Travel Tips

México’s Entry Requirements:

To enter México you need to obtain (provided by your airline, if flying) a Tourist Card (FMT). To get your Tourist Card you will need to prove citizenship, a passport is best for this purpose. Other forms of accepted proof of citizenship include, certified birth certificate, voter’s registration card, naturalization papers or a notarized affidavit of citizenship. A photo ID is is a must, a passport can serve as proof of citizenship and photo ID. Airlines will furnish the Tourist Card. Be sure to save the copy that is returned to you, upon entry, as you must present this copy when leaving México.

Public Phone Charges:

Beware !!!!, of the phones plastered all over some towns, usually on the front of businesses. They are marked “To Call Long Distance to the USA & Canada, Simply Dial 0″ The writing is in black and USA is in blue letters with Canada in red letters. They also have pictures of credit cards on the signs. The phones are put there by a private phone company and are very, very expensive. You will probably faint when you see your phone bill or credit card bill. It is best to purchase Pre-Paid cards or dial 01 800 111-SAVE from any phone in México. You can use this number to make credit card calls or collect calls.

Guadalajara is on Central Time and observes Daylight Savings Time.

Important Telephone Numbers

Tourist Assistance – Toll Free from anywhere in México 01 (800) 903-9200

When dialing the local number from the U.S. or Canada: Dial 011 52 33 before the number shown.

From within México: Dial 01 33 before the number shown.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

• Police: 080 (Emergencies, traffic, fire etc.)
• Traffic Police: 3823-3220
• Municipal Police: 3668-0800
• Fire Dept: 3619-5155
• Ambulance: 3616-9616
• Federal Highway Police: 3629-5085
• Consumer Affairs: 3615-7383

Medical Services

• Private Ambulance: 3615-0058 (English Spoken)
• Hospital del Carmen: Emergency Room – ICU
• Tel: 3813-0025 Emergencies: 3813-1224 (24 hrs)
• Dr. Alfonso Villalobos: (Speaks English) – 3826-9955
• Hospital San Javier: 3669-0222 (U.S. Insurance)
• Red Cross: 3613-1550
• English speaking Dentist: Hector Haro 3813-0440

Pharmacies

• Farmacia Guadalajara: 3615-2189 (24 Hrs)
• Farmacia CMQ: (24 hrs – Delivery) 3641-3313
• Farmacia Cristina (Ajijic): 3776-1501
• (English Spoken)
• Farmacia Benavides: 3614-7676

Consulates

• American: Progreso # 175 Tel. 3825-2700
• Canadian: Hotel Fiesta Americana L-30
• Tel. 3616-5642
• Holland: Av. Vallarta # 5500 Tel. 3673-2211
• Germany: Av. Corona # 202 Tel. 3613-9623
• France: Av. López Mateos # 484 Tel. 3616-5516
• Spain: Av. Vallarta # 2185 Tel. 3630-0466

Credit Cards/Travelers Checks

• American Express: 01 (800) 001-3600
• Banamex: (MasterCard – Visa) 01 (800) 366-3100
• Carnet: (MasterCard) 01 (800) 366-3100
• Diners Club: 01 (800) 500-3000
• B of A – Travelers Checks: 01 (800) 849-4479

Banks

• Banamex: 3640-0428
• Banco Bital: 3826-9878
• Bancomer: 3669-4745
• Bancrecer: 3627-0084
• CitiBank: 3121-8686

Misc Useful Phone Numbers:

When dialing local phone numbers you must first dial 011 52 33 from the U.S. and Canada.

• Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles….. (213) 351-6800
• Mexican Consulate in San Francisco… (415) 392-2897
• Mexican Consulate in San Diego……. (619) 231-0337
• Mexican Consulate in New York…….. (212) 689-0456
• Mexican Consulate in Vancouver…….. (604) 684-3547
• Jalisco State Tourist Information Office…… 3668-1600