BajaNomad

Casa de Cambios at San Ysidro vs Tecate

seagar - 6-17-2013 at 10:36 AM

Does anyone have any information regarding the exchange rates at the San Ysidro Blvd Casa de Cambios vs Tecate. What I am looking for is it better to buy at the San Ysidro locations vs Tecate because there are more locations to buy from or is it a push? I will be crossing at Tecate but if the rates/commission in San Ysidro is that much better then I can buy at the San Ysidro Casa de Cambios. Thanks in advance

durrelllrobert - 6-17-2013 at 11:30 AM

Unless you are going to be spending them in Tijuana (or Tecate) why not wait until you get to an HSBC ATM because they give the best rate. There's one at the last toll gate coming into Ensenada and in every Calimax (TJ, Tecate, Rosarito, Ensenada, etc.)

DavidE - 6-17-2013 at 11:53 AM

Some cards give better rates than others using certain banks. The service charge for a BanComer far and away outstrips the better tipo de cambio given by BanComer which is nowhere near the official rate -2%. And they wonder why people rob banks.

Tipo de Cambio
+
Mexican bank ATM service fee

For what USA bank card...

[Edited on 6-17-2013 by DavidE]

DENNIS - 6-17-2013 at 12:15 PM

The Tipo is generally 2% at Cambios. Go online to Yahoo Finance or any one of the foreign exchange sites at get the up-to-the-minute rate...........back out 2%, and that going to be close to the competitive cambio's rate.
Keep in mind, the cambio rate will go a point or two higher going into a weekend. That's just what they do.

seagar - 6-17-2013 at 12:23 PM

Thanks Guys, I know I must be a dinosaur but, I don't have an ATM. I know it makes things easier but I just never wanted to get one. I have been going to Baja / Loreto for the past 26 years and always bought pesos at the San Ysidro spots. This year we are going through Tecate both ways and I was hoping to minimize the commission the best I can.

DENNIS - 6-17-2013 at 12:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by seagar
Thanks Guys, I know I must be a dinosaur but, I don't have an ATM.


Well...you aren't a complete Ludite as it seems you do have a computer. :lol:

sancho - 6-17-2013 at 02:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by seagar
I know I must be a dinosaur




I'm from the Mesozaic Era also, no cell ph, no GPS,
I use paper road maps. I do have an ATM, but reading
of Mex ATM's appetite for eating cards, valid or not,
has me hesitating. Can't imagine there would be
un centavo of difference in Cambios at San Ysidro/
Tecate, although there may be more competition
at SY. A couple weeks back, exchanged dlls for
pesos at SY, 11.80 per dll

Bajaboy - 6-17-2013 at 02:41 PM

We were in Tecate a few days ago..I was surprised the low rate of the exchange at the casa de cambios....if I recall around 12.2. I pulled money out at Bancomer and got something in the 12.7 range minus the $5.22 I paid in fee. So I'm guessing the cambios in TJ would be more competitive.

seagar - 6-17-2013 at 02:59 PM

Thanks for info Sancho and Bajaboy. That was the info I was looking for. Truly appreciated.

DavidE - 6-17-2013 at 03:10 PM

Tecate has historically had a wider spread than SY. Since Mexico established the business dollar only bank accounts the exchange houses exploited it. Why not just doing your thang in Costco Chula Vista. L street becomes OTAY LAKES road then you intersect the highway to Tecate in the middle of nowhere.

seagar - 6-17-2013 at 03:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
Tecate has historically had a wider spread than SY. Since Mexico established the business dollar only bank accounts the exchange houses exploited it. Why not just doing your thang in Costco Chula Vista. L street becomes OTAY LAKES road then you intersect the highway to Tecate in the middle of nowhere.


I am going to look into that. That sounds like a good idea that doesn't take me too far out of the way. Thank You

Bob and Susan - 6-17-2013 at 04:52 PM

the big gas station just as you leave tecate for Ensenada is the best rate
its on the right

they have a cambio there

pay dollars for gas for an even better rate

exchange pesos for dollars on the way back

clean bathrooms and food and good coffee inside

forget the atm's