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Benski
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 7-1-2015
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Please suggest rip offs to look out for and how to deal with bad situations!
I am new to this forum. I am planning my first driving trip to Cabo at the end of September. Of course I've heard the stories of situations gone bad
in Baja. I would like suggestions on how to handle possibly bad situations and rip offs to watch out for. Thank you for any help...
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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I wouldn't call it a 'ripoff' but I had a gas station attendant whose math skills sucked when it came to making change when I used dollars. Since that
one time in the early 80's I always use pesos for fuel and I always pointedly watch the meter being reset to zero before pumping and I always tip big!
YMMV
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
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Another book? Seems too much of this for one evening...
Ok, a proven remedy: don't go to Cabo. Stay home NOB, don't leave your house or apartment.
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basautter
Senior Nomad
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
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Most citizens handling cash are honest, but...always pay close attention to gas attendants. They play stupid when it comes to change. Also, watch
cashiers in stores. Once again, bad math and overcharging. I recommend using pesos, and carrying a calculator. Watch yourself, and have fun! 
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basautter
Senior Nomad
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
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By the way, you can get the bank rate exchange with a small additional fee at AtMs with a debit card.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18365
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by Benski  | | I am new to this forum. I am planning my first driving trip to Cabo at the end of September. Of course I've heard the stories of situations gone bad
in Baja. I would like suggestions on how to handle possibly bad situations and rip offs to watch out for. Thank you for any help...
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I suggest you stay home. Watch out!
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3511
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Heh, we forget our first time and the asking the same questions.
OK: Have an ATM card and call your bank before leaving and tell them you will be in Mexico. Stop and get Pesos at an Bank ATM after crossing the
boarder - they are everywhere. Get your maximum allowed, at least $3000 pesos, $5000 is better. When buying gas, tell the attendant you want $500
pesos worth or some other multiple of $100 - you will learn what your tank will take. No change to mess with. If they clean your windows, 10 pesos is
about right, 20 is generous.
I'm not familiar with the long stretches of road without Pemexes in Sur, but for sure going south fill up in El Rosario and I'm guessing Jesus Maria.
Coming north you will be a pro.
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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 2-14-2006
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what kind of stories ?
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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keep in mind that 3000 pesos is less than $200 nowadays! I'm buying pesos from my bank NOB so I have plenty of funny money in hand. save the dollars
for unforeseen events or deletion of funny money stash, whichever comes first!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Time Share Sales
Stay away from 'em.....even if they offer free food
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Take a day trip or two to TJ and Ensenada. Call it a baptism by fire.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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nandopedal
Nomad
Posts: 169
Registered: 6-1-2010
Location: San Diego Ca
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Mood: Negra Modelo
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Nail it as usual Dennis, if you can survive that the rest of Baja will feel like.......well, nice Baja
\"There are many dangers in Baja. The most serious of which is not going.\" Christophe Noel (EXPO)
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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Have a quick way to convert from pesos to dollars in your head that you can remember.
at 16 pesos per dollar, 100 pesos is $6.25.
So if something costs 735 pesos it's easy to figure out. 
Take a pocket calculator.
Be a generous tipper, gas station attendants too. For the most part you're dealing with poor people.
As for your original question about bad situations, I've never had one, except for a transmission falling apart in the middle of nowhere.
[Edited on 8-5-2015 by SFandH]
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Benski
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 7-1-2015
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Thanks members for some of the replies. Hey Bajaguy, I'm in Utah and will be taking a road trip to visit Carson City in the next few weeks. I see
you live there. It would be nice to meet up and talk about my trip. I don't know how to privately message someone on this forum. Keep the replies
coming and thanks to those who contribute!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Benski | | Thanks members for some of the replies. Hey Bajaguy, I'm in Utah and will be taking a road trip to visit Carson City in the next few weeks. I see
you live there. It would be nice to meet up and talk about my trip. I don't know how to privately message someone on this forum. Keep the replies
coming and thanks to those who contribute! |
See the "U2U" button with other buttons around the box of each Nomad's post you are reading. Click it. A reply or any u2u you get, will be in blue at
the top right of the Nomad page, when you come back. Click on it to read.
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Cliffy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 12-19-2013
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Use pesos for purchases if you can. Consider ATM fees as a cost of doing business. After that all things are easy or should be. Driving will be your
biggest challenge. Slow down and enjoy the experience. Its easy to be distracted by the new sights and sounds down there.
You will find some of the nicest people in the world in your travels there.
As opposed to 40 years ago, stuff is available most everywhere. Food markets, restaurants, hotels, etc, most everything can be found in bigger cities.
Read the threads on here to get filled in before you go.
Don't count on just one credit card for ATM peso supply. A card will be cancelled while you are down there EVEN IF YOU CALL AHEAD OF TIME TO LET THEM
KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO MEXICO (don't ask how I know). Keep Customer Service phone numbers for each CC in your car so you can call from street pay
phones to get card reactivated. It can be done.
I use a lockable gas cap even up here so no one can begin pumping unless I unlock it then I can check the meter before I unlock the cap (If you feel
this is necessary).
Even if you are the slowest car on the road pay attention to speed limit signs. 25 kms is s-l-o-w.
From the border to San Quentin will be a fun challenge as far as traffic goes but slow down and enjoy it. Learn what "curva peligrosa" means and watch
out for pot holes that eat trailer axles (again, don't ask me how I know).
BIG ITEM- learn early what "TOPES" are! They are in almost every city you drive through. We call them speed bumps. Some are 40 MPH ones and others are
5 MPH ones. You'll learn to look ahead as you approach each little town and be looking for them (some are not marked but the locals know where they
are so when you see locals slowing down ahead of you at each little city SLOW DOWN). Just part of the experience.
Buy your Mexican car insurance before you go. I use the one here on BN. Don't be surprised at the military check points along the road. Never had a
problem with them. Unless you speak fluent Spanish only use English with them. There is one long stretch of hiway after El Rosario where gas is
problematic, Fill up in El Rosario period. From GN south its not a problem.
Church's book on travel down there is handy if somewhat dated. Try to find a good BAJA roadmap and not just depend on a GPS. Figure you will average
35 to 40 MPH per day of driving. You won't average 55 or so as you do here in the states.
One last BIG item- under NO circumstances take a firearm down there. Never ever never, period, end of discussion. UNDERSTAND?
Lots more to read and learn here on BN but you will enjoy the trip.
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SlyOnce
Nomad
Posts: 262
Registered: 12-26-2013
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if you pay in pesos 99% of "ripoffs" will not happen
Ask prices upfront! Especially from taxis.
Use your Spanish, even if poor.
Get a native MX bilingual, college educated, novia.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Use debit cards at ATM's instead of credit cards for cash (peso) withdrawals ....unless you like to pay the daily interest on credit card cash
advances....
Eat fish and shrimp tacos as often as possible....
Make sure your camera batteries are charged....
Don't believe everything you think....
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3821
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Be sure you can lock up appendage cargo (stuff on roof racks, gas cans, ammo cans (with car parts!), on the tailgate, etc. I've actually seen a gas
can simply lifted out of rack on the back end of a car that was stopped in the north immigration line. And don't ask anybody to "watch" stuff for you
- essentially that is a message "I'm going to be gone and out of sight, so do what you will with my stuff". Keep an eye on the military when they're
going through your car at inspection zones, and keep your wallet, camera, cell phone in your pocket - not laying out some place. Don't be dumb when
it comes to money - count your change. A gas station attendant will take your $10 dlr bill and say "OK" - tell him you want your change.
These are exceptions to all the other encounters with Baja Californians, who, in my experience, are wonderfully helpful and kind.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
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For us in order to "contribute" meaningful answers, you need to "contribute" more info in your question, so that we should know what to contribute in
response. Otherwise it looks... er.... strange.
1) What kind of "stories"?
2) What kind of "bad situations and ripoffs"?
3) Why, in the world, would anybody want to go to the most expensive place in Baja (and driving all the way down the peninsula, at that) when they are
worried about rip-offs?
Please contribute.
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