Fast Facts

Abbreviations -- Dept. (apartments); Apdo. Postal (post office box); Av. (Avenida; avenue); c. (calle; street); Calz. (Calzada; boulevard). C on faucets stands for caliente (hot), F for fría (cold). PB (planta baja) means ground floor; most buildings count the next floor up as the first floor (1).

American Express -- There are American Express Travel offices in the following destinations: Los Cabos (tel. 624/142-1306; Plaza La Misión at Mijares and Paseo Finisterra, San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico); La Paz at Viajes Perla (tel. 612/122-8666; 5 de Mayo 170, B.C.S., Mexico); Ensenada at Damiana Viajes (tel. 646/174-0170; Calle 2a no. 300-4 at corner of Obregón, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico); and Mexicali at KL Internacional (tel. 686/554-1200; Justo Sierra and Zaragoza Sur 2089, Mexicali, B.C., Mexico).

Area Codes -- Tijuana, 664; Rosarito Beach, 661; Ensenada, 646; Mulegé and Santa Rosalía, 615; Loreto, 613; La Paz, 612; Todos Santos, 612; Los Cabos and East Cape, 624.

Business Hours -- In general, businesses in larger cities are open between 9am and 7pm; in smaller towns many close between 2 and 4pm. Most close on Sunday. In resort areas it is common to find stores open at least in the mornings on Sunday, and for shops to stay open late, often until 8pm or even 10pm. Bank hours are Monday through Friday from 9 or 9:30am to anywhere between 3 and 7pm. Increasingly, banks open on Saturday for at least a half-day.

Drugstores -- Farmacias will sell you just about anything you want, with a prescription or without one. Most drugstores are open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 8pm. Generally, the major resort areas have one or two 24-hour pharmacies. If you are in a smaller town and need to buy medicine after normal hours, ask for the name of the nearest 24-hour pharmacy; they are becoming more common.

Electricity -- The electrical system in Mexico is 110 volts AC (60 cycles), as in the United States and Canada. In reality, however, it may cycle more slowly and overheat your appliances. To compensate, select a medium or low speed on hair dryers and bring a surge protector for your laptop. Many older hotels still have electrical outlets for flat two-prong plugs; you'll need an adapter for any plug with an enlarged end on one prong or with three prongs. Many better hotels have three-hole outlets (trifásicos in Spanish) and only a fraction of Baja's most budget hotels may require you to bring your own adapter.

Embassies & Consulates -- They provide valuable lists of doctors and lawyers, as well as regulations concerning marriages in Mexico. Contrary to popular belief, your embassy cannot get you out of a Mexican jail, provide postal or banking services, or fly you home when you run out of money. Consular officers can provide you with advice on most matters and problems, however. Unless otherwise noted, all embassies listed here are in Mexico City. Try the Embassy of Australia (tel. 55/1101-2200); the Embassy of Canada (tel. 624/142-4333 consulate office in San José del Cabo; 664/684-0461 in Tijuana; www.canada.org.mx); the Embassy of New Zealand (tel. 55/5283-9460; kiwimexico@compuserve.com.mx); the Embassy of the United Kingdom (tel. 555/242-8500; www.embajadabritanica.com.mx); and the Embassy of Ireland (tel. 55/5520-5803). The Embassy of the United States in Mexico City is at Paseo de la Reforma 305, next to the Hotel María Isabel Sheraton at the corner of Río Danubio (tel. 55/5080-2000 or 55/5511-9980). Visit www.usembassy-mexico.gov for a list of U.S. consulates in Mexico. There is a U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana, at Tapachula 96 (tel. 664/622-7400), and a consular agency in Cabo San Lucas (tel. 624/143-3566).

Emergencies -- In case of a tourist emergency, dial 065 from any phone within Mexico. No coin is needed. For police emergency numbers, call 066. You should also contact the closest consular office in case of an emergency.

Holidays -- Independence Day (September 15 and 16), Christmas (December 25), Easter, and Three Kings Day (January 6) are the biggest holidays celebrated throughout all of Baja, and mainland Mexico aficionados may be surprised to find it devoid of the pomp and circumstance surrounding some of these holidays on the mainland. The only time of year that may outdo the mainland is Spring Break in Los Cabos, San Felipe, Ensenada, and Rosarito Beach.

Hospitals -- Every embassy and consulate is prepared to recommend local doctors and dentists with good training and modern equipment; some of the doctors and dentists speak English. See the list of embassies and consulates under "Embassies & Consulates," above. Hotels with a large foreign clientele can often recommend English-speaking doctors. Almost all first-class hotels in Mexico have a doctor on site or on call.

Hot Lines -- The tourist assistance hot line is 065.

Internet Access -- In large cities and resort areas, a growing number of top hotels offer business centers with Internet access. You'll also find cybercafes in destinations that are popular with expats and business travelers. Even in remote spots, Internet access is common, although that's less true in Baja than on the mainland.

Language -- English is widely spoken throughout Baja, and most of all in the border towns and Los Cabos.

Laundromats -- You will find Laundromats, or lavanderías, speckling the downtown area of most towns in Baja. If you'd like to leave something to be dry-cleaned, be sure to specify that the item needs the tintorería so it doesn't get washed in water and ironed, like everything else.

Liquor & Drug Laws -- To be blunt, don't use or possess illegal drugs in Mexico. Mexican officials have no tolerance for drug users, and jail is their solution, with little hope of getting out until the sentence (usually a long one) is completed or heavy fines or bribes are paid. Remember, in Mexico the legal system assumes you are guilty until proven innocent. Important note: It isn't uncommon to be befriended by a fellow user, only to be turned in by that "friend," who's collected a bounty. Bring prescription drugs in their original containers. If possible, pack a copy of the original prescription with the generic name of the drug.

U.S. Customs officials are also on the lookout for diet drugs sold in Mexico but illegal in the U.S., possession of which could land you in a U.S. jail. If you buy antibiotics over the counter (which you can do in Mexico) and still have some left, you probably won't be hassled by U.S. Customs.

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18; however, asking for ID or denying purchase is extremely rare. Grocery stores sell everything from beer and wine to national and imported liquors. You can buy liquor 24 hours a day, but during major elections, dry laws are enacted for as much as 72 hours in advance of the election -- and they apply to tourists as well as local residents, so plan ahead if needed. Mexico does not have laws that apply to transporting liquor in cars, but authorities are beginning to target drunk drivers more aggressively. It's a good idea to drive defensively and never after you've been drinking.

Although it is not legal to drink in the street, many tourists do so. Use your judgment -- if you are getting drunk, you shouldn't drink in the street, because you are more likely to get stopped by the police. As is the custom in Mexico, it is not so much what you do, but how you do it.

Lost & Found -- To replace a lost passport, contact your embassy or nearest consular agent. You must establish a record of your citizenship and fill out a form requesting another FMT (tourist permit) if it, too, was lost. If your documents are stolen, get a police report from local authorities; having one might lessen the hassle of exiting the country without all your identification. Without the FMT, you can't leave the country, and without an affidavit affirming your passport request and citizenship, you may have problems at U.S. Customs when you get home. It's important to clear everything up before trying to leave. Mexican Customs may, however, accept the police report of the loss of the FMT and allow you to leave.

If you lose your wallet anywhere outside of Mexico City, before panicking, retrace your steps -- you'll be surprised at how honest people are, and you'll likely find someone trying to find you to return your wallet.

Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa cardholders who lose their card traveling in Mexico and wish to cancel may call Mexico's toll-free number, tel. 001-800-847-2911; American Express customers may call collect at tel. 336/393-1111; and MasterCard customers may call the toll-free number in Mexico, tel. 001-800-307-7309, to report a missing or stolen card.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail -- The Mexican postal service is not the most reliable, especially when sending something important, so it's usually best to send mail through DHL, FedEx, or the UPS Store. A postcard through the Correo (Mexico mail) costs about 10¢, or $2 through the UPS store. Packages vary depending on the destination, weight, and service you select.

Newspapers & Magazines -- In southern Baja, a number of local English-language papers are available at newsstands in all the places tourists frequent, including Los Cabos Guide (www.loscabosguide.com), Los Cabos News, Destino Los Cabos, and the irreverent, entertaining Gringo Gazette (www.gringogazette.com), which has Southern Baja and Northern Baja editions. The Baja Real Estate Guide (www.tregintl.com) is the ultimate literature for the traveler who's fallen in love with Southern Baja and wants to own a piece of it. There's also a magazine of the same name in northern Baja.

Passports -- Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing now takes 8 to 10 weeks but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). And keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee.

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-yr. passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 (www.ukpa.gov.uk).

For Residents of the United States: Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. Department of State website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Police -- The emergency telephone number throughout Mexico is tel. 066

Restrooms -- Public toilets are not common in Mexico, but an increasing number are available, especially at fast-food restaurants and Pemex gas stations. These facilities and restaurant and club restrooms commonly have attendants who expect a small tip (about 50¢). Although some bathrooms allow the disposal of paper in the basin, most of Baja's plumbing is not up to the task of processing toilet paper, so if you see a basket or trash can inside the stall, it is meant for the disposal of used paper. A good source is www.thebathroomdiaries.com, which surveys the globe's restrooms. At press time, only Tijuana had reviews in Baja, but check back as more may be forthcoming.

Smoking -- Most of Mexico is a free-for-all for smokers. Smoking is permitted and generally accepted in most public places, including restaurants, bars, and hotel lobbies. Nonsmoking areas and hotel rooms for nonsmokers are becoming more common in higher-end establishments, but they tend to be the exception rather than the rule.

Taxes -- There's a 15% IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado, or value-added tax, pronounced "ee-bah") on goods and services in most of Mexico, and it's supposed to be included in the posted price. This tax is 10% in Los Cabos; as a port of entry, the towns receive a break on taxes. There is a 5% tax on food and drinks consumed in restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 10%; this tax applies whether you drink alcohol or not. Tequila is subject to a 25% tax. Hotels charge the usual 15% IVA, plus a locally administered bed tax of 2% (in many but not all areas), for a total of 17%. In Los Cabos, hotels charge the 10% IVA plus 2% room tax. Prices quoted by hotels and restaurants will not necessarily include IVA. You may find that upper-end properties quote prices without IVA included, while lower-priced hotels include IVA. Always ask to see a printed price sheet, and always ask if the tax is included. Mexico imposes an exit tax of around $18, which usually is applied to your ticket at purchase, on every foreigner leaving the country.

Time Zone -- The state of Baja California Norte -- from Tijuana to Guerrero Negro -- is on Pacific standard time, and Baja California Sur -- from south of Guerrero Negro to Los Cabos -- is on mountain standard time. Mexico observes daylight savings time. The rest of Mexico observes central standard time.

Tipping -- Most service employees in Mexico count on tips to make up the majority of their income -- especially bellboys and waiters. Bellboys receive the equivalent of $1 per bag; waiters generally receive 15% to 20% of the bill, depending on the level of service. In Mexico, it is not customary to tip taxi drivers, unless they are hired by the hour or provide touring or other special services.

Water -- Most hotels have decanters or bottles of purified water in the rooms; the better hotels have either purified water from regular taps, or special taps marked agua purificada. Some hotels will charge for in-room bottled water. Virtually any hotel, restaurant, or bar will bring you purified water if you specifically request it, but you'll usually be charged for it. In Los Cabos, it's generally safe to drink resort tap water, but bottled is always safer. Bottled purified water is sold at drugstores and grocery stores (popular brands include Santa María, Ciel, and Bonafont). Evian and other imported brands are also widely available.