Fast Facts

American Express -- The local office is at Morelos 660, at the corner of Abasolo (tel. 01-800/504-0400 and 01-800/333-3211 in Mexico, or 322/223-2955). It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm. It offers excellent, efficient travel agency services in addition to money exchange and traveler's checks.

Area Code -- The telephone area code is 322.

Climate -- It's warm all year, with tropical temperatures; however, evenings and early mornings in the winter can turn quite cool. Summers are sunny, with an increase in humidity during the rainy season, between May and October. Rains come almost every afternoon in June and July, and are usually brief but strong -- just enough to cool off the air for evening activities. In September, heat and humidity are least comfortable and rains heaviest.

Consumer Assistance -- Tourists with complaints about taxis, stores, abusive timeshare presentations, or other matters should contact PROFECO, the consumer protection office (tel. 322/225-0000; fax 322/225-0018). The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3:30pm and may not have fluent English-speaking staff.

Currency Exchange -- Banks are found throughout downtown and in the other prime shopping areas. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, with shorter hours on Saturday. ATMs are common throughout Vallarta, including the central plaza downtown. They are becoming the most favorable way to exchange currency, with bank rates plus 24-hour convenience. Casas de cambio (money exchange houses), located throughout town, offer longer hours than the banks with only slightly lower exchange rates.

Drugstores -- CMQ Farmacia, Basilio Badillo 365 (tel. 22/222-1330), is open 24 hours and makes free deliveries to hotels between 11am and 10pm with a minimum purchase of $20 (£10). Farmacias Guadalajara, Emiliano Zapata 232 (tel. 322/224-1811), is also open 24 hours.

Embassies & Consulates -- The U.S. Consular Agency office (tel. 322/222-0069; fax 322/223-0074; 24 hr. a day for emergencies) is located in Nuevo Vallarta, in the Paradise Plaza, Local L-7, on the second floor. It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. The Canadian Consulate (tel. 322/293-0099 or -0098; 24-hr. emergency line 01-800/706-2900 in Mexico) is located in Plaza Las Glorias, 1951 Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio, Edificio Obelisco, Loc. 108 (you'll see the Canadian flag hanging from the balcony). It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm.

Emergencies -- Police emergency, tel. 060; local police, tel. 322/290-0513 or -0512; intensive care ambulance, tel. 322/225-0386 (Note: English-speaking assistance is not always available at this number); Cruz Roja (Red Cross), tel. 322/222-1533; Global Life Ambulance Service (provides both ground and air ambulance service), tel. 322/226-1010, ext. 304.

Hospitals -- The following offer U.S.-standards service and are available 24 hours: Ameri-Med Urgent Care, Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio at Plaza Neptuno, Loc. D-1, Marina Vallarta (tel. 322/221-0023; fax 322/221-0026; www.amerimed-hospitals.com); San Javier Marina Hospital, Av. Francisco Medina Ascencio 2760, Zona Hotelera (tel. 322/226-1010), and Cornerstone Hospital, Av. los Tules 136 (behind Plaza Caracol; tel. 322/224-9400).

Internet Access -- Puerto Vallarta is probably Mexico's most wired destination. Café.com (tel. 322/222-0092), Olas Altas 250, at the corner of Basilio Badillo, charges $2 (£1) for 30 minutes. It offers complete computer services, a full bar, and food service. It's open daily from 8am to 2am. Some hotels have lobby e-mail kiosks, but they're more expensive than the Net cafes.

Newspapers & Magazines -- Vallarta Today, a daily English-language newspaper (tel. 322/225-3323 or 224-2829), is a good source for local information and upcoming events. The bilingual quarterly city magazine Vallarta Lifestyles (tel. 322/221-0106) is also very popular. Both are for sale at area newsstands and hotel gift shops. The weekly English-language P.V. Tribune (tel. 322/223-0585) is distributed free throughout town and offers an objective local viewpoint.

Post Office -- The correo is at Colombia Street, behind Hidalgo park, and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

Safety -- Puerto Vallarta enjoys a very low crime rate. Public transportation is safe to use, and Tourist Police (dressed in white safari uniforms with white hats) are available to answer questions, give directions, and offer assistance. Most encounters with the police are linked to using or purchasing drugs -- so don't. Note: The tourist police conduct random personal searches for drugs. Although there is some question about their right to do this, the best course of action if they want to frisk you is to comply -- objecting will likely result in a free tour of the local jail. However, you are within your rights to request the name of the officer. Report any unusual incidents to the local consular office.