What money do I use?

[801boa]

Going to Mexico for a week in March.
Do I take US or Peso's?
I have to convert from Canadian either way, so what is the preferred currency.

[KARL]

Those who travel a lot, to countries other than those where facilities are limited, generally take only very little cash along - just enough for immediate needs such as on arrival getting to where they are staying, etc. The rest of the outlays they cover using a credit or debit card. Thus a cash float of say $100-200 would be adequate - in the case of Mexico you should take pesos rather than converting to USD and then additionally incur the inevitable unfavourable margin when USD are calculated into pesos. Always think of the local currency unless you are in a country where most things are done on a cash basis and cards are not widely usable. In some such countries, but not all, it is actually better to use established money changers rather than the banks which charge lots of fees on top of using a less favourable rate. You need to be particularly careful where the local currency is unstable and just exchange what you need in the immediate term.

[dot.hawkes]

having been to mexico, they don;t like local currency they love the dollar.

[dot.hawkes]

you'll need some 1 dollar bills to get bar service even in the all inclusive resorts otherwise you'll be the last to be served. the luggage handlers and the coach tdrivers want a dollar, not interested in their own coinage at all.

[KARL]

The sort of people who work in areas that interface with travellers/tourists seem to include among them a particularly high proportion of 'chancers'. This is the case in every single country on the planet - they see an opportunity in exploiting those who come in and are unfamiliar with their new surroundings. Thus, depending on the country, you can expect baggage handlers, immigration staff, customs officials, taxi drivers, bar staff, etc., etc. to include people 'on the make'. What I have no time for is those who pander to these sorts and let them have their way: this will inevitably breed stories of easy money, thus escalating the situation. The worst I have ever seem in this regard was a European passing ahead of me through an African airport. He literally put his hand in his pocket and handed over a note at every point of contact with staff of any kind, from check-in right through security, passport control and to the departure gate where our paths separated. It is entirely natural that each and every person I then encountered asked me 'What do you have for me'. Mind you, an airport shuttle bus driver once demanded a tip from me as I got off at Washington Dulles (I was the only passenger) - so much for civilisation.

[naomi24]

We use both dollars and pesos in Mexico. The one thing to watch out for is the exchange rates in shops. Prices are often advertised in both currencies - but you can get severely stitched up by the rates of exchange shops offer.

[naomi24]

Dot, we've never had to offer money in bars either in hotels or outside, to get served. We've never had reason to do it, and it wouldn't occur to us to do it. We've never had problem with anything like that.

As for tipping, those we have tipped for carrying luggage, etc, have been quite happy to accept either pesos or dollars.