Lee
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USD to Pesos in Ensenada
Bancomer and Banorte banks in Ensenada refused to change USD into Pesos today. I don't have an account with either banks.
Scotiabank, however, was happy to do it. (Don't have an account here either.)
This was at the mall where Walmart and Home Depot are located.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
Bancomer and Banorte banks in Ensenada refused to change USD into Pesos today. I don't have an account with either banks.
Scotiabank, however, was happy to do it. (Don't have an account here either.)
This was at the mall where Walmart and Home Depot are located. |
Good to know Lee,
Pesos are hard to come by these days. My last time at Declaration importing some lumber the Bank would not accept my U.S. Dollars, had to go back
outside and ask people driving into Mexico if they would change my dollars, third guy coming through helped me, wouldn't take a tip though, nice guy!
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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bajabound2005
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Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Mood: words cannot describe...
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JUST USE YOUR ATM CARD!!!!
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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Bajahowodd
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With the cuurent economy, banks are scrambling to raise fees and avoid doing anything that might cost them money. the cross-border vigilance about
money laundering just gives them all the more reason to cut bsck on such services. Unless, you have a need for major bucks, Bajabound's advice is
golden. And as has been posted here previously, certain banks, such as BofA and Bancomer, with joint ownership, allow you to withdraw pesos at their
ATMs without charge.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
JUST USE YOUR ATM CARD!!!! |
Yeah...really. How many times does it have to be said? When will Nomads start to listen to those who know?
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lizard lips
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What exchange rate did you get?
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Lee
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ATM? Wish I had thought of that!
| Quote: | Originally posted by lizard lips
What exchange rate did you get? |
12.9 at ScotiaBank.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
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Registered: 3-9-2009
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Just a tip, probably many in the know already do this. Whenever I return from Baja, I make sure that I have at least $200 USD equivalent in Pesos so
that when I fly back to Baja, I have adequate purchasing power to pay for taxis, dinner out, groceries and gasoline. That policy has save my bacon
many times when I fly into Loreto or La Paz and I get there after the banks close or on weekends.
I watch the exchange rates like a hawk and take advantage of good rates for buying Volaris airfare and when in Baja using ATMs to withdraw in pesos.
Try to avoid buying pesos at supermarkets or exchange offices ("caja de cambios") as the rates aren't nearly as good as using Santander ATMs with your
B of A debit card.
Be advised that the world is made up of cheap people like me and a whole bunch of people who have a ton of money to burn. In Baja you run into both
extremes of the financial scale all the time. It has always amused me to observe the vastly differing spending habits of foreigners in Baja. If I
could afford a $750,000 USD vacation condo furnished with two new SUVs, I wouldn't waste time worying about exchange rates either.
[Edited on 11-11-2009 by MitchMan]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MitchMan
Try to avoid buying pesos at supermarkets or exchange offices ("caja de cambios") as the rates aren't nearly as good as using Santander ATMs with
your B of A debit card. |
Typically, The Casas de Cambio charge about 2% more than the ATMs. Not bad when you need it.
One may wonder how they make money from that small margin.
Changeing money isn't their only function. Since credit has in the past been so hard to get for the average person and interest rates are high, the
Cambios act as money lenders, secured short term loans at gawdawful rates. For many, that has been the only credit available and still is.
They have another function as well but, no sense in bringing it up here.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Location: South of the broder
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MitchMan
Try to avoid buying pesos at supermarkets or exchange offices ("caja de cambios") as the rates aren't nearly as good as using Santander ATMs with
your B of A debit card.
[Edited on 11-11-2009 by MitchMan] |
There's a whole lot of Baja that doesn't have Santander banks or ATMs so a lot of us have to do it a different way. Driving a hundred miles to a
Santander to avoid a Banamex/Wells Fargo fee doesn't make much sense to me.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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MitchMan
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Good point, bajalou.
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Bajahowodd
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However, lack of access to banks and ATMs is not so much of a Mexico thing as it is a rural thing.
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nobaddays
Nomad
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HSBC in Cabo would not take $$$ either.
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SunnyDay
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USD - Traveler Checks exchange Baja
On this topic, had some Traveler's Checks I thought I'd cash in, been carrying them for ages for emergencies. No dice! Both banks and Casa de Cambio
in La Paz acted as if I were trying to exchange shiney objects for cash! Gringo t-shirt stores were equally as disinterested. Came home and cashed
and guess I'll have to go the ATM route in the future.
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SunnyDay
Newbie
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Dollars - exchange - question
So, I've heard too many stories of credit card numbers/ATM scams, and while being out of the country for a few weeks it's a mess to come home to.
That's why I've avoided both, generally. Am I working off old info? Paranoia and urban folk tales such as rampant tourist kidnappings and beheadings?
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
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Travelers' Checks are going the way of the dinosaur worldwide. ATMs everywhere.
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