So, You're Coming! Some Things You Might Want to Know Before You Leave ......

As you prepare for your arrival to Condo Carlos at Condominios El Faro, in lovely Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, here are a few things, presented randomly, you might want to know prior to your departure or arrival.

1) There is no fixed (land)-line in the condo. Instead, you will find a cell phone provided for your convenience. There will be a certain amount of peso's on this phone, of the prepaid variety. Depending on the circumstances, you may find the prepaid amount full, or empty (if it was not refilled). We would ask that if you use the phone a great deal, especially for long-distance calls, that you please purchase a TelMex prepaid phone card and refill the phone for the next guests. We thank you in advance for your consideration.

At time of writing, the cell phone number is ______. To dial from Canada or the USA to this cell phone, you dial 011.52.314._____.  To have people call you is by far the least expensive method of communicating by phone. Mexico's long distance rates are extremely expensive, unless you buy a  local TelMex prepaid long-distance phone card.

2) Yes, you have secure, wireless Internet access in the condo, and a computer to check e-mail or surf. You will need to have your own e-mail address, one that can be accessed from a web browser (Hotmail,  Yahoo, etc.)

3) As a "card-reader" gate has been installed, you will need a  "gate pass card" to get into the complex. As the gate entrance is periodically staffed, please present the letter we provide to you to gain access to Condominios El Faro, until we issue you the appropriate card.

4) Condo Carlos is in Edificio (Building) 2; Departamento (Apartment) 10. The building sign says E-2.

5) To rent a car you may want to consider:

        a) Dollar Rent a Car
        dollarpvr@prodigy.net.mx
        Phone: 314.334.2098

        b) National Car Rental
        internet@bay.net.mx
        Phone: 314.334.0124
        Located at airport

        c) Hertz
        www.hertz.com.mx
        Phone: 314.333.3191
        Located at airport

6) If you are renting a car at the airport, the following directions will get you to Condominios El Faro from the airport:

- the airport is about 40 minutes north of Manzanillo.
- leave the airport by the one-and-only exit; go about 5 km/3 miles to the main highway where you will see many advertising billboards; you must go either left or right. Turn right (south).
- proceed south for about 40 km/25 miles through several small towns; slow down for the "topes" (speed bumps); this ride will take you roughly 35 to 45 minutes.
- eventually you'll see the ocean and the beaches; welcome to Manzanillo!
- you are on Blvd. Miguel De Las Madrid; this road is "the" main road in the Manzanillo area; you will use it often.
- continue straight ahead; let your eyes follow the beach ahead; you'll see the peninsula breaking the beach view. That is the Santiago Peninsula, where Condominios El Faro sits.
- as you drive down the Blvd., you will come to a golf course on your right.
- the golf course is divided by the road you will take onto the Peninsula (Avenida Audiencia).
- continue to the first road dividing the golf course; this is the corner referred to as the Santiago Peninsula corner (other people call it the Las Hadas corner); get into the right-hand turn lane; at that corner you'll see a painted sign at street level that says "Las Hadas Golf Resort and Marina"; that road is called Avenida Audiencia; turn right onto the Peninsula.
- proceed straight ahead to the guard gate which sits in the middle of the road; turn right at that guard gate. That road is called Av. Las Palmas. Begin the climb up the hill; you must get to the top of the hill.
- Av. Las Palmas changes to Av. El Faro as you go.
- continue up until you are faced with a "Y" choice; go left
- 20 meters / 50 feet ahead make a hairpin turn to the right; this turn is 360 degrees.
- straight up the hill, past the Pacific Paradise Hotel, you will find the gated entrance to Condominios El Faro.
- Welcome!

7) The taxi ride from the airport  to Condo Carlos (at time of writing) is a "fixed" amount of P$250. You buy your fare at a booth in the  airport, at the east end. To get to Condo Carlos from the airport, tell the booth-attendant and eventually the cab driver you want to go to Condominios El Faro (Zone 2). There is also a Hotel El Faro; be sure they know it's the Condominios. Condominios El Faro in on the Santiago Peninsula; everyone knows how to find the Peninsula.

8) Other than the airport fixed cost, cabs in the area are negotiated. Up and down the beach area they cost, on average, P$30, P$40 or P$50.

9) Things to consider bringing:

- suntan lotion / sunscreen
- insect repellent
- pain killers
- CD's / tapes / DVD's
- hat
- personal water bottle
- walking shoes
- sunglasses
- Imodium & Pepto-Bismol
- prescription drugs
- swim suit
- reading material

10) Walking shoes? Condominios El Faro sits high on the peninsula. Walking down is easy, getting back up, not so easy. Yes, you can walk it, and many people do. Some people walk down, then take a cab back home.

11) Besides the 2 pools here at El Faro, the beach is a 5-minute walk (at least going down!). Bring those things you might enjoy at the beach.

12) Peso's? Many people simply use their bank cards at any of the banking machines available in the area to get peso's.There is a bank machine at the airport. A cab can take you to a bank machine on the way in, if necessary. You could also pay the cab fare in US dollars.

13) To use the phone from the airport, you can buy a phone card at either of the stores behind the stairs; these stores display the yellow and blue "Ladatel" sign in the window. The denominations for the Ladatel phone cards are P$30, P$50 and P$100. Next to the stores there are 2 pay phones, with instructions for calling.

14) Please understand that in Mexico the phone, electric and Internet services can be irregular.

15) Anything else you can recommend we put on the "things you might want to know before you leave" page?