smithfamilybajabound
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Best Place In San Diego to exchange Money
I would like to get the best exchange to convert US dollars to Pesos. Should I convert money at bank (Wells Fargo) or find a place in San Diego or San
Ysidro? Please give me some options please.
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AKgringo
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Check Costco, some of them are set up for exchanging currency. I have no idea what rate they use.
I exchanged dollars for pesos at a Walmart in Calexico last year.
Edit; Looking online, I can find nothing about Costco exchanging currency, but I thought they did. Anybody else know for sure?
[Edited on 3-20-2021 by AKgringo]
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BajaNomad
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Quote: Originally posted by smithfamilybajabound  | | I would like to get the best exchange to convert US dollars to Pesos. Should I convert money at bank (Wells Fargo) or find a place in San Diego or San
Ysidro? Please give me some options please. |
Sometimes the "best" includes things such as the value in/of convenience and safety - or the perception of such things. Over time everyone has a
different opinion that includes these factors.
I believe the best in considering the net exchange rate only (and perhaps only incrementally) are certain high-volume "no commission" (no comision)
money exchanges in San Ysidro, especially mid-week (slightly less so on weekends).
Curious to know of any other resources others might mention.
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willardguy
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this doesn't answer your question but I'd just hit bank ATM in mexico, just remember to decline the banks conversion and let your bank know you'll be
in mex..
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Bob and Susan
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https://www.baja-mex.com/contact/san-ysidro.htm
last exit before you cross
drive up to the window and exchange
rate is the same as bancomer daily rate
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elgatoloco
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Some years ago at the suggestion of someone on this board we opened a checking account with Charles Schwab. They cover transaction fees on any foreign
ATM and we have taken advantage of that on numerous trips to Baja and other parts of the world. Once we cross the border we try and find a bank with
an ATM or an OXXO if your lucky. The wife and I both have a card on same account so take out max so we are set for awhile. Our route south almost
always starts in TJ and there are ATMs at toll booths, gas stations and the rare OXXO if you can find one. We keep US dollars in small denominations
as backup if we run out or ATM issues but use pesos for most all large purchases and the occasional credit card if staying in hotel. As stated decline
the bank conversion when it pops up on ATM screen.
YMMV
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RFClark
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The Peso has fluctuated a bit lately! Doing work paid for in Pesos can involve risks. Lately I have noticed that the ATMs in Mexico have been giving
the exchange rate when you withdraw money. The rate yesterday was 20.3 as a low for the day and today it’s been as high as 20.5. The bank ATM at
BankNorte gave a much lower rate of 19.17 to the dollar yesterday morning!
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by smithfamilybajabound | | I would like to get the best exchange to convert US dollars to Pesos. Should I convert money at bank (Wells Fargo) or find a place in San Diego or San
Ysidro? Please give me some options please. |
I always use Baja-Mex on E San Ysidro Blvd (couple blocks E of I-5, S side of street). Rate seems to be competitive (you can see the rates posted as
you drive around past the many exchanges in San Ysidro).
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sancho
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Checked ABC money exchange, San Ysidro blvd., yesterday
giving 20.10 to the dll., I always believed the atm's to be better
than the casas de cambios, doesn't APPEAR to be a lot different.
This quote seems to be the opposite. As previously posted, some/most Mex atm's give the card holder the option
to decline the machines rate, and have it done by one's bank,
which generally is somewhat higher rate
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winnebago 2
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Costco Chula Vista. The exchange house is inside the Costco.
Easy, fast, and SAFE. Good rates. Open during Costco hours.
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RFClark
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I didn’t know that you could decline the quoted rate which is really low. I just read that you can here. Ill try and see what happens.
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AKgringo
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| Quote: Originally posted by RFClark | | I didn’t know that you could decline the quoted rate which is really low. I just read that you can here. Ill try and see what happens.
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It depends on what the bank issuing your card charges to convert the currency. I have a card through an Edward Jones account, that is way cheaper
than using the ATM rate. I don't think the difference was as great if I used my Wells Fargo account.
If the ATM is an HSBC machine, you definitely want to decline their rate! Other banks, I am not so sure how much difference it makes.
[Edited on 3-21-2021 by AKgringo]
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RFClark
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Bank Norte is the cheapest we have a BofA commercial account. They have good rates. I’ll give it a try Monday.
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BajaBlanca
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Exactly what winnebago 2 said.
I use the costco in chula vista when I am by myself. Being inside, I feel so safe.
Les always used the ATM located to the right after the last toll booth heading into Ensenada.
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bajagregg
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Baja-Mex on San Ysidro Blvd. is the place to go on the US side.
Traveling Baja for 50 years.
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Bajaboy
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If you are getting your FMM, grab some money at one of the atm machines there. We normally stop in Ensenada and get money from an atm there. Now
that most places accept credit cards, we don't carry much cash.
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RFClark
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So today a Banco Norte the exchange rate was 19.05/$ When the “accept exchange rate” notice came up I declined it. Upon checking my US account
the effective exchange rate was 20.43/$ including the fee. Today’s official rate was 20.60/$
That’s quite a difference!
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by RFClark | So today a Banco Norte the exchange rate was 19.05/$ When the “accept exchange rate” notice came up I declined it. Upon checking my US account
the effective exchange rate was 20.43/$ including the fee. Today’s official rate was 20.60/$
That’s quite a difference! |
That rate is about what is listed online today.
https://www.eldolar.info/en/mexico/dia/hoy
1 Dollar = 20.642 Pesos
⇧ 0.1401 0.68%
Buy
20.3756
Sell
20.9085
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
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RFClark
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Goat,
Yes, the point was that the Capitalist Users at Banco Norte were only offering 19.05/$ at the ATM! That’s almost $40 US less or more depending
who’s pocket it’s going to!
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