TIPS FOR PARTICIPANTS Regional Conference on Child and Adolescent Indicators September 6-7. , City. Version: 16/08/2011

o Venue

Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Room Jose María Morelos y Pavón Plaza Juárez No. 20, piso 1. Col Centro, C.P. 06010, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México, D. F. Phone: (52 55) 3686 – 5100

o Hotel Accommodations

HILTON REFORMA Avenida Juárez No. 70, Col. Centro C.P. 06010 Phone: (52 55) 5130 – 5252 Calls from abroad: 0018005140160 Contact: [email protected] http://mexicocityreforma.hilton.com Rate single room: USD 129/MXP 1,529.94 (taxes included) Rate single room: USD148/MXP 1,755.28 (taxes and breakfast included) Group Code: GRPUNI

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For reservations please access this link: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/M/MEXRFHH-GRPUNI- 20110905/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

FIESTA INN CENTRO HISTÓRICO Avenida Juárez No. 76, Col. Centro, C.P. 06010 Phone: (52 55) 5130 -2907 Contact: [email protected] Rate Single Room USD 89/MXP 1,066.50 (taxes, tips and breakfast included) Group code for reservations: GR2PG

HOTEL MELIA MÉXICO REFORMA Paseo de la Reforma, 1 C.P. 06030, México D.F. Reservations phone: 01-800-90-MELIA Group code: 340037 Rate Single Room USD 115/MXP 1,380 plus Tax (*Note: Tax exemption is applicable only when showing copy of a foreign Passport, migration form and paying with a credit card from a foreign bank or a deposit from a foreign bank).

HOTEL MARLOWE Av. Independencia No. 17 Col. Centro C.P. 06050 Contact: Gabriela Licona, Phone: (52 55) 55-21-95-40 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.hotelmarlowe.com.mx Rate single room USD 44/ MXP 530 (taxes and breakfast included)

o Transportation from the Airport to the Hotel

It is recommended to use only the authorized taxi services (check the logos provided below), they are normally yellow and white. The tariff from the airport to the downtown, where suggested hotels are located, is around 13 USD/MXP 170.00-200.00

o Visas

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Depending on your nationality, you may be required to have a valid visa. Please contact the Mexican Embassy in your country. Contact information is available at the following link: http://www.sre.gob.mx/index.php/representaciones/embajadas-de-mexico-en-el- exterior

o Local Currency

Mexican Peso (MXP), the exchange rate is around 11.86 Mexican pesos per 1 USD (August 1, 2011).

o Contact information:

UNICEF - Mexico Address: Paseo de la Reforma No. 645 Lomas de Chapultepec Del. Miguel Hidalgo 11000 México, D.F. Tel: (+52 55) 52 84 95 30 Fax: (+52 55) 52 84 95 38)

Erika Strand Office: (+52 55) 52 84 95 42 Celular: (+52-1-55) 2046-1355 if you dial it outside Mexico. If you are in México City you dial it 04455+ 2046-1355

Eva Prado Office (+52 55) 52 84 95 53

Ana María Güémez: Office: (+52 55) 52 84 95 34

INEGI Ricardo Rodríguez Director de Mejores Prácticas Internacionales [email protected] (+52 55) 5278-1000 ext. 1252

o Emergency Telephones (dialed in Mexico City):

066 Emergencies, Public Security Ministry of Mexico City 061 General Justice Ministry

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065 Red Cross 068 Firefighters 56832222 Civil Protection 56581111 LOCATEL

o Food

Mexican food is well known around the world. Every region with in the country has its own unique culinary specialty. If you are not accustomed to Mexican food you should be careful as it can be very spicy. For health reasons, avoid eating food sold on the street and do not drink tap water.

o Currency, banks, cash machines and where to exchange money

Mexican currency is the (MXP) and $ is the Mexican Peso symbol. To distinguish the currency from the US dollar you will see it presented as $MX or e.g. $100 MN (moneda nacional). The US$ exchange rate to the Mexican peso is US$1 to MXN 11.86 at August 1, 2011. Please note that restaurants, hotels, large shopping centres and bars accept major credit and debit cards.

Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, except for HSBC Bank, which opens also on Saturdays 10am to 3pm and Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 7pm. ATMs are available 24 hrs at almost every bank.

Changing money in some banks might to be cumbersome and time consuming than in an exchange house (casa de cambio). Mexico City´s airport rates – if you need to change money on arrival, or sell pesos as you leave – are among the most competitive in the city, and rates are similar to those offered at downtown exchange houses. There are many exchange booths at the airport, both on the “air side” and the “land side”.

o Calling from Mexico City

Mobile phones – Roaming with your home cell phone: If you have a “Tri band” mobile phone, you can now use it via the GSM (Global System for Mobile) network in Mexico, provided that you have international roaming access and your phone provider has a reciprocal arrangement in Mexico. Two of Mexico´s telephone companies use the GSM system – “Telcel”, the local subsidiary of America Movil, and “Telefonica”, which operates under the Movistar brand.

Pre-Pay Cell Phones: Pre-Paid phone “kits” offer easy access to the phone network without the need for contract. For a cost of between US$40-$80, you can buy pre- paid telephone with a phone and charger that includes different levels of air time. You can buy phone cards / airtime at locations all over the city.

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Try to avoid making calls from your hotel room and from phone booths know as “casetas de teléfono”. Both can be expensive. Most public phones in Mexico now require prepaid Ladatel cards. They can be purchased in units of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. They are best used for local calls. If you need to make a long distance or international calls, try to use a calling card.

To make international calls from Mexico, first dial: 00 + country code + area code + local number.

o Electricity

Mexico´s electrical system uses a 127-volt, 60 – Hz electrical system (similar to the US), which accepts two – or three – pronged plugs. Bring or buy a plug adapter and a voltage transformer to run appliances and cell – phone chargers not manufactured in or that do not have an optional voltage switch.

o Health

You cannot drink tap water in Mexico. It is best to always drink bottled or boiled water.

Mexico City is located at 2,239m (7,343 ft.) above sea level and travellers sometimes experience altitude sickness including shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and even nausea. To help yourself acclimate, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcoholic beverages, and refrain from any strenuous exercise.

o Taxes and tipping

Please note that most of your purchases will have an additional 16% aggregated to the total, representing the Value-Added Tax (VAT). It is also common to tip the waiter/waitress 10-15% of the total meal/check.

o Weather

Mexico City has mild weather during the summer, with temperatures ranging between 13°C (56°F) and 23°C (74°F). August and September is also peak of the rainy season.

o City

Mexico City has a large, low-cost subway system. Tickets can be purchased at the Taquilla or ticket booth for $3.00 MXP. The working hours are:  Monday to Friday: 5am to 12 midnight.  Saturday: 6am to 12 midnight  Sunday and Holidays: 7am to 12 midnight For more information visit http://www.metro.df.gob.mx/

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On average the Mexico City subway moves over 5 million passengers per day. It can be very crowded and quite hot in the summer during the day. For your own safety, we recommend not to carry valuable items and bring only the money you need. Keep your wallet in a safe place.

Regular public buses, which have the same operational hours as the subway, go all over the city. The buses cost $3.5 MXP (for short distances 2 to 6km) and up. There are also Metrobuses, which run on the main avenues. You will need to buy an electronic, rechargeable card (sold at every Metrobus station) to access these buses. The cost of the card is $15.00 MXP, which includes the price of the card ($10.00 Mxn) ante one ride on the bus ($5.00 MXP).

It is not a good idea to hail cabs from the street. Spotting a safe taxi It is best to use registered hotel cabs or call a radio cab. If you are dining out, have the restaurant hail a cab from their “sitio” or you can call a radio cab (see numbers below). Additionally, there are official taxi stands around the city. If you decide to take a street cab, make sure it corresponds to the image (with 4 doors, and a bright golden and red stripe). Avoid taking green cars/taxis.

Taxis: Servitaxis – tel. 55166020, http://www.servitaxis.com.mx TaxiMex – tel. 91718888 or 56349912, http://www.taximex.com.mx/default.aspx Official Radio Taxis – tel. 52719146, 52719058, or 52736125

o Security

To ensure the safety of tourists at Mexico City, there are Police patrolling the major tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants in the City. However precautionary measures are recommended, such as not walking alone late during the night and use only ATM machines inside of banks or stores.

o Hospitals

ABC-AMERICAN BRITISH COWDRAY MEDICAL CENTER Sur 136 No. 116 Col. Las Américas Del. Álvaro Obregón C.P. Apartado Postal 18901 01120 MEXICO D.F. Umberto ASTORGA DEL POSO Tel. +52-55-52308082 Fax +52-55-52308026 E-mail [email protected] www.abchospital.com

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HOSPITAL METROPOLITANO S.A. DE C.V. Tlacotapan 59 Col. Roma 06760 MEXICO D.F. Laura RÍOS - Aide CASTAÑEDA PEREZ Tel. +55 52 5265 1800 E-mail [email protected] www.hospitalangelesmetropolitano.com/

CLINICA LONDRES SERVICIO MEDICO SOCIAL Durango Nr. 64 Col. Roma 06700 MEXICO D.F. Francisco ORTIZ Tel. +52/55/5229-8400 www.hospitalangelesclinicalondres.com/

HOSPITAL MEDICA SUR Puente de Piedra nr.150 Col. Toriello Guerra Deleg. Tlalpan 14050 MEXICO D.F. Ingrid MARTINEZ (speaks English) Tel. +52/55/5606.22.77 Fax +52/55/5203 38 90 E-mail [email protected] www.medicasur.com.mx

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