'Go to Mexico with an open mind', is probably the best advice to give anyone thinking of visiting this unique country.

The cultural mix itself is unique, a combination of the ancient and the modern, where on the one hand this country can boast of it's modern architecture that can rival any in the world, and on the other hand, in places, can seem like that of a developing country. The extremes between the wealth and the poverty are more obvious in the bigger cities, where the vast difference between unemployment and wealth is there for all to see.

Most of the excitement of Mexico lies in its central and southern parts, whereas the north of Mexico owes a lot to its American influences, with industrial cities such as Monterrey.

Mexico City itself is a fascinating place to visit. The capital has the cultural diversity, art and politics, as well as ancient relics surrounding the city - the pyramids of Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan, the heart of the Aztec empire.

The beaches in Mexico are incredible, whether it's along Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta, surfing on the Playa Zicatela, visiting one of the many white sandy beaches in Cancun, or lazing on one of Acapulco's numerous beaches, you will not be disappointed.

The image of the lazy Mexican sitting asleep under a tree wearing his sombrero is perhaps too much of a caricatured picture. However, Mexico is still a country where attempts to do things in a hurry are likely to fail, or slow down dramatically. Where if something can breakdown, the likelihood is that it will, particularly when you needed it most!

All in all Mexico is a great place to visit, it has the weather, the beaches, a varied culture and friendly people, it is a country that does not disappoint.

WEATHER IN MEXICO

Mexico isn't as hot and tropical as many people would expect. The weather will vary depending on where in Mexico you are, whether it is the mountainous regions or the coastal areas. It has a dry season from November to April time, and the rainy season from May to October. Visitors should be warned that the rainiest months are June to September and as such, it is probably better to avoid the resorts during this time.

The ancient ruins are always an attraction to visitors to any country, Mexico being no exception. Of the 10,000 ancient ruins known to exist in Mexico, 155 of them are open to the public. They can be found all over country (anywhere with traditional Native American cultures), but are concentrated around Mexico City, Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Any regions that have a large Native American population often also have the best markets and more traditional festivals.

In Mexico City itself there are numerous other things to do, visiting the National Palace (Palacio Nacional) on the east side of Zocalo or the Catedral Metropolina on the northern side, just to the east of the cathedral are the museums and temples containing artefacts from the Aztecs. While the Bosque de Chapultepec is Mexico City's largest park where you can find museums and amusement parks.

The beaches are a major attraction to people visiting Mexico and fortunately there are plenty to choose from, wherever you happen to be staying. Los Cabos, Cancun, La Paz, Playa del Carmen or Puerto Vallarta all contain the important features of beautiful sands and clear blue seas, where the decision of whether to take part in the water sports available, or simply laze in the sun all day is the biggest one you will have to make.

For the more active holidaymaker who wants to do more than just get a tan, then the option to take part in slightly more strenuous activities is always there. Hiking in the Copper Canyon, Sport fishing for marlin in La Paz, or mountain biking in the Sierra Madre Foothills are all great activities to take part in whilst in Mexico. For those who prefer to be in the water, there is scuba diving in Cozumel, kayaking in the Sea of Cortez or surfing in either the Playa Costa Azul or the beach in Puerto Escondido, the beaches and clear blue sea lend themselves very well to any of the water based activities you may wish to try out whilst on holiday.

There is always something for everybody.

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Rough Guide to Mexico - John Fisher (Paperback 19 January 1999)

Lonely Planet: Mexico - John Noble, et al (Paperback 29 September 2000)

In Mexico there is something happening or being celebrated every month of the year. New Years Day is a national holiday where fireworks, parades and parties welcome in the New Year.

The Carnaval in February is held for 3 days leading up to Ash Wednesday, its celebrations vary from place to place, some involving parades and dancing, while others not holding any specific celebration.

In March, Holy Week is the traditional week for national holidays when business' close and if planning a holiday around this time, booking early is important.

September 15 - 16th celebrates Mexico's Independence from Spain. It is a day where all the villages, towns and cities have parades and picnics, and is a common time of year for family reunions.

November sees All Saints Day and All Souls Day, two days of 'celebrations', honouring saints and deceased children, and then a day of honouring deceased adults. It sounds morbid but in some places the atmosphere can seem almost carnival like.

Christmas and New Years Eve, as with the rest of the world is cause for celebration. Mexicans extend their Christmas celebrations, starting two weeks before Christmas and lasting through New Year with plenty of noise wherever possible.

Mexico offers plenty of choice in terms of places to eat and drink, to suit all budgets. You can expect to pay anything from around £5-10 to £20-30 for a meal, with the drinks costing anything in the region of £1-2 for soft drinks, the same for local beer, and around £9/10 for a bottle of wine.

In Mexico City the hotel prices range from £40 per night to £80 per night in hotels such as the Ambassador, the Imperial and the Casa Blanca.

If you are staying in Acapulco however, the prices are more likely to start at around £50/60 per night in hotels such as the Plaza Las Glorias and the Copacabana, but it is still possible to pay around £80 for rooms in the Princess and the Hyatt Regency.

In Cancun, hotels such as the Holiday Inn Centro, the Flamingo Resort and the Grand Oasis once again vary in price, costing from around £60 per night to around £105 per night.

As with most places it is possible for all travellers to find a hotel to suit their budget.

Visitors to Mexico need a passport valid for at least six months. Tourist cards are required for UK passport holders, this is single entry document issued free of charge, on the plane or at point of entry to Mexico. Please do check first, especially if you do not hold a UK passport or dual nationality.

Hep A, Polio Typhoid and Malaria are all strongly recommended. Yellow Fever immunisation is dependent on the area being visited. Please seek professional advice; these are only guidelines. If you have not previously been immunised against diphtheria, polio or tetanus this is an ideal opportunity to have the immunisations carried out.

The usual health advice applies as with most foreign countries. Don't drink the tap water or consume ice in drinks. Drink bottled water or use purification tablets.

Take care against dehydration and over exposure to the sun, by drinking lots of (bottled) water and use high factor sun creams.