Which currency should I take?

Ex3Para · 02-08-2004

I'm off to PDC in 7 weeks. Can anybody advise which currency I should take, $ or Ps? :o

jeffandbecky · 02-08-2004

Most of the advice on this board is to use your ATM. Personally, I always take a couple hundred in P's with me. There were two days in May of 1999 when all the ATM's in Cabo were down. Fortunately the hotel owners were good friends and helped us. Ten days and counting, Have Fun.

Sincerely,
Jeff and Becky

**james** · 02-08-2004

ATM card.

SAHMmy · 02-08-2004

ATM, so how do we know if we can access our bank funds from Playa? Or do you just eat the extra $$ in fees. How can I find out if my bankcard will work in the Playa ATMs?

(If this is a stupid question, I apologise in advance.)

Tyramania · 02-08-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by "SAHMmy"

ATM, so how do we know if we can access our bank funds from Playa? Or do you just eat the extra $$ in fees. How can I find out if my bankcard will work in the Playa ATMs?

I have used ATM cards from two separate banks in the US - neither bank charged a fee.

For questions specific to wheather your card will work and how much the fee will be, I suggest you contact your bank.

- Tyra

Mave · 02-08-2004

The Mexican banks don't charge a fee. Your bank might, but the better exchange rate you get compared to the money changing booths will likely offset it. And you don't have to worry about getting shortchanged as happens a lot with the moneychangers. The ATM worked GREAT for me.

Mave

jperge · 02-09-2004

So it is better to use an ATM card... Do you use it to take cash out of the ATM, or use it to make the actual purchases?? When I tried to use a credit card for some things last time in Playa, I was told I would have to pay a fee for using the card. Are there a lot of easily available ATM's around in Playa?

Thanks!

jeffandbecky · 02-09-2004

Get the cash from ATM's I have only had one problem in nine years. But in a country where cash is king, be sure you have cash.

Tyramania · 02-09-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by "jperge"

Do you use it to take cash out of the ATM, or use it to make the actual purchases?? When I tried to use a credit card for some things last time in Playa, I was told I would have to pay a fee for using the card.

I use my ATM card to obtain cash only. Now days, ATM debit cards are accepted as readily as credit cards. However, I don't believe you have the same protection against fraud that most credit cards offer.

I rarely use my credit cards - just have them in case of emergency or for big ticket items.

- Tyra

caramba · 02-09-2004

ATM's to get cash are the way to go. MY bank charged a fee of a few bucks per transaction, which I didn't realize til I got home, and it made me wish I'd made fewer, larger withdrawals. Oh well. I still think it was the best way to go. It was convenient- the one we used was right across from the bus station on 5th Ave.

LynnCay · 02-09-2004

Hello, I just returned from Playa two days ago...Here is the great advice that I took from a friend: Bring some US cash and an ATM card (for your pesos), then if the bill is in US $$, you pay in US $$...and if the bill is in pesos, you pay in pesos. The benefit is that you are getting the best value. If your bill is in pesos and you only have US money, you are trusting a clerk to give you an exchange rate that may or may not be current or correct...they are plugging some numbers into their calculator and that is what you owe. It is very hard for you to figure out if your change is correct when they are in charge of the money exchange.

Some hotels offered us a 10% discount if we paid in US$$, I think a lot of the tours and tourist activities are in US $$....I think the waiters like it if you tip in US $$...........But most of the restaurants and a lot of the souvenier shops listed prices in pesos.

Wwe used Banamex ATM machines with no problem...you get the current VISA exchange rate at the time of the transaction which is probably better than you get from the money exchange booths, the ATM's were easy to find and easy to use. Most cards have a limit on the amount of money that can be withdrawn in a 24 hour period. My card limited me to $200 US withdrawals. To save on the service charges (which I believe are only a couple of dollars), I would withdraw my maximum amount each time I used the machine. You punch in the amount you want in pesos and that is what you will receive. A 2000 peso withdrawal would be slightly less than $200 US, so that was what I took out at each transaction.

My ATM card had a visa symbol and a cirrus symbol on the back...You need to make sure that the ATM machine also has a visa symbol or a cirrus symbol on the machine....or mastercard or whatever symbol is on your ATM card.

Another benefit is that if it gets lost, no one can withdraw money out of your account unless they also know your pin #....for that reason, I felt very safe carrying it with me...I made 3 transactions of 2000 pesos each time, and it gave me pesos of various denominations...I carried US $$ in large and small denominations ($1 and $2 bills are great for tipping and small purchases)...Hope this helps, I cannot emphasise how easy and convenient this was!!! Have a great trip!

Just one other item...DO NOT pay a restaurant bill from a piece of plain paper with a number scribbled on it!!! The first night there, we ate at La Parilla...great food, good service...but when it came time to pay the bill, the waiter came over and recited what we had ordered...we agreed that that was the food we had consumed, then he scribbled 44 pesos on a plain white sheet of paper and handed it to us.......Well, I knew we didn't owe that much, I asked to see a menu and added up our meal total with him. He looked sheepish, I was angry at the idea that he was trying to overcharge us and he accepted the correct amount of pesos....Just make sure you are paying from a REAL bill listing your food and drinks and the correct price is attached to each.......honest mistakes can be made but this was a clear case of trying to pull the wool over our eyes and I am still disappointed about that!!

LynnCay · 02-09-2004

Sorry, made a type-o in my last post, La Parilla tried to charge us 440 pesos when we only owed 340 pesos...an extra $10US ...Also, look at every restaurant bill to see if they have alrready added a tip...it would be written in as a propina or servicio...Just be on the ball!

Ex3Para · 02-09-2004

This advice is great guys, but do the ATMs at PDC accept our British cards, as our 'Switch' cards also have "Cirrus" and "Maestro". Any further help would be great. :-?

**james** · 02-09-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by "LynnCay"

Here is the great advice that I took from a friend: Bring some US cash and an ATM card (for your pesos), then if the bill is in US $$, you pay in US $$...and if the bill is in pesos, you pay in pesos. The benefit is that you are getting the best value.

not necessarily. if the price is higher in dollars (bad exchange rate) why pay in dollars? Usually it will be the opposit, like maybe you'll see 10 dollars or 100 pesos, because the math is easy. Well, 100 pesos will cost you about 9 bucks with your ATM card.

Bring an ATM card, spend pesos, forget about it. I don't know of any big deals out there for using dollars. My two cents. err, I mean, my 20 centavos...

Quote:

Originally posted by "Ex3Para"

This advice is great guys, but do the ATMs at PDC accept our British cards, as our 'Switch' cards also have "Cirrus" and "Maestro".

you're fine. My Mexican ATM card says Maestro on the back too and Cirrus is also printed on the machines around here.

SAHMmy · 02-12-2004

Tyra-I just called my bank. They charge a 2% conversion fee for every transaction! That just chaps my ass. Does anyone else think that's a high price to pay to get MY money out of MY bank?

*SAHMmy wanders off grumbling to herself.....*

02-08-2004	#1 (permalink)
Ex3Para lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Birmingham, England, UK. Posts: 11	Which currency should I take? I'm off to PDC in 7 weeks. Can anybody advise which currency I should take, $ or Ps? :o

02-08-2004	#2 (permalink)
jeffandbecky life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 734	$'s or P's Most of the advice on this board is to use your ATM. Personally, I always take a couple hundred in P's with me. There were two days in May of 1999 when all the ATM's in Cabo were down. Fortunately the hotel owners were good friends and helped us. Ten days and counting, Have Fun. Sincerely, Jeff and Becky

02-08-2004	#3 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,721	ATM card. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

02-09-2004	#8 (permalink)
jeffandbecky life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 734	ATM'S Get the cash from ATM's I have only had one problem in nine years. But in a country where cash is king, be sure you have cash.

02-09-2004	#11 (permalink)
LynnCay sandflea Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4	ATM cards in Playa Hello, I just returned from Playa two days ago...Here is the great advice that I took from a friend: Bring some US cash and an ATM card (for your pesos), then if the bill is in US $$, you pay in US $$...and if the bill is in pesos, you pay in pesos. The benefit is that you are getting the best value. If your bill is in pesos and you only have US money, you are trusting a clerk to give you an exchange rate that may or may not be current or correct...they are plugging some numbers into their calculator and that is what you owe. It is very hard for you to figure out if your change is correct when they are in charge of the money exchange. Some hotels offered us a 10% discount if we paid in US$$, I think a lot of the tours and tourist activities are in US $$....I think the waiters like it if you tip in US $$...........But most of the restaurants and a lot of the souvenier shops listed prices in pesos. Wwe used Banamex ATM machines with no problem...you get the current VISA exchange rate at the time of the transaction which is probably better than you get from the money exchange booths, the ATM's were easy to find and easy to use. Most cards have a limit on the amount of money that can be withdrawn in a 24 hour period. My card limited me to $200 US withdrawals. To save on the service charges (which I believe are only a couple of dollars), I would withdraw my maximum amount each time I used the machine. You punch in the amount you want in pesos and that is what you will receive. A 2000 peso withdrawal would be slightly less than $200 US, so that was what I took out at each transaction. My ATM card had a visa symbol and a cirrus symbol on the back...You need to make sure that the ATM machine also has a visa symbol or a cirrus symbol on the machine....or mastercard or whatever symbol is on your ATM card. Another benefit is that if it gets lost, no one can withdraw money out of your account unless they also know your pin #....for that reason, I felt very safe carrying it with me...I made 3 transactions of 2000 pesos each time, and it gave me pesos of various denominations...I carried US $$ in large and small denominations ($1 and $2 bills are great for tipping and small purchases)...Hope this helps, I cannot emphasise how easy and convenient this was!!! Have a great trip! Just one other item...DO NOT pay a restaurant bill from a piece of plain paper with a number scribbled on it!!! The first night there, we ate at La Parilla...great food, good service...but when it came time to pay the bill, the waiter came over and recited what we had ordered...we agreed that that was the food we had consumed, then he scribbled 44 pesos on a plain white sheet of paper and handed it to us.......Well, I knew we didn't owe that much, I asked to see a menu and added up our meal total with him. He looked sheepish, I was angry at the idea that he was trying to overcharge us and he accepted the correct amount of pesos....Just make sure you are paying from a REAL bill listing your food and drinks and the correct price is attached to each.......honest mistakes can be made but this was a clear case of trying to pull the wool over our eyes and I am still disappointed about that!!

02-08-2004	#4 (permalink)
SAHMmy into ruins Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 72	ATM, so how do we know if we can access our bank funds from Playa? Or do you just eat the extra $$ in fees. How can I find out if my bankcard will work in the Playa ATMs? (If this is a stupid question, I apologise in advance.)

02-08-2004	#6 (permalink)
Mave beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 431	The Mexican banks don't charge a fee. Your bank might, but the better exchange rate you get compared to the money changing booths will likely offset it. And you don't have to worry about getting shortchanged as happens a lot with the moneychangers. The ATM worked GREAT for me. Mave

02-09-2004	#7 (permalink)
jperge life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portsmouth, VA Posts: 513	So it is better to use an ATM card... Do you use it to take cash out of the ATM, or use it to make the actual purchases?? When I tried to use a credit card for some things last time in Playa, I was told I would have to pay a fee for using the card. Are there a lot of easily available ATM's around in Playa? Thanks!

02-09-2004	#10 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,508	ATM's to get cash are the way to go. MY bank charged a fee of a few bucks per transaction, which I didn't realize til I got home, and it made me wish I'd made fewer, larger withdrawals. Oh well. I still think it was the best way to go. It was convenient- the one we used was right across from the bus station on 5th Ave.

02-09-2004	#12 (permalink)
LynnCay sandflea Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4	restaurant bill Sorry, made a type-o in my last post, La Parilla tried to charge us 440 pesos when we only owed 340 pesos...an extra $10US ...Also, look at every restaurant bill to see if they have alrready added a tip...it would be written in as a propina or servicio...Just be on the ball!

02-09-2004	#13 (permalink)
Ex3Para lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Birmingham, England, UK. Posts: 11	This advice is great guys, but do the ATMs at PDC accept our British cards, as our 'Switch' cards also have "Cirrus" and "Maestro". Any further help would be great. :-?

02-12-2004	#15 (permalink)
SAHMmy into ruins Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 72	Tyra-I just called my bank. They charge a 2% conversion fee for every transaction! That just chaps my ass. Does anyone else think that's a high price to pay to get MY money out of MY bank? SAHMmy wanders off grumbling to herself.....

register to remove these adverts