For
reservations only
call us at:
1 888 247-8081
Monday - Friday 9AM - 6PM (CST)
Saturday:
10AM - 2PM (CST) |
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Located throughout Puerto Vallarta,
ATM's are linked to the Cirrus and PLUS systems, offer
service in English and Spanish, and dispense pesos at
the current exchange rate.
Credit cards are widely accepted
at businesses and hotels in Puerto Vallarta. Visa and
Mastercard are the cards of choice but American Express
is also widely accepted. There is almost always a 6%
charge using American Express cards and often 2 to 3%
on Visa and Master Card.
Sometimes using credit cards is
beneficial. Purchases will be converted into dollars
at an exchange rate more favorable than what you will
likely earn by changing dollars into pesos at a hotel.
Also, credit card charges are often converted into dollars
several days after the purchase is made. This can result
in a purchase being converted to dollars at a rate higher
than what would have been paid the day the transaction
was made.
For the current exchange rate (reference
only) use the following link:
XE.com Personal Currency
Assistant |
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Most shopping malls are
open from 9 AM to 8 PM
Normally business hours are:
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM - 8:00
PM, usually with a two hour break from 2:00 PM - 4:00
PM.
Some public offices work from 9:00
AM to 5:00 PM without breaks and close after that.
México, like most American
countries has a more relaxed view of working schedules,
some businesses, such as Banks and Supermarkets are
very strict, but shops and others can have working schedules
that vary quite a bit from the norm, opening earlier,
closing later. |
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Upon arrival at the International
Puerto Vallarta airport you are asked to push a button
that will determined if you are searched or not, if
you get a green light you go and if you get a red light
you are searched, this system is totally random, please
check at the Mexican consulate in your city for necessary
documents to come to Mexico. |
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Mexico operates on the same 110-volt
- 60Hz current as the USA, the plug is of the two flat
prong type, same as the US but without the third rounded
earth prong.
If you are arriving with three
prong plug applications, we recommend you bring a three
to two prong adapter just in case.
In case you forget it you'll be
able to find these adapters at hardware stores or SAMS
in Puerto Vallarta. |
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Mexico's official language is
Spanish, in Puerto Vallarta you'll find that a higher
proportion of people can speak or understand Engish.
Hotels, restaurants and services in general have staff
that handle English in a more or less fluent manner.
Try to learn some Spanish and use
it whenever possible, this will be appreciated and nobody
will laugh at you, so relax. |
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There are a few regular publications
in English in Puerto Vallarta. PV Tribune is one, Vallarta
Today another one. You'll normally find them in the
hotel lobbies.
There is also an online "newspaper"
in English: Vallarta
Today Online |
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| Puerto
Vallarta demographic data : |
Puerto Vallarta is home to 350,000
residents and attracts more than 2 million visitors
annually. |
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- January 1st - New Year
- February 5th - Anniversary of the Constitution
- March 21st - Benito Juárez Birthday
- May 1st - Labour day
- September 16th - Mexico's Independence Day
- November 20th - Day of the Mexican Revolution
- December 1st (each 6 years) - Elect President is
empowered.
- December 25th - Christmas.
- Federal and Local Law can determine holidays due
to local elections: in Puerto Vallarta November 12th.
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| Sales
Tax - Departure tax : |
There is a 15% tax applied to
all purchases, restaurant bills, store purchases, hotel
stays and excursions.
Additionally there is a 2% tax
on your hotel stay, this tax is gathered for promotion
of the tourist destination.
All guests departing by air must
pay $23 USD departure tax. Sometimes it is paid at the
airport upon departure, other times, it is included
on airline tickets issued outside of Mexico (inquire
upon booking). The tax is charged for all visitors over
the age of two. |
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In 1992, the Mexican government
privatized its telephone industry, creating a privately-held
corporation known as TELMEX and a major effort to modernize
the country's telephone system is now underway. In 1997
Mexico deregulated its long distance and international
telephone service, and this development has boosted
overall service leves and has lowered tolls.
Nevertheless, telephone calls (both
local and international) are considerably more expensive
than in USA and other countries. A sizeable tax is added
to all international calls and most hotels add a service
charge for placing long distance calls. Ask the hotel
operator about these charges before placing a call.
Money saving tips:
- Limit long distance calls
- Bill the call to your international phone calling
card
- When possible use public telephones for long distance
(the ones clearly marked TELMEX)
- Purchase a "debit card" for local calls
within Mexico. These cards are accepted at all "LADATEL"
public phones found in most airports. Cards can be
purchased at airport shops and allow you to make calls
without fumbling for change. Rates to call the USA
using a LADATEL card run about $3/minute.
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| Puerto
Vallarta Time Zone : |
Puerto
Vallarta is Central Standard Time year round. Use this
application to find out the time in Mexico: |
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| Water
in Puerto Vallarta : |
Do drink the water! Purified
water is standard in all hotels and restaurants. In
addition Puerto Vallarta's water authority (SEAPAL)
has received special recognition certifying the cleanliness
of the local water supply for five consecutive years.
If in doubt you can buy bottled
mineral water in almost any store. |
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1
centimeter |
= |
0.3937 inches |
(Degrees
Cº + 17.8) x 1.8 |
= |
Degrees F° |
(Degrees
F° -32) x 0.5555 |
= |
Degrees Cº |
1
foot |
= |
0.3048 meter |
1
gallon |
= |
3.7854 liters |
1
gram |
= |
0.0353 ounces |
1
hectare |
= |
2.471 Acres |
1
inch |
= |
2.54 centimeters |
1
kilogram |
= |
2.2046 pounds |
1
kilometer |
= |
0.6214 miles |
1
liter |
= |
0.2612 gallons |
1
meter |
= |
3.2808 feet |
1
meter |
= |
39.3696 inches |
1
mile |
= |
1.6093 kilometers |
1
ounce |
= |
28.35 grams |
1
pound |
= |
0.4536 kilograms |
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Mid-December to February:
During the daytime the climate is very temperate and
you can wear light clothes. Warm clothes at night, during
the local winter, temperatures start going down after
6 or 7PM until 9AM aprox. when the sun comes up again.
March to June:
Light clothes, there is normally a bit of wind and skirts
are not recommendable, specially short skirts and of
light materials.
July - Mid-October:
The rainy season begins, bring rain clothes along and/or
umbrellas, etc. The weather is in no way cold in these
months, quite the contrary, temperatures up to around
32 - 34 ºC (90 - 93ºF) on some days, specially
in August and September.
Mid-October - beginning
of December: The climate is temperate, no rain,
very little breeze and quiet, light summer clothes are
recommended and nighttime, you can also use long sleeve
blouses or shirts when going out to a restaurant or
bar at night. |
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Desayuno - Breakfast: 7-10am