Sorry to bring this one up again, tourists are asking on other forums. We use Dollars so seldom for touristy type things that I'm not sure I'd notice if a limitation actually were the case. I know Costco doesn't seem to have changed their policy and my guess is that it's unlikely to have changed elsewhere too. Is anyone aware of any tourist related businesses insisiting on Pesos only? I dont mean the Oxxo in SM 68, nor the likes of travel operators such as Funjet or Thomson. More Cancun based tour companies, nightclubs, transfer companies, restaurants, bars, taxis, buses etc. You know, things that tourists might actually expect or be used to paying dollars for. Or is this just another hyped story to persuade US tourists to keep away from Mexico?
Most of my company's transactions are done via credit card, but I am asking around to see what is happening "on the ground". The law won't allow anything larger than $100 in any one transaction, but I don't know if companies are sticking to it or finding ways around it. I did see a sign in McDonald's that they won't accept USD. Will let you know if I find out anything more.... Mexico currency laws make it tougher to pay in dollars - USATODAY.com
I saw a Costco sign that said to the effect of, that purchases with USD were limited to $100. That was a couple of weeks ago. I did notice that the Casa de Cambio place behind Starbucks at Plaza Hollywood will now buy up to $300 USD per day but their rate was a crappy $12.00 per $1. While standing there I checked the Banamex rate and it was $12.15. Yesterday I got $12.12 at Home Depot but the bank rate could have changed easily by $.03 from early am till after banks closed. It is nice to be able to go to Walmart or somewhere, buy a few things, pay with a $50 US and get $500 MXN for change. Did that yesterday actually. And went thru the fairly new Tercera Edad line at Walmart. That line was full of old duffers and pregnant ladies. LOL
Good article (nice quote in there, too!) Just wish they hadn't thrown in that last paragraph, as it seems kinda unrelated. Sh*tty comments, too... as usual.
Isn't that the truth. It was a purely gratuitous comment, just a reminder to the readers to "stay out of Mexico". Oh, brother.... I wonder if this kind of stuff isn't part of a concerted effort to keep American visitors home, so they'll spend their tourist dollars locally, and contribute to the sagging economy there.
Home Depot will only accept 100 usd per transaction. Wal Mart still take them but you have to spend at least half of the amount in order to use usd.
As if the drug cartels are laundering the money at Wal-mart.... I appreciate the attempt but I think the only people really affected by this law are small business owners, tourists, and expats... and that effect is a negative one. As someone pointed out a while back, for a country that advertises itself as a retirement destination for American's they sure don't make it easy...
A friend of mine works for a private bank, dealing mostly with large hotel chains in the area. Most of what they do is exchanging foreign currencies. His job is to check all the paperwork going through to make sure no money laundering is going on. Apparently currency exchange is a popular way to launder money. Dunno if drugs cartels are involved... Not sure how it's done either, but I guess I'd rather stay naive and innocent haha
I really don't see what the big deal is, there are ATMs everywhere and credit cards accepted. Can I use Canadian dollars or pesos or British pounds in the US? Uhhh, nope, so why should you be able to use USD anywhere except the US? I've never understood that....use the currency of the country you are in, I wouldn't go to Japan and expect to use anything other than yen....
money the big deal is Mexico has always allowed it and now they arent. I agree with you, when in Mexico use pesos. I have been coming here for 22 years and could use american money back then. I live here, I dont care. But with everything else going on here -it just seems they picked a bad time to enforce. Playa is dead now and with all travel agencies telling everyone their money isnt welcomed -well its just something that should have been worked out without announcing it to the whole world
