What is the best way to pay for things in Mexico?

nym10/23/2004 · January 2012

We are staying at Secrets Marona Beach....if I want anything at the spa what is the best way to pay? Cash or credit card? And do I need to convert my cash to pesos or do they take american money? Also if we go into town shopping or out to eat, what is the best way to pay?

alithebride · January 2012

inhotel spas usually charge to the room. check iwth resort.

as for in town-$$s are acceptable but make sure you know the exchange rate so that when you get change you know if it's correct.

algalphys · January 2012

I'd say take American and don't bother converting to Pesos...I've never converted to Pesos (only time we converted was in Cuba where we HAD to use the tourist pesos). Credit cards are widely accepted too with no issues.

hz80408 · January 2012

We HMed at SMB. We have our credit card number when checking in and any extras (like spa treatments) were billed to our room and then we paid for when checking out. You'll be fine with a credit card. We tipped for spa services in USD.

PrincessShay80 · January 2012

We always charge everything at the hotel to our room and pay with our credit card in the end- just double check your statment to make sure it was charged correctly, I have never had an issue. When out and about we either will pay with our credit card or with cash, I stopped converting money to pecos years ago- they prefer american money. the cabs will usually give change in american money if they have it. If I end up with a few pecos at the end of the trip I will tip someone with it just to get rid of it.

MrsD2006 · January 2012

I disagree that credit cards are widely accepted outside of the hotel and resort, especially AmEx. You should be prepared to pay cash just in case.

TarzansWife · January 2012

Bill everything at the resort to your CC and use Cash in town. Don't go into town though expecting them to be able to break a $100 american. Don't take anything larger than a $20 and try to use smaller bills. Take only the cash that you will need for your outing and keep everything else in your in-room safe. We have had some fraud on our CC's using them out of the resort in Mexico so now we stick to cash only when we are out in town.

CnJ-July9 · January 2012

I always convert to pesos. i'm in their country, i'll pay their currency. we're usually the only international visitors standing at the ATM but that way the taxi driver doesn't have to worry about changing his pay into pesos and can pocket what he wants. yeah he'll give you change in dollars, it's money he can't do anything with unless he shops at tourists spots himself.

hz80408 · January 2012

CnJ-July9:
I always convert to pesos. .

Love your dog CnJ!!

Blessed55 · January 2012

I would plan to use credit cards and pesos. Outside of our resort no one took dollars when I was in cancun last month. I actually think I read fine print somewhere that said they aren't allowed to take the dollar for cash payments anymore. Here is an article about the law here.

CnJ-July9 · January 2012

hz80408:
CnJ-July9:
I always convert to pesos. .
Love your dog CnJ!!

thanks!

to add, we use our credit card on the resort or hotel but pesos everywhere else.

SusanH. · January 2012

Dh and I were in Mexico Sept 2011. We didnt leave the resort but they did bring in a bunch of vendors for a market a couple of nights. There were probably about 15 booths or so. We found they would give better pricing for cash ( we used US dollars)

dalm0m · January 2012

In Mexico most places take US dollars. However if you pay in cash you will most likely get change in pesos.

At your resort & for big ticket items credit card will be fine.

We usually pay in pesos elsewhere but only convert a few dollars at a time.

alithebride · January 2012

Blessed55:
I would plan to use credit cards and pesos. Outside of our resort no one took dollars when I was in cancun last month. I actually think I read fine print somewhere that said they aren't allowed to take the dollar for cash payments anymore. Here is an article about the law here.

not true. did it in december at about 45 different places.

Blessed55 · January 2012

alithebride:
Blessed55:
I would plan to use credit cards and pesos. Outside of our resort no one took dollars when I was in cancun last month. I actually think I read fine print somewhere that said they aren't allowed to take the dollar for cash payments anymore. Here is an article about the law here.

not true. did it in december at about 45 different places.

OP - I guess there is no consensus then lol. I guess all places aren't following this supposed law.

If you want to err on the side of caution though, just go ahead and convert to pesos at a bank or your hotel, since obviously you know all places will take pesos.

Have a great trip!

MrsLynch0516 · January 2012

We've been to Dreams and Secrets and have used both. We paid cash for a spa visit at Dreams. At Secrets Capri we had an excursion charged to the room. But watch your bill. We were charged twice for our excursion. Look over it carefully, they have the receipt in Pesos which can be a little confusing to read. But we actually though cash was easier to deal with. Some places will give you change in USD and some in Pecos. I just always tried to get as exact as possible. You may want to call your credit/debit card company and let them know you are traveling outside the country and may be using your card. So it doens't set off any alerts to them.

Have fun!

MrsLynch0516 · January 2012

Blessed55:
I would plan to use credit cards and pesos. Outside of our resort no one took dollars when I was in cancun last month. I actually think I read fine print somewhere that said they aren't allowed to take the dollar for cash payments anymore. Here is an article about the law here.

We were in Cancun last May and didn't have a single problem using USD.

jemmini6 · January 2012

We charged everything from our hotel to our room and paid on the CC. Our hotel had a lower exchange rate though (when we went, it was 13 pesos/dollar, but the hotel exchanged at 11 pesos/dollar). However, this was only for cash payments, since the credit card used the current exchange rate, so that was nice.

We had no issues using USD off-resort though, they just give you change back in pesos. I had an app on my phone with the current exchange rate, so that I could always check to make sure we got back correct change. We had one taxi driver that tried to screw us over on the change, we argued with him for all of a second and then just said 'fine, that's your tip then' (which was less than we'd have tipped if he gave us correct change).

What is the best way to pay for things in Mexico?

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