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bajarich
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Best Place to Buy Pesos in San Filipe
Currently in Yuma, headed for San Filipe, and have been advised to get Pesos in SF. Rate in Algodonas today was 17.9. Is it worth holding off until
SF? If so, where is the best place to exchange?
The official rate is 18.9.
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tobias
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Are you going through Mexicali or are you crossing now? A month ago I found the best rate on the american side in Calexico. Less than half a peso off
what google was posting at the time.
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sancho
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I know of only 1 casa de cambio in SF, where Chetumal St.,
the main st. you drive in from the no. dead ends at the malecon,
the st. that fronts the Sea of Cortez. The rate at San Ysidro today is 18.709. Generally
a casa in Mex will offer slightly less than border crossings
on the US side
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David K
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Yes, get pesos on the U.S. side "Casas de Cambio" (Exchange houses).
Otherwise, just use dollars... everyone accepts them in Baja.
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Phil C
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ATM at the first Pemex in S.F.
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WestyWanderer
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Came home on the 15th through San Felipe, Mexicali, and Calexico. The best rate at the time (18.55) was in Calexico. Mexicali was slightly less
(18.50) didn’t see in San felipe but it’s been my experience that’s San Felipe is traditionally about half a peso less than Mexicali.
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JZ
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That's a sure way to get the worst possible exchange rate, by a very wide margin.
[Edited on 1-17-2019 by JZ]
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David K
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Not in my experience. I have purchase pesos at a Casa de Cambio only to find the Pemex stations offering better exchange rates. Dollars are desired.
We are only talking pennies, but the advice to get pesos is really best for newbies to not get confused when getting change from purchases if they use
dollars and get pesos in change. A pocket calculator is your friend.
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thebajarunner
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Come on David, not good advice for a newbie
Quote: Originally posted by David K  | | Not in my experience. I have purchase pesos at a Casa de Cambio only to find the Pemex stations offering better exchange rates. Dollars are desired.
We are only talking pennies, but the advice to get pesos is really best for newbies to not get confused when getting change from purchases if they use
dollars and get pesos in change. A pocket calculator is your friend. |
Most Pemex stations I see have big signs that say "16 x 1"
What a deal.... and that is more than pennies.
But more important, for a newcomer you are asking them to not only take a hit on the exchange if they use dollars, but also to have to make "on the
run" mathematical calculations as to the conversion, be it official rate or something less.
Why make it more complicated?
My first advice, always, to a first timer...."Get pesos- it makes life a lot easier"
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Not in my experience. I have purchase pesos at a Casa de Cambio only to find the Pemex stations offering better exchange rates. Dollars are desired.
We are only talking pennies, but the advice to get pesos is really best for newbies to not get confused when getting change from purchases if they use
dollars and get pesos in change. A pocket calculator is your friend. |
You are gonna lose a lot of money running around Baja paying in dollars. Rookie mistake.
And I'm the last one to fixate on exchange rates. Plus who wants to use a calculator for all of transactions you might make daily, especially while
under the influence of a couple Pacificos.
[Edited on 1-17-2019 by JZ]
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David K
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As I said, not in my experience... and I am not a newbie or need a calculator for all purchases. I have always advised about the peso exchange places
and what I got. I even gave directions to the Chula Vista Costco where I have bought pesos a few times the past 10 years.
The point I am saying to newbies is if you can't find an exchange house to not panic or spoil your trip. Dollars are accepted everywhere in Baja.
Sometimes the rate isn't so great but in the northern gas stations, it is often better than the exchange house rates. The most money we campers spend
is buying gas. Hotels take credit cards as do many motels now. That gets you the official rate of exchange.
Having pesos in small notes is great for the taco stands. Just relax and enjoy the Baja experience.
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willardguy
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | | Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Not in my experience. I have purchase pesos at a Casa de Cambio only to find the Pemex stations offering better exchange rates. Dollars are desired.
We are only talking pennies, but the advice to get pesos is really best for newbies to not get confused when getting change from purchases if they use
dollars and get pesos in change. A pocket calculator is your friend. |
Most Pemex stations I see have big signs that say "16 x 1"
What a deal.... and that is more than pennies.
But more important, for a newcomer you are asking them to not only take a hit on the exchange if they use dollars, but also to have to make "on the
run" mathematical calculations as to the conversion, be it official rate or something less.
Why make it more complicated?
My first advice, always, to a first timer...."Get pesos- it makes life a lot easier" |
I suppose it varies from location to station but at least up here in rosarito/tijuana Pemex's have always had some of the best exchange rates you can
find, many locals will buy gas with greenbacks to get change in peso's........now with Pemex's a thing of the past I wonder how this shakes out with
Chevron's and Arco?
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drzura
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Totally agree. Do not pay in U.S. dollars if possible.
| Quote: Originally posted by JZ |
That's a sure way to get the worst possible exchange rate, by a very wide margin.
[Edited on 1-17-2019 by JZ] |
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pacificobob
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ |
That's a sure way to get the worst possible exchange rate, by a very wide margin.
[Edited on 1-17-2019 by JZ]
i refuse to use currency from a country other than the one i am in. if the foreign currency is accepted....there is a very good reason why. it is not
hard to connect the dots here. if someone quotes a price to me in dollars, i am fairly sure i am about to be boned and being quoted the "gringo price"
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | As I said, not in my experience... and I am not a newbie or need a calculator for all purchases. I have always advised about the peso exchange places
and what I got. I even gave directions to the Chula Vista Costco where I have bought pesos a few times the past 10 years.
The point I am saying to newbies is if you can't find an exchange house to not panic or spoil your trip. Dollars are accepted everywhere in Baja.
Sometimes the rate isn't so great but in the northern gas stations, it is often better than the exchange house rates. The most money we campers spend
is buying gas. Hotels take credit cards as do many motels now. That gets you the official rate of exchange.
Having pesos in small notes is great for the taco stands. Just relax and enjoy the Baja experience. |
So you don't go to bars, shopping, restaurants, rent boats/pangas, etc., etc.
Again, carrying dollars except for the corner case of just buying gas at one of the Pemexs offering a good rate, is how you get a 15 to 1 rate or
worse.
[Edited on 1-17-2019 by JZ]
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WestyWanderer
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For what it’s worth, spent last week in Puertecitos and changed dollars in Calexico for 18.70, Pemex stations in San Felipe were changing at 19.0.
I would agree the easiest way to go is to get pesos though
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by WestyWanderer | For what it’s worth, spent last week in Puertecitos and changed dollars in Calexico for 18.70, Pemex stations in San Felipe were changing at 19.0.
I would agree the easiest way to go is to get pesos though |
Exactly, I simply reported the facts and then the reader can decide.
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HeyMulegeScott
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We get a good exchange rate by using our credit cards that don't charge a transaction fee. In San Felipe Calimax, Oxxo, and a couple of the Pemex
stations take credit cards. For peso we use the ATM at Calimax or the bank downtown with our USAA account that doesn't charge fees. Be careful because
after a busy weekend.
I have to agree with JZ if you use dollars you will pay the gringo tax.
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sancho
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I suppose I'm escuela viejo, not part of the plastic using searching for the easiest, most convenient method, generation. Never would I use a credit
card in Mex. I prefer pesos and
if the peso per dll is not easily rounded up, a calculator
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HeyMulegeScott
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| Quote: Originally posted by sancho |
I suppose I'm escuela viejo, not part of the plastic using searching for the easiest, most convenient method, generation. Never would I use a credit
card in Mex. I prefer pesos and
if the peso per dll is not easily rounded up, a calculator
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Come on amigo join the 21st century We get cash back on our credit card, fully
protected from fraud, and I have had more problems in California than anywhere else Mexico has never been a problem.
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