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Alm
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Buying pesos in Calexico?
I've grown to dislike Mexican cambios lately, and my local exchange place up north dried up, no pesos. Is there anything in Calexico with cash rates
comparable to cambios?
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towntaco
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Last trip I used Casa De Cambio Dolar at 843 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231. It made cutting over to Cesar Chavez via Grant St easy. I'll use them
again next trip.
[Edited on 2-7-2024 by towntaco]
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pacificobob
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I haven't been to a cambio business in years. Is the general consensus that the rate is better than ATMs?
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AKgringo
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Check with your local bank to see if they can do an exchange for you before you leave town.
A Wells Fargo bank here in Grass Valley CA used to keep pesos on hand, but now I need to give them a few days notice to make an exchange. I don't
remember what the exchange rate is, but is great not having to add that step to a border crossing.
I like road tripping, so I look for roads and places north of the border to check out on the way down. Where, and when I cross is usually a surprise
to me, so already having pesos helps a lot.
I don't travel with a lot of cash and use ATMs when I get to Baja Sur. I also bring any unused pesos home with me for the next trip, rather than
doing another exchange. If I choose to, the same local Wells Fargo at home will do the deal for me.
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
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More Calexico Cambio trivia (edit; I was not in Mexicali)
A couple of years ago I arrived there without a lot pesos on hand. Probably due to a fluxation in the exchange rate, the first three cambios I went
to were not willing or able to trade pesos for my greenbacks.
I even tried the Wells Fargo there, but they had a line out the door from people waiting to make an exchange. I don't know if they were trying to get
dollars or pesos, and perhaps I should have asked if anyone wanted to trade!
Leaving W.F., I did run across a Cambio near there a few blocks off the North south corridors that was open for business.
[Edited on 2-7-2024 by AKgringo]
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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WestyWanderer
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We went down last Thursday and exchanged in Calexico at one of the many Cambios. Rate was 16.80-16.90/1 depending on the place, which was better than
in Mexicali. Came back on Monday and rate was the same.
We cross at the west border and take Imperial all the way to Second street, have used the Cambio in the Autozone parking lot for years and the rate
has always been competitive and it’s super easy in and out.
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Alm
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Forgot to ask, is there an exchange in the customs building in Mexicali? There used to be one at Chapparal crossing but last time it was closed,
likely for good.
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Alm
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Quote: Originally posted by towntaco  | Last trip I used Casa De Cambio Dolar at 843 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231. It made cutting over to Cesar Chavez via Grant St easy. I'll use them
again next trip.
[Edited on 2-7-2024 by towntaco] |
This one? https://maps.app.goo.gl/SbMywZdKPi5H2RNt5.
Thanks. I look at the map, there is half a dozen of cambios on this street, if this one won't have pesos some others should.
[Edited on 2-7-2024 by Alm]
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AKgringo
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another Calexico possibility
If you have some last minute shopping to do before you cross the border, try Walmart. I did not use the service, but I saw people at the customer
service desk doing exchanges.
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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WestyWanderer
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The exchange place I was talking about is at 337 s. Imperial ave.
Has never never been out of pesos, I stop there probably 3-5 times per year.
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JDCanuck
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Forex exchange rate MXN/USD for comparison right now is 17.075.
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AKgringo
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The dollar has lost almost two pesos value since mid October!
Since I basically just need to pay for gas and food for a month or two, the difference in exchange fees is chump change compared to even one fill up
at the wrong station.
Convenience and flexibility is worth something to me.
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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liknbaja127
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We do ours at US Bank, and there is no charge, but they do
need a few days notice.
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Hook
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Yeah, many brick and mortar banks say "no charge" but they get you on the exchange rate. I remember my MIL coming down to visit one year and she got
pesos through Chase. It was about 15% lower than what we were getting from an ATM, at the time.
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Alm
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What would you say are really bad stations in Mexicali San Felipe stretch? (I realize that their rating may change with the change of ownership)
[Edited on 2-11-2024 by Alm]
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AKgringo
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alm |
What would you say are really bad stations in Mexicali San Felipe stretch? (I realize that their rating may change with the change of ownership)
[Edited on 2-11-2024 by Alm] |
Actually I was thinking of the gas stations north of the border that are convenient pull off places along the freeway system. They seem to have extra
special gasoline that can add 10 or 15 dollars more to a fill up than the ones that are in more commercial areas.
Running low on fuel on a remote stretch of road can also put you in a "high value" station fill up.
I have about 700 miles to cover before I even get to the border, and my Trooper is not a great economy rig.
The only truly blatant Mexican rip-off station that I have used was in La Paz near the turnoff to the airport, and that was a few years ago.
[Edited on 2-11-2024 by AKgringo]
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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Marc
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I buy coin of the realm and travel with cash. I figurer out a budget and then double it. Also carry about $500 USD in $10 & $20. Amazing what you
can grease with USD. This has been my rule since running out of money in New Guinea years ago. Now that is a story! Maybe later.
Exercise regularly. Eat sensibly. Die anyway.
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David K
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Used the exchange in Calexico, across from Pep Boys and across the street southbound on 111.
Very happy with them.
This was in 2017 for my Baja Bound research trips.
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BoenBaja
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What towntaco said, Casa de Cambio Dolar gave me a good rate when I last used them and it was easy to get from there to the East POE crossing. If you
open a Charles Schwab checking account with a debit card, they pick up the ATM fees. Saved new bunch this trip down as I’m having to withdraw a lot
of cash to pay for the project in Bahía Asunción.
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mtgoat666
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I used to use filco at 3rd and imperial in calexico. Last month they would only allow 1400 usd to be exchanged — any amount over 1400 would get a
worse exchange rate. Something is flocked up in calexico.
Better off to do exchange at your home bank or costco or BajaMex in SY.
Also, be aware that the exchange at CBX offers really crappy exchange rates… do not change money at CBX or in airport, it’s a rip off.
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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