First time in Progresso

Just wondering, okay to just take American dollars to pay for meals, etc.? How much is a good amount to take? Thanks for any input!

American dollars are fine, they love them! (a good rule of thumb is if an item is $800 ps they will charge you approx $8 usd. ) --that is not hard and fast, its just approx. So that might help you decide how much you want to spend. We use a credit card in restaruants, that way the bank deals with the exchange rate, but as far as street vendors, etc, they are more then happy to haggle with you. Its all part of the experience.

edited to say right now $1usd=.8mxn

We took small bills--ones, fives, tens. Our daughter couldn't get anyone there to break a $100-bill. You can find good places to eat and drink. We were at Buddy's...$2 beers. Massages on the beach are $10. The kids had a great time out in the water and we had a good spot on the beach at a table under an umbrella. Learn to say "No" alot. You might also learn spanish for "Go away," "Leave us alone," and other similar phrases--you will be hawked alot on the beach to buy stuff. Hope you have a great cruise. Bon Voyage!

Not only small bills, but undamaged currency. No tears, etc.

Just got back and used US$. Had a great time eating and drinking at The Flamingo. We took the $3 double decker bus tour of the city then got a massage on the beach, shopped and went to The Flamingo after seeing it on the bus tour. The nachos were great!

There was a place to get money changed in the mercado, but they really looked the big bills over. My BIL wanted to buy his DW a dress and the vendor wouldn't take U.S.. This is the only time in 9 trips that this has happened.

They are very suspitious of large bills and most will want to give you pesos for change.

American dollars are fine, they love them! (a good rule of thumb is if an item is $800 ps they will charge you approx $8 usd. ) --that is not hard and fast, its just approx. So that might help you decide how much you want to spend. We use a credit card in restaruants, that way the bank deals with the exchange rate, but as far as street vendors, etc, they are more then happy to haggle with you. Its all part of the experience.

edited to say right now $1usd=.8mxn

800 pesos would actually be around $65 us dollars.

800 pesos would actually be around $65 us dollars.

62.04 today...now we know..

I guess I meant centovs?

All I know is if the price tag says "50.00" they usually say "5 American"

There was a place to get money changed in the mercado, but they really looked the big bills over. My BIL wanted to buy his DW a dress and the vendor wouldn't take U.S.. This is the only time in 9 trips that this has happened.

 

They are very suspitious of large bills and most will want to give you pesos for change.

The US dollar is very counterfeitable if that is even a word. So yes, people are wary of accepting large bills. As Dawson points out, they won't accept bills with blemishes or tears either because the bank won't take them.

And they don't 'want' to give you pesos for change, it's that they are in Mexico, pesos are the currency and they don't have a USD float from which to extract change.

Just got back and used US$. Had a great time eating and drinking at The Flamingo. We took the $3 double decker bus tour of the city then got a massage on the beach, shopped and went to The Flamingo after seeing it on the bus tour. The nachos were great!

The Flamingo sounds like a place we would like to try....is it hard to find? We are taking a tour from 10am to 2pm, so is it close to the ship if we decide to have a late lunch, would we still have time to make it to the ship?

62.04 today...now we know..

I guess I meant centovs?

All I know is if the price tag says "50.00" they usually say "5 American"

yes but you didn't say $80 you said $800:D