Will be in Q. Roo (Cancun / Akumal and places in between) in two weeks, and I'm curious to know if the changing exchange rate $US/$NP has been reflected in the prices in Cancun / Outside Cancun? i.e. has anybody noticed if there are proportionate price increases at the tienda or the local restaurant? This would amount to an almost 33% local price increase if the peso is inflating.....

Just returned from Cozumel. Exchange rate reached 15-1 while we were there. Many places quote in USD because of high tourist traffic. I should guess that Cancun will surely do this. Local places, the prices in pesos were nearly the same as we've seen year after year (for 15+ years) -- only this year the rate was definately in our favor. We used our Capital One visa card whenever possible for the best exchange rate with no foriegn currency conversion fees and pulled cash from ATMs. The hotels were giving about 13.5, some reatuarants 14.0, however the gas station was only giving 10, so its all over the board right now.

I'm topping this with the hope JW (and others) will see it when he/she returns and comment further.

We're headed to playa del carmen in April. When we travel internationally, I always want to have the local currency. However, last year in PDC, I almost felt like we would have gotten better deals in some places if we had used USD? I wondered if the inflation might even make that worse, or if there are better bargains to be had. (I suspect in the tourist areas, the peso prices have been adjusted up to match inflation.)

Have been going over the credit card bills after returning from our time in Cozumel. Those things charged to the card in pesos got from 13.77 to 15.07 exchange rate depending on the date. We were in Cozumel for 30 days. Unbeknownst at the time of purchase, a few places put through the charges in USD, so we had to take whatever exchange rate the establishment offered -- never the best. So the lesson learned is, charge whatever you can to a good credit card, but ASK to have the charges put through in PESOS not dollars.

The ready acceptance of USD in places like Playa and Cozumel has to do with the huge cruise ship trade. Most people on a cruise never bother to exchange dollars because they are in each port for such a short time. If Mexico insisted on purchases made with pesos, the cruise ship passengers would stand in lines all day to do the exchange rather than being out in the town shopping. Better to have the merchants stand in bank lines long after the ships have departed.

USD has been inflating Peso has been deflating.

Vendors increase their price to compensate a bit.

Always use ATM Capital one no ATM fee VISA get best exchange.

Always pay off CC so no hefty interest rate charge

for ATM cash withdrawal...

I was planning on getting some peso's for the trip and I usually get more with my debit card while in PDC. Would I be better off bringing more USDs (rather than using pesos)? Pros/cons?

Your best exchange rate will be as above -- charge what you can with a Capital One visa card and take cash from an ATM with a no-fee cash card. You will not get a very good exchange rate in the States prior to traveling and you will pay a handling/mailing fee to the bank. If you bring USD cash, you will have to exchange it somewhere and that won't be the best rate, but it won't be bad. All in all, we're not talking about thousands of dollars here. Over the course of your entire vacation the difference between a good exchange rate and a great exchange rate will be very little money. Don't over think this -- just have fun!