hotel/airport transfers. For reservations, pease send detailed flight information including flight number, airline, origin, record locator, and arrival information. Include the total number of passengers and contact telephone number. Contact: concierge@embassysuitesmexicocity.com or call +52 55 5061 3045
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CLICK HERE for information about tours, restaurants, and other activities available during the week. ARCHAEOLOGY - In Mexico City you can find archaeological ruins of the Mexica culture (more commonly known as the Aztec culture). At these places, and in their museums, you can learn more about the mysteries of the Aztecs´ cosmo-vision and their customs, some of which persist in the capital today: Templo mayor, Tlatelolco, Cuicuilco. CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE - Mexico City is full of history and it has been the center point of a nation in constant growth, as evidenced in the modern architecture seen in the present-day capital. To fully appreciate this, you can visit the areas that are considered the most representative in contemporary architecture. HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE - Mexico City’s Historic Center is the oldest part of the capital and it has many architectural treasures that are appreciated in Mexico and throughout the world. As you walk around the downtown area, you’ll find excellent examples of classical and colonial architecture. Many of the buildings are shrouded in magic and legend and the area has such an impressive architectural offering that the UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. ARTS AND CRAFTS - In Mexico City you’ll find crafts from any state in the nation: gold and silver jewelry, textiles, leather products, such as belts and purses, and wooden toys (spin tops, yo-yos and Mexican baleros). You’ll also see a wide selection of furniture made from various materials that require different techniques. These are just some of the arts and crafts that you can buy in markets such as the Ciudadela and the Centro Artesenal Buenavista. MUSEUMS - Mexico City has more museums than just about any other tourist destination in the world. Many are worth visiting for their architecture as well as their cultural offerings, which include art exhibits and history displays. RELIGION AND MYSTICISM - Mexico City is one of the world’s capitals with the highest number of Catholic adherents, which comes as a result of colonial influences in religion, which are very much embedded in present-day religious practices. Among the most important religious celebrations are: the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe. |
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