Necessary to bring Pesos?
 

We leave for our 1st trip to Mexico (Puerto Vallerta) next week. Do we need to bring pesos with us? Part of our Alaska Airlines package is an airport pickup. I'm thinking we may need pesos for a tip. Friends have told us to bring U.S. dollars to tip daily maid service. What do you think?

Eveyone loves US dollars for tips.

So no need for pesos?

hope someone replys to this message, going in Feb myself...give us great tips on restaurants and fun finds when you get back!

No

I do not know where Earthtrav;er got her/his info but Mexicans FAR Prefer Pesos! Would you want to be paid in pesos in THE US? Now being polite they will tell you US money is fine but all your doing is forcing them to make a extra trip to the bank to exchange them. There is a ATM at the airport where you can get a great exchange rate for your dollars. A added thing is if you use dollars for purcahses you will take a beating on the exchange rate as stores, cabs Etc willonly give 10 to 1 & the current rate is 10.9 to 1. So unless you wish to pay a extra 9% for everthing get pesos.

Thanks for setting me straight Stewbear.

As always, No fee ATMs for cash and no/low fee CCs.
Tip in pesos!
M (SMdA, Gto.)

Assuming the PV airport has an ATM machine, you can get pesos when you land there if you are flying direct.

If not, you can probably tip the driver in dollars, but after that get pesos. It is a myth that the local would rather be tipped in pesos.

I guess the posts speak for themselves, lol.
Some posters actually live here (yes, full time).
M

Oooops.

I meant it's a myth they'd rather by tipped in DOLLARS. Of course, you should use the currency of that country. I was agreeing with MikeMo.

I go to Puerto Vallarta often, have for years... use peso.

If you need to tip the driver that first time in USD, that's OK, I guess. But no one specifically "wants" USD - that is simply bad advice. Especially the maid who cleans your room... she wants to buy groceries on her way home, not go stand in line at the bank to exchange money.

I'm reading this too... note to myself: get some pesos here for small purchases on the tour.

"she wants to buy groceries on her way home, not go stand in line at the bank to exchange money."

Exactly.

Hit the nearest ATM and get pesos. Using an ATM will give you the best exchange rate (and this is currently quite good).

Do note that both the local bank and your home bank are likely to charge a foreign exchange fee. To avoid this, see if your home bank has a relationship with a Mexican bank. Typically linked banks will not charge this fee. My home bank is Bank of America. Santander Bank in Mexico is an affiliate. So I pay no additional fees.

Also note that your credit card company may also charge a foreign transaction fee.

Did they catch on on DCC like European countries, or will my credit card be charged in pesos?

(DCC=dynamic currency conversion when in a foreign country my credit card is charged in the US dollars "for your convenience" meaning at the conversion rate of their random choice)

FA,
I have not seen that here in Mexico ('tho we did in the UK as early as 7/'04), but I nearly always pay in cash (pesos).
M

"see if your home bank has a relationship with a Mexican bank" - my bank is linked with "Ban Amex" LOL it's good I don't have American Express :)

Thanks very much. Your advice makes snese.

We always arrive with pesos as a convenience only. When we arrive we just don't want to look for an ATM, even in the airport! We bring enough to last a few days by which time we will have passed ATMs.

This reminds me of something that happened when we were in a small village in Tuscany. We were having dinner and talking to another California couple at the next table. Their (spoiled) teenage daughter came in demanding that they give her some lira. She had gone into a pizza place and was appalled that they wouldn't take American money. She couldn't believe it, and was very angry.

My husband and I wanted to ask her if she could even imagine an Italian walking into a restaurant here, wanting to pay in lira. It was unbelievable.

I do have to say, though, that before we go to Mexico I always get a stack of dollar bills and other small bills to take. Many of the people seem to prefer them when asked for a choice.

"Many of the people seem to prefer them when asked for a choice."

A vendor or store may want your dollars because the conversion rate is in theri favor. They can go to the bank with a lot of dollars and get a reasonable profit in conversion.

Your waiter or maid that you are tipping isn't going to want the inconvenience of going to a bank to convert a small amount of dollars.

You are right.

I should add that in addition to ATMs, most Mexican airports have cambios (currency conversion booths) with much more favorable exchange rates than those in the US.
Also, don't forget to call your bank to inform them you'll be using the cards in Mexico.
M

The currency conversion booths are the easiest rather than waiting on line in a bank. The Cabbie at the airport probably gets tipped more in American $$ that he is used to it..Just convert as soon as you get to the hotel for Baggage handlers, Maids..

I'm a little confused. People keep insisting that folks in Mexico sometimes would prefer U.S. dollars. This is true in border towns because people can go to the U.S., buy stuff with the dollars and get prices that are generally cheaper than Mexican prices. Other than that, in the Mexican interior,you would need a significant chunk of money and have to hold it as U.S. and Mexican currencies fluctuated until the dollar incresed in value enough to have a gain beyond the comission you would have to pay to change it to pesos. In other words giving people dollars costs Mexican locals money plus, if we get a good exchange rate, we come out ahead using pesos. My thoughts anyway...

This is bad advice and a rumor that will not seem to die. I don't know why "friends" continue to tell others this is the best thing to do.

My guess is it has to do with tourists who stay at all-inclusive resorts and like to tip using $1.00 USD bills for their own convenience. I'm guessing they never asked the maid what she thinks about it.

I think I got it. Pesos it is. Will bring in US $$ to exchange for pesos in Mexico. ATM card and Credit Card either as a backup or for large purchases.

Claro que si FA!
But a NO fee ATM (USAA) and no/low fee cc (USAA charges the 1% V and MC currency conversion) but rebates ame at year end.
Are you coming to visit the best of Mexico?
You may stay here with us o los animales.
M

"Will bring in US $$ to exchange for pesos in Mexico"

So you are going to use banks or currency exchanges, which both may charge you a fee or give you a less attractive exchange rate?

If I'll see ATMs looking safe, I'll use them.

I will be on a tour, there is usually no choice, the bus will stop somewhere... and bring us to the hotel.

Anyway, it will be for souvenirs only, everything else is included, and the tour guide I think is american.

My son said his friend has pesos with no use for them, perhaps I'll exchange.

At home I found mexican coins, total about 10 pesos, I am rich, I am rich :)

FA,
I found an old $10,000. peso bill - about $100. US many years ago.
Sent it to a Novia who was a VP at B of A: she laughed and lit a Cuban Cigar with same.
Buen viaje.
M

Oh, no!!!! I would've kept it - some day it will be a collectable item.

I had several paper bills from russia, they have no use and no value, framed them and gave to adult kids as a gift - they loved it! Sentimental value.

I will be in Mexico April 17-24 in the Copper Canyon area. I think I posted a GTG... lemme see...

FA,
Believe me this woman was ..., well I still dream about her, lol.
M

Faina, on our trip in December our CC were charged in pesos while making purchases in Mexico. We knew up front what the exchange rate was.

I too was not sure about taking pesos but you will want some for tipping and shopping for sure!

As always, good advice from the regulars here.

Yesterday I got the papers for my trip to Copper Canyon with Caravan tours.

Lodging, meals, water, and all tips are included - except tips for driver and tour guide, there is a suggestion how much to tip, in US $ - the tour starts from El Paso, Texas.

Also, there is an advice to bring at least $50 in $1 bills (US currency) with a note, all merchants take US $$.

I didn't read it all... I guess it's different if you travel on your own, make your own hotel reservations, then you need pesos for tips. If with a group, and need money for purchases only, then US $$ are fine?

I found a post on TripAdvisor from somebody who said he's a tour guide, and he said no pesos needed, all take US $$ "even indians" - his words, not mine.

Honestly, I worry more about having space for souvenirs (only 1 suitcase is allowed) than currency :)

FainaA~ Yes, it depends on if you travel on your own or with a tour group. But it also depends on what part of the country you visit.

In Puerto Vallarta (our original poster's question) you definitely want to have peso. I tip the maid in peso in PV.

Someplace like Cancun or Cabo you can get by with USD.

A trip to Copper Canyon is like a Cruise docking: everyone wants US$ and you will barely interact with anyone who isn't part of the tour "experience."

Just returned from Mexico. WWhy not just change some cash at the airport, for a better rate of exchange, you know to avoid the ones closest to the gate. I rarely saw US dollars being given as tips. It would be different if it were an even rate of exchange, but especially since the dollar is stronger- why not use pesos? I found 10 peso coins hard to come by and hung onto them and 20 and 50 peso bills for tips.

Most places we went to on the Copper Canyon Caravan tour told us the price in US dollars, including Tarahumara locals selling baskets and what not. In shops, the dollars are gladly taken with the exchange rate 10:1.

We didn't tip maids, the tour guide took care of this, but singers, bar people - all asked for tips in dollars (per our tour guide).

The change was given either in pesos or in US dollars, depending on location, I guess.