Best size US bills to carry in Mexico?
Replies: 28 - Last Post: Dec 10, 2012 3:14 PM Last Post By: range41
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Best size US bills to carry in Mexico?
For at least the first few days after I get off the plane, I'd like to have some US$ in cash for some hotels that don't take credit cards, easy changing into pesos, etc., perhaps several hundred dollars. What's the best size for easy exchanging? Are there any denominations NOT to bring because they won't be accepted because of frequent counterfeiting or other reasons? And are there any problems these days using one's credit card to get cash from bank automatic tellers? I haven't been to Mexico for a few years, and I seem to remember reading that there were some problems with US currency for a while.5
If you do decide to take larger US bills.....make sure they are PERFECT! Any little tear or imperfection will not be accepted.I carry some US currency when we travel but as the others stated... ATM is the way to go.
Make sure the banks for the cards you are going to bring know your destinations and travel dates or they will often be blocked.
We have two travel accounts with ATM cards that we use,(in case one is captured by a machine or lost). The accounts DO NOT automatically transfer funds when the balance gets low. We monitor that and transfer money as needed. We carry a computer and only do banking over secure connections.....but we travel for months at a time and need that flexibility.
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Thanks. Maybe I'll rethink carrying much US cash. Does anyone know, specifically, if the San Jose del Cabo airport has an ATM machine?8
phredo wrote:
phredo wrote:
using one's credit card to get cash from bank automatic tellers?
phredo wrote:
using one's credit card to get cash from bank automatic tellers?
Personally I use a debit card rather than a credit card. Make sure your bank knows you are going to be in Mexico.
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I get my pesos from currency exchange places here in Canada. Or you can probably get them from the major banks. Check out both options.11
"What's the best size for easy exchanging?" Best sized Mexican bill to carry would be M$100 pesos for everyday transactions. Anything above M$100 (red with a portrait of Nezahualcoyotl) could be harder to break on the street stalls but you still can be able to make change for M$200 in restaurants and stores. If riding (local) buses you want to have enough coins in hand and with bills, say M$50 max. In hotels, there's usually enough money to make change for M$500 or $1000. The M$1000 (purple with a portrait of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla at right) is seldom seen or used. American bills are fine if you're at the border towns on the day trip from the U.S. and some of the tourist resorts, but as suggested it's better to exchange to pesos or draw money from local ATM's."And are there any problems these days using one's credit card to get cash from bank automatic tellers?" If you're using CREDIT cards be aware that there can be hefty cash advance surcharges by the credit card company and higher APR than for charged transactions. Ask your credit card company. If you use debit cards to draw money from your OWN bank account ask your bank about transactional charges for foreign ATMs.
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I travel in Mexico with an ATM card, a credit card, sometimes with travelers cheques ... and always with a couple of hundred US$. I carry US$20 denomination.LW
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Virtually all airports have ATM machines and exchange booths - certainly those in heavily touristy areas such as San Jose do. In the vicinity of Los Cabos you will have no problem spending or exchanging dollars. However, once you leave areas with a large density of tourists you will find dollars increasingly more difficult to exchange and more impossible to spend. Personally I would feel uncomfortable wandering around Mexico (or anywhere) with a large amount of cash on me.
