Traveling to Mexico and need some help

[Atonswife]

Hi All,

I'll be traveling to Cancun in June and was wondering where's the best place to change currency over there. I will be taking my Barclay Jetblue card and my Cap One as a back up. I was planning to use my Jetblue card for the resturants but I know I will need local currency for some of the smaller shops, cabs, tips etc. I'll be staying at The Westin Lagunamar and I was reading that as of late they are only allowed to keep a certain amount of foreign currency on hand so it is advisable to exchange for local currency. Can anyone advise what's the best way of going about this?

[Scupra]

When we went to Cancun last June I used a credit card for almost everything, it was great I brought about $400 in dollar bills to tip with, which was the majority of cash spend. I think I pulled cash out once or twice from an ATM in the hotel lobby, it was NOT a good exchange rate though.

Hope you have a lot of fun! We have been talking about going back it was so much fun. As long as you stay on the strip just take the bus back and forth, cab rides were insane prices. Make sure to stop by the colorful Cancun sign for a picture

[Atonswife]

Thanks so much Scupra!!! This is our first time going and we're so excited!

Just one more question, when you said you tipped with the cash was that US or pesos? I'm just trying to figure what's best. I know for the bus we have to use pesos (was it coins or the paper they used on the bus?). I just want to make sure we get a decent rate so now I know to avoid hotle atms lol

[Scupra]

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@Atonswife wrote:
Thanks so much Scupra!!! This is our first time going and we're so excited!

Just one more question, when you said you tipped with the cash was that US or pesos? I'm just trying to figure what's best. I know for the bus we have to use pesos (was it coins or the paper they used on the bus?). I just want to make sure we get a decent rate so now I know to avoid hotle atms lol

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I brought US dollars to tip with. We made friends with a bartender and he told us he prefers US money! the bus will actually take a $1 bill for you to get on and give you back a couple pesos. We usually tipped the bus driver with the change and asked him to tell us when we were at our destination. The hotel ATM was fine for us and I dealt with the bad rate so I didn't have to search around for a better rate haha!

Do you guys plan to do any excursions?! You are going to have SO much fun!!!

[Atonswife]

We would love to go on a tour or two. We'll be there for four full days (flying in early Monday morning and leaving there Friday morning). My husband just started getting into photography and is really excited to get some great pics.

[Scupra]

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@Atonswife wrote:
We would love to go on a tour or two. We'll be there for four full days (flying in early Monday morning and leaving there Friday morning). My husband just started getting into photography and is really excited to get some great pics.

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Your hotel will probably have a rep selling tours! I would find one where you get to check out the Cenote's, seriously one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Check out some Cancun Cenote pics on google.

[JustBPatient]

Your best bet is to use American money.  They like it down there more than their own.  Also depending on where you are going, Cancun for example is more American than third world anyways.

[Scupra]

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@JustBPatient wrote:

Your best bet is to use American money.  They like it down there more than their own.  Also depending on where you are going, Cancun for example is more American than third world anyways.

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At the smaller shops I did get better deals paying with pesos though. They know the average person won't know the exchange rate and they charge you more saying it's the same haha!

[Atonswife]

I just googled and WOW!!!! Beautiful! Now i'm even more excited! Now that i'm on my laptop I see your pic...I gotta be sure to take a pic next to the CANCUN sign....I love it.

[Atonswife]

@JustBPatient...I've heard they like American money as well. I think I'll just take alot of singles and then if I find I need pesos for maybe the small shops in the towns or something then I'll try find a place to change into pesos.