BajaNomad

Pesos to buy on the Us (Tecate side?)-where?

Baja Bucko - 1-21-2016 at 09:12 AM

Is there a place on the US side of Tecate to buy pesos? My memory is foggy....a child of the 60s.

BigBearRider - 1-21-2016 at 10:29 AM

Yes. You will see more than one place with digital signs posting exchange rates on the US side.

ehall - 1-21-2016 at 11:25 AM

I usually stop at the first one on the left if you are headed south on the outskirts of town.

carlosg - 1-21-2016 at 11:39 AM

When exiting the US (still on the American side) right before the market on your right hand side just before the market parking lot entrance. I've found that its better to get pesos at the bank: I have a Bank of America debit card and go to Santander to get pesos: NO FEES, only at Santander with BofA card.

willardguy - 1-21-2016 at 11:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by carlosg  
When exiting the US (still on the American side) right before the market on your right hand side just before the market parking lot entrance. I've found that its better to get pesos at the bank: I have a Bank of America debit card and go to Santander to get pesos: NO FEES, only at Santander with BofA card.


(sorry 'bout the hijack) but are you sure about the "no fees"???? many ex-pats down here ended up ditching BofA when they started charging international fees on withdrawals from santander.....has this changed?

or are you just talking about the ATM charge?

[Edited on 1-21-2016 by willardguy]

carlosg - 1-21-2016 at 12:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
Quote: Originally posted by carlosg  
... I've found that its better to get pesos at the bank: I have a Bank of America debit card and go to Santander to get pesos: NO FEES, only at Santander with BofA card.


(sorry 'bout the hijack) but are you sure about the "no fees"???? many ex-pats down here ended up ditching BofA when they started charging international fees on withdrawals from santander.....has this changed?


SORRY for that, I just checked my online banking and YES!!! there is a FEE charged either by BofA or Santander, the Santander teller screen in TJ said $0.00 charge but my BofA online statement says International Transaction FEE: $1.68 dlls. for the $56.03 dlls. (I think $1,000.00 pesos on 01/16/16) Is it cheaper than buying at "Casa de Cambio"...??? To me it was an option, I was in TJ and only had dollars so if I used them I was sure going to get ripped off, as if its better than "Casa de Cambio": don't know.

[Edited on 1-21-2016 by carlosg]

willardguy - 1-21-2016 at 12:20 PM

yeah it can add up quick, most folks here switched to charles schwab or capitol one, im told some credit unions also offer no fee debit cards...

StuckSucks - 1-21-2016 at 12:27 PM

In the past, to streamline things, I've pre-purchased pesos at my local BofA (I've banked with these people for many years). I assumed they'd give me a fair exchange rate, but their rate was several points lower than the official exchange rate AND they charged me around $10 for the service. Lesson learned.

sancho - 1-21-2016 at 03:53 PM

Got some $p, at a SY casa couple months back, rate was 16.40
per dollar. I remember checking the bank rate, it was .40 pesos
above that 16.40. I assumed it would have been higher. My math isn't eguipped to make that quick calculation.So say
getting $200 dlls worth at 16.40, compared to the atm fee, $5?, + transaction fee. I know there are a couple no fee cards, but
wondering exactly how much one loses at the Casa de Cambios

willardguy - 1-21-2016 at 04:12 PM

for anyone not living here its certainly not worth fretting over, the difference of a couple beers ;)

ehall - 1-21-2016 at 04:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
for anyone not living here its certainly not worth fretting over, the difference of a couple beers ;)


x2 not enough to stress about.

bajaguy - 1-21-2016 at 04:31 PM

Hit the ATM at the HSBC bank, on your right before you pass the toll road
Quote: Originally posted by Baja Bucko  
Is there a place on the US side of Tecate to buy pesos? My memory is foggy....a child of the 60s.

wilderone - 1-21-2016 at 06:38 PM

Depending on how much you're exchanging, it just isn't that big of a difference. I have used that little market in the small shopping center on your left - it has a gas station. That market seems to be open early (6:30 am?), has coffee, pastries, and you can get insurance too. I got $17.27 a couple days ago in SY.