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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17289
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Buy them in the USA, cambios are located just north of each border xing. Almost always cheapest to buy in USA.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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BornFisher
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Posts: 2103
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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Three2tango-- so do you get cash back using a credit card? Is that at Calimax, or OXXO or where? Going to have to try that. When I use a debit card at
a bank, they charge $5 plus 3%. I have a card that has no fees for international transactions so this may be great info!!
"When you catch a fish, you open the door of happiness."
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9225
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  | | Three2tango-- so do you get cash back using a credit card? Is that at Calimax, or OXXO or where? Going to have to try that. When I use a debit card at
a bank, they charge $5 plus 3%. I have a card that has no fees for international transactions so this may be great info!! |
Agree 100% with Three2tango. I have CC's that have no international transaction fees. There are debit cards that offer the same.
You get points and/or cash back for every purchase you make, from the card holder, not the places you use it at.
You should be putting everything through a CC (and paying it off each month). Lots of free flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. earned that way. Plus
it helps towards airline status, e.g. you get to fly first class for free on coach tickets.
Ppl afraid to use a CC in MX are behind the times. If there is fraud, one call to the bank reverses it instantly.
Plus, you get the best exchange rates. In sum, always use a CC where possible.
(although using pesos is still way better than traveling around Baja with dollars and paying the gringo tax that DK pays).
[Edited on 1-19-2019 by JZ]
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HeyMulegeScott
Senior Nomad
Posts: 690
Registered: 8-25-2009
Location: Orygone/Mulege
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| Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher | | Three2tango-- so do you get cash back using a credit card? Is that at Calimax, or OXXO or where? Going to have to try that. When I use a debit card at
a bank, they charge $5 plus 3%. I have a card that has no fees for international transactions so this may be great info!! |
Yeah. Use your credit with no fees at Calimax, Oxxo, Pemex and anywhere that takes it without tacking on extra fees. We get cash back on our credit
card. Credit card should give you a good exchange rate.
For banking, we add money to our USAA checking that doesn't charge fees and refunds a certain amount of the ATM per month. This isn't our primary
checking account so if we lose the card or something happens down here we have a backup. Plenty of other options for banks that don't hose you on
those fees.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2716
Registered: 5-10-2011
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This is what I usually hear from newbies or short-term visitors, and it can't be farther from the truth. Eventually they will take USD if you insist,
but the rate won't be good.
Agreed with other posters - buy pesos in the US.
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3005
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Lots of answers where to buy Pesos that do not answer the question by the OP.
In San Felipe every ATM I have tried, both no local bank one work just fine and always give you a good exchange rate. Bancomer now works. Sometimes
your parent bank has a service charge.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alm |
This is what I usually hear from newbies or short-term visitors, and it can't be farther from the truth. Eventually they will take USD if you insist,
but the rate won't be good.
Agreed with other posters - buy pesos in the US.
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I have traveled in Baja since the 1960s, and as you missed where I have talked about getting pesos many times, the fact is you can use dollars and it
is not always a bad exchange. I wanted the OP to not panic if he didn't get pesos. Relax.
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by Alm |
This is what I usually hear from newbies or short-term visitors, and it can't be farther from the truth. Eventually they will take USD if you insist,
but the rate won't be good.
Agreed with other posters - buy pesos in the US.
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I have traveled in Baja since the 1960s, and as you missed where I have talked about getting pesos many times, the fact is you can use dollars and it
is not always a bad exchange. I wanted the OP to not panic if he didn't get pesos. Relax. |
so what kind of of a rate were getting as a 8 year old adventurer?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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12.50 to the dollar.
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2237
Registered: 4-23-2006
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in the mid-1500s while traveling with juan (cabrillo that is) we had such a difficult time changing our escudos to pesos. but of course, most of you
were unfamiliar with "the baja" back then.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3778
Registered: 2-9-2004
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"have to make 'on the run' mathematical calculations as to the conversion,"
The guys at the gas stations have calculators and will show you the calculation as they make it, twice if you want.
"You should be putting everything through a CC "
Sometimes your card will be declined for an unknown reason (at a time when you really need that purchase). Sometimes their card reader can't be used.
Sometimes there is fraud with card skimmers. Sometimes the ATM is out of money. Never let anyone walk away out of sight with your credit card. Do
not rely on your credit card to be your only payment option. And of course, only use a bank card that has no foreign transaction fees AND reimbursed
transaction fees. And always separate your cash, credit cards, checks (yes, some still take a check), and divide your cash in separate places.
Don't sweat a small difference in exchange rates. The difference between $500 at 17.60 rate and a 18.20 rate is $16.00. If you have an ATM
transaction fee charged, you're dinged for $2 or $3 every time. The price of gas is different, sometimes the station pumps are skewed (what? I just
put 16 gal. in my tank that takes 12?). Such are the perils and pitfalls of travel.
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3005
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Not fake news
Got 9000 Pesos yesterday at the ATM. Exchange rate was 18.647/dollar including a $5 charge from Wells Fargo.
18.8425 if you ignore the $5 charge. The official bank rate yesterday was 19.077
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17289
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by Alm |
This is what I usually hear from newbies or short-term visitors, and it can't be farther from the truth. Eventually they will take USD if you insist,
but the rate won't be good.
Agreed with other posters - buy pesos in the US.
|
I have traveled in Baja since the 1960s, and as you missed where I have talked about getting pesos many times, the fact is you can use dollars and it
is not always a bad exchange. I wanted the OP to not panic if he didn't get pesos. Relax. |
Many People don’t want dollars. They tolerate your offer of dollars because they are polite.
The local currency is pesos. Take 5 minutes effort to change some money, instead of making your laziness the vendor’s problem
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3005
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Goat that is true. The polite local place or vendor that take dollars has to go to a friend who has a US bank or a Local bank and exchange dollars for
pesos. That means the local place will lose money for each exchange. Thus the discount to take dollars is quite a bit.
Its is not nice to use dollars.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yet, while standing in line at a market in El Rosario (not a tourist town) a few years ago, a local was buying groceries using dollars... it is a
second currency and not at all an issue.
Goat misses the point... I agree it is easier and respectful to use pesos, and I normally do. If, however, you either can't get the pesos or run out
of pesos, don't panic... dollars work. Don't cancel a trip because you didn't get pesos.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5805
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Escuela Viejo?
Yeah....me too, but I feel that using my 'Yaba daba doo' card from the Bank of Bedrock, is safer for me than carrying enough cash to last a couple of
months in Baja.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
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My parents were taking me on trips to Mexico back then, and it was either 12.5 pesos to the dollar (8 cents), or eight pesos to the dollar (12.5
cents). It was a long time ago!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by Alm |
This is what I usually hear from newbies or short-term visitors, and it can't be farther from the truth. Eventually they will take USD if you insist,
but the rate won't be good.
Agreed with other posters - buy pesos in the US.
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I have traveled in Baja since the 1960s, and as you missed where I have talked about getting pesos many times, the fact is you can use dollars and it
is not always a bad exchange. I wanted the OP to not panic if he didn't get pesos. Relax. |
Many People don’t want dollars. They tolerate your offer of dollars because they are polite.
The local currency is pesos. Take 5 minutes effort to change some money, instead of making your laziness the vendor’s problem
|
 ...no seriously, you couldn't make this chit up! show me ONE mexican that
wouldn't rather have a grip load of american dollars over peso's!
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bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 463
Registered: 1-13-2005
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Since I am still in Yuma and will be crossing a Algodonas, I'll just get the Pesos there when I pick up my new crown.
I don't use dollers because I don't want to have to get out a calculator every time I do a transaction. What a hassle, plus, since I can count cambio
in pesos, I count it out in front of the clerk so they don't make a "mistake" and shortchange me. It's just easier to deal with their system.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes, it is easier to use pesos. Let us know what exchange rate you get. Have fun down there in the arroyo or where ever you go! I hope you enjoyed my
book... It was nice talking with you!
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