You should also be aware that the smaller or more remote the location, the more likely it is that the locals will not have a good grasp of the official exchange rate. As a result, if your travels take you to small villages, it would be very smart to bring along a good supply of pesos for your visit.

Most banks will change foreign currency and traveler's checks during certain hours of the day -- usually before 1:30pm. In addition, it shouldn't be hard to find "Casa de Cambios" (literally "house of changers") that change foreign currency into pesos all day long and into the night. You need to keep an eye out for a service charge and be sure to count your change as there are some unscrupulous money changers out there. We find it interesting that quite often, the money changers will give a slightly better than bank rate during banking hours but a less attractive rate when the banks are closed.

No matter which airport you arrive at when you enter Mexico, you will likely find money changers there as well. Typically, the airport locations give a very poor rate. If you feel you can't wait for the nearest bank or ATM machine, change only a small amount at the airport to avoid taking a big exchange rate hit.

Likewise, the exchange rate at most hotels will not be very attractive.

Depending on the transaction fee your bank may impose, the best way to get pesos in Mexico is to make a withdrawal at an ATM machine. Virtually every bank and the larger supermarkets like Chedraui and San Francisco have them. Directions are in English and the exchange rate official. Some machines will even have an option for withdrawing U.S. currency. There is usually no fee from the Mexican bank providing the service and most U.S. banks will charge from $1.50 to $3.00 per transaction. One way of reducing the impact of the transaction fee is to withdraw as much money as possible whenever you access a machine. If you select the "other amount" option when asked how much you want to withdraw, most ATMs in Mexico will allow you to withdraw at least $3000 pesos and some will go as high as $5000.

Another option if you run low on cash during your stay and you have an American Express card: most local AMEX offices in Mexico will take a personal check as payment for traveler's checks for card holders.

In most hotels, car rental offices and other businesses in tourist areas, credit cards are widely accepted and generally offer a good rate of exchange. However, be aware that many businesses in Mexico will tack on an additional fee for credit card use. We find 4%-6% to be typical but we've seen fees as high as 10% added on to purchases.

Click here to visit the official U.S. Embassy in Mexico City web site including a complete listing of all consular offices and Services for U.S. Citizens in Mexico.

Many countries have consulate representatives in Cancun. Below is a list of some of those and the telephone numbers to dial long distance from other parts of Mexico:

Canada 01 (998) 883-3360
France 01 (998) 884-6078
Italy 01 (998) 883-2184
Spain 01 (998) 884-1895
U.S. 01 (998) 883-0272.

In Cozumel, the official contact is U.S. Consulate Representative Anne R. Harris. She can be reached by phone at 872-4574 or Fax at 872-2339. E-mail: usca@cozumel.net

Other embassies in Mexico City include:

British Embassy in Mexico City: 01 (555) 242-8500.

Canadian Embassy in Mexico City: 01 (555) 724-7900

Click here for a more complete list of other consulates in Mexico.

You will likely see other public pay phones that will accept credit cards for international calls. Some of these offer a decent rate but others are high priced scams so some care should be exercised before inserting your credit card into them.

To direct dial to the U.S. from Mexico, dial 001 then the area code and number (without an additional 1 before the area code.)

To dial long distance within Mexico dial 01 then the 3-digit area code, usually starting with the number 9 (except for Mexico City) and then the local number.

Most phone companies like AT&T and MCI will have a domestic toll free number you can access and allow you to charge your calls to your regular carrier from back home.

For AT&T calling card service, call 01-800-288-2872 or 001-800-462-4240 from either a private phone or a Ladatel public phone. When prompted, enter the telephone number you're calling as follows:

To call the US or Canada, dial the area code and 7 digit number.

To call other countries, dial 01 + country code + city code + number

After the tone, enter your AT&T Calling Card* (not the international number) or credit card** number. If you're calling collect, hold for the AT&T Operator.

To make an MCI Calling Card call from Mexico, dial 01 800-021-8000 or 001-800-674-7000 and follow the voice instructions

Many other carriers offer a similar calling card service. You should check with your service regarding dialing procedure before you travel.

Likewise, some cell phones from the U.S. will work in some parts of Mexico and you should check with your service regarding dialing procedure before you travel. One word of caution: Unless you've used it before in Mexico, don't count of your cell phone working there even if your service tells you that it will. I've followed my company's directions on using my cell phone in Mexico and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

If you look, you won't have any problem finding internet access in all but the smallest villages in Mexico. For a partial list of internet cafes all over Mexico, click here for the Mexico Internet Cafe Guide.