Please find below some impotant information you need to know before travelling to Monterrey, Mexico.

Time Zone
GMT-6

Language
Spanish is the official language in Mexico.
The official conference language is English and no translation/interpretation services will be offered.

Emergency
In emergency situations, you can contact the local police, ambulance service, fire department and other emergency services by calling 911.

Medical services
Should you need to see a doctor or a dentist, we recommend contacting your hotel’s reception desk who will direct you to the medical professionals assigned to the hotel. If immediate medical attention is required, call the emergency services at 911. Emergency medical services (including transportation by ambulance) are not free and you will be billed for any services rendered.

Health and immunizations
The following vaccinations are recommended for travelers to Mexico:

• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies

We also recommend you check this with your local embassy as requirements may change.

Telephones international dialing codes
Mexico: +52

Electricity
In Mexico the standard voltage is 127 V and the frequency is 60 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in Mexico, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 110 – 127 V. In Mexico the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. We recommend that you purchase an adaptor for your electrical equipment prior to your arrival.

Water
We do not recommend drinking the tap water in Monterrey, Mexico.

Weather
The average Temperature for May is 20 – 32 Celsius. You can expect rain around 4 days a month.

Temperature
Most of the time the temperature is given in degrees Celsius.
Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply Celsius by 1.8 and add 32 to convert to Fahrenheit.

Distance
Distances in Mexico are given in kilometers.
1 mile = 1.62 kilometers

Currency
The currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN). In some tourist areas American Dollars (USD) are also accepted. However, it is always more cost-efficient to pay with pesos.

ATMs & Credit cards

ATMs
ATMs are common in Mexico. You can use global ATM locators for Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, and Visa to find your preferred ATMs in Mexico.
You are better off using ATMs owned by the large banks: Banamex, Banco Santander (part-owned by Bank of America), Banorte, and HSBC. Smaller vendors may charge you liberally for your transaction.

Credit cards
Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are the most commonly accepted credit cards in Mexico. You should not have a problem using any of these major cards, especially in larger cities or tourist destinations. It is always a good idea to carry some cash on you as well, but do not carry around more than you plan to spend on any given day.

Tipping
Service is not included in all restaurants (though this may vary by location or for a larger group), so it is customary to tip 10 to 20 percent of the total bill. It is best to tip in cash, in the country’s currency (Peso).