Mexican Peso

[flamingo34]

When I was in Mexico last March the exchange rate was about 10 to 1.
I see in the papers that the rate is now over 13 to 1. I wonder if this has made
traveling in Mexico any cheaper or did they just raise prices to make up the difference? I own at PB Mazatlan and PB Emerald Bay. Anyone that has been down there recently I would appreciate your views.

 

[Monica]

No difference in Acapulco

We just got back from Acapulco. The rate was around 13.3-13.5. For once, the front desk was competitive @ 12.9. Where we went, they hadn't raised prices. I could tell a difference when I checked out.

 

[pittle]

When we were in Puerto Vallarta in late November, the menus were all still the printed ones that looked quite used. Therefore, we assumed that the prices had not been raised. We felt that we got great "bang for the buck".

 

[Carol C]

Mexico is having some serious financial trouble, due to the world economic crisis. Plus the crash in crude oil prices per barrel hit their #1 export. The cash that used to come in from Mex workers living in US and elsewhere is also drying up. Tourism is way down too. So...expect that the peso will continue to suffer when exchanged with dollars. In the last two weeks, some Mex banks will no longer exchange dollars for pesos. Strict tracking measures were in effect starting when the peso began tanking, but these measures have been expanded; now only certain banks will be allowed limited exchange of dollars for pesos and they will expand the requirement to show a passport when changing much more limited amounts of dollars. What this means for tourists...cheaper prices when going to Mexico. Please tip generously, preferably in dollar bills, not pesos...because most waiters, maids and other service providers earn no more than 70 pesos per day.

 

[pittle]

Please tip generously, preferably in dollar bills, not pesos...because most waiters, maids and other service providers earn no more than 70 pesos per day.

I totally agree with this. We always take about $100 in $1 bills to use for tips when we go to Mexico on vacation. I leave tips on the unmade bed each day for the housekeeper so that I know that she actually gets the tip. We used to leave our weekly tip when we left, but sometimes it was a different housekeeper on the last day. We also tip the waiters at the pool with $ bills. I like to tip for service rendered, not just into the "tip pool" that the resort divides amongst the staff when tips are added to the ticket.

 

[aliikai2]

Question

Why use $1 bills instead of Pesos?
We normally tip a good maid that does the dishes, etc 50 pesos a day.
Most wait staff 20% ( provided they took good care of us)
Is there some reason to use US currency that I am missing?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[Monica]

....... and they will expand the requirement to show a passport when changing much more limited amounts of dollars.

They've required a passport for a few years now when going to a bank. I still use my ATM card for the best bang for my bucks.

....... Please tip generously, preferably in dollar bills, not pesos...because most waiters, maids and other service providers earn no more than 70 pesos per day.

Please do this. Last week, sometimes were leaving even 20% for some of the waiters who did a really, really excellent job.

 

[pittle]

It really does not make a big difference if you tip the same basic amount whether pesos or $1 bills. We just take the $1 bills so that we know that we have tip money for each day before we leave home. Then we do not have to make sure that we have pesos in the amount that we need. We generally get our pesos from ATM machines and these are in larger bills. The $1's work well for us and are convenient. We generally leave $3-$5 depending on the size of the unit and the service. I don't leave as much when we are in a hotel unit or studio as I so when we have a 2-bedroom unit.