Directions to Gran Caribe Resort & Spa from Airport:

Please seek advise from your local consulate regarding visa requirements and safety warnings 

Planning your trip 

The Mexico Tourism Board (tel. 800/44-MEXICO in the U.S., or 01-800/006-8839 or 078 from within Mexico; www.visitmexico.com) is an excellent source for general information; you can request brochures and get answers to the most common questions from the exceptionally well-trained, knowledgeable staff. You can also call the Cancún location at tel. 998/884-8073.

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Money

The currency in Mexico is the peso. Paper currency comes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 pesos. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 pesos, and 20 and 50 centavos (100 centavos = 1 peso). The current exchange rate for the U.S. dollar, and the one used in this guide, is 12 pesos; at that rate, an item that costs 12 pesos would be equivalent to $1.

Many establishments that deal with tourists, especially in coastal resort areas, quote prices in U.S. dollars. To avoid confusion, they use the abbreviations DLLS. for dollars and M.N. (moneda nacional, or national currency) or M.X.P. for Mexican Pesos. Note: Establishments that quote their prices primarily in U.S. dollars are listed in this guide with U.S. dollars.

Getting change is a problem. Small-denomination bills and coins are hard to come by, so start collecting them early in your trip. Shopkeepers and taxi drivers everywhere always seem to be out of change and small bills; that's doubly true in markets. There seems to be an expectation that the customer should provide appropriate change, rather than the other way around.

Don't forget to have enough pesos to carry you over a weekend or Mexican holiday, when banks are closed. Because small bills and coins in pesos are hard to come by in Mexico, the $1 bill is very useful for tipping. Note: A tip of U.S. coins, which cannot be exchanged into Mexican currency, is of no value to the service provider.

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Visas

For detailed information regarding visas to Mexico, visit the National Immigration Institute at http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/usa.

American and Canadian tourists are not required to have a visa or a tourist card for stays of 72 hours or less within the border zone (20-30km/12-19 miles from the U.S. border). For travel to Mexico beyond the border zone, all travelers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S., among others, can get their visas upon arrival. Many other countries require a preapproved visa, although as of May 1, 2010, non-U.S. citizens with valid U.S. visas may enter Mexico with the U.S. visa, and do not have to obtain a Mexican visa. For the latest requirements, please check www.inm.gob.mx/index.php. Once in Mexico, all travelers must be in possession of a tourist card, also called Tourist Migration Form. This document is provided by airlines or by immigration authorities at the country's points of entry. Be careful not to lose this card, as you will be required to surrender it upon departure and you will be fined if you lose it.

Your tourist card is stamped on arrival. If traveling by bus or car, ensure that you obtain such a card at the immigration module located at the border and have it stamped by immigration authorities at the border. If you do not receive a stamped tourist card at the border, ensure that, when you arrive at your destination within Mexico, you immediately go to the closest National Institute of Immigration office, present your bus ticket, and request a tourist card. Travelers who fail to have their tourist card stamped may be fined, detained, or expelled from the country.

An immigration official will determine the number of days you can remain in Mexico. Do not assume that you will be granted the full 180 days. An extension of your stay can be requested for a fee at the National Institute of Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior or its local offices.

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Tips on Dining 

Meals

desayuno -- Breakfast.

comida -- Main meal of the day, taken in the afternoon.

cena -- Supper.

Courses

botana -- A small serving of food that accompanies a beer or drink, usually served free of charge.

entrada -- Appetizer.

sopa -- Soup course. (Not necessarily a soup -- it can be a dish of rice or noodles, called sopa seca [dry soup].)

ensalada -- Salad.

plato fuerte -- Main course.

postre -- Dessert.

comida corrida -- Inexpensive daily special usually consisting of three courses.

menú del día -- Same as comida corrida.

Degree of Doneness

término un cuarto -- Rare, literally means one-fourth.

término medio -- Medium rare, one-half.

término tres cuartos -- Medium, three-fourths.

bien cocido -- Well done.

Note: Keep in mind, when ordering a steak, that medio does not mean "medium."

Miscellaneous Restaurant Terminology

cucharra -- Spoon.

cuchillo -- Knife.

la cuenta -- The bill.

plato -- Plate.

plato hondo -- Bowl.

propina -- Tip.

servilleta -- Napkin.

tenedor -- Fork.

vaso -- Glass.

IVA -- Value-added tax.

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