How to take money to Coz

[the sharkman]

It seems the way to go is to take travelers checks. Do most places take them? (Forgive me, I've never been there). Do you get change in pesos or dollars. I've also planned to take a bunch of ones for tipping. Any advise on how to bring money/ dinero?

Sharkman
:guitar:

 

[redacted]

I usually take $300 - $500 in cash and the rest, if I need more, in traveller's checks. I've found 5's, 10's and 20's most useful. But have paid larger bills with 50's and 100's. Dollars seem to be universally acceptable. Change is usually in dollars, but you may get pesos in some places - especially small change.

Have a ball.

 

[mexman]

Perhaps it's just my aversion to cash, but I've always found that my credit cards and bank cards work just same as back home. I do take a few smaller US bank notes but most often when I'm in smaller towns, I'll use pesos that I've gotten from the instant tellers!

 

[the sharkman]

I just heard that many places wont take travelers checks so some people suggest to not bring too much. I also heard that there are a lot of cash machines around island to use. ..

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I usually take cash. Travellers checks are a pain in the butt. I have heard of people using ATM's on the island and getting pesos at the best exchange rate but haven't done it myself. The dollar is universally accepted on the island. Change may be in pesos.

 

[ednedfred]

I always take U.S. currency and don't mess around with travelers checks. Also, use your credit card whenever you can as your conversion rates are normally favorable.

 

[Peekay]

We used traveler checks to pay for our diving and car rental (b/c those were our biggest expenses). I suggest you bring some cash, and get whatever extra cash you need at the ATM. First of all, you get a better exchange rate at the ATM (around 11-12 pesos to the US dollar), and when you buy stuff downtown, they usually convert the price 10 pesos to 1 US dollar (better for you)!!

You win both ways.

Also, read this thread regarding credit card usage:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18967&highlight=credit+cards

 

[Nancy De Anda]

Sorry to say, a lot of the smaller shops and restaurants here in Cozumel don't take trav checks, I agree with the other posting about using your us credit/debit card - plus you get the average exchange rate of the week... just don't try machines on the plaza on Monday mornings 'cause they usually get emptied out over the weekend. I suggest that if you bring cash, you bring bills under 10USD - as the mentality here is not that "it is the business owner's job to make change" but "it is the client's job to pay in exact change". If you bring cash, utilize your hotel's safety deposit box for your own piece of mind...

 

[stevsgarage]

I too always bring cash. My wife buys a lot of silver and gold trinkets and always gets the best prices with cash. If you use T checks they'll probably give you pesos, exspecially the hotel, and you will get better deals in dollars. I also bring lots of 5s to give taxis exact change plus tip. I've never had a problem in Coz but else where in Mexico, (puerto Vallarta) They claim not to have enough change hoping you'll just tip them bigger.:froggy: :froggy:

 

[Devils_advocate]

Just as a general rule of thumb for almost any country, I always use the local currency. Being in the Navy I have seen many different countries and you can typically get a better deal using local currency. (Granted like it was stated earlier the dollar is accepted almost world wide) Most shop owners will do a rough conversion in their head and round in their favor when quoting or bargining prices.