Guadalajara Life and Visitor Travel Tips
(Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico)
Guadalajara is an exciting state capital and known for its strong Mexican character and life style. It is also an extremely well organised city and those holidaying in Guadalajara will always remember Guadalajara's beauty and culture.
Much of life in Guadalajara follows many Mexican traditions, with local festivities, food, music and plenty of Tequila, which is produced nearby and enjoyed throughout the country.
The State Tourist Office is an excellent place to obtain tourist advice and travel tips about Guadalajara and Jalisco as a whole.
Useful Contact Details
Easy to reach from either the Morelos or the Paseo Degollado, the State Tourist Office features a team of English-speaking staff.
Within walking distance of the State Tourist Office and just over three blocks to the east is the Guadalajara Tourist Information Booth, which can be found within the Palacio de Gobierno. Additional information booths are dotted around central Guadalajara and are particularly prevalent during the main festivals and peak season.
State Tourist Office
Address: Paseo Degollado 105 / Morelos 102, Guadalajara, Mexico, MX
Tel: +52 33 3668 1600
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 13:00
Guadalajara Tourist Information Booth
Address: Palacio de Gobierno, next to the Plaza de Armas and the Plaza de Liberación, Guadalajara, Mexico, MX
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 14:30 and 17:00 to 19:30, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 12:30
Language and Dialect
Spanish is the native language spoken by virtually everybody in Guadalajara and closely resembles Castilian Spanish, except Mexican's speak it with a different accent and have adopted some of their own unique words. Although locals who speak varying degrees of English are present in Guadalajara, many visitors find it extremely rewarding to try to communicate in Spanish and therefore bring a Spanish phrasebook. Here are a few examples of Spanish phrases.
- Good morning - buenos dias
- I need a baby seat for my car - necesito un asiento de seguridad para bebés
- I'm looking for a campsite - estoy buscando un área para acampar
- What time does it open? - a qué hora abre?
- Please would you repeat that again, more slowly? - puede repetirlo hablar más despacio?
- Could you help me please? - me puede ayudar, por favor?
- How much is it per night? - cuánto cuesta por noche?
- I need to see a doctor - necesito un doctor
- Is it far? - está lejos?
- Go straight ahead - siga / vaya derecho
- Where are you staying? - dónde estás alojado?
- Thank you - gracias
- Good evening - buenas noches
Do's and Don'ts
- Air Pollution - this is known to become a problem between December and May, when it is advisable to drink plenty of fluids. Those who suffer from respiratory problems should avoid outdoor exercise
- Banks - there are plenty of banks all around the centre of Guadalajara and most feature cashpoints. Competitive foreign currency is also available at the 'casas de cambio' outlets on López Cotilla, where the opening hours tend to be longer
- Bookstores - a good variety of English books and magazines can be found within most hotels in Guadalajara, and in the biggest bookstores along the Avenida Tepeyac, Juárex and also Suárez
- Dresscode - shorts are not generally considered appropriate attire for women walking around central Guadalajara, even during the hottest of weather
- Internet Access - several cafes around central Guadalajara provide fast access to the web and are extremely inexpensive, charging only nominal hourly rates
- Medical Centres - for medical assistance, you should visit the Hospital Mexico Americano along the Colomos, located on the north-westerly outskirts of central Guadalajara
- Smoking - in general, smoking laws in Guadalajara and Mexico in general are much more relaxed than many US and European cities. You are able to smoke in restaurants, although some now provide non-smoking areas. However, smoking is now no longer permitted on public transport in Guadalajara
- Tap Water - it is advisable not to drink tap water in Guadalajara, since it is not pure and can cause sickness. Stick to bottled water if possible
- Telephones - the simplest way to make long-distance telephone calls is to purchase a Telmex phone card, which can be used will all public telephones
- Toilet Bins - wastepaper bins next to toilets in Guadalajara are where you should always place any used toilet paper, to ease the strain on the local sewage system
- Visas - every single tourist visiting Mexico must obtain the government's tourist card upon arrival, while some nationalities will also need a visa
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