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The IASTED International
Conference on
ADVANCES IN COMPUTER
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
~ ACST 2006 ~
January 23-25, 2006
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
ABOUT
PUERTO VALLARTA
©
of pictures -
Mexican Tourist Board
Puerto Vallarta
is located in the central west region along the beautiful
beaches of the Pacific coastline of Mexico known as "The
Mexican Rivera". Built along the Bay of Banderas where
the tropical lush jungles of the Sierra Madre Mountains
meet the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta
manages to retain the charms of a "Mexican Pueblo"
while boasting the attractions of a world-class resort.
Puerto Vallarta,
with its cobblestone streets winding lazily around mountainsides,
its traditional white shops with red tile roofs and its
sunny beaches with beautiful blue waters, is home to more
than 300,000 residents attracts more than 2 million visitors
annually.
Weather
Puerto Vallarta is blessed with mild tropical weather. During
the "winter" months, from January through March,
some nights can drop as low as 60° F or 16°C. The
average temperature for January is a high of 77-79°
F (25-27°C), and a low of 62-67°F (16-19 °C).
During these months the sky is generally bright and sunny,
and the breezes are gentle.
Language
Language
Mexico’s official language is Spanish, but English
is widely spoken, especially in Puerto Vallarta.
Shopping
The shopping in Puerto Vallarta is as rich and diverse as
the history and culture. Natural beauty isn't the only attraction
in Puerto Vallarta; it's a shopper's paradise as well. The
city has hundreds of shops where visitors can purchase,
designer fashions, trinkets, sombreros, collector crafts
and art from all over Mexico and beyond.
Normally business
hours are: Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, usually
with a two hour break from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM for “siesta”.
 Currency
and Exchange
The peso is Mexico's official legal currency. U.S. dollars
and other foreign currencies may be exchanged at banks between
9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on week days. There are also numerous
money exchange offices (casas de cambio) which remain open
after the banks close. You can also change money at some
of the larger hotels, but the rate of exchange is often
less favourable than that offered by banks. You can also
obtain pesos through ATM machines at a good rate of exchange.
Payment by credit card or travelers checks are widely accepted
throughout Mexico.
For the latest
rates on foreign currency, please visit www.x-rates.com,
which is updated daily with information gathered from the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the International Monetary
Fund.
Taxes
There is a 15% tax applied to all purchases, restaurant
bills, in store purchases, hotel stays and excursions.
Additionally
there is a 2% tax on your hotel stay; this tax is gathered
for promotion of the tourist destination.
All guests departing
by air must pay $23 USD departure tax, Sometimes it is paid
at the airport upon departure, other times, it is included
on airline tickets issued outside of Mexico.
Tipping
Service charges are not often included in hotel and restaurant
bills. Generally, staff expect a tip of about 15%. Coat-check
operators usually expect $1; bellhops and porters should
get $1 per bag; hotel maids in upscale hotels should get
about $2 per day of your stay. Please note that tipping
is to be at the patron’s discretion, and you should
only leave as much as you feel comfortable.
Time
Zone
Puerto Vallarta is Central Standard Time and changes to
Daylight Savings Time each year along with the United States.
Telephones
The telephone code for Mexico is 52. Long distance charges
vary by location and telephone service provider. Phone cards
are available at retail stores throughout Mexico.
Safety
and Health
Follow the same common sense rules for staying safe in Mexico
that you would follow anywhere. Lock your car and keep your
valuables within your sight and reach. Dialing 066 connects
you to emergency assistance for police, fire and ambulance.
For more in-depth information on safety concerns in Mexico,
please see: http://gomexico.about.com/cs/familyvacations/a/safety.htm.
For information on Health Risks in Mexico please see: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_america/mexico/facts.htm
and http://gomexico.about.com/cs/familyvacations/a/health_info.htm.
Electricity
127V ,60Hz – Same as the USA and Canada.
For more information
on Puerto Vallarta please visit http://www.puertovallarta.net
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