Mexico
Business wear is usually formal for meetings with suit and tie expected. English is widely spoken in business circles although it is preferable for the visitor to be able to speak Spanish. Letters written in Spanish should be replied to in Spanish. Business cards are used extensively. Come with a large supply! Mexicans make extensive use of professional titles (doctor, profesor, licenciado, ingeniero). It is courteous to address them by their titles. There is respect for older and more senior members of a group. It is customary to shake hands with all upon arrival and departure.
Many business transactions are conducted over a meal, including alcoholic beverages. It is polite to accept a drink with your host. The "no smoking" culture is not common in Mexico. Business meetings in Mexico will often take longer than they would in the States. Etiquette includes small talk before getting into business. Participation in social activities is very important to succeed in the Mexican business world. Yes does not always mean yes in Mexico as social etiquette makes it difficult to say no. Do not be overly aggressive while negotiating. It is considered rude. In conversation, Mexicans emphasize tactful and indirect phrasing. The concept of time is flexible in Mexico. Guests to social events (except in the case of cities in the North) can arrive an hour late, however punctuality is observed for most government appointments and social functions. Patience is the key to doing business in Mexico.
Although the presence of businesswomen is increasing, business in Mexico is male oriented. It is customary to send a small gift or greeting card at Christmas to key business contacts. . Office hours vary considerably but are generally usually 0900-1400 and 1500-1800 Monday to Friday.
Crime in Mexico continues at high levels, and it is often violent, especially in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, and the state of Sinaloa. Other metropolitan areas have lower, but still serious, levels of crime. Crime related to drug cartels are rising concerns, particularly in northern Mexico. Low apprehension and conviction rates of criminals contribute to the high crime rate.
The most common crime affecting visitors is the theft of passports, credit cards and personal documents. Among the estimated 250,000 British visitors annually, about 140 report stolen passports. Be particularly alert in tourist areas (especially on public transport and when dealing with real or purported policemen)
Exercise caution when withdrawing money from cashpoints or exchanging money at Bureaux de Change. If an ATM must be used, it should be accessed only during the business day at large protected facilities (preferably inside commercial establishments, rather than at glass-enclosed, highly visible ATMs on streets). Travelers and local residents are sometimes accosted on the street and forced to withdraw money from their accounts using their ATM cards.
Kidnapping, including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates. So-called "express" kidnappings, an attempt to get quick cash in exchange for the release of an individual, have occurred in almost all the large cities in Mexico and appear to target not only the wealthy, but also middle-class people.
Always leave valuables and irreplaceable items in a safe place, or do not bring them. Make use of hotel safes when available, avoid wearing obviously expensive jewelry or designer clothing, and carry only the cash or credit cards that will be needed on each outing.
Be aware of surroundings at all times, even when in areas generally considered safe. Women traveling alone are especially vulnerable and should exercise caution, particularly at night. Victims, who are almost always unaccompanied, have been raped, robbed of personal property, or abducted and then held while their credit cards were used at various businesses and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).
Armed street crime is a serious problem in all of the major cities. Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals. Some establishments may contaminate or drug drinks to gain control over the patron.
A number of US citizens have been arrested for passing on counterfeit currency they had earlier received in change. If you receive what you believe to be a counterfeit bank note, bring it to the attention of Mexican law enforcement.
Criminal assaults occur on highways throughout Mexico; travelers should exercise extreme caution at all times, avoid traveling at night, and may wish to use toll (“cuota”) roads rather than the less secure “free” (“libre”) roads whenever possible. In addition, U.S. citizens should not hitchhike with, or accept rides from or offer rides to, strangers anywhere in Mexico. Tourists should not hike alone in backcountry areas, nor walk alone on lightly-frequented beaches, ruins or trails.
All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances. Although there have been several reports of bus hijackings and robberies on toll roads, buses on toll roads have a markedly lower rate of incidents than buses (second and third class) that travel the less secure "free" highways. The Embassy advises caution when traveling by bus from Acapulco toward Ixtapa or Huatulco. Although the police have made some progress in bringing this problem under control, armed robberies of entire busloads of passengers still occur.
In some instances, travelers have become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by Mexican law enforcement and other officials. Mexican authorities have cooperated in investigating such cases, but one must have the officer's name, badge number, and patrol car number to pursue a complaint effectively. Note this information if you ever have a problem with police or other officials.
Be wary of persons representing themselves as police officers or other officials. When in doubt, ask for identification.
Extortionists sometimes call prospective victims on the telephone, often posing as police officers, and demand payments in return for the release of an arrested family member, or to forestall a kidnapping. Prison inmates using smuggled cellular phones often place these calls. Persons receiving such calls should be extremely skeptical since most such demands or threats are baseless; contact your embassy or consulate for assistance.
The enormous growth of tourism in Mexico is reflected in the wide range of hotels from the modern, elegant and expensive to the clean and modest.
Five-star hotels, however, offer the best security and in central Mexico City, these include the Presidente Inter-Continental, the Camino Real, the Fiesta Americana, the Four Seasons, the Westin Galleria, the Maria Isabel Sheraton and the Nikko. Outside the city, the best choices include the Hotel Royal, the Raddison or the Raddison Plaza. In the Guadelajara, the Camino Real and the Fiesta Americana are good choices.
Telephone IDD service is available and the country code is 52. The outgoing international code is 98. Long-distance calls are very expensive due to heavy tax levies on international calls. Major hotels have fax facilities and international telex facilities are available at a number of hotels in Mexico City and in Acapulco, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Mérida, Monterrey, Puebla, Tampico and Veracruz.
Electricity is 110 volts AC, 60Hz. US-style 2-pin (flat) plugs are usual.
110 volts AC, 60Hz. US two-pin (flat) plugs are usual.
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Self-service (fast food) is available but table-service is usual. Bars have table- and/or counter-service. There are laws relating to minors and licensing on civic holidays. Every region of Mexico has its own dishes. International cuisine is available at most hotels in the larger cities, and at most restaurants. Imported spirits are expensive; local spirits probably give better value for money. The best buys are rum and gin. European aperitifs are produced in Mexico and are of excellent quality; and, of course, there is Mexico is a producer of good beer; both the dark beers and the light beers
are worth sampling. All the big supermarkets sell spirits, beer and wine. National specialties:
• Turkey mole, a sauce containing a score of ingredients, including several sorts of chilli, tomatoes, peanuts, chocolate, almonds, onions and garlic.
• Guacamole incorporates avocado pears, red peppers, onions and tomatoes.
• Tortillas (pancakes made with maize).
• Enchiladas and tacos (maize pancakes served with pork, chicken, vegetables or cheese and chilli). • There is a wide variety of exotic fruits such as papayas, mangoes, guavas, zapotes (brown fruit resembling an avocado), pineapples and tunas (juicy prickly pears, fruit of the cactus). National drinks:
• Tequila (made from maguey, a variety of cactus).
• Hidalgo, Domecq and Derrasola are good Mexican white wines.
• Los Reyes and Calafia are excellent red wines.
• Mexico’s coffee liqueur, kahlúa, is world-famous.
Legal drinking age: 18 years. Tipping:
Service charges are rarely added to hotel, restaurant or bar bills and many of the staff depend on tips for their livelihood. 15 per cent is expected and 20 per cent if the service has been very good. Airport porterage is charged at the equivalent of US$1 per bag.Nightlife
The Mexican nightlife is very vibrant and exciting and features a large variety of top-name entertainers, international shows, jazz groups, rock groups, traditional Mexican music and dancing, Spanish flamenco dancers and gypsy violinists. With a range of settings from panoramic restaurants to intimate bars, Mexico City offers excellent music and assorted cuisine, with some of the best bars and restaurants located in hotels. The main nightspots are on Avenida Insurgentes, the longest avenue in the capital. For a more cosy atmosphere with nice coffee shops and restaurants, visit the Condesa district. Acapulco is known as 'the city that never sleeps' with bars and discos lining the streets. Worth seeing is the impressive light show, with accompanying sound show at the archaeological site of Teotihuacán. The history and mythology of this ancient civilization are recreated through a gorgeous display of colored lights, poetic dialog and music. The season runs from October to May.
