Arriving Sat.in Cancun and Playa-info on banks or money exchange booths and location?

cgl7 · 09-25-2007

Hello all,
Arriving Sat.in Cancun.Is there a bank or exchange booth open on Saturdays at the airport? We need to transfer U.S.travellers cheques to pesos.Would like to avoid the airport area if possible as we heard the exchange cost more there. Does anyone know of the same in Playa? Is there a booth or bank near the bus terminal? Thanks!

**james** · 09-25-2007

do you have an ATM card?

Rissask · 09-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by james

do you have an ATM card?

yes

If you do, take and use that, avoid traveller's checks.

Chilepepper · 09-25-2007

In Cozumel we always paid by debit card or credit card. And I think they took American money as well.

**Bumper** · 09-25-2007

ATM card is definitely the way to go. There's a Scotiabank right across 5th from the bus station, assuming you mean the main bus terminal in Playa. It has two ATM machines, and the prompts are bi-lingual. Easy-peasy.

solcats3 · 09-25-2007

Make your life easy by using an ATM card rather than travellers checks. We've learned this the hard way; unless your signature is EXACTLY the same EVERY time, you're likely to have trouble cashing the checks. (And there IS a "Travellers Check Nazi" - I forget where, exactly, but we made the mistake of visiting this kiosk and you'd think we were trying to rob Fort Knox!)

Bluespicker · 09-25-2007

ATM all the way. Travelers checks for emergency use and to pay the hotel bill but that's all.

Mexivoof · 09-25-2007

If your hotel has an in-room safe, just take crisp new cash down in a moneybelt, lock it up as soon as you get in your hotel room, and never carry more than you can afford to lose (though in 6 trips it has NEVER been a problem).

david479 · 09-30-2007

Is there a better Exchange rate at the Bank? Or at the Exchange outlets on the street?............25 days till Playa!!

Babaloo · 09-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by david479

Is there a better Exchange rate at the Bank? Or at the Exchange outlets on the street?............25 days till Playa!!

the banks are crowded
just go to a cambio
the difference really isn't worth it
but like most say....ATMs are the best way

queencityfan · 09-30-2007

Order some pesos (request 20, 50 and 100 peso bills) to get you started from your home bank, then hit the ATM when you need more in Playa.

If you don't have a Visa or Mastercard ( I only use AMEX) for your hotel bill go ahead and bring Travelers checks for that. I did that last trip and it did give me some peace of mind in case my ATM card went on the fritz.

Money exchanging in Playa is very easy.

Sol · 09-30-2007

Usually, I got to the ATMs, but on this last time I used both an ATM and a cambio. You can get a good exchange rate at the cambio.

mastequilapf · 10-01-2007

The last couple of years we've taken just a little bit of cash to get us by at the airport and until we can get to an ATM (usually $100 USD or less), and then used the ATM from then on out. Mexivoof does what we do too. We'll get the maximum out, and then put most of it away until we need it. This also helps us from overspending!

09-25-2007	#1 (permalink)
cgl7 lost on fifth Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12	Arriving Sat.in Cancun and Playa-info on banks or money exchange booths and location? Hello all, Arriving Sat.in Cancun.Is there a bank or exchange booth open on Saturdays at the airport? We need to transfer U.S.travellers cheques to pesos.Would like to avoid the airport area if possible as we heard the exchange cost more there. Does anyone know of the same in Playa? Is there a booth or bank near the bus terminal? Thanks!

09-25-2007	#2 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,744	do you have an ATM card? __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

09-30-2007	#9 (permalink)
david479 way into it Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 214	Exchange Is there a better Exchange rate at the Bank? Or at the Exchange outlets on the street?............25 days till Playa!!

09-30-2007	#11 (permalink)
queencityfan añejo Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,739	Order some pesos (request 20, 50 and 100 peso bills) to get you started from your home bank, then hit the ATM when you need more in Playa. If you don't have a Visa or Mastercard ( I only use AMEX) for your hotel bill go ahead and bring Travelers checks for that. I did that last trip and it did give me some peace of mind in case my ATM card went on the fritz. Money exchanging in Playa is very easy. Last edited by queencityfan; 09-30-2007 at 12:20 PM.

09-25-2007	#4 (permalink)
Chilepepper beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 279	In Cozumel we always paid by debit card or credit card. And I think they took American money as well.

09-25-2007	#5 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 9,685	ATM card is definitely the way to go. There's a Scotiabank right across 5th from the bus station, assuming you mean the main bus terminal in Playa. It has two ATM machines, and the prompts are bi-lingual. Easy-peasy.

09-25-2007	#6 (permalink)
solcats3 beachaholic Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 384	Make your life easy by using an ATM card rather than travellers checks. We've learned this the hard way; unless your signature is EXACTLY the same EVERY time, you're likely to have trouble cashing the checks. (And there IS a "Travellers Check Nazi" - I forget where, exactly, but we made the mistake of visiting this kiosk and you'd think we were trying to rob Fort Knox!)

09-25-2007	#7 (permalink)
Bluespicker añejo Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rural Mankato,Minnesota Posts: 2,606	ATM all the way. Travelers checks for emergency use and to pay the hotel bill but that's all.

09-25-2007	#8 (permalink)
Mexivoof añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 3,311	If your hotel has an in-room safe, just take crisp new cash down in a moneybelt, lock it up as soon as you get in your hotel room, and never carry more than you can afford to lose (though in 6 trips it has NEVER been a problem).

09-30-2007	#12 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 10,449	Usually, I got to the ATMs, but on this last time I used both an ATM and a cambio. You can get a good exchange rate at the cambio.

10-01-2007	#13 (permalink)
mastequilapf Chelydra serpentina Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,982	The last couple of years we've taken just a little bit of cash to get us by at the airport and until we can get to an ATM (usually $100 USD or less), and then used the ATM from then on out. Mexivoof does what we do too. We'll get the maximum out, and then put most of it away until we need it. This also helps us from overspending!

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