Heads up for Cozumel

[k ellis]

It appears through numerous threads that there is a vast misunderstanding of Mexico. If your planning to go to Cozumel you should be aware of the dollar acceptance in that country. As a courtesy if you are planning to go there read this following web page.

Odd Line: Mexican Government Will No Longer Allow Any Businesses to Accept US Dollars

 

[dmoore19]

Thanks for the info. I was on Cozumel in March and didn't have any problems with US$. Maybe it has changed since then.

 

[Mike]

What's written on that page has very little resemblance to the reality you will find in Cozumel, let alone most coastal/tourist areas of Mexico. It treads between misinterpretation to out-right misinformation. The writer sounds like he writes conspiracy theory books in his spare time.

It is definitely possible to exchange US dollars for Pesos at banks and spend US dollars directly with merchants in Mexico.

 

[koozemani]

Good to know! Got a trip planned next weekend

 

[k ellis]

Good to know! Got a trip planned next weekend

it is. I ran into that very problem last year when I was there. I was at a hotel and had a couple hundred in american dollars. They told me I was out of luck for a better choice of words. I went to a couple stores and got the same response. I then went to a gas station and asked about gas. The guy said we dont take dollars. It almost became a head ache .

I did however find it easy to draw what I needed out of the A.T.M. so this was a quick rememdy.

 

[k ellis]

Another link on this from a more official news agency!

No More Paying With Dollars at Mexican Resort Areas - AOL Travel News

 

[Mike]

it is. I ran into that very problem last year when I was there. I was at a hotel and had a couple hundred in american dollars. They told me I was out of luck for a better choice of words. I went to a couple stores and got the same response. I then went to a gas station and asked about gas. The guy said we dont take dollars. It almost became a head ache .

I did however find it easy to draw what I needed out of the A.T.M. so this was a quick rememdy.

There was a short-term knee jerk reaction to some new Mexican regulations that occured around the time of your trip. It's been discussed many times on the cozumel forum. Since then things have relaxed and returned somewhat back to normal, you can still run into some isolated incidents but for the most part it's business as usual. Less then 2 months ago I personally spend about $1500 in greenbacks in Mexico with no problems and also exchanged dollars for pesos at banks.

 

[k ellis]

There was a short-term knee jerk reaction to some new Mexican regulations that occured around the time of your trip. It's been discussed many times on the cozumel forum. Since then things have relaxed and returned somewhat back to normal, you can still run into some isolated incidents but for the most part it's business as usual. Less then 2 months ago I personally spend about $1500 in greenbacks in Mexico with no problems and also exchanged dollars for pesos at banks.

Lord I hope so. It was a cluster then and made life a little miserable. I would personaly recommend though people at least have a fall back just in the event they go back to being tough on it again.

 

[Altamira]

I think the dollar, many of which have been spent in Mexico by tourists, and a good many more by "undocumented immigrants", has kept the Mexican economy afloat for many a year. Perhaps I need to go back to school and take a business class, but if I would still rather have dollars in my pocket than pesos.

 

[DandyDon]

There was a short-term knee jerk reaction to some new Mexican regulations that occured around the time of your trip. It's been discussed many times on the cozumel forum. Since then things have relaxed and returned somewhat back to normal, you can still run into some isolated incidents but for the most part it's business as usual. Less then 2 months ago I personally spend about $1500 in greenbacks in Mexico with no problems and also exchanged dollars for pesos at banks.

A pretty good appraisal I think.

I book and pay my air and hotel in advance, in USD, and I book my diving and pay later in USD, but for meals and such - Dollars or Pesos either one generally work. If your bank won't rake you over the coals with a poor conversion rate plus commission for withdrawing Pesos at an ATM, your money will go further - but be careful...

Be sure to tell your bank in advance that you may use your credit cards and/or bank card in Mexico or they may freeze your account when you do. That's standard. I've had it happen in Florida until I phoned, no so easy to do from Mexico.

Check Wall Street Journal exchange rates, then ask your bank what their rate and fees are. Sometimes that sucks.

Using your cards in Mexico does leave you more open to fraud so make sure you bank is watching your accounts, and watch them yourself online from secure connections when you get back home. There have been ATM problems sometime back.

And don't go home with a lot of Pesos. It's no biggie if you do, just save them until you return, but why hassle, and - I lost 20% on a market change that way. I never was good at markets.​

If anyone needs any more info on Cozumel, try our friendly Coz forum.