Retiring cajun Posted February 15, 2017 #1 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Can we use USA dollars in Mexico? Will the change be given back in dollars? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 15, 2017 #2 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Can we use USA dollars in Mexico? Will the change be given back in dollars? Sent from my iPad using Forums We have always used US $$ in Mexico. As far as getting back US $$ you best ask before you make the purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiring cajun Posted February 15, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchyfeet Posted February 15, 2017 #4 Share Posted February 15, 2017 We travel to Mexico often. You will get better prices if you pay in pesos because they have to pay a fee to have the dollars changed into pesos. Most businesses except vendors will accept credit cards. We use a credit card that does not have an exchange fee. Also let your cc company know you will be traveling in Mexico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted February 15, 2017 #5 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Can we use USA dollars in Mexico? Will the change be given back in dollars? Sent from my iPad using Forums Sometimes they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonit964 Posted February 15, 2017 #6 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Can we use USA dollars in Mexico? Will the change be given back in dollars? Sent from my iPad using Forums Yes, they take US dollars. You may or may not get change in US, we've had both. We take lots of small bills with us so if we do get pesos, it's not too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyancho Posted February 15, 2017 #7 Share Posted February 15, 2017 In tourist areas you will get dollars in change. They will be more than happy to take your dollars. If prices are posted in pesos, don't expect to get to get the current exchange rates for your dollars. You will get a few pesos less, because they have to exchange the dollars for pesos and that costs them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted February 15, 2017 #8 Share Posted February 15, 2017 We pay in dollars in the more frequently visited cities. In the others and places that don't see too many tourists, we pay in pesos. We figured out that supermarkets and Walmart will the best exchange rate for our dollars. Don't fret too much about bad exchange rates. Last cruise we figured it cost us about $6 more to pay in USD rather than pesos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griller Posted February 15, 2017 #9 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Last week it was about 20 pesos for $1 US. Some places gave that, other stores calculated it at 17 pesos. If its a larger purchase like in a pharmacy I normally use a debit card in pesos and get a good rate through my bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiring cajun Posted February 15, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted February 15, 2017 How do you pay taxi driver? Not comfortable using credit card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted February 15, 2017 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2017 How do you pay taxi driver? Not comfortable using credit card. Cash Mexico is still very much a cash economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiring cajun Posted February 15, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Thx! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted February 15, 2017 #13 Share Posted February 15, 2017 It is often hard to get pesos in Mexico. ATMs in tourist areas such as Cozumel only dispense US $ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griller Posted February 15, 2017 #14 Share Posted February 15, 2017 It is often hard to get pesos in Mexico. ATMs in tourist areas such as Cozumel only dispense US $ Cozumel is such a poor advertisement for Mexico, there are other such nice places there and nice people, not like Cozumel and the other main tourist towns. But of course most cruise passengers only see those awful coastal resorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiring cajun Posted February 15, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted February 15, 2017 We're going to puerto Vallarta, mazatlan, Cabo Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishfulone Posted February 15, 2017 #16 Share Posted February 15, 2017 We're going to puerto Vallarta, mazatlan, Cabo Sent from my iPhone using Forums Every restaurant, cafe, tourist stall, craft market, tour company in all three of those places will accept USD. MOst of the restaurants actually display their charges in USD. Carry plenty of small bills. Bargain in US currency. Pay in US currency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Crucero Posted February 15, 2017 #17 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Can we use USA dollars in Mexico? Will the change be given back in dollars? I live about half the year in Mexico and love it. Yes, most places in tourist areas like PV, Mazatlan, and Cabo will accept dollars but realize it will cost you about 5% to 10% more to use them. You will get your change back in pesos. You can change those pesos back into dollars at a bank in the USA, but it will cost you 5% to 10% to exchange. I do not recommend using ATMs in tourist areas for two reasons, 1. they will give you pesos not dollars (I know there are a few hard to find exceptions) and 2. ATMs in tourist areas are prone to hacking by the bad guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 15, 2017 #18 Share Posted February 15, 2017 I live about half the year in Mexico and love it. Yes, most places in tourist areas like PV, Mazatlan, and Cabo will accept dollars but realize it will cost you about 5% to 10% more to use them. You will get your change back in pesos. You can change those pesos back into dollars at a bank in the USA, but it will cost you 5% to 10% to exchange. I do not recommend using ATMs in tourist areas for two reasons, 1. they will give you pesos not dollars (I know there are a few hard to find exceptions) and 2. ATMs in tourist areas are prone to hacking by the bad guys. We travel there all the time have always asked for and received US $$ back in change and no we did not pay 5% to 10% more. Be aware of what is transpiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrottdizes Posted February 15, 2017 #19 Share Posted February 15, 2017 We're going to puerto Vallarta, mazatlan, Cabo Have land vacationed in all of those places and they all accept US dollars. Many shops will show the prices in both dollars and pesos. Street vendors accepted dollars. If you take a taxi anywhere, do agree on the price before you get in the taxi.....just so there is no confusion later. And yes, they did accept US dollars. Sometimes there are excursions to small villages and it is at these times that you would be better off using pesos. The person selling that type of tour should tell you this before hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted February 15, 2017 #20 Share Posted February 15, 2017 If they refuse to give you change in US currency just turn around & walk out. You'll be surprised how fast they can come up with it. They borrow it from another vendor in order to make the sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4bob Posted February 15, 2017 #21 Share Posted February 15, 2017 There is one very important service industry that has not been covered as of yet. Bathrooms. You will find that most bathrooms have a guard that will collect payment before you go in. And, do not forget to obtain paper if you think you will need it. Now, if there is a guard you can normally pay with USD. However, if you run into an automated Bathroom with a turnstile that you have insert cash payment it will only work with Peso's. I saw this happen in a bus station when a bus load of passengers headed over to the bathroom to find the turnstile and most of them did not have any Peso's. The look on their faces said it all. But, But we were told that all we needed was USD and a credit card. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted February 15, 2017 #22 Share Posted February 15, 2017 There is one very important service industry that has not been covered as of yet. Bathrooms. You will find that most bathrooms have a guard that will collect payment before you go in. And, do not forget to obtain paper if you think you will need it. Now, if there is a guard you can normally pay with USD. However, if you run into an automated Bathroom with a turnstile that you have insert cash payment it will only work with Peso's. I saw this happen in a bus station when a bus load of passengers headed over to the bathroom to find the turnstile and most of them did not have any Peso's. The look on their faces said it all. But, But we were told that all we needed was USD and a credit card. Bob Bob You forgot an important detail ;) All that paper you bought---goes into the trash, not the toilet. In Cabo the fee was 5pesos. In the La Paz bus station the fee was 6pesos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiring cajun Posted February 16, 2017 Author #23 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Do you have to pay for toilet in a restaurant? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Crucero Posted February 16, 2017 #24 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Do you have to pay for toilet in a restaurant Generally speaking, No. Recommend you take your own TP and hand cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted February 16, 2017 #25 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Can we use USA dollars in Mexico? Will the change be given back in dollars?Sent from my iPad using Forums We've never had a problem using the US Dollar in Mexico. Taking smaller bills is helpful. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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