1.) Realize that though merchants want your tourist dollar, this city has been primarily a Mexican tourist site. There will not be vast hordes of workers in the tourist industry who will be able to speak English. Get that phrase book and begin practicing! Don’t be afraid to hold the phrase book in front of your face when talking to Guanajuato merchants. This will be their clue that you are not fluent and they just might send someone running for a more bilingual Mexican.

2.) I know one restaurant that actually has English menus. This could, and I suspect will, change over night. Casa Valadez will not only give you English menus but also have many American dishes as well as wait staff that can hack through English with you—speak slowly and have patience.

3.) Guanajuato is a pedestrian city and the center, or El Jardin, where most tourists want to stay, is not generally accessible by car. You will have to have your taxi drop you off at the nearest street to access the area where your hotel will be located. So, be prepared to walk.

4.) Staying in the downtown area, while cute, charming, and picturesque, will not allow you to sleep any sort of normal schedule. It is noisy in the extreme with parties that could go until dawn. I would look to the southwest and east of town for better accommodations.

5.) May through September is the rainy season that can be very heavy and cause much inconvenience.

6.) Because of the topography of the city, the automobile exhaust cannot escape easily. If you are asthmatic you should avoid walking in certain areas. If you try walking from El Jardin to the Embajadoras area you will have to traverse narrow streets with bus fumes blown right into your face. Bring all your meds! The pollution here has grown worse in recent years.

Enjoy!