Thought I'd just post the current rates around here as of yesterday. We were running errands all day and paying for lots of things, so we tasted a little bit of everything. -Exchange shop: 12.00 : 1 -Oxxo 1: 11.80 : 1 -Oxxo 2: 11.95 : 1 -Walmart: 12.39 : 1 -iTour Reservation Company: 12.5 : 1 -Akumal Beach Resort: 12:5 : 1 We had to pay for 30 people's worth of hotel rooms yesterday, and the exchange rate worked against us The hotel's prices are in USD (obvious indicator of skimming the exchange), but since we did everything with bank cards (it's not like we ever have much USD on hand anyway) they convert into pesos for the charge. And of course, my [USA] bank's current exchange came through at 12.29 : 1, meaning that the hotel skimmed a couple of dollars per room per night in their favor. For example: 1 night for 2 adults = $180 USD They charged us in pesos at 12.5, so the charge was: $2,250 pesos. On my bank's end, they process it in USD, converting it back at 12.29 : 1, so the real cost of each room per night = $183.07 Small change really, although times that by 15 rooms for 6 nights and the hotel ends up making $276.30 USD in pure profit from the exchange alone. It's always best to pay in pesos, in my experience, and it's always best to understand the exchange -- you can save yourself some money and sanity, and it's just basic arithmetic
Steve, It may have been and probably was. Sad to watch the US$ during this run. Seems like only yesterday we were knocking around $13. I ultimately replied to a 3 day old post by nhrookie, who does not appear to have departed for Cancun. Just thought an update may be more helpful to our visitor, in light of his or her posts. I love your sensitive side. LOL T.J.
well it seems that after reading through this thread a good few times. I think that in all honesty visitors from the uk to cancun should use the currency of the country they are visiting which is the peso. it is not as bad for our american friends just visiting and using their own currency which is the dollar and is widely accepted in mexico. but us brits cannot spend the pound sterling so! buying dollars to get change in pesos is just plain crazy although I have already bought a few hundred dollars for tipping purposes and a few thousand pesos after listening to friends advice, I now intend to follow Gonzos advice and get pesos via the atm as and when required. ps we are on countdown mode now to may and looking forward to our first trip over yeeeehaaaaaaa
I have a question concerning the cambio's . What are they , like an atm machine or a small building or ? We are staying at dreams . Is there a cambio near there? Only 13 more days to go!!!!!!!!!
Here's a switch...I went and got my haircut today...paid in pesos, and got my change back in USD....weird!!!!
It all works we take what we plan on spending and when its gone we stay on the resort. After 3 times in Cancun.........Coco Bongo's is a must.......thats all I can say.
