Pesos or USD?

[braz88]

Do the restaurants in the port cities (PV, Mazatlan, Cabo) take USD? 

I looked at a a couple of menus from some recommended restaurants and all prices are listed in pesos. 
Is it recommended to exchange some dollars into pesos ? 

[Starlight Durban Cruising]

We've found that they usually take both currencies - even if the menu is listed in Pesos. Smaller places (think mom and pop) may not take USD, but many of the port places will take Dollars and just do the conversion into USD. We carry both types usually, just in case, but then we know that if we don't use the Pesos now, then there is always another cruise later ... 🙂 

 

Best to ask when you go in to the restaurant if they take Dollars. 

[Ashland]

Just at these port stops in January and all took USD. We've cruised the Mexican Riviera many times over the years and have always used USD for the small purchases we make.

[Mike45LC]

I always use pesos, but almost all vendors take $US.  Usually at a poor exchange rate.  For example, if your meal comes to 250 pesos, the restaurant might charge 17 dollars (15 pesos per $1 rounded up) instead of 14 dollars (at 18 pesos per $1).  This is perfectly legal.  Think of it as a small convenience fee!

 

I have several hundred dollars worth of pesos in my sock drawer, because there is always another Mex Riv cruise coming up! As Starlight notes!!

 

For small purchases, it might not be worth the cost of exchanging your dollars to pesos.  You get charged for each exchange.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

We just returned from four days in Cabo.  Everything on the written menu is in pesos, but everybody takes USD.  In fact, right now with the exchange rate they want USD.  Visa and Mastercard accepted, not so much for AMEX.    

[Hlitner]

Most restaurants and stores will take US Dollars.  However, each place determines their own exchange rate and it is usually not very favorable to the customer.  Some restaurants, bars, and stores do accept major credit cards.  However, travelers/cruisers need to be aware of "Dynamic Currency Conversion" with both credit cards and ATM cards.  This is where a merchant or machine will offer you an exchange rate and you can either accept or decline.  If you accept, you will be getting a lousy exchange rate (usually 5-10% below the normal bank exchange rate) so you should always decline.  The transaction will still go through in Pesos, and will later be converted (by the international banking system) at a much more favorable rate.

 

Hank

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

On 6/8/2023 at 9:47 PM, Hlitner said:

Most restaurants and stores will take US Dollars.  However, each place determines their own exchange rate and it is usually not very favorable to the customer.  Some restaurants, bars, and stores do accept major credit cards.  However, travelers/cruisers need to be aware of "Dynamic Currency Conversion" with both credit cards and ATM cards.  This is where a merchant or machine will offer you an exchange rate and you can either accept or decline.  If you accept, you will be getting a lousy exchange rate (usually 5-10% below the normal bank exchange rate) so you should always decline.  The transaction will still go through in Pesos, and will later be converted (by the international banking system) at a much more favorable rate.

 

Hank

True, I saw the posted restaurant exchange rate at Edith's (great food) at $16.45 MXN.  The bank rate about that time was around $17.80.  I have never seen the option to decline the "dynamic" exchange at any other location than an ATM when I take out pesos.  I do always decline it.  We have a couple of neighborhood places where we eat that give us the bank rate on our card.   

[criticmytravel]

While some restaurants may accept US dollars, it is generally recommended to exchange some dollars for pesos. Most establishments prefer local currency, and exchanging money ensures you'll have the correct currency for transactions and avoid any confusion or exchange rate discrepancies.

[jcc1025]

Besides using the currency of their country you can put up some savings on the exchange rate. Businesses can set their exchange rate as a please. Even when you exchange dollars for pasos at your bank you will be charged some exchange rate but it will always be equal to or lower than what the local business will charge because they also will be charged the exchange rate when they convert dollars to paso's in Mexico put the time and problems of getting them exchanged. Besides the fact that even in our high tourist location with the exception of a few places right on the boarder, we do not take paso's but expcect them to take dollars. We always take some paso's for small things and shops and use credit cards in resturants since the bank makes that exchange for them. 

[SelectSys]

On 3/30/2023 at 11:19 PM, Mike45LC said:

I have several hundred dollars worth of pesos in my sock drawer, because there is always another Mex Riv cruise coming up! As Starlight notes!!

Those pesos are becoming increasing valuable these days.  

 

On 6/8/2023 at 9:47 PM, Hlitner said:

However, travelers/cruisers need to be aware of "Dynamic Currency Conversion" with both credit cards and ATM cards.  This is where a merchant or machine will offer you an exchange rate and you can either accept or decline

What the heck is that?  If some vendor tried to charge me in US$ in Mexico, I would politely remind them that we are in Mexico and not the US.  Sounds like a tourist scam to me.  

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

On 6/22/2023 at 9:03 PM, SelectSys said:

Those pesos are becoming increasing valuable these days.  

How true, I wish I had bought more when it was 24 to 1 USD and not the 17 to 1 it is now.  

[SelectSys]

On 7/9/2023 at 8:53 PM, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

How true, I wish I had bought more when it was 24 to 1 USD and not the 17 to 1 it is now.  

And the dollar still seems to be dropping.  I am sure this is starting to put a "bit of a pinch" on at least some in the expat community.

[Theosprey247]

The restaurant will take USD, however they set their own conversion (usually posted). We usually take both and use the peso with the street vendors. 

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

7 hours ago, SelectSys said:

And the dollar still seems to be dropping.  I am sure this is starting to put a "bit of a pinch" on at least some in the expat community.

It's come back a little but hasn't broken 20 to 1 in a almost a year.  About a week ago I bought some at the Costco in San Diego and I got 16.9 few days ago it was 17.4 and today 17.  Pretty much been in free fall since last July.  Still cheaper to live in MX.  Gas here was a lot cheaper at about 20 pesos for a liter when the peso got stronger and CA gas was $7 a gallon.  Now MX isn't much cheaper than CA for gas.    

[SelectSys]

5 hours ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

It's come back a little but hasn't broken 20 to 1 in a almost a year.  About a week ago I bought some at the Costco in San Diego and I got 16.9 few days ago it was 17.4 and today 17.  Pretty much been in free fall since last July.  Still cheaper to live in MX.  Gas here was a lot cheaper at about 20 pesos for a liter when the peso got stronger and CA gas was $7 a gallon.  Now MX isn't much cheaper than CA for gas.    

I was in Tijuana for lunch today and saw places advertising less than 17 to the dollar.  I was also making a point to buying gas in Baja for a while, but now it's not really worth it unless you need it.  I don't know if you use the airport much, but we needed to wait at the airport for a couple of hours and ended up paying about $12.50 for parking which was really a shocker.

 

I don't think we are going to see 20 to 1 for a long time.  While I am no fan of AMLO, at least he didn't blow a bunch of money on COVID like we did in the US which has resulted in the inflation that is driving the dollar lower.  I could be wrong, but relative inflation is what I think is driving the exchange rate. 

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

14 hours ago, SelectSys said:

.  I don't know if you use the airport much, but we needed to wait at the airport for a couple of hours and ended up paying about $12.50 for parking which was really a shocker.

 

We haven't used TIJ but several neighbors used it all the time for domestic flights.  If coming from the US side the CBX is the way to go.  We just had friends who live in La Jolla have somebody drop them on the US side at the CBX and fly to Cabo from TIJ for $75 RT.  Main issue with TIJ is there aren't many direct flights you usually have to connect in Mexico City.  

[SelectSys]

On 7/12/2023 at 11:03 AM, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

We haven't used TIJ but several neighbors used it all the time for domestic flights.  If coming from the US side the CBX is the way to go.  We just had friends who live in La Jolla have somebody drop them on the US side at the CBX and fly to Cabo from TIJ for $75 RT.  Main issue with TIJ is there aren't many direct flights you usually have to connect in Mexico City.  

If you have global entry and don't mind driving in Mexico, I think simply driving to the airport is a better deal.  The parking at the CBX is really pretty expensive and then you need to pay for the bridge itself.  The only issue with parking at TIJ is that it is also getting expensive and crowded, but new long term options seem to be opening up all the time.  I like the airport long term lot itself for about 200 pesos/day.  You can also walk from the lot to the airport in about 5-10 minutes if you don't mind walking.

 

Your view on flights connecting via Mexico City is a bit outdated.  Both Volaris and VivaAerobus offer lots of destinations as non-stops.  Here is a screen shot showing Volaris direct flights from TIJ that I just captured from the Volaris web site:

 

AeroMexico is still quite focused on Mexico City as their biggest hub. Connecting in MEX is a pain as the airport is really quite overcrowded and can have many delays in my experience.

 

In my opinion TIJ is a great airport and is a real benefit to those living in the area on both sides of the border.

[dizzlepop]

Is the simplest way to get pesos to use an ATM? That's the case for Euros, just wondering!

 

Thanks!

[Ashland]

4 hours ago, dizzlepop said:

Is the simplest way to get pesos to use an ATM? That's the case for Euros, just wondering!

 

Thanks!

Maybe...but I would rather not use an ATM...Mexico takes USD $ and that's good enough for the small amount we usually spend in ports.

[Mike45LC]

5 hours ago, dizzlepop said:

Is the simplest way to get pesos to use an ATM? That's the case for Euros, just wondering!

 

Thanks!

I buy my pesos at a local (Las Vegas) currency exchange place.  For me, that was the simplest method. 

 

On our last cruise, my wife won 3,800 pesos (roughly $200) in a casino and we added that to our peso stash.  That was even better!!