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El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas is located in the west of Texas. It borders on the state of New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez (Mexico). El Paso is unique due to the blend of U.S and Mexican culture. It is the largest border town in the United States.
The city of El Paso is divided up into districts:
Central -oldest neighborhood in El Paso, centre of the city, landmarks include; El Paso international airport and Fort Bliss (large army base). East El Paso -fastest growing area- has a large number of entertainment venues.Westside- popular area, lots of restaurants and shops as well as a bus route on main street (Mesa Street)North East El Paso- is one of the most culturally diverse areas in El Paso. Growing slowly, often not a place visited by many tourist.These areas are important as you will find when people are giving you directions they will often refer to a particular area. The facts Land area: 246 sq milesPopulation: El Paso 717,200 (approx) Juarez 1,217,800 (approx)Official language: English and Spanish. You will find that people in El Paso are bilingual. Climate: El Paso often dubbed as The Sun City as it experiences around 300 days of sunshine per year. Summers in El Paso are hot with average July temperatures ranging from average highs of 95F (35 degrees Celsius) to average lows of 70F (21 degrees Celsius). Winters are dry with average temperatures in December ranging from 58F (14 degrees Celsius) to 32F (0 degrees Celsius)
Currency: US dollar. Most banks will exchange foreign currency however visa and masters cards are widely accepted.
Major highways: interstate 10 (I-10) is the major highway that connects El Paso to Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston and New Orleans.
Politics: like the rest of Texas, El Paso is largely democratic.
Attractions:Western Playland Amusement Park- located just across the state border in New Mexico you will find 25 acres of fun. There are many rides to choose from, something to suit all ages. Make a day of it, Sunland Park and casino is situated just across the road. Tickets for the amusement park start at around US$16 per person(plus taxes).
Sunland Park and casino- just across in New Mexico you will find live horse racing, casino, restaurants and numerous events right throughout the year.
El Paso Zoo- a cheap day out with tickets free for under 2 years, 3-12 years $3 and 13 years and over $5. Check the website for opening hours.
Wet N’ Wild Water Waterworld- a fantastic way to escape the desert heat. A wide variety of water slides to choose from. Tickets start at around US$17 for children and US$19 for adults (taxes not included).
Ciudad Juarez (Mexico) -a trip to El Paso would not be complete without a trip across the border to Mexico. But be careful, remember you are entering a different country where different rules apply. Most nationalities only need a passport if just crossing for the day. However if you plan to stay longer you may require a visa. If you are planning to drive across the border you will need Mexico car insurance (very important) if you are in an accident in Mexico the local police are likely to throw you jail if you don’t have insurance, so beware! For first timers and day trippers I would recommend contacting El Paso visitor information centre and organize a seat on the trolley. The trolley (border jumper) is a bus that leaves daily from the visitor information centre and commutes across the bridge into Mexico. The trolley will drop you off at all the hot spots (shopping/food places) and pick you up at the end of day. Another option is to walk across the bridge from El Paso into Mexico. The main shopping area is within walking distance. Remember to take some change with you as there is a small fare for crossing (usually around US$1).
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) football or basketball game is not to be missed! The atmosphere is incredible and seats are cheap!
Shopping:
New factory outlet stores have just opened in El Paso located just off the I-10 and transmountain loop this outdoor complex features over 385,000 square of factory outlets. Shops include: Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gap and Calvin Klein to name a few.
El Paso also has many malls to choose from. Cielo Vista Mall, located on the east side of El Paso features many department stores including Dillards, Macys and Sears. It also has many specialty stores including, Guess, Gap, Nine West, Banana Republic and Abercrombie and Fitch. Sunland Park Mall is another popular shopping spot (located on Sunland park drive) featuring over 130 specialty stores.
Restaurants:
There are a large variety of both local and international cuisines to choose from in El Paso. Eating out is generally quiet cheap. Nothing beats the authentic Mexican cuisine (not to be missed). Although there are food choices to cater to all tastes. If you are in a hurry El Paso has numerous fast food restaurants.
Tipz 4 when you are in El Paso:
Taxes- remember like the rest of the United States, taxes are generally not included in the price of food and clothes etc. make allowances for this when purchasing products.
Remember tipping is a must for all services. Generally tip around 10-15% of the total bill.
Getting around: Sun metro (local bus services). Taxis are also available but very few in numbers. There are also car hire places right throughout the El Paso region. If you are planning on staying a while there are many cars that can be picked up quiet cheap, check out the local paper for deals. El Paso also hosts an international airport.
Useful numbers and websites:
Emergency: 911
Sun metro – (915) 533-3333
Sun city cabs- (915) 544-2211
http://www.visitelpaso.com/ - El Paso visitor information centre. (Border trolley)
http://www.elpasozoo.org/ - El Paso zoo
http://www.westernplayland.com/ - Western Playland amusement park
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ - Local El Paso newspaper
http://www.sunland-park.com/ - Sunland Park and casino
http://www.elpasointernationalairport.com/- El Paso International airport
Accommodation
There are many great places to stay in El Paso ranging from very cheap (US$20 per night) to the expensive. Need a place to stay in El Paso check out the ones we recommend.
 El Paso desert |
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