Spanish Courses Abroad with

Phone us on 0845 130 4775 (UK) or on 1-888-270-3949 (from US & Canada)

Spanish Course in Mexico

Learn Spanish in Mexico

Visa Requirements

A visa is not required for a tourist stay of a maximum 180 days if you are holding a tourist card issued by an airline, which is only applicable to holders of British passports.

A visa is not required if you hold a tourist card with a consular stamp issued by an embassy or consulate in, or nearest to, the country of residence. A tourist card is valid for up to 90 days after the date of issue. Immigration officers will decide on the maximum period of stay. Visitors must hold documents required for the next destination and a return, onward, ticket. Also you must hold sufficient funds.

Extra Information
Non-compliance with the entry regulations will result in fines for carrier, and deportation of passenger to country of origin, at the carriers' expense. Minors up to and including 17 years need a notarised letter of consent that has no set validity period but is good for a single entry only.

Mexican Embassy UK
42 Hertford St., London W1Y 7TF, England.
Tel: 44 (0)20 7499 85 86,
E-mail: mexuk@easynet.co.uk

Money Matters
Currency: Peso

Carrying money
It's best to bring US-dollar denomination travellers' cheques and some US dollars in cash. You can exchange money in banks or in casas de cambio. Note that bank exchange facilities are often only open between 9 or 10 am and noon or 1 pm. Exchange rates vary a little from bank to bank. Airlines, car rental places and more expensive hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards.

Climate

Mexico's climate varies according to the country's topography. It's hot and humid along the coastal plains on both sides of the country, but inland, at higher elevations (such as in Guadalajara or Mexico City), the climate is much drier and more temperate. The hot, wet season is May to October. The southern coastal regions can be hot and extremely humid between July and September. October to May is fairly dry and still comfortably warm. December to February are generally the coolest months, but north winds can make inland northern Mexico decidedly chilly, with temperatures sometimes approaching freezing.

Holidays and Holydays

Culture

Today, Mexico is covered with murals and littered with galleries of contemporary and historic art, which are a highlight of the country for many visitors. Mexican creativity is also expressed through the country's vibrant folk-art tradition. Pre-Hispanic art consists mainly of stone carvings, frescoes and murals, and ceramics.

Spanish is Mexico's predominant language, but Mexican Spanish differs from Castilian Spanish, the literary and official language of Spain, in two respects: in Mexico, the Castilian lisp has more or less disappeared, and numerous Indian words have been adopted. Around 50 Indian languages are spoken by about 5 million people in Mexico; 15% of these Indians do not speak Spanish.

Food

Mexican cuisine is centred on three national staples: tortillas, fried beans and chilli peppers. Tortillas are thin round patties of pressed corn or wheat-flour dough cooked on griddles. Beans (frijoles) are eaten boiled, fried or refried, in soups, on tortillas or with just about anything. Apart from an astonishing array of freshly squeezed fruit juices (jugos), which are readily available from street stalls, Mexico is also famous for its alcoholic beverages - mezcal and tequila in particular. Pulque is a mildly alcoholic drink derived directly from the sap of the maguey.

Tipping in restaurants in resort areas is equivalent to US levels - somewhere between 15% and 20%. Outside these areas, a tip of 10% is sufficient at mid-range or quality restaurants; in general, staff at smaller, cheaper places do not expect a tip.

Travel Safety Advice

Insurance

However you travel, it's worth taking out insurance. Standard insurance should at least cover theft and loss of luggage, and cancellation of, and delays in, your travel arrangements. Ticket loss is also covered by travel insurance, but make sure you keep a separate record of your ticket details. Contact us if you haven't already taken out a comprehensive insurance policy.

Health

Before you travel you should always check with the Foreign Office as to the official view on the safety of the country you intend to visit.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH
Consular Division 020 7270 1500
General: 020 7238 4586
Travel Advice: 020 7238 4503/4
Visa enquiries: 020 7238 3838
Website Address: www.fco.gov.uk/travel

MASTA
For information on health issues and vaccinations we advise you to contact MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad)
Travellers' Health Line
Telephone: 0906 8 224100
Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT
Website Address: www.masta.org

What Shall I Take?

Apart from any special personal needs you may have and things you might require for a particular kind of trip i.e. camping gear, hiking boots, surfboard etc., you may like to consider the following:

· An under-the-clothes money belt or shoulder wallet
· Sunscreen lotion
· A small Spanish dictionary and/or phrase book.
· Photocopies of your important documents kept separate from the originals.
· A medical kit.
· A towel, or wash cloth
· A padlock, or two, to secure yours luggage to racks.
· An adapter plug for electrical appliances. 110V, 60Hz.
· An Alarm Clock
· Sunglasses

Books, Films and Music

Lonely Planet World Food: Mexico by Bruce Gedes, Paloma Garcia
Mexican Spanish: a Rough Guide Phrasebook by Lexus
On Mexican Time by Tony Cohan
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Amarte Es Un Placer by Luis Miguel
The Labyrinth of Solitude by Octavio Paz, et al
The Double Flame : Love and Eroticism by Octavio Paz

Useful Websites

Kite-Boarding Mexico - search for Kite boarding Schools & Accommodation in Mexico.
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features (The weather worldwide)
www.worldtimezone.com/time24 (Timezones across the globe)
www.masta.org/ (Health advice)
www.xe.net/ucc/full (Currency converter)
www.visa.com/pd/atm/main (ATM locater)
www.holidayfestival.com (Festivals, bank holidays and religious days worldwide)

Learn Spanish in Mexico