Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

mhurley

Jan 22, 2006, 7:10 PM

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Money

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Hi,

We (2 humans, 2 canines) will be driving from San Francisco to Chapala beginning February 4. We will cross the border at Nogales and take highway 15 down. I would appreciate the advice of anyone who has made this trip recently as to how much cash we should carry with us in US$ and in pesos. We will also be well-armed with credit cards, but know that we need to have more cash than we would normally carry here. Any other advice is also appreciated.

Many thanks,

Marti

patricio_lintz

Jan 22, 2006, 7:37 PM

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Re: [mhurley] Money

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Credit cards were almost useless, until the PEMEX stations in bigger towns started accepting them recently. Big expensive hotels and resorts will take your credit card. I do advise you not to use them for fuel.

Same thing for traveler's checks- useless except at some banks and hotels. An ATM Debit card is the way most travellers get by. The money is given in pesos. Almost every bank, OXXO convenience store and supermarket has one.

You will need at least 1000 pesos for tolls on the trip. You will need pesos for fuel, hotel(s), food & incidentals. After entering Mexico, you really do not need $ USD at all, unless you have a customs agent at the border. Most places (except toll boths in the interior) will take your $USD but may not give you fair exchange rate.

alex .

Jan 23, 2006, 5:58 AM

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Money

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I would add that you bring an ATM card from two different banks just in case one doesn't work. I was glad that I did, as the one from my credit union didn't work at all.
When you approch the border on interstate 19, look for the Mariposa exit, km 4 I think it is. This is the truck crossing, but cars are permitted as well. In addition to that, bear left at the crossing toward "Hermosillo". What that does for you is it zips you down the cuota to km 21 without haveing to go thru customs right at the border. When you are doing this it feels funny 'cause no one else is doing this, you'll have the road all to yourself. At km 21 you can pass thru the green light/red light routine. It'll save you a ton of time avoiding both el centro de Nogales and the border aduana.
Alex

(This post was edited by alex . on Jan 23, 2006, 7:20 AM)

raferguson

Jan 23, 2006, 4:08 PM

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Re: [mhurley] Money

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I would not carry a large amount of cash. I would make sure that I had two ATM cards with different banks to get pesos. Like another poster, I have been in a situation where I needed pesos, one card did not work, but the other card did.

I gave up carrying lots of cash or travelers checks a decade or two ago. To me, that is old advice from people who forget that we are living in the 21st century.

That said, you should have some cash for small purchases, maybe to pay for lunch, and probably for Pemex stations. You will be on a major highway, not out in the sticks, so there will be banks, ATMS, and businesses that accept credit cards. I don't remember ever staying in a hotel that would not take a credit card, but I am sure that they exist, especially at the lower end.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

CCarol

Jan 23, 2006, 4:33 PM

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Re: [raferguson] Money

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You also need to call your credit card companies before you leave and let them know where you are going. I couldn't use my card in Mexico last year because I neglected to do that. And even though the hotels accepted my card, it wasn't approved by the company. Fortunately I was with other people and they helped me out!
Carol

"Be kind, for everyone you know is facing a great battle." (Philo of Alexandria)

jacpowell

Jan 24, 2006, 11:51 AM

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Re: [CCarol] Money

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Our credit union requires a signed paper notice that we are leaving the country and will be using our debit card. This can be done by fax. Good to check before you leave. We only use it for ATM withdrawals. We have been able to use our credit for many purposes, but usually in larger cities or for things like bus tickets.

julian3345

Jan 25, 2006, 3:23 PM

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Re: [jacpowell] Money

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You might want to print out a list of locations of Sam's Club, Walmart, Soriana and Costco stores along your route as they are open long hours and have usually working ATM machines safely installed inside. I second the advice of those who suggest carrying a little cash in pesos and a couple of debit cards. Joan

manda405

Jan 25, 2006, 7:54 PM

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Re: [mhurley] Money

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Alex is right, the Mariposa border crossing is exit 4 on I19 and it will save you a ton of time. However, I would suggest driving into downtown Nogales, AZ, parking your vehicle in a lot either behind Burger King or Ueta, and walking across the border into Nogales, Son. There you can exchange your US $ to Mex $ at the best rate. Right now the peso is 10.45 to 1 dollar. Look around at a few of the Casas de Cambio before handing over your money though, some vary in price as much as ten cents which is a big deal when you are trading a couple hundred dollars. After you exhange your money, you can walk back to your vehicle, go back up I19 to exit 4, cross there, and then take care of the vehicle permit (about $20) and tourist visas (another $20 each) at km 21. You'll see the signs.

As for the amount of money, we (2 adults, 1 baby), made it to Michoacan from Mexicali on about $400US. We stayed at the "lower end" hotels, but we were just there to sleep after all. We were able to eat three meals a day and had just enough to hang out and buy a few souvieners in Puerto Vallarta. The tolls are about $70 to $150 pesos depending on how long the road is, and gas is about $2.25US per gallon ( I think, I haven't filled up on the Mexico side in awhile, my 4runner doesn't like Mexican gas).

I don't recommend using your ATM/credit card very often, only at hotels and for large purchases at major stores (Soriana, Coppel, Elektra). The banks here charge outragous fees for withdrawls and your bank may charge extra as well. One withdrawl I made at an ATM inside Soriana cost me almost $7 US. The Mexican bank charged me $4 and my bank charged $2.5. I make my withdrawls at the B of A ATM right across the border now.

What happens down in Mexico...Stays in Mexico.

raferguson

Jan 25, 2006, 8:23 PM

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Re: [manda405] Money

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The fees and rates vary from credit card to credit card. Mastercard/Visa charge a 1% fee for purchases, but some credit card companies add 2 more percent, for a total of 3% fee. You have to ask to find out about the 2% extra fee. My credit union does not add the 2%, and they have never charged me for using an ATM.

If you are being charged through the nose on every transaction, it is time to look at a different bank or better yet, a credit union.

For some reason, I have never had a problem with any of my many credit or debit cards being refused because I was out of the country. Maybe they have figured out that being outside the USA is normal for me.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

Moisheh

Jan 26, 2006, 5:59 AM

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Re: [manda405] Money

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This thread has a lot of mis information. Most if not all Mexican banks do not charge anything to use their ATM. I know for sure that Bancomer, Banamex, Serfin, Nova Scotia and a few more of the LARGE banks do not add anything to your withdrawal. The ATM machine will tell you that they charge 70 centavos but that has not happened yet to foreign cards. YOUR own bank is a whole other story. Fees can vary from nothing to $7.00 per transaction. Visa/Mastercard add 2 % to the exchange rate on all foreign purchases. This has nothing to do with your bank. It is Visa International. To get a good answer ask your own financial institution.

Moisheh