BajaNomad - dollars or pesos???

dollars or pesos???

fossilnut - 9-22-2006 at 02:00 PM

We're trying to figure out whether to exchange all of our dollars to pesos or have some of each.

We'll be camping and we're especially curious as to whether campgrounds prefer pesos or dollars and what sort of rate of exchange we might expect. (our campground book quotes rates in dollars but I'm not convinced that paying in dollars is the preferred way to go)

Thanks!

Sandy

Don Alley - 9-22-2006 at 03:13 PM

I prefer to just use pesos. Switching back and forth can cause confusion, and figuring exchange rates at small businesses can also be confusing. I do watch the exchange rate for volatility, but it's been relatively steady for a while now.

And it may not be too good an idea to carry too much cash, but to use the ATMs. That means pesos. I heard of some guy who's car got busted into last summer and the thief got over $2000 in US currency; you can bet he'll break into more cars.

bajalou - 9-22-2006 at 03:15 PM

Usually pesos, but carry some dollars so that if the price is quoted in dollars, that's what I pah in, no "rate of exchange". This is mostly resturants. Always get the pesos at ATMs.

Mike Supino - 9-22-2006 at 03:15 PM

ALWAYS use pesos at PEMEX

longlegsinlapaz - 9-22-2006 at 03:18 PM

Depending on where you are....banks typically give the best exchange rates. And you'll get a better exchange rate Mon-Tues than you will at the end of the week. They tend to lower the rate because they don't know that it'll do over the week-end, Mon-Tues rate has been adjusted to what transpired over the week-end & is typically significiently higher than Fri-Sat-Sun. So you can get more spending power out of your USD by exchanging early in the week! Gas stations give one of the WORST exchange rates! They are always lower than most other places.

oxxo - 9-22-2006 at 03:41 PM

Use pesos, but have dollars in reserve. If you want to pay for something in dollars with a price that's listed in pesos, the shops generally charge you about 10% for exchanging the dollars into pesos. Not good, so use pesos. The banks generally give the best exchange rate.

AmoPescar - 9-22-2006 at 03:47 PM

DEFINITELY...USE PESOS!!!!

It helps avoid the problem when you're paying, of them trying to shortchange or cheat you on the exchange rate.

BE SURE you ask for a variety of PESO denominations. That also helps avoid problems.

Where will you be crossing and traveling to??? Nomads can give you good information about exchange rates and their favorite places to exchange dollars.

Amo Pescar

[Edited on 9-22-2006 by AmoPescar]

villadelfin - 9-22-2006 at 03:51 PM

get small bills, 50 and 20s. I can not emphasise this enough.

Bob and jane - 9-22-2006 at 05:40 PM

Pesos for sure, maybe good to have some $'s , but I really never get a good exchange. It's 10-1 when the banco is nearly 11-1. hey, 10% is 10%

Here's another way to look at the choice...

David K - 9-22-2006 at 06:40 PM

... where using dollars is being generous to our Baja amigos:

If you use dollars, then you automatically give everyone you buy from a tip. It is really easy to convert 10:1 but not so at 10.7 or?:1 (without a calculator).

If you are counting your pennies that closely, maybe taking a vacation isn't going to be fun?

Baja gives us so much, why not give just a little extra back?

Just another way to look at a situation! :light:

[Edited on 9-23-2006 by David K]

Bob and jane - 9-22-2006 at 08:35 PM

Hey, I'll always tip for good service. I'm not on vacation. I just can't bring myself to tip the Pemex station, when I've already paid for 10-20% more gas than needed. The beer depositos really don't need a tip, the list goes on. puleez

bajaguy - 9-22-2006 at 08:44 PM

In addition to using pesos, I think if you use credit cards (VISA or Mastercard) you get the official current day's exchange rate

fossilnut - 9-22-2006 at 09:35 PM

Where will you be crossing and traveling to??? Nomads can give you good information about exchange rates and their favorite places to exchange dollars.

We'll be crossing at Tecate and spending all Winter in Baja (mostly in Baja Sur we think). Appreciate any suggestions on where to exchange dollars!

Thanks.

Sandy

David K - 9-22-2006 at 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and jane
Hey, I'll always tip for good service. I'm not on vacation. I just can't bring myself to tip the Pemex station, when I've already paid for 10-20% more gas than needed. The beer depositos really don't need a tip, the list goes on. puleez

I was not talking about a service, but the purchase of products.

Not on vacation? Then my suggestion wasn't directed to you.

Blaming all Pemex stations for cheating is not a fair statement.

Depositos don't need a tip? No, not a tip... but dollars give them a tiny raise.

Anyway, my view of the peso/dollar use was in no way to imply one was correct, so don't take offence. It was just another way to look at the question...

If you use dollars, the merchant gets a little extra if he uses a conversion rate below the official rate.

We (the visitor to Baja) are financially able to take time and travel there... The merchant selling pineapples on the corner probably will not ever be able to vacation in the United States, but is doing what he must to survive.

Is a few extra pennies he gets from the exchange difference going to ruin your trip?

AmoPescar - 9-22-2006 at 11:22 PM

Fossilnut...

Regarding Dollar for Peso exchange

I usually go to San Felipe and cross from Calexico to Mexicali. I always use the exchange booth which is on the corner of the building which houses the BAJA DUTY FREE store, one block before crossing over. I've always felt their exchange rate was good and they were always honest and fair.

The side benefit of that is shopping in the Duty Free Store. They always have excellent deals on top of the line Booze, and, I don't smoke, but if you do, cigarettes are supposed to be a really good deal. I highly recommend stopping if you like to have a drink other than Tequila.

And, for other crossings at SY and Otay, I usually stop on the U.S. side before crossing.

I've never used them, but, I've always heard the COSTCO in TJ has a good exchange, and you can also shop for supplies.

FYI...There's also DUTY FREE SHOPS in San Ysidro. Google Duty Free for addresses and maps

ANYONE ELSE HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD???

AMO

[Edited on 9-23-2006 by AmoPescar]

Bob and Susan - 9-23-2006 at 03:37 AM

"There's also DUTY FREE SHOPS in San Ysidro"

What is DUTY??? :lol:

oxxo - 9-23-2006 at 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
In addition to using pesos, I think if you use credit cards (VISA or Mastercard) you get the official current day's exchange rate

Careful here. I think most credit cards charge around 3% to use your US card in Mexico, I know my Mastercard does.

We often use the American Express office in San Jose del Cabo to exchange dollars. We have found they give the same exchange rate as the banks and THERE IS NO LINE!

[Edited on 9-23-2006 by oxxo]

Bob and Susan - 9-23-2006 at 07:14 AM

there's no line in santa rosalia....

take a number but...

it may be 400 numbers till they get to you

CONVERSION RATES

bajaguy - 9-23-2006 at 08:38 AM

For current conversion rates, go to

www.xe.com/ucc/

current exchange rate is listed as $100.00 (US) = 1104.25 Pesos (9-23-06)

comitan - 9-23-2006 at 03:26 PM

Back to the subject, use Peso's get them from an ATM they have the best rate, and don't forget and leave your card in the machine.

Al G - 9-23-2006 at 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
... where using dollars is being generous to our Baja amigos:

If you use dollars, then you automatically give everyone you buy from a tip. It is really easy to convert 10:1 but not so at 10.7 or?:1 (without a calculator).

If you are counting your pennies that closely, maybe taking a vacation isn't going to be fun?

Baja gives us so much, why not give just a little extra back?

Just another way to look at a situation! :light:

[Edited on 9-23-2006 by David K]

I totally agree David, well almost.
I just think it is easier to use Pasos especially at Mercado's and I give the change to the small person bagging. (most times more) I also tip 20% where ever I am.

[Edited on 9-23-2006 by Al G]

Al G - 9-23-2006 at 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
In addition to using pesos, I think if you use credit cards (VISA or Mastercard) you get the official current day's exchange rate

Not the day of POS, but the day of POST to your account.

Pappy Jon - 9-25-2006 at 06:53 AM

I guess I'm a lazy butt. I buy my pesos online from my bank. The exchange rate sucks, but they are delivered to my house the next day. Not having to stop on the way down is good, especially since I'm hardly near ATM's, and don't know where they are anyways.

As far as paying ... I always pay in Pesos, but I carry dollars too. I always pay in pesos for gas, beer, food ... but t-shirts seem to be priced in dollars (Museo in BOLA, and Coco's).

I also get my car insurance online before I leave. Once I'm in Baja, I don't want to conduct business. If I could get my tourist card before hand, I would.

David K - 9-25-2006 at 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G

Quote:

[Edited on 9-23-2006 by David K]

I agree with you Al, and most here in that it is far easier to use pesos when in Mexico... My post above was intended for those tourists (visitors) who haven't got pesos or wondeing if dollars will be accepted (they will, everywhere)...

Al G - 9-25-2006 at 12:03 PM

DK ...I understand now. This will not apply to people who rarely cross, I would like to give my routine as it could apply to rookies like me. I always returned to the states with my commitment money. Mil to Quince Cien Pasos. also I exchange dollars every Wednesday(Bank) as that has proved the least busy day. I get all dos Cien or Cien Pasos and Quince of the blue ones for tipping. I always remembered the color blue for tipping, Veinte Paso, and it keeps me from getting crazy when I first started. I guess I should have used English, but even first timers must learn this to get started.
Really not on subject, but maybe of help to the person who has not been through it before. I know it confused the **** out of me.

[Edited on 9-25-2006 by Al G]

Pappy Jon----

Barry A. - 9-25-2006 at 01:19 PM

---I am late to this thread, and perhaps it has been covered already, but you can go to any major bank as you pass thru towns and use their ATM for your pesos, getting a very favorable exchange rate-----at least that is the way I do it for ALL my pesos.

If you belong to a "club", such as DISCOVER BAJA, you CAN get our tourist permits from them, but you still have to technically have them validated at the border----takes just a few mins.

This is just the way I do it------probably are better ways.

Diver - 9-25-2006 at 01:26 PM

Use atm's and bring more than 1 card if you can.
Keep the extra card in a very safe place.
Check with your ATM company to check/raise your ATM limit.

I had one refused one time but the other worked fine.
I remembered the correct password the next day :lol:

wilderone - 9-25-2006 at 02:20 PM

I really surprised at these answers. If he's going to campgrounds, he will be charged in dollars. Unless you have your own calculator and can do the math yourself to pay in dollars (the exchange rate is usually posted), pay for gas in pesos, because the computation with their calculators can be wrong. Try to have nearly accurate payment in pesos as well. They're a little slow in bringing me change sometimes, I think they're hoping that I'll just leave without it. I'll give them a $20 for $17.65 charge for gas, and they'll take it and shrug and say "ok". "Mi cambio por favor" and they run around like they've never seen a $20 bill before. I've never had a problem in grocery stores paying in dollars and having them do the conversion calculation. I even get centavos back in change. Hide a good portion of your cash, and only keep the amount of cash you think you'll use that day on you.

wilderone-----

Barry A. - 9-25-2006 at 03:01 PM

I NEVER use dollars in Mexico----only pesos. It just gets to confusing for my feeble mind to do otherwise. Never have had any problems.

But yes, I do carry dollars, and in small bills, for some sort of emergency, and I keep them well hidden, (I hope) but I have NEVER used them in all the years.

LIBERAL?????----THAT WILL BE THE DAY----------

Barry A. - 9-25-2006 at 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
I NEVER use dollars in Mexico----only pesos.

What are you, a liberal or something?

Question: has anybody run into a situation in Mexico where Pesos were NOT accepted (ie Dollars demanded)?

--Larry

longlegsinlapaz - 9-25-2006 at 07:56 PM

Lencho....you....you....you...babe in the woods RENTER (lo siento....that's not really a dirty word!) you!

If you had a Fideicomiso, you'd know that all the banks quote &require payment of all the bank fees in USD, while that same bank quotes all the non-bank agencies associated costs in pesos. The annual bank renewal fees are also quoted & due in USD. I've asked two different banks about the legality of that since the peso is the legal tender...and basically the answer was "that's just the way it's done!" One DID try telling me that it's strictly a gringo document, so it's payable in USD, but I wasn't buying that! From just the little time I've spend passing through Ensenada, from all the signs that I can read...I'd say that English must be Ensenada's national language & USD is most likely the legal tender that far North, but a fideicomiso is the only thing that I've experienced being told I HAD to pay in USD this far south.

comitan - 9-25-2006 at 08:22 PM

LLLP

They quote in dollars but I've always paid in pesos.