Good News On Taxi Exchange Rates

[diverokc]

My local friends love people who pay in dollars. Always end up ahead.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Its their country pay in their currency - no problems! It's a service that they take US$, would you take peso's at your business in the USA?

If I were in an area where the only economy was serving tens of thousands of Mexican visitors every day, most of whom are only there for a few hours, I likely would accept pesos.

And if you did I'm sure you'd give them the best conversion rate possible - Really!?!?

As has been mentioned, the vast majority of other business on the island have no problem giving an exchange rate that's very close to the actual current rate. Even very small mom-and-pop places.

If you think you are getting ripped off don't use the services or don't go there (you probably won't find any other places to go either!).

Good plan. Use one of the competing taxi services. Or call an Uber. Oh, wait......there are no other options, because competition with the taxi syndicate is illegal.


You're right, it's easy to get and use pesos. I pay for everything in pesos from an ATM when I'm in Cozumel. But using monopoly power to make a 40% margin on foreign currency is immoral. It's one of the very few things about Cozumel that can leave a bad taste in the mouth of visitors.

 

[MMM]

Good plan. Use one of the competing taxi services. Or call an Uber. Oh, wait......there are no other options, because competition with the taxi syndicate is illegal.

That's not entirely true. The bus or collectivo costs 8 pesos. I ride them frequently in town.

 

[diverokc]

I'm with you Mmm even tho most on here wouldn't use them I take collectivos back to my friends casa behind sams club. I took one on the mainland to tulum. Pucker up and hold on.

 

[MMM]

I'm with you Mmm even tho most on here wouldn't use them I take collectivos back to my friends casa behind sams club. I took one on the mainland to tulum. Pucker up and hold on.

Hmm, I'm going to Tulum in a couple of weeks. Planned on taking the bus but are you saying there are collectivos to Tulum? I imagine the ADO bus would be more comfortable but a collectivo would be cheaper...

And yes, I am probably the only gringa on the collectivos and city bus. I kind of enjoy the adventure. And it beats riding my bike when the weather is sketchy (like it has been most of this winter...).

 

[The Chairman]

Don't pay the "Tourist Tax": use Pesos.

 

[ReefHound]

Hmm, I'm going to Tulum in a couple of weeks. Planned on taking the bus but are you saying there are collectivos to Tulum? I imagine the ADO bus would be more comfortable but a collectivo would be cheaper...

And yes, I am probably the only gringa on the collectivos and city bus. I kind of enjoy the adventure. And it beats riding my bike when the weather is sketchy (like it has been most of this winter...).

Yes, they go to Tulum. The colectivos depart PDC just a few blocks from the ADO station, on 2nd street just west of 15th ave.

 

[mmmbelows]

It's a service that they take US$

That's not correct, and is a common miss-understanding. The Mexican economy is highly unofficially dollarized in their tourist economic zones, unofficial dollarization occurs in a country by their own choice not ours and they do it because it's to their benefit and that they want that benefit.

 

[Frank Storms]

So when I had the last beer I will ever buy at Woody's and was charged 51 pesos, several weeks back, I was actually getting a good deal? The taxi cabs are not the only folks playing games with currency coversion and pricing.

What kind of beer was that?

 

[gopbroek]

What kind of beer was that?

The most expensive bottle of Dos Equis I have ever had in Mexico.