Acapulco, Mexico & Attractions
Acapulco is located on the Mexican Pacific Coast on the beautiful Saint Lucia Bay, surrounded by the Southern “Sierra Madre” Mountains. Acapulco has 624,814 inhabitants. The economy of Acapulco is based on Tourism, followed by Commerce and Manufacturing. Acapulco is one of the most exciting cities in the world; it is famous for its explosive nightlife, postcard beaches, unlimited water sports, first-class hotels, gourmet restaurants and the breathtaking physical beauty of Acapulco Bay! Acapulco's warm water bay and pristine beaches have been irresistible to humans since the days of the Aztec Empire. The Spanish immediately recognized the strategic advantages of the perfectly formed bay and used it as their base to explore across the Pacific. On fact, Acapulco was the only port in the New World authorized to receive Spanish galleons from the Philippines and China. The city of Acapulco retains its claim to fame with its daring cliff divers, glamorous hotels and glitzy discos. For more information about Mexico, Acapulco & attractions please visit www.visitmexico.com
Banks & Currency Exchange
1 MEX$ = 100 centavo
Mexico's banks offer a network of ATM machines that can be used to withdraw local currency. Although some banks offer cash and traveler's check exchange, they are not the ideal place to undertake this kind of business. Visitors to Mexico are encouraged to exchange funds for Mexican Pesos at the International Airport or at a foreign currency exchange outlet where they will receive the prevailing rate. In addition, US Dollars are widely accepted in Mexico. International Credit Cards are accepted throughout the country and traveler cheques can be changed at hotels, resorts and the airport.
Currency: Bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos. Coins are issued in denominations of five, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and one, two, five, 10 and 20 pesos (although the latter is no longer accepted in many places). The U.S. dollar is accepted at all money exchange bureaus across the country; it’s also possible to exchange such currencies as the euro and the Canadian dollar.
At the time of posting (October 2009), the values of selected currencies were:
| 1 U.S. Dollar (USD) | $13.11MEX |
| 1 Canadian Dollar (CAD) | $12.70MEX |
| 1 EURO (EUR) | $19.46MEX |
| 1 United Kingdom Pound (GBP) | $20.89MEX |
| 1 Australian Dollar (AUD) | $11.88MEX |
| 1 China Yuan Renminibi (CNY) | $1.92MEX |
| 10 Japan Yen (JPY) | $0.14MEX |
For up-to-date information, please refer to the Universal Currency Converter at: http://www.xe.com/ucc/.
Weather
Acapulco weather can be resumed as hot and humid. It is said that that from October to June it is Blue Skies guaranteed in Acapulco. The Acapulco climate is subtropical and it has a rainy summer season like most Mexican beach destinations. However temperatures almost never go down, the Acapulco average high year round is 86 F (28 C°), and 72 F (21 C°) in the early mornings. Whether you find yourself in winter or summertime you can always bring the same type of clothes to Acapulco. Shorts during the day and pants at night are the only difference. For up-to-date weather information, please refer to: www.theweathernetwork.com.
Tipping
Restaurants: Before you tip in restaurants, bars, and even snack bars in large hotels, check your tab and see if a service charge has already been added to the total. Service charges are quite common. While you may want to tip an additional amount, it’s best to know if the tip was already included in the bill.
Taxi drivers: Tips are not expected, but certainly appreciated. If the driver assists you with your luggage, tip 10 percent of the fare.
Hotel guest room attendants (maids): You should tip the peso equivalent of between $3.00USD and $5.00USD a day. While many travelers like to leave the tip when they check out, it’s best to leave a tip every day, as the rooms are not serviced by the same person every day. Be sure to leave the tip on the pillow or on the bed – making it obvious that it’s intended as a tip.
Travel and Health Insurance
It is strongly recommended that participants take out insurance to cover loss incurred in case of cancellation, medical expenses and damage to or loss of personal effects. The organizers of the 8th International Symposium on Pediatric Pain will not be responsible for any medical costs incurred by participants.
The organizing committee will not accept liability for personal injuries or for loss or damage to property belonging to Congress participants, either during or as a result of the Congress or during any tours.
Passport, Visa and Border-Crossing Information
If you are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay or Venezuela, you don’t need a visa to enter Mexico, although you must present a valid passport and fill out an immigration form for tourists and business trips, which can be obtained in travel agencies, airlines or at the point where you enter Mexico. The immigration officer at your point of entry into Mexico can also request that you demonstrate that you have sufficient funds and a return ticket to your country. If you are a citizen of any other country, you need to go to a Mexican consulate to request a visa. Please click here if this applies to you.
Letter of Invitation for Visa Policy
An official Letter of Invitation to obtain a Visa and authorization to attend the 8th International Symposium on Pediatric Pain will be issued ONLY after the Registration Form and full payment have been received.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted at the Symposium facilities.
Page last updated: October 13, 2009