Which are the working hours at offices and commercial centres?
Public offices work Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 hours up till 16:00 hours; only a few work on Saturdays, from 10:00 hours up till 14:00 hours.
In the case of bank offices, they open their doors Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 hours up till 17:00 or 19:00 hours; there are also some bank offices opening on Saturday mornings.
By means of a municipal ordinance, commercial centres in Villahermosa work Mondays through Sundays from 10:00 hours up till 23:00 hours; supermarkets and mini-markets have similar working hours.
Will I have any problem in communicating with my country?
No, while in Villahermosa you will be able to communicate with the rest of the world with no problem whatsoever. The city has numerous public phone booths from where you can complete local, national and international calls using coins or prepaid cards. Nonetheless, take into account that rates in Mexico are usually higher than in other countries; therefore, calling collect does not seem to be a bad idea.
Most of the public phone booths are operated by Telmex, though other firms such as MCI and AT&T also provide the service. The phone cards can be purchased at drugstores, shops and supermarkets, amongst other establishments.
If you are rather looking for privacy, you can call from your hotel room; but before you do so, take into consideration that the communication cost is higher than at the public phone booths. You will also be able to use the Internet, and you will find several cyber cafés in Villahermosa from where you can access the web of webs. The cost is more than reasonable; in addition, several hotels offer this service to their guests.
What to I need to produce in order to rent a car?
You need a valid driver license, and ID (passport) and a credit card accepted in Villahermosa; besides, the applicant must be over 21 years of age.
It is recommendable to verify that the vehicle is in perfect conditions when renting a car, and that its papers are in order and that it is insured as well.
You will find several firms dedicated to this activity in Villahermosa, such as:
*Agrisa, on Tabasco Drive, corner with Seaside Walk and Ocampo Street, Colony Centre, Villahermosa; phone number: (52-993) 312-9184
*Dollar Rent a Car, located on 600 Tabasco Drive, Villahermosa; phone number: (52-993) 315-8088
*Budget, on 712, 27 de Febrero Avenue, local 1, Colony Centre, Villahermosa; phone number: (52-993) 314-3790
Where can I purchase handicrafts?
In Villahermosa travellers will find many handicrafts' shops where they can purchase the colourful typical costumes of the women of Tabasco (an embroidered cotton blouse and an ample dress), besides flashy wood carvings, pieces of ceramics, objects made of palm leafs and small stone figures; part of the cultural legacy of the people of Tabasco.
The main shops selling craftsmanship in Villahermosa are:
*House of Tabasco's Handicrafts, on A. Rullan Ferrer Street, corner with Pedro C. Colorado Street, Municipal Colony
*My White Butterflies, on Juarez Avenue, corner with 27 de Febrero Avenue, Colony Centre
*Galleries Tabasco 2000, local 168, Tabasco 2000 Colony
What voltage is the electric power?
As is the case in all of Mexico, electricity output is of 110 volts and 60 cycles; the outlets usually have two slots. If you happen to have appliances working with 220 volts, or three-slot inlets, ask for an adaptor at your hotel's reception desk.
