1. It’s still there - and it still rocks. Acapulco is the choice of over five million visitors a year, including many of Mexico City’s social elite who come for the weekend.

2. Acapulco was the cradle of tourism in Mexico. It enjoys 360 days of sunshine a year and features some of the finest beaches on the Pacific coast (one guide book recommends the ten best beaches in the area).

Acapulco really made it onto the map in the 50s and 60s when it became the destination of choice for Hollywood stars and celebrities. JFK and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned here. How cool is that?

3. It’s got the best nightlife in the country. Providing spectacular views of the glittering sweep of bay, many bars are the perfect perch for viewing the fireworks which explode over the bay at 11:00 pm each night. Music ranges from techno to hip-hop; the vibe can be elegant to school-breakrowdy. Most clubs are open all week but really heat up on Fridays and Saturdays.

The main thing is timing. Most clubs start to warm up at 11 p.m. and go through to 6 a.m. Show up at 10 p.m. and you’ll feel like you’ve turned up for the senior’s special at a Florida restaurant. Come 3 a.m., many clubs have a special event such as a circus-style act or fireworks. Hefty cover charges (as much as $35 -women normally cheaper or even free)are compensated by an open bar.

Check the dress code before you head out. Most clubs do not permit T-shirts, shorts, jeans or sandals.

Gals, fancy that Mexican standing near the bar? Don’t ask him to dance, counsels Jane Onstott, author of National Geographic Traveler Mexico and the expert behind www.mexicoguru.com. “Be a little more subtle. Do it with eye contact.”

4. There’s also lots to do if you’re not a night owl. Try the central market off the main drag, the Costera Miguel Aleman (locally called the Costera) - onestop shopping for souvenirs such as serapes, pottery and inexpensive jewelry. Plus there are several sparkling malls and Sanborns (a bit like Mexico’s answer to The Bay).

For a blast-from-the-past outing, head to La Quebrada (kay-bra-da), home of the legendary cliff divers. For decades, muscled divers have thrilled onlookers with their spectacular swan dives into the roiling surf from 40 meters (think 13 storey building) into a seven meter wide inlet that’s only four meters deep. Shows are at lunchtime and several times throughout the evening.

And of course, the beaches. Be prepared for a lot of bronzed bodies, snoozing off the effects of last night’s revelry.

5. Getting around. The safest bet is to have a bellman at your hotel hail you a cab. These are the official taxis, and as no cabs have meters, signs in your hotel lobby will spell out the rates to various points in the city. For a slightly more adventurous - and cheaper - ride, head out to the Costera and hail one of the hundreds of old-style VW Beetles which scuttle up and down the Costera all day and night. Before getting in, ask the driver what he will charge (most speak at least rudimentary English).