American Canadian or Peso

[Sask Diver]

I am getting all kinds of conflicting reports on which currency to use while in Mexico.
I know they have a long relationship whith the U.S dollar, but we are told not to use U.S, but the Peso.
I walked into my bank and and wanted 1000 dollars converted to Peso's and they pretty much laughed saying they don't keep that much foreign money except for the U.S dollar.
I do not know if the Canadian dollar is excepted there or not.

On a side note, I went to get some swimming shorts the other day (here in Canada), and alll I had on me was U.S. dollars, (I am a truck driver) went to pay for the shorts and they told me they don,t take U.S money.
I was shocked to say the least.

 

[gearhound]

There was a push from the Mexican government not to accept US dollars, especially in large amounts. However, in practice, vendors down there will accept pesos or $US, as long as you're spending something with them. At least this was the case in the PDC area. A lot of the places quoted prices in $US and then gave a crappy exchange rate. I would go down with a bit of both. As far as the bank is concerned, they will order in pesos for you. There is always those foreign exchange places in the airports. Their rates are a little better than the banks, but if you don't exchange more than $400cdn they charge you a fee. Nobody took $CDN, but there are places to exchange them along Fifth Avenue (Assuming you're going to Playa Del Carmen).

 

[Tool Belt]

As in other places , for the best rate use your debit card in an ATM.

 

[Fionab]

I guess if I went in to a Canadian store they wouldn't like sterling

The hotel I went to has a lot of Canadian guests and they take $Can and the hotel will exchange into pesos.

 

[pjhansman]

Hey Ross....I take a bunch of Mexican pesos and some US bucks. Between the two I have enough to pretty much cover everything but the hotel, and for that I generally use Visa.

Have a good trip.

 

[Sask Diver]

Thanks for the replys everyone. I feel more at ease now.
Hope to see you at the pool on sunday Phil.

 

[oldladydiving]

I just got back from Cabo & everyone took American cash w/o blinking. No one said no to my VISA either. The dive shop took both, Travelers cks & cash. If you are ever in Cabo, DEEP BLUE SCUBA is the ONLY shop to use. After 22 yrs. of actively diving, I don't remember a better operation or divemaster than what I had at DEEP BLUE. Their prices were more than fair & their service & safety were the best.

 

[HowardE]

As in other places , for the best rate use your debit card in an ATM.

This is what I do.

 

[bcsgal]

I usually buy a hundred or so US before I go, then use the bank machines from then on, you do get the best rate that way & dont have to cart around a bunch of cash. Some ATM's there give you the option of withdrawing in US or peso's.

 

[DandyDon]

The ATMs are a great option for addition currency but my bank charges a horrible currency conversion fee.