The local telephone service is offered by Telmex (which was previously a State-owned monopoly). There are other alternatives, notably Axtel, which have recently been launched. The phone line in your residence should already be hooked up. A new line costs between $1,000 and $3,500 Pesos, depending on the company and the sort of service (commercial versus residential, for example). Phone bills can be paid at most bank branches, some large department stores and/or at the local Telmex office.

There are many international telephone services available and setting them up is very easily.  There are also many call back services available or rechargeable international calling cards.

There are a large number of pay television providers. Cable (Cablevision) is more reliable, but satellite offers more choice (Multivision and Sky).

In Mexico , all of the following types of Internet Service are available: Dial Up; DSL; ADSL; and WiFi). There are multiple service providers: Avantel; Prodigy; E-Go; and Cable@access). See www.solutionsabroad.com for more details.

The Mexican Postal Service ("Servicio Postal Mexicano") is not considered reliable. Companies tend to have "propios", in-house messengers, for the delivery of important correspondence and paperwork of any kind within Mexico City . For intra-Mexico correspondence a local carrier, such as Estafeta, usually does the trick. Finally, for international deliveries, any of the well-known international companies work well, especially in the "overnight" categories (eg. FedEx, DHL, UPS etc.)

Electricity is supplied by Luz y Fuerza del Centro. You will receive a bill every two months. This bill can be paid at any branch of most major banks (the list is on the back of the invoice). It can also be paid directly at any one of their locations, which is also where one needs to go to apply for service.

Water is paid directly to the Treasury of the Federal District, or of the state where you live. Most state governments, including the District, allow you to pay at the branches of major banks. It is also charged once every two months.

It is not safe to drink the water directly from the tap. You can buy bottled water at the supermarket or water can be delivered in returnable five-galon / 20 liter jugs (Garrfones) made of plastic or glass right to your front door step.

Natural gas, where required, is pumped from trucks that prowl the streets every few weeks (depending on the company and the area of town). It is best to ask the neighbors when the various providers visit. Their rates are set by the government and the amount should be clearly stated somewhere on the outside of the vehicle.

Mexican banks offer foreign individuals accounts both in Mexican Pesos or in US Dollars. These accounts range from regular checking and money market accounts to certificates of deposit. The Peso checking and money market accounts are called "cuentas ejes" or "central accounts?, whereby the account holder is able to transfer to other accounts in Mexico or worldwide, transact business in the country, or have access to investment packages or invest in the Mexican Stock Market (Bolsa).

In order to open a bank account in Mexico you will need the following:

• A valid passport
• FM2 or FM3
• Bank and/or credit reference (Mexican or foreign)
• Proof of address (eg. a telephone or utilities bill)

Typical banking hours are Monday through Friday from 9AM to 3PM , and Saturday morning until noon . Some banks have extended hours during the week until 7PM .

There are many banks to choose from in Mexico .

See www.solutionsabroad.com for a list.

There are many methods of payment that are acceptable, such as checks, cash and debit cards. Some banks, supermarkets and department stores even accept payments for certain bills. To find out the best form of payment for each provider, it is advised to contact each one and find out what they prefer. Also, internet banking has made life so convenient many people opt to use this as a form of payment. Do not send payment via check in the mail!.

The first and most basic option for foreigners residing in Mexico and holding an FM2 or FM3 is the IMSS nationwide health insurance program that offers services including a visit to a doctor's clinic, hospital expenses (covering minor injuries and sickness) and intensive care facilities. It takes six to nine months for the coverage to take effect. Nevertheless you do not have a choice of physicians, as the IMSS program has its own physicians.

The best choice is of course private coverage that will cover all medical costs in the best private hospitals in the country.

Pharmacies in Mexico are called "Farmacias" and most of them are located in major supermarkets, shopping centers and on most main avenues. While one may find almost any kind of medication in Mexico, the same medicine is relatively cheaper in Mexico than in Europe or the U.S., and often a prescription is not required. But because many pharmacies do not have trained pharmacists on staff, it's important that a doctor is consulted for a prescription and that any prescription is translated into Spanish to avoid problems.

People drive on the right hand side. The legal driving age is 18. There are many ways to commute in Mexico City , most notably by car. Due to much work that was done on Mexico City's overburdened infrastructure, and the inclusion of new urban highways like the "Viaducto", "Periferico" and "Circuito Interior", traffic generally flows and roads are wide and also mostly one way, thus being more conducive to flowing traffic, even though the maintenance leaves a lot to be desired.

This means that when driving you should always beware and expect anything and everything - literally. Driving is much more of an "intuitive" experience in Mexico City . People tend to go in and out of lanes as they please, with the use of turning signals being the exception rather than the rule.

Potholes abound, as do pedestrians and sometimes cyclists, and people often don't respect even the most basic traffic rules. Expect cars to run red lights, to be coming the wrong way on a one-way street, to suddenly stop or turn without warning or logic. Be extra cautious at nights as drunk drivers are to be found, especially on weekends.

When it comes to acquiring a Mexican driver's licence, you can do so without any exams or tests, even if you have never had a previous license. Just take along your passport and your FM-2 or FM-3 and you will be issued a licence within an hour at the Secretaria de Transportes y Vialidad.

Tourists may drive with an international licence or the drivers licence of their own country. If you would like to bring your car into Mexico from the U.S. you will need to acquire a permit at the border by leaving a deposit (the amount of which corresponds to the model and type of vehicle you're driving). You will also have to buy insurance.

Make sure you have an international credit card otherwise you'll find this process a big nuisance. You may then gain entry into the country for a period of up to six months after which your permit (along with your FM-T tourist visa) will have to be renewed. See www.solutionsabroad.com for a list of documents needed to obtain your drivers license.

When it comes to alternative modes of commuting in the city, Mexico 's capital has very good infrastructure and very cheap public transport. The metro system is extensive, covering virtually the whole city with up to nine different routes. You can find a map of the routes and stations in every metro entrance and you can also buy your tickets there. Having entered the metro with your ticket you can change as many trains and routes as you like without using another ticket. The bus system is also very good, and then there are the "peseros" or midi-buses that are not quite as comfortable as the bus or the metro, but take you anywhere and everywhere. Public transport is generally quite safe, though you should be wary of traveling late at night. At rush hour public transport can be quite uncomfortable. For ladies traveling by metro, the first two cars of every train have been reserved for them and for young children so that they may travel more comfortably. All public transport is ridiculously cheap.

Another obvious mode of transport is the omnipresent green beetle taxi. These taxis are cheap and easy to find, but they can be dan gerous so it isn't recommended to use them. You should pay a little extra and call a Sitio or Radio cab. Always be wary of crime in Mexico City and make sure to lock your doors and keep your windows wound up, whether you're driving or taking a cab.

Traveling out of town is a rewarding experience for Mexico City denizens, considering the wealth of colonial towns, archaeological sites and beaches. Toll roads can be a little expensive, but well worth the security, comfort and speed. The inter-city bus network is also very good, and one can travel very comfortably with first-class bus companies. Air travel is also an option, but because it remains regulated it's expensive.

The main international airport is Mexico City 's Benito Juarez International Airport . Mexico has many airports spread all over the country due to the fact that Mexico is a popular travel destination due to its beaches and its archeological sites.

See www.solutionsabroad.com for links to the airports and the airlines that fly there.

There are numerous general purpose supermarkets from which to choose. Once you are settled, you will discover which supermarkets are closest to you and best suited for your needs. Main supermarket chains are Wal*Mart and Chedraui. Mexico also has Costco & Sam's Club ? which are both hypermarkets, selling everything from appliances, televisions, furniture, kitchen items, clothes to of course food. You won't find too many of them around, but the stores are huge and they offer a wide variety of merchandise at low prices.

Other chains are Aurrera (Wal*Mart's partner), Comercial Mexicana and Gigante . They also have a nice variety of merchandise, as well as competitive prices. Each of these three national chains have three tiers of stores: Bodega Aurrera; Bodega Comercial Mexicana; and Bodega Gigante . These are large discount/warehouse stores. They are generally cheaper, but the selection is not as "up market" and you have travel a bit further away from the better parts of town. In more expensive parts of town, these stores have smaller chains. Aurrera has Superama , Comercial Mexicana has Sumesa , and Gigante has Super G . These stores are smaller and they carry a finer selection of everything from wines to imported meats. Do note: for this convenience and fine selection, the prices are approximately 20% more than if you shopped in any of the Bodega stores.

In each section of the city, you can find a very nice shopping mall where you can find any household items that you may need. Each mall has at least one major department store. Mexico's largest department stores are Liverpool and Palacio de Hierro. These stores carry numerous brands of clothing for men and women, electronics, appliances, toys, makeup, fragrances, watches, gourmet items and everything else you might expect to find in upscale department stores in the US.

The stores in Mexican malls are very much like their northern North American counterparts. You will also find top-notch movie theatres in most malls.

Most cities have an outdoor market that sells fruits and vegetables. There are also handicraft markets that sell traditional clothing, silver, Mexican handicrafts etc. For further details on shopping, visit www.solutionsabroad.com.