Monterrey is located in Mexico's Northeast desert area at the edge of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range at an altitude of approx. 3000 ft. The city of Monterrey possesses a slightly radical climate, with quick changes in the weather possible at any time, summer or winter. The evenings can get downright cold in the winter and summers in Monterrey are usually very hot. Afternoon rains come during the summer months, mainly late June to September. Normally the rain lasts for only a few hours after which the sun comes out and the air is much cleaner. November to June are, most often, the driest months.

Monterrey Chamber of Commerce , Tel.: 00 52 81 8344 3767

American Chamber of Commerce , Tel.: 00 52 81 8114 2000

National Chamber of Commerce , Tel.: 00 52 81 8150 2424

United States General Consulate , Ave. Constitucion Pte. 411, C.P. 64000 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Tel.: 00 52 81 8345-2120

Canada Consulate , Edificio Kalos, Piso C-1, Local 108-A, Zaragoza 1300 Sur y Constitución 06400 Monterrey, Nuevo León Tel.: 00 52 81 8344 3200

United Kingdom Consulate , Ave. Ricardo Margain No.240 Colonia Valle del Campestre San Pedro Garza Garcia 66265 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Tel.: 00 52 81 8356 5359

France Consulate , Morones Prieto 502 Pte Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Tel.: 00 52 81 8335 3658

Czech Republic Consulate , Pabellon Tec, Ave. Garza Sada 427 Sur, Local 20, Planta Alta, Col. Alta Vista, C.P. 64840 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Tel.: 00 52 81 8369 1605

Italy Consulate , Prolongacion Maralillo 109, Col. 66240, Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Tel.: 00 52 81 8378 2444

Business centers generally provide a range of services that include secretarial, translation/interpretation, and office services, including computer rentals, audio/visual equipment rentals, cellular phone rentals, copy and printing services, and temporary office space and staff. Most large hotels (some of which may be listed here) also have business centers that offer many of the same services that independent centers provide.

Oficina de Convenciones y visitantes de Monterrey , Av. Fundidora y Adolfo Prieto S/N, Col. Obrera, Tel.: 00 52 81 83 54 18 19

Hotel Sheraton Ambassador , Hidalgo 310 Oriente Zona Centro, Tel.: 00 52 81 8380 7000

HQ Global Workplaces . Batallon de San Patricio 109, Piso3 Sur, San Pedro Garza García. Tel.: 00 52 81 8399 0000

Cintermex , Ave. Fundidora 501 Col. Obrera, Tel.: 00 52 81 8369 6969

Auditorio Luis Elizondo , Luis Elizondo 540, Tel.: 00 52 81 8359 0487

Hotel Fiesta Americana , Corregidora 519 Ote, Tel.: 00 52 81 8319 0900

Hotel Crowne Plaza Monterrey , Constitucion 300 Ote, Tel.: 00 52 81 8319 6000

DHL , Tel.: 00 52 81 8125-2626

Fedex , Tel.: 01 800 900 1100 (Toll free)

UPS , Tel : 01 800 902 9200

Estafeta , Tel.: 00 52 81 8370 2463

Senda-Express , Tel.: 00 52 81 8319 4444

All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafés are available.

Passports valid are required for all except Canadian citizens who only need a proof of their citizenship and identity (birth certificate). Citizens of many countries - including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Argentina, Chile and virtually all Western European countries - do not require visas to enter Mexico as tourists. However, if they are staying longer than 72 hours, or are traveling beyond the Border Zone or certain exempted areas, they must obtain a 180-day Mexican government tourist card (tarjeta de turista), available from embassies or at border crossings (US$18).

The Area Code for Monterrey is 81. It is not necessary to dial the area code in making calls in Monterrey.

The emergency phone number for Monterrey is 080.

Police 8125 9494

Traffic Police 8370-0206

Municipal Police 8328-0606

Fire Department 8342-0053

Ambulance 8375-1212

For local calls, dial the eight-digit telephone number. For long-distance calls in Mexico, first dial 01 then area code ( 2 figures in Mexico, Guadalajara and Monterrey, 3 figures in other areas), then the eight-digit number for Mexico, Monterrey and Guadalajara or the seven-digit number for others regions in the country. For international calls, dial 00, then the country code, then the telephone number. " 800 " is a toll-free call. To make a toll-free call, dial 01, then 800, then a seven-digit number. " 800 " and " 888 " can be American or Canadian toll-free calls : some of these calls are free from Mexico dialing 00-1, then 800 or 888, then a seven-digit number. For national directory assistance, dial 040.

There are several cellular service providers to Mexico including Telmex and Nextel. If you call a cell phone which number starts by 044, dial 044, then the area code, even if it is a local call. Others cell phone numbers follow the regular phone telephone number convention.

If you choose to bring your cell phone to Mexico, check with your home cellular service provider the compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular telephone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable services.

Foreign currencies must be exchanged to pesos. Money can be exchanged at banks and various foreign-exchange services called "Casas de cambio." Most restaurants, shops and hotels will take travelers checks and major credit cards. Travelers can also withdraw from ATMs.

The basic unit of Mexico currency is the peso, which equals 100 centavos. Coins are 5, 10, 20 and 50 centavos and 1, 2, 5,10, 20 and 50 pesos. Paper bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 pesos.

In heavily touristed areas, you can often spend US dollars as easily as pesos at hotels and restaurants (although the exchange rate will not be worthwhile). Note that the dollar sign is used to refer to pesos in Mexico; prices in US dollars are usually marked US$ or USD.

Restaurants : 10 to15 % of bill, none at fast-food restaurants

Bars : 10 to15 % of the drinks price

Taxis : none

Hotel Room service : 10 % of bill

Hotel Bell Desk : US$1 for two pieces of luggage

Service station : US$ 0,25 to US$0,50

Monterrey follows "La Hora del Centro" (GMT - 6 hours in winter and GMT - 5 hours in summer).

Mexico has a 15% value-added tax (IVA) which by law must be included in quoted prices. Sometimes - usually in top-end hotels - prices are quoted without this tax.

110V, 60Hz, plugs are of the flat, two-pin type.

An easy way to move around Monterrey is by eco-taxi. These are usually hailed in the street and are easily recognized by their green and white paintwork. Eco-taxis are equipped with meters, but many drivers apply a set price. Ask for the price before going into the vehicle or do insist that the driver use the meter. A special taxi service operates between the airport (about 6 km Northeast of Monterrey) and the city. Buy a flat-rate ticket from the taxi counter in the arrivals hall. For the return journey, it is best to call a taxi from the reception desk of your hotel.

Monterrey also has a metro system, which functions efficiently. Línea 1 is elevated and crosses the city east-west. Línea 2 runs underground and connects the northern part of the city with Macro Plaza (at the General Zaragoza station).

Public buses provide very good coverage of the city. Mastering the Monterrey bus system is, however, quite an art. Bus stops are rarely marked, and the driving is sometimes more suited to a Formula 1 racetrack than to a public thoroughfare.

Cars can be rented. However, be careful to note national companies are often more expensive than local ones.

Advantage : 8345-7374

Budget : 8340-4100

No specific immunizations are needed to enter Monterrey. Traveling in Monterrey does not present many risks, but water must be purified or boiled.

New Year's : January 1

Constitution Day : February 5

Day of the Flag : February 24

Benito Juárez birth Anniversary : March 21

Good Thursday : April 17

Good Friday : April 18

Labor Day : May 1

Battle at Puebla : May 5

Independence Day : September 16

Day of the Discovery of America : October 12

Día de los muertos (All Saints Day) : november 1 and 2nd

Revolution Day : November 20

Virgin of Guadalajara : december 12

Christmas : December 25

El Rey del Cabrito is the most famous and oldest restaurant which serves Cabrito (baby goat slowly cooked over mesquite coals), the regional specialty. La Bikina specializes in new Mexican cuisine, and is very appreciated by politicians, artists and celebrities. The Meiji-en is well-known for its refined Japanese cuisine. For an International/Oriental meal in an original place, visit Genome, a restaurant that resembles an enormous swimming pool, with walls covered in small blue tiles. El Regio is an excellent place to savour regional dishes including the baked or fried leg of lamb, beef stew or grilled pork. Decorated in a neoclassical style, Luisiana is one of the best providers of the haute cuisine Monterrey has to offer. La Catarina is a nice and upscale restaurant with a great selection of Mexican wines.

In the near future Monterrey could rival Guadalajara as the undisputed shopping capital of Mexico. Modern, sophisticated malls and shopping plazas are located throughout the city. Smaller specialty shops sell gifts and crafts from all over Mexico.

Quality restaurants, modern shopping malls, numerous museums and cultural attractions abound in Monterrey. Things to do and see near the city center are the Macro Plaza or Gran Plaza, the Tower of Commerce, El Barrio Antiguo or Old Town which is the center of Monterrey's nightlife, the Cathedral, the MARCO Museum, the Museum of Mexican History, el Paseo Santa Lucia, the Fountain of Life, the Metropolitan Museum and the City Theatre. The mountains, canyons and desert that surround the city offer pleasant diversion and a wide variety of tourist activities, many of which are not readily available anywhere else in Mexico. Some of Mexico's best hiking, mountain biking, cave exploring and nature areas are located within fairly close proximity to the city.