Central America Travel

A backpacking travel guide to Asia & Central America ! A backpacking travel guide to Asia & Central America ! Passplanet is a free practical travel guide that offers the latest backpacking information about Asia & Central America : 15 countries & 230 places precisely covered plus surveys, photos, essay, etc. Free as a backpacker ! You will find in this free travel guide lots of tips and most of the budget info you need to prepare your trip to Asia &Central America on a shoestring ("before"), live your backpacking adventure in the best conditions ("during") and share your experience with other backpackers ("after") plus a photos gallery, a backpacking forum, surveys on the asian& Central American countries or localities in Asia & America (backpacker 's ratings), travelogues, an essay in French, links to other asian travel guidebook or related budget informationabout latin America etc. All in one convenient stop ! Go for it : backpack Asia & America with pass planet ! If you know what you are looking for in Asia or America, use the Search Form to find backpacking info. Otherwise, have a look at the backpacker's Index or let Passplanet be your free guidebook to Asia & America The original features of this free backpacking travel guide to Asia &America include : - Budget & practical travel information about asian & central american countries only. - Ratings of the localities by the backpackers themselves : more than 230 localities precisely covered in Asia& Central America in 15 countries. - What to do there & what you may not like while you backpack Asia &Central America - The cheapest budget accommodations (guesthouse or hostel on a shoestring ) for backpackers - The various transportations' options for easy backpacking - Travel information on how to save money - Lots of backpacker's photos in special sections - A guidebook with frequent updates But Passplanet will, hopefully, be more than a free backpacking travel guide toAsia & Central America. My ambition is to make it a place where backpackers can freely exchange the latest info from "on the road" of the asianand americas countries and communicate with each others. In the world of backpacking, information indeed changes with the blowing of the winds. But while a guidebook is out of date by the time it reaches the shelves, a web site can be updated daily. Pass planet will strive to keep the budget information about Asia andCentral America warm ! But to achieve the above, we need your help & support. Passplanet is not supposed to be a single backpacker's journey and travel guide. There are too many trips ahead. Asia,Central America and the world are too vast to be covered by one individual. Let's share ! Everyone is welcome to join the backpacking adventure and submit travel information ! Passplanet is looking for new backpackers, budget writers, partners and ideas on a shoestring. And Passplanet also counts on you for its promotion. If you find it useful, please give the direction to other backpackers. The more traffic, the more updated info in the future to backpack Asia &Central America ! Passplanet is also a place of exchange related to Asia and Central America. Beside all the forms which allow you to share your budget info about asian& american countries, experiences about a place, Passplanet also hosts a forum and a links section to other travel guide. You are welcome to submit your own travel web site in the latter and benefit from Passplanet's growing popularity in the world of backpacking on a shoestring. Together, let's keep Passplanet as free & independent as a backpacker so more and more people can use this free travel guide to backpack Asiaand Central America ! I wish you a good backpacking experience, on the site and around Asia &Central America ! Ben. Founder. START YOUR TRAVEL TRIP HOME - ASIA - China - HK & Macau - Thailand - Laos - Cambodia - Myanmar - Malaysia - Singapore - Indonesia C.A. - Guatemala - Honduras - Nicaragua - Costa Rica - Panama www.oasis-centre.com www.guidebienetre.com www.lebienetre.org Passplanet :a backpacking travel guide to Asia & Central America !

Italy Traveller your guide

Capri Hotels and Tours Italy Traveller Guide » Umbria - Umbria Travel guide - Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Country Houses, Agritourism, Villas and Hamlets, Residence, Rooms, Apartments, Historical Buildings, Restaurants. » Siena - Siena Travel Guide - A range of villas, vacation apartments, agritourism estates and other rental accommodation in and around Siena. » Positano - Positano, Amalfi Coast - On one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the Province of Salerno, at the centre of the gulf stands Positano, in a splendid panoramic position. » Positano Hotels » Naples - Naples Guide to help find partments, hotels, villas, real estate, itineraries, tours and much more. » Amalfi Coast Hotels » Bed & Breakfast in Italia » Dimore storiche » Amalfi-Coast - The Amalfi Coast is perhaps the most beautiful coastline in the world: Amalfi, Ravello, Positano and Sorrento. » Puglia - Top destinations in Puglia: Barletta, Alberobello (the trulli), S. Giovanni Rotondo, Tremiti Islands, Lecce and Castel del Monte. » Sicily - Useful Sicily links, all about culture, history, traditions, hotels, bed and breakfast, etc. » Milan - Milan. This travel guide highlights the major attractions and tourist venues in and around Milan, including hotels, restaurants, museums, and cultural. » Italy Hotels » Bologna - Bologna Travel Guide - gives a summary on the city with links to detailed information on attractions, sightseeing, events, shopping, hotels, restaurants, travel and more. » Venice - Venice hotels Italy accommodation guide, online reservation of apartments, bed and breakfasts, and hotels in Venice. » Rome - Rome, Italy accommodations at discounted rates. You can make reservations with us for five to one star hotels as well as for bed and breakfasts and inns in Rome. » Florence - About Florence - General touristic information about the town of Florence, from the history of the city, passing by the art and the culture. » Tuscany - Discover Tuscany with Italy Traveller your guide to an undisclosed Tuscany. » Arezzo - Arezzo area is perfect to visit the glorious Tuscan and Umbria countryside: the Chianti region, Perugia, Assisi, Cortona, Urbino, Florence. | accommodation | Capri Boats | Capri Tours | agritourism | agriturismo | alberghi | albergo | apartments | bed and breakfast | castles | country house | country villa | farm house | historic houses | holiday | hotel | hotels booking | hotels | lodging | luxury hotels | limousine | meetings | rental | reservations | restaurants | ristoranti | tours | travel | vacation | villa | wedding | honeymoon | Hotels Italy | site-map |

Travel Insurance? Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance, Trip Insurance, Cruise Insurance Member BBB OnLine Reliability Program Smile of Satisfaction 364 Testimonials-18 Pages Home Site Map Get Side-By-Side Quotes Skip The Details - Order Safely Online Common Questions What's Covered? Or Not? Rental Car Insurance Flight Insurance How To Make A Claim Contact Us - Located in USA About Trip Insurance Store You Can Trust These Companies: Get all the details & prices: CSA Travel Protection HTH Worldwide Travelex Travel Guard Travel Insured TravelSafe - Cancel For Any Reason Coverage Instant Message / Chat If the icon's colored, we're available right now for free chat/instant messaging. If not, leave us a message. How Have We Done? Customers' Websites Link To Us Free Gifts Get A 2 Month Website Hosting Free Trial TripInsuranceStore.com is a Member in Good Standing of These Organizations: What Is Travel Insurance? Travel Insurance (Trip Insurance) is insurance that covers you for problems associated with traveling . Travel insurance protects you if you're forced to cancel or interrupt your trip because of unforeseen events : family emergencies, bad weather , lost luggage, terrorism and other events . Plus emergency medical treatment. Why Should You Get Your Travel Insurance From TripInsuranceStore.com? • Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed Thoroughly examine your policy for 10 days. Wear the smile of satisfaction, or it's no sale. Can you ask more! • 364 Testimonials from Satisfied Customers Unless you're a returning client, you don't know anything about us. Nor have you experienced first hand our great service. Read what others have said. • You Get Personal Service (a rarity when you're online) Call Steve (the President), Denise, Tara, Teresa, Mary or Terry toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854 for advice & recommendations. When was the last time a website (or any business) encouraged, wanted or begged you to call? And we answer live! • Selected, Pre-Screened Trustworthy Travel Insurance Companies You can browse or study plans from the only 6 travel insurance companies we trust . They are CSA , HTH , Travelex , Travel Guard , Travel Insured and TravelSafe . • You Get Side-By-Side Comparisons Not awkward top to bottom tables. Click here for your free quotes . • You Can Order Safely Online All orders are processed with 128-bit Military Grade Encryption Algorithms. Do you know which plan you want? If so, skip the details - click here for the secure purchase link . • You Will Enjoy Ongoing Service You can count on us to be here for you after the sale. We even call you a few days before you leave to make sure you have your insurance information. You can always call or contact us here . Over 100 different travel insurance policies are sold online. That's the bad news. The good news is that you don't have to wade through them all. You owe it to yourself to only work with reputable providers . See how these plans compare in an easy to read side-by-side comparison. You can email your quote to yourself, too. Click here to recommend this page to a friend. Your trip cancellation benefits start the day after you buy your travel insurance plan. Your trip interruption benefits begin when you leave home for your trip. You choose which travel insurance plan is right for you. Get your instant travel insurance comparison quote to easily compare the different plans, benefits and prices. You can safely order your travel insurance plan online, too. You'll find plans from the leading travel insurance providers: CSA Travel Protection , HTH , Travelex , Travel Guard , Travel Insured and TravelSafe . These links take you to our detailed description pages. Or skip the details, going straight to the Fastrack Online Purchase Links . Protect yourself if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip for a pre-existing medical condition . Keep these three important rules in mind: • You have to insure your trip's full prepaid, non-refundable cost (you can't round it down) and • The person (including non-traveling family members) with the medical condition has to be medically stable when you get your insurance and • You must get your travel insurance in the first 10, 14 or 21 days after your first trip payment date When your first trip payment date is more than 10, 14 or 21 days in the past and you're concerned about pre-existing medical conditions, click here . On the other hand, the Lookback Period doesn't apply to you when there aren't any pre-existing conditions. Discover how to protect yourself for pennies on the dollar. Look at these real life examples of a $3,000 trip (up to 30 days) for a 70 year young or a 35 year old traveler: -- Your Age: CSA Silver HTH TP HTH TP Pf'd Travelex Lite Travelex Plus TG Protect Assist Travel Insured Travel Safe Age 70 $174 (6%) $194 (6.5%) $255 (8.5%) $168 (5.5%) $257 (8.5%) $251 (8%) $185 (6%) $254 (8.5%) Age 35 $124 (4%) $139 (4.5%) $186 (6%) $129 (4%) $199 (6.5%) $145 (5%) $111 (4%) $101 (7%) Note: these plans have different coverages and benefit levels - Don't be influenced by price alone. Click here to see a detailed side-by-side plan benefit comparison . Medicare doesn't cover you outside the USA. You can get travel insurance as late as the day you leave home. Travel Supplier Waiver Plans are surprisingly different from travel insurance. Our Privacy Policy is in full FTC compliance. Your benefits are paid in Tax-Free US Dollars. Not vouchers. Not "trip credits". You get fast, not-in-a-hurry, unbiased advice. Steve, Denise, Tara, Teresa, Mary & Terry do not work on commission. You get personal service - a rarity when you're online. You're not limited to one choice or confused by too many choices. You'll find plans that are uniquely different from each other. You get the travel insurance plan that's best for your trip and your family's needs. We may recommend one plan for one trip and a different plan for another trip. There's no hidden agenda to steer you to one company over another. We don't charge you extra fees. You can read what others say about TripInsuranceStore.com Safely, easily online from CSA Travel Protection , HTH , Travelex , Travel Guard , Travel Insured or TravelSafe (these links take you to our detailed description pages) Over the telephone: Call Steve, Denise, Tara, Teresa, Mary or Terry toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854. - You get to talk to a live person. - We're happy to answer all your questions. - We can even complete your application over the phone. - Everything you tell us is confidential. Our Privacy Pledge . Through the mail: We'll fax or send you a brochure . Call the insurance providers directly: If you do this, please give them our agent or ID number. Here's what you need if you call. You get email or postal sevice confirmation of your policy, too. CSA Travel Protection has three plans: Silver, Comfort and Luxe. All plans include at least $50,000 emergency medical, $250,000 emergency medical evacuation and 150% Trip Interruption. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US and Canadian residents only. View Details HTH Worldwide two plans: HTH Trip Protector and Trip Protector Preferred. Both HTH plans have at least $500,000 emergency medical evacuation. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US and Canadian residents only. HTH TripProtector has $100,000 emergency medical and all the standard coverages. HTH TripProtector Preferred includes $250,000 emergency medical, 150% trip interruption and other higher coverages. View Details Travelex offers both $50,000 and $500,000 emergency medical / medical evacuation with 150% Trip Interruption. Children under 16 are covered at no charge when accompanied by a covered adult. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US residents only. View Details Travel Guard is America's #1 travel insurance provider online insuring more than 6 million travelers each year. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to both US and Canadian residents. View Details Travel Insured gives you $50,000 emergency medical, $250,000 emergency medical evacuation and 150% Trip Interruption. Twenty-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to US residents only. View Details TravelSafe gives you $50,000 emergency medical, $250,000 emergency medical evacuation and 150% Trip Interruption. Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available. Ten-day money back satisfaction guarantee. Available to both US and Canadian residents. View Details Do you want 'customized' travel insurance recommendations? Or do you have any questions? If so, call Steve, Denise, Tara, Teresa or Mary toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854. Links Town and Country, Ski, Frommers.com, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, Reader's Digest, IHT, etc. Read 'em. to use , provides answers, and is backed up by the toll free phone line. You make shopping for a complicated product easier. Thanks! - Cynthia C., Portland, OR Are You Interested In? Pre-existing Conditions What's Covered? Instant Quotes Group Travel Insurance FAQ's Ordering Brochures Rental Car Insurance Top 10 Information Pages 1. Pre-existing conditions 2. What's Covered? 3. Common Exclusions 4. How To Make A Claim 5. Traveling companions 6. What is your trip's cost? 7. Site Map 8. FAQ's 9. Primary - Secondary 10. Travel Supplier Plans "Go directly to the source - a broker, where you can get competitive bids," says Bob Hunter, director of insurance services at the Consumer Federation of America.

Mexico Travel Site: Everything

Mexico Travel Tools T RAVEL T OOLS T RAVEL T OOLS Alvarado Antigua Castillo De Teayo Catemaco Cazones Cempoala Cerro Azul Chachalacas Chiapas Coatepec Coatzacoalcos Coatzintla Cordoba Cosamaloapan Costa Esmerelda El Tajin Fortin De Las Flores Gutirrez Zamora Huatusco Jalcomulco Martinez Minatitln Naolinco Nautla Oaxaca Orizaba Otatiln Pnuco Papantla Poza Rica Puebla Quiahuiztln San Andres Tuxtlas San Juan Evengelista San Lorenzo-Tenochtitlan Santiago Tuxtlas Sontecomapan State of Veracruz Tampico Tecolutla Tlacotalpan Tlapacoyan Tlaxcala Villahermosa Xico Navigate Veracruz Mexico City , 20 million strong and growing, is the largest City in the Americas. It is built upon the ruins of the most glorious City of the pre-Columbian Americas by the Aztecs who were the last of many ambitious civilizations who rose to power and glory beginning around 1200 BC with the Olmecs of Veracruz. At the beginning of another age, about 500 years ago, our featured Carnaval City Veracruz was again the cradle of the Mexico today when Hernn Corts landed on the coast near modern-day Veracruz on Good Friday 21 April 1519 with 11 ships, 550 men and 16 horses. The determined man of destiny ordered his ships burned. (history continued ) Daily News Update from Mexico & Latin America ANNUAL EVENTS || PASSPORT/VISA CUSTOMS || GUIDES TO MEXICO || State Tourismo || LINKS || GETTING THERE || - Bus Companies || PLACES TO STAY -- Veracruz State || -120 Cities || HEALTH & SAFETY || TOURS || MAPS || MONEY || FAST FACTS || LANGUAGE || WEATHER || MEDIA || - Top Headlines || TRADE || HISTORY Planning at Trip Mexico by frommers.com > Planning a Trip > Tips for Travelers with Special Needs For Families Highly recommended For Students no formal network of student discounts For Gay & Lesbian Public same-sex affection is rare Disabilities one giant obstacle For Seniors popular country for retirees, paperwork important For Women Alone safer traveling in Mexico than USA Mexico Travel Site: Everything you need to know for an enjoyable vacation in Mexico. Annual Events Calendar of Events by www.visitmexicopress.com Calendar of Mexican Fiestas and Holidays by vivasancarlos.com Holiday Planner by www.infopv.com Similar pages Passport/Visa Customs /Documents Traveling in Mexico requires proof of citizenship, which is easiest to provide by carrying a valid passport. If you do not have a passport, never fear. It is also possible to get a tourist visa (tarjeta de turista) with certified copy of your birth certificate (embossed seal do impress) and a photo ID at border crossings. The cost of a tourist visa is about $20 USD, and is included in the cost of your international plane or cruise ship ticket . Visas are typically valid for 180 days M ost people officially need a passport to pick up their tourist card, but for US and Canadian citizens all that's required is proof of citizenship (an original birth certificate or notarized copy, for instance, or naturalization papers), along with some form of photo ID (such as a driver's license). D on't lose the blue copy of your tourist card, which is given back to you after immigration inspection. You are legally required to carry it at all times, and if you have to show your papers, it's more important than your passport. Get extra visas if you'll be leaving and returning to Mexico during your trip. Planning your Flight & air travel rules by carnaval.com When taking chances on an expired ID your biggest concern is the airlines will not accept it. The Mexican rules do not say the ID must be current but that may not matter to your air carrier. Visas And Red Tape by roughguides for travelnow USA Restrictions of entering USA from Mexico by mexicoweb.com State Department Travel Information Sheet on Mexico US Consulates: Embassies and consular agents should be contacted for such emergencies as police arrest, lost passports or tourist cards, medical difficulties or accidents, or if you find that your car is unable to make the requisite return trip out of Mexico. http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html for Consular Information sheets and warnings http://travel.state.gov/tips_mexico.html Tips for Travelers to Mexico. Visa and Travel Advisories for Mexico by nationalgeographic.com Guides to Mexico OFFICIAL www.visitmexico.com Mexico's Tourism Promotion Board Mexico-travel.com / Ministry of Tourism of Mexico Select City: Acapulco Aguascalientes Ajijic Akumal Alamos Baha de Kino Bajamar Barra de Navidad Batopilas Boca del Rio Buceras Buenavista Cabo Pulmo Cabo San Lucas Campeche Cancun Catavia Cerocahui Chapala Chetumal Chichen Itza Chihuahua Chilpancingo Cholula Cihuatln Ciudad del Carmen Ciudad Delicias Ciudad Juarez Ciudad Madero Ciudad Mante Ciudad Obregon Ciudad Valles Ciudad Victoria Coatzacoalcos Cob Cocoyoc Colima Cozumel Creel Cuernavaca Culiacan Divisadero Dolores Hidalgo Durango El Fuerte Ensenada Garza Garcia Gomez Palacio Guadalajara Guanajuato Guaymas Guerrero Negro Hermosillo Huatulco Huatusco Isla de Navidad Isla Mujeres Ixtapa Ixtapan de la Sal Jalapa Jiutepec Juriquilla Kantenah La Huerta La Paz La Piedad Lagos de Moreno Lazaro Cardenas Len Loreto Los Barriles Los Mochis Manzanillo Maroma Matamoros Matehuala Mazatlan Merida Mexicali Mexico City Minatitlan Monclova Monterrey Morelia Mulege Municipio de Solidaridad Naucalpan Navojoa Nogales Nuevo Laredo Nuevo Vallarta Oaxaca Pachuca Palenque Paracho Patzcuaro Pie de la Cuesta Piedras Negras Playa del Carmen Poza Rica Progreso Puebla Puerto Angel Puerto Aventuras Puerto Escondido Puerto Morelos Puerto Nuevo Puerto Peasco Puerto Vallarta Queretaro Real del Catorce Real del Mar Reynosa Rincn de Guayabitos Rosarito Salina Cruz Saltillo San Blas San Carlos San Cristobal de las Casas San Felipe San Felipe del Agua San Ignacio San Jos del Cabo San Juan del Rio San Luis Potosi San Miguel de Allende San Quintin Santa Rosala Sn Pedro Garza Garca Tamazunchale Tampico Tapachula Taxco Tecate Tehuacan Tenacatita Tepic Tequisquiapan Tijuana Tlalnepantla Tlaquepaque Tlaxcala Todos Santos Toluca Torren Tultitln Tulum Tuxtla Gutierrez Uruapan Uxmal Valladolid Valle de Bravo Veracruz Villahermosa Xilitla Zacatecas Zapopan Zihuatanejo Zimapan OFFICIAL State Tourism Offices in Mexico Mexican Government Tourist Board -- main office in Mexico City (tel. 555/203-1103 ). USA: Mexico Hot Line (tel. 800/44-MEXICO Chicago (tel. 312/606-9252 ); Houston (tel. 713/772-2581, ext. 105, or 713/772-3819); Los Angeles (tel. 213/351-2069; fax 213/351-2074); Miami (tel. 305/718-4095 ); and New York (tel. 212/308-2110 ). The Mexican Embassy is at 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20005 (tel. 202/728-1750 ). Canada: 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 1931, Montreal, QUE, H3B 2C3 (tel. 514/871-1052 ); 2 Bloor St. W., Suite 1502, Toronto, ON, M4W 3E2 (tel. 416/925-0704 ); 999 W. Hastings, Suite 1110, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2W2 (tel. 604/669-2845 ). Embassy office: 1500-45 O'Connor St., Ottawa, ON, K1P 1A4 (tel. 613/233-8988; fax 613/235-9123). Guide to Mexico by Lonely Planet || Map || Home Excellent short history and good overview of the highspots. Lonely Planet sells 4 guidebooks to Mexico. www.mexconnect.com mailto:davidmcl@mexconnect.com Mexico travel tips by mpsnet.mx || Interest Index || Mexico City || Espanol Immigration, Customs, Taxes, Tips, Banking Services, Driving, Safety and Health. Huge very capable and worthwhile site. by mexico.netgate.net Organized by State HISTORY MAPS RECREATIONAL SITES ECOTOURISM MUSEUMS LOCAL FESTIVITIES BEACHES COLONIAL SITES ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES . Getting There By Air - Aeromxico and Mexicana are the largest Mexican airlines but there are many airlines offering special pricing. The web is empowering air travelers like never before to enable them to get the best deal with the least hassle. Visit our frequently updated web- guide to this fast growing area. Airports in Mexico BUS Companies in Mexico Mexico has one of the best bus transit systems in the world. nearly every location is served by a bus. Some Spanish will be required By Car - Temporary Import Permit Required As a NAFTA border country, one hopes the long standing hassle of this process would ease. All foreign registered car requires a Temporary Import permit. You can do this at the border but you need to have prepared in advance if your car has a lien on it.. Process takes a couple of hours and requires proof of ownership (notarized permit to take car to Mexico from lien-holder, if any), a bond issued to the Mexican Government for the market value of the car or a valid credit card imprint charged with a processing fee approximately valued at US $12. It is good are good for six months. ... Driving at night is not recommended (potholes, livestock, and the lack of lighting are the chief hazards)... Also be cautious of roadside bandits who may attempt to get you to stop only to rob you... English speaking Angeles Verdes (Green Angels 91-800-90392), assist tourists on the highways for free except for gas and spare parts... Unleaded gas is found throughout Mexico at all gas stations... Gas up when reaching one-quarter level in remote locations. Last Minute Deals From City: To: State or Region... City... This page requires Javascript. Getting Around There Rough Guides Getting Around in association with TravelNow Buses camiones rule! (Mexican word for the long distance buses to serve virutally every town in the nation) First-class vehicles have numbered, reserved seats, videos and air conditioning Trains Only recommended for from the border to Mexico City (where sleeper services represent great value), Mexico City to Oaxaca, and the amazing Copper Canyon Railway. Flights Aeromxico and Mexicana, which between them connect most places to Mexico City, usually several times a day. Aviacsa serves the Yucatn, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, Acapulco, Cancn, Tijuana and Monterrey. Aerolineas Internacionales and Aero California also cover most major destinations while Aeromar operates mainly in the north Ferries Baja California with a trio of ports on the Pacific mainland: Santa Rosala to Guaymas, and La Paz to Mazatln and Topolobampo (for Los Mochis). For detailed information on fares and schedules see http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/mexicoferryw.html Driving Recommends not taking your own car but renting for short periods. Mostly due to the targeting of tourists for shakedowns by underpaid traffic police. Drivers from the US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand will find that their licences are valid. Other reasons to avoid the hassle: Speed bumps can be huge, gas by government monopoly Pemex expensive & Theft of your vehicle is a significant concern. Hitching Not recommended particularly solo. If you do keep your baggage to hand in case you need to leave in a hurry (feigned carsickness is one way to get a driver to stop). Particularly avoid areas frequented by bandidos Local Transportation always plentiful and inexpensive, Banditry: A Warning Roads where there have been regular reports of problems, and where you should certainly try to avoid driving at night, include Hwy-15 (Los Mochis-Mazatln) and express Hwy-1 in Sinaloa, Hwy-5 (Mexico City-Acapulco) in Guerrero, Hwy-75 (Oaxaca-Tuxtepec), Hwy-57 (San Luis Potos-Matahuela), and near the border, in particular on Hwy-2 (Mexicali-Agua Prieta) and Hwy-40 (Matamoros-Monterrey). Places to Stay tripadvisor has links to a growing number of places to stay in hundreds of Mexican Cities and over a third have ratings by real people 120 Mexican Cities with on-line booking starsanddiamonds.com.mx has certification program with 5 stars as the highest rating Health & Safety Although Mexico is considered a third world country, its general concern about sanitation and cleanliness have improved enormously in the past decade. As is the case in most tropical countries, consider what your system is used to before you eat it. Purified water is always available during trip. Montezuma's revenge or turista is best avoided by not drinking the water including ice cubes (which are not always made with " agua purificada ") but there is no sure way to avoid the unfamiliar bacteria. Mexico has a relatively low crime rate but take precautions against theft. Nationally: Red Cross Medical emergency 15-20-55 Police emergency is 18-39-54; Fire department 14-2 0 -50; Travelers’ Health Information for Mexico & Central America by www.cdc.gov/travel . Cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, polio, rabies, tetanus, typhoid. Air pollution in Mexico City between December and May. USA http://travel.state.gov/medical.html State Department offers medical information for Americans traveling abroad and a list of air ambulance services Health and Vaccinations for Mexico by nationalgeographic.com Talk About It Mexico State Tourism Offices by mexonline.com Travelers Message Service "Before you leave home, give your family and friends the URL of this board.... http://www.weblane.com/experiencia/bb/ ...then if you need to get in touch with each other, just post messages on this board." Tours Frequently updated inclusive list from Publisher Ron Mader, Mexican Association of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism (AMTAVE) Phone: (25) 661-9121 Fax: (25) 662-7354 Email: 74174.2424@compuserve.com Cancun Tours Operators by mexicoweb.com Maps www.maps-of-mexico.com 4000 pages of Mexico maps Maps google.com/search=mexico+maps Mexico Map by lib.utexas.edu Won't fit on your screen or print. Mexico Map by Expedia Money S ince 1998 when we began check the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar, and the one used in this book, is around 10 pesos; at that rate, an item that costs 10 pesos would be equivalent to US$1. However the peso is very unstable so you cannot count on this being the rate. Check before you go Best Exchange Rates: Automated teller machines (ATMs) and credit cards continue to offers the best exchange rates. Traveler's checks experiencing declining relative exchange rate and reduced acceptance. U.S. cash is accepted by many merchants at exchange rates that vary widely. Banks usually give the best exchange rate. Credit cards are widely accepted in most cities and resort areas at exchange rate determined by your bank. ATMS ( Cirrus and PLUS systems) are widely available and allow you to not carry too much cash. Tipping: Luxury resort areas are equivalent to US levels- 15% and 20%. Elsewhere 10% is acceptable. $1 per day for your hotel maid or $1 per bag for the porter. Taxi drivers don't expect tips but be sure to negotiate the price in advance. A tip of U.S. coins, which cannot be exchanged into Mexican currency, is of no value to the service provider. Support your Tour guides (including this one) VAT: Mexico has a value-added tax of 15% (Impuesto de Valor Agregado, or IVA; pronounced "ee-bah") on most everything, including restaurant meals, bus tickets, and souvenirs. (Exceptions are Cancn, Cozumel, and Los Cabos, where the IVA is 10%; as ports of entry, they receive a break on taxes.) Hotels charge the usual 15% IVA, plus a locally administered bed tax of 2% (in most areas), for a total of 17%. You quoted hotel rate may not have included this fee Y OUR CREDIT CARD BANK: There is significant credit card fraud and your bank may not honor your charge unless you have told them in advance of your plans. Also they are more likely to cut you off following significant activity so take a back-up card. Many cards add a surcharge onto foreign transactions particularly Airline cards and American Express. It is ieasy to avoid this chage of 1 to 4% by checking in advance since it is simply a gouge as there is actually no extra cost to the bank card provider more on c urrency Conversion at tradeday.com Costs And Money in Mexico by travelnow.com Mexico is not as cheap as it once was Shopping in Mexico by nationalgeographic.com 800/424-7787 or www.mastercard.com . 800/843-7587 or www.visa.com Fast Facts Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz same as USA Weights & measures: metric (see the conversion table .) Telephone Mexico international access code is 52 . Select city codes: Mexico City is 05, Vera Cruz Area Code 28 , Cabo San Lucas 0684, Cancn 0988, Cozumel 0987, Puerto Vallarta 0322. Omit the 0 when calling from abroad. Long-distance calls are expensive, it is best to arrange to have a calling card access number in advance. You can also place reversed-charge calls by reaching an international operator, dial 09. Business Hours : Banks are open 9 AM–1:30 PM Monday–Friday, although some banks are now expanding hours. Stores often open between 9 AM–8 PM, but can close for siesta in midday. Holidays Banks and most businesses close on New Year's Day (1 January), Constitution Day (5 February), Birthday of Benito Juarz (21 March), Good Friday through Easter Monday (four days in March or April; date varies), Labor Day (1 May), Anniversary of Battle of Puebla (5 May), Independence Day (16 September), Columbus Day (12 October), All Saints' Day (1 November), All Souls' Day (2 November), Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 (20 November), and Christmas Day (25 December). Area: 1,972,000 sq. km (769,080 sq. mi) Capital city: Mexico City (pop 20 million) Population: 97,967,000 in 1995 (growth rate 2%) ;Literacy rate 88%. People: Approximately 70% mestizo (mixed European and Indian descent) 9% European and 20% indgena (Native Americans or Indians - including Nahua, Maya, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, Totonacs, and Tarascos or Purpecha) 8% of the population speak Indian languages. Also includes Arabic 400,000, Chinese 31,000 Language: Language: Language: Spanish Religion: 90% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant GDP: US$370 billion GDP per head: US$4000. Travel Seasons -- Mexico has two principal travel seasons. High season begins around December 20 and continues to Easter; in some places it begins as early as mid-November. Low season is from the day after Easter to mid-December; during low season, prices may drop 20% to 50%. In beach destinations popular with Mexican travelers, such as Veracruz and Acapulco , prices will revert to high season during July and August, the traditional national summer vacation period. Prices inland fluctuate little from high to low season, but may rise dramatically during the weeks of Easter and Christmas and at Carnaval time at the port Cities of Veracruz and Mazatlan. Language English <-> Espanol <-> Portuguese travlang.com/languages One of the web's great travel resources with spoken words for 65 languages. Time to brush up on your travel Espanol? Weather Mexico is often considered tropical but is rather temperate or spring like year-round. Dry winter (November through April) and rainy (May through October) season, although the rain is usual tolerable for travelers. In short, anytime of year is going to be relatively nice for travel. Find the Weather for any City, State or ZIP Code, or Airport Code or Country by Wunderground Satelite Photo of the Hemisphere Be your own weather predictor. Weather and Climate of Mexico by nationalgeographic.com Jan Mar May July Sept Nov Acapulco F) 88 72 88 72 90 77 91 77 90 77 90 75 Rainfall (inch) .5 .2 0 8 11 .6 Guadalajara (F) 73 45 82 48 88 57 79 59 79 59 77 50 Rainfall (inch) .5 .3 1 7 7 .5 La Paz (F) 73 55 79 55 91 63 97 73 95 73 84 63 Rainfall (inch) .3 0 0 1 1 .5 Mrida (F) 82 64 90 68 93 70 91 73 90 73 84 66 Rainfall (inch) 1 .5 3 5 7 1 Mexico City (F) 72 43 81 50 81 55 75 55 73 55 73 48 Rainfall (inch) .5 .5 3 6 5 .5 Monterrey (F) 68 48 79 55 88 68 93 72 93 72 73 54 Rainfall (inch) 1 1 2 3 4 1 Oaxaca (F) 82 46 90 54 90 59 82 59 81 59 82 50 Rainfall (inch) 2 1 5 8 11 2 San Cristbal (F) 68 41 72 45 72 48 72 50 70 50 68 45 Rainfall (inch) 2 2 7 7 14 3 Tijuana (F) 68 43 70 46 73 54 81 61 81 61 73 50 Rainfall (inch) 2 1 .2 0 .5 1 Veracruz (F) 77 64 79 70 86 77 88 75 88 77 82 70 Rainfall (inch) 1 1 4 9 12 2 Media & News Mexico City News || Novedades.com.mx/Frontpage thenews@ri.redint.com Daily newspaper; oldest English-language paper in Mexico El-universal.com.mx Mexico's oldest daily has an English section MediaINFO Link - Latin America Another wonderfully comprehensive directory by Ron Mader eco-journalist. Internet del Diario de Yucatn based in Merida La Jornada en Internet : Espanol Only Diario.com.mx : Espanol Only Today's Top Mexico & Latin American Headlines Trade Business wear is formal. Mexicans attach much importance to courtesy and the use of titles. Prior appointments are necessary and if in doubt about a correct title it is advisable to use licenciado in place of seor. English is widelyspoken in business circles although it is a big plus to be able to speakSpanish. AmCham.com.mx || amchammx@amcham.com.mx American Chamber of Commerce - Mexico Phone: (011-52)(5) 724-3830 MexicoBusiness.com/ || MAILBOX@MEXICOBUSINESS.COM Subscriptions are $45 in the United States and Mexico LATCO.org || info@latco.org Latin American Trade Organization of Oregon. "The Mexican Government continues to enact reforms, including the privatization of many economic areas, making the Mexican economy one of the most open economies world-wide." History T he Spaniards were well received in the Veracruz coastal towns by the Toltecs who resented oppressive Aztec domination and were willing to march with Cortes against the great Aztec capital built on a lake. Moctezuma II, the Aztec god king had been expecting a momentous occasion for his priests had long predicted the phoenix like god Quetzalcatl's to return from the east in the year of 1519. Corts wasted little time reducing the City to ashes taking his eager host Moctezuma hostage immediately after being invited to the palace. The war of conquest would last another 28 months but the destuction and supression of the Aztec and Mayan cililizations would continue for centuries. However, the greatest decimation would soon come to pass with epidemics which reduced the population from 25 miullion to one million by 1605. T he Spanish were conquistadores who left their women at home and went off on a quest for glory, gold and God. Consequently they often took native wives. Spanish-born who expected to be treated like nobility and the natives of New Spain who built the country contolled the country amidst growing resentment between themselves. The natives also separated themselves as criollos (born of Spanish parents in New Spain), metzitos (mixed Eoropean, African and Indian blood) and Indians or Africans. In 1808 the Frenchman Napoleon Bonaparte occupied most of Spain weakening Spanish control and allowing the rivalry between New Spain groups to intensify. On 16 September 1810 Miguel Hidalgo a Criollo parish priest issued his now-famous call to rebellion, the Grito de Dolores. In 1821 Spain agreed to Mexican independence however the new governments were ineffective and unstable. I n 1845, the US congress voted to annex Texas and the Mexican-American War followed. Under the resulting Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), Mexico ceded modern Texas, California, Utah, Colorado and most of New Mexico and Arizona to the USA. In 1864 Napoleon's nephew, the foolishly arrogarnt Napoleon III attempted to colonize Mexico, but the reign of his ruler, the Austrian archduke Maximilian of Hapsburg was shortlived ending with his hanging. T he Party of the Institutionalized Revolution (the PRI) took power in 1934 following the 10 year Mexican Revolution which claimed the lives of nearly 1 out 8 citizens. The PRI has dominated the history of Mexico for most of the 20th century but their control is eroding fast. In 1988, Carlos Salinas de Gortari was elected to the single 6 year term as president despite the widely accepted belief that the current Mayor Cardenas of Mexico City won the election. Salinas was very successful in bringing about economic reform and is the person most responsible for the signing of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement on 1 January 1994. T he prior President, Ernesto Zedillo was 43 when he was elected following the assassination of Salinas' chosen successor. Zedillo has been a genuine reformer allowing opposition parties to win many key elections. His term has been beset be economic crisis as well as a revolution in the southern state of Chiapas by the Zapatistas who demand social justice for Mexico's oppressed Indians. The current President Vicente Fox seeks to completely redefine the relationship of Mexico and its powerful Northern neighbors by opening the borders as wide as possible and convincing his country men to think bigger. A talented and determined historic figure, Fox will have till 2006 to remake a difficult and corrupt bureaucracy staffed by enemies of reform. olmecs are mainly known for f the striking stone figures left behind by the mother culture of Meso America which preceded the Mayans and Aztecs . Olmec civilization was in ascendance between 1300 and 600 B.C. Their greatest architectural treasure has be found at La Venta in the state of Tabasco History of Mexico by nationalgeographic.com Lots of Links: Mexico dmoz Mexico : Travel and Tourism : Arts and Entertainment Business and Economy Education Maps and Views News and Media Society and Culture Transportation Weather Volunteer run DMOZ can be your best way to get a site indexed by google and other search engines Travel and Tourism Lodging Message Boards National Parks Travel Guides Travel Services Birdwatching Camping and RVs Roads and Highways Show Caves Travelogues Wineries Mexican States : Links indicated as of Jan-2004 Note only Baja, Quintana Roo and Jalisco have more than 400. Aguascalientes (7) Baja California (370) Baja California Sur (698) Campeche (10) Chiapas (49) Chihuahua (36) Coahuila (22) Colima (59) Durango (4) Federal District (64) Guanajuato (154) Guerrero (329) Hidalgo (2) Jalisco (405) Mexico State (13) Michoacan (21) Morelos (20) Nayarit (110) Nuevo Leon (79) Oaxaca (166) Puebla (7) Queretaro (13) Quintana Roo (709) San Luis Potosi (19) Sinaloa (76) Sonora (83) Tabasco (1) Tamaulipas (64) Tlaxcala (2) Veracruz see out special section Yucatan (69) Zacatecas (7) Northern Veracruz Costa Esmeralda || CASTILLO DE TEAYO || CAZONES || Cerro Azul || COATZINTLA || Gutirrez Zamora || Martnez || Nautla || Pnuco || P apantla || El TAJN || Poza Rica || Tampico || Tecolutla || Tlapacoyan || Tuxpan Xalapa >> Mexico City Central Antigua || Cempoala || Chachalacas || Coatepec || Jalcomulco || Naolinco || Quiahuiztln || Xico Orizaba- Great Mountains Cordoba || Fortin de las Flores || Huatusco || Orizaba >> Puebla || Tlaxcala Los Tuxtlas Catemaco || Santiago Tuxtlas || San Andres Tuxtlas || Sontecomapan >> Chiapas Papaloapan Plain Alvarado || Cosamaloapan || Otatiln || Tlacotalpan >> Oaxaca Southern Veracruz Coatzacoalcos || Minatitln || San Juan Evengelista || San Lorenzo-Tenochtitlan || Villahermosa Y ucatan Peninsula Cancn || MERIDA || Cozumel || Isla Mujeres || Playa del Carmen Where to Go in Mexico by nationalgeographic.com To Top of Page To Carnaval Home Page (restores frame menu) Questions or comments? email the webmaster@ carnaval.com Last updated Oct-04 Web www.carnaval.com To: From: Depart: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 12:00am 1:00am 2:00am 3:00am 4:00am 5:00am 6:00am 7:00am 8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm Morning Noon Evening Anytime Stops: 0 1 2 3 Return: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 12:00am 1:00am 2:00am 3:00am 4:00am 5:00am 6:00am 7:00am 8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm Morning Noon Evening Anytime 0 1 2 3 4 5 Adults (15-64) 0 1 2 3 4 Children (2-14) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Seniors (65+)

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