The Mexican peso is linked to the U.S. dollar and is fairly stable. For this reason, some items will be a bargain for U.S. visitors and others may not.

ATMs, found at all banks, frequently offer the best rates and are the most convenient way to obtain Mexican pesos. A fee is charged. U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Acapulco, although change may be returned in pesos (at a rate favorable to the merchant, of course).

Money-exchange offices (casas de cambio) and banks offer better exchange rates than hotels. Banks are open Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm except on legal holidays. Some branches also open Saturday 10 am-2 pm. The money-exchange houses—and there are many along the Costera—are usually open daily until 8 pm and are less bureaucratic than banks.

Taxes in Mexico tend to be hidden and therefore mostly go unnoticed, although they do add considerably to prices. The largest tax is the 15% federal value-added tax. Levied on almost all transactions, it is not usually included in the total price quoted. Acapulco charges hotel guests an additional 2% room tax. Mexico does not offer a tax refund to international visitors.

Plan to arrive in Acapulco with some small-denomination bills for tipping. M$20 per bag or its equivalent is sufficient for an airport porter or hotel bellhop. On arrival, a hotel doorperson will unload luggage and hope for a tip before handing the bags over to the bell desk. M$10 is sufficient. Taxi drivers do not expect anything above the fare unless they perform an out-of-the-ordinary service for you. In restaurants, a 15% tip to waitstaff is generous. Service charges may be added to the bill in lieu of a tip, so check before paying. The hotel cleaning staff will be pleasantly surprised if a tip is left at the rate of M$10-$20 a night. The hotel concierge may not expect a tip for an ordinary service but will not be insulted if a small gratuity is proffered.

Winter in Acapulco is divine—it's warm and dry most of the time. May-August can be very hot, humid and rainy. Expect daily afternoon showers June-September. Year-round temperatures range 81-90 F/27-33 C during the day and 70-81 F/21-27 C at night. Be aware that hurricane season lasts June-November. Although hurricanes are infrequent, they do occur.

Elegantly casual describes the dress code for Acapulco. Beachwear, such as shorts and T-shirts, is fine for the beach and pool, of course, and clothes that are cool, comfortable and not overly revealing are suitable for daytime exploring. Evenings, though, require clothes that are a bit dressier yet comfortable enough for an outdoor dinner. (Shorts and jeans are not acceptable.) Women usually wear stylish skirts or slacks and carry along a wrap for those places where the air-conditioning can be intense. Men usually wear a nice shirt and pants. Business attire is more relaxed than in nonresort areas. Because of the hot climate, men seldom wear ties or suits.

All hotels with business centers offer plug-in Internet access, and luxury hotels offer wireless connections in addition, at least in the lobby, with plug-in connections in the rooms for a fee. But Internet cafes are becoming more and more popular all over Mexico, and Acapulco is no exception, although you won't find wireless capabilities there. The airport offers wireless facilities.

La Balanza
This neighborhood place charges M$10 an hour and is near the Zocalo. Open daily 9 am-10 pm. Calle Cuauhtemoc 23B, Acapulco. Phone 482-4210.

Hostal Juvenil K3

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

This youth hostel also offers Internet access. Daily 8 am-11 pm. M$20 an hour. Costera Miguel Aleman 116 (across the street from the Fiesta Americana hotel), Acapulco. Phone 481-3111.

Internet Connexion Digital

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

You won't have any trouble finding an available computer in this conveniently located Internet cafe. Daily 10 am-9 pm. M$15 per hour. On the first floor of the Plaza Bahia shopping mall next to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Acapulco.

Wal-Mart

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

This megastore has an EZ Internet shop inside. Open 24 hours. M$40 an hour. Costera Miguel Aleman 500 (local 17), Acapulco. Phone 481-2008.

The Mexican Postal Service generally is reliable, but service can be very slow. Few businesses make use of it. Letters can be posted in hotels. Stamps are either available from the hotel concierge or sold in the gift shop. Hotels also can arrange for shipments via Federal Express or DHL.

The News, an English-language daily published in Mexico City, has limited circulation but can be found on all Aeromexico and Mexicana flights and in shops at the Mexico City airport. Newspapers and magazines from the U.S. are sold in many hotel newsstands and in Sanborns, a chain of stores and restaurants with an extensive selection of publications in English.

To place long distance calls within Mexico, dial 01, followed by the area code and number. Acapulco has a three-digit area code, 744, and seven-digit local telephone numbers. To call the U.S. and Canada, dial 001 followed by the area code and number. To reach an English-speaking international operator, dial 090. Canadians can also use Canada Direct, an automated service that puts them in contact with a telephone operator in Canada. The Canada Direct numbers for Mexico are 01-800-123-0200 and 01-800-021-1994.

Public telephones require phone cards, which can be purchased at newsstands, the airport, hotel shops or any of the minisupermarkets found along the Costera. Phone cards may be used to place international calls from public telephones at the lowest available rate. Hotels usually warn guests that the cost of placing an international call can be expensive. Use a phone card or ask your party to call you at the hotel. Cell phone coverage is good throughout Acapulco but may be intermittent on the highway through the mountains to Taxco. Check with your carrier before traveling to Mexico to see if you need a special code for use in Mexico.

In Acapulco, a car may be more trouble than it's worth unless you plan an out-of-town excursion. Parking spaces are often difficult to find, and so are addresses. And to top it all off, beyond the Costera, the city was built on a mountainside where streets can be difficult to navigate. Even those who have cars often prefer to get around by taxi. Your next-best bet is the bus.

Alvarez International Airport (ACA) is 15 mi/25 km southeast of the city. It is small and aging, a monument to Acapulco's heyday in the 1970s, but simple enough to navigate. An international terminal has been recently added with bigger baggage claim and immigration areas. Phone 466-9434.

Connecting Transportation

Best way:

Transportes Terrestres provides shuttle service into the city. (Its contract to work the airport route is supposedly exclusive, and sometimes you'll hear that taxis aren't allowed to work the airport at all, but they are allowed to make runs from town.) A trip with Transportes Terrestres costs about M$100. For your return to the airport, make reservations at least a day in advance (phone 462-1095 or 462-1172). The ride from the airport into town is scenic, so grab a window seat.

Other options:

Taxi rides from the airport with someone other than Transportes Terrestres start at M$350, depending on your destination. Rental vehicles are also available at the airport.

At least 10 bus operators use the Central Bus Station, which is close to the tourist zone on Avenida Cuauhtemoc. Most offer three classes of service at different price levels. Information in English is usually, but not always, available.

Estrella Blanca

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

This first-class bus company serves destinations in most of Mexico with the luxurious Costa and Futura lines, with spacious, reclining airline seats and video movies. Calle Ejido 47, Acapulco. Phone 469-2080. http://www.estrellablanca.com.mx.

Estrella de Oro

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

Acapulco's second first-class bus line serves Mexico City, Taxco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and destinations in between. Hourly departures. The station is at Cuauhtemoc 158, Acapulco. Phone 485-8759.

Rental cars are available in Acapulco from well-known international companies. The cars can be picked up at the airport or delivered to a hotel. Foreign driver's licenses are accepted by rental agencies. Traffic moves on the right in Mexico.

An excellent but expensive toll road (Highway 95-D, also known as La Ruta del Sol) connects Acapulco to Mexico City. The total cost is about M$800. In spite of the high fees, the toll road has reduced driving time from the capital to about four hours (speed limits are not enforced), making Acapulco a weekend getaway for condominium owners.

From Acapulco, the coastal Highway 200 leads southeast to Puerto Escondido and on to the border with Guatemala. Going west on Highway 200 takes drivers to Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and, eventually, to the border with the U.S.

Buses run along the Costera and can be boarded only at designated bus stops. The fare is M$4.50 or M$5.50 if the bus is air conditioned. Rickety buses serve Pie de la Cuesta from the Zocalo and depart for Puerto Marques from the Navy base at the foot of the Costera (across from the Hyatt Regency). Although buses and passenger trucks serve the rest of the city, boarding these qualifies as a minor adventure. Knowing some Spanish helps considerably when traveling by bus.

Taxi fares are generally reasonable. Although cabs are not equipped with meters, prices are listed on a board by most hotel entrances. Hotel cabs are relatively comfortable sedans and usually charge a M$40 minimum fare. You'll pay half that for a ride in one of the compact Volkswagens and similar small taxis that can be hailed easily from the street. (Be sure to agree on the price before boarding.) Vehicles with English-speaking drivers can be hired for about M$150 per hour or M$1,000 per day for local or out-of-town tours. Always negotiate before getting in.

Convention and Visitors Bureau

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

The Convention Division of this office offers professional advice and support for group meetings, conventions and other trade events. For information on other business services, contact the international relations manager. Monday-Friday 9 am-6 pm. Costera Miguel Aleman 3111, Suites 204-205, Acapulco. Phone 484-8555.

State Tourism Secretariat

Add to eGuidebook  |  Add to Favorites  |  Find on Map

The state of Guerrero's tourism office also distributes travel information about the rest of the state, including Taxco, Ixtapa and Costa Chica. The consumer complaint agency for travelers is also there. Monday-Friday 9 am-9 pm, Saturday 9 am-2 pm. Ave. Costera Miguel Aleman No. 4455 (Convention Center), Acapulco. Phone 435-0130.