CHANGING DOLLARS FOR PESOS BEFORE VISITING?
DIALED-IN-ON-DOLLARS
Originally Published the Week of June 15, 2011 in Western Outdoor News
Over all the years down here in La Paz, some of the most
common question I get involves American dollars and whether pesos are needed
down here. The answer is a resounding
“yes”…and “no.”
Bottom line:
1. We run several
businesses here and have been in Baja since the mid-90’s. Everyone loves American dollars. (Who doesn’t?) It holds it’s value pretty
good. Everyone loves to have it in their
pockets and accounts. That includes businesses as well as individuals.
2. It’s getting
harder to use American dollars down here.
Banks and the government are making it more difficult to use dollars so
sometimes your offer of U.S. dollars in payment will sometimes be sadly
declined by vendors. Or, because the
dollar holds it value, they want to hold their dollars and give you only
pesos. Here’s some practical tips…
- If you want to exchange
dollars for pesos, do it. Just
understand that there are different exchange rates. Most places will charge you a few
points. (This is whether you change
pesos to dollars or dollars-to-pesos). - We’ve found that the best places are the
exchange houses that are often found in the tourist areas. They usually
look like little kiosks with windows. - Banks will no longer
exchange dollars for pesos! Even if
you have a Mexican bank account (like us), they will not change dollars
into pesos. You can deposit dollars
into a peso account, but you cannot get dollars back or exchange dollars
for pesos. It’s an attempt to curtail money laundering in the country. - You can usually get some
money exchanged at the larger markets or hotels, but often the rate is not
as good as the exchange houses. - If you just need small
denominations, there are numerous cash machines everywhere that will give
you 200 peso notes (about 20 bucks) located at banks, markets, convenience
stores, etc. Just use your bank card like at home. - If you do bring U.S.
currency, you will find that small bills are really handy. Bring 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 20’s. Great for tips and small purchases. You will be glad you did.
- Use the smallest
denomination possible. Don’t run up
to the bait man in the morning and expect the guy to have change for 100
dollar bill at 6 a.m. in the morning. Same for the cab driver or t-shirt
seller on the beach. Also, if they
do have change, expect to get it back in pesos, not dollars. For instance, if a t-shirt costs 4 bucks
and you use a 20 dollar bill to pay, you’ll get 16 bucks in change…in
pesos! So, a 5 dollar bill would
have been better.
- It has nothing to do with
money laundering, but “dirty money” often is not accepted. If the bill is torn or has your
girlfriend’s phone number or someone drew a mustache on the president,
they won’t accept it. Not that the
vendor doesn’t want your money but the banks won’t accept torn, ripped or
defaced dollars so it’s worthless to the average Mexican vendor. - Lastly…save your
coins. Our Mexican friends that are
busboys, bellmen and porters often show me the pocketful of dimes and
quarters they got as tips.
Worthless. American coins cannot
be cashed at any Mexican
banks. So, dumping your
pocket change on someone isn’t going to get you an extra set of towels or
a mint on your pillow.
“THEY CALLED ME MR. JONATHAN” PART 2
Last column I wrote about the TV family (Chad Shearer’s
“Shoot Straight” TV show) that
came to visit us and how remarkable it was to be with three generations fishing
and enjoying themselves together. They impressed on me how important it is to
make every moment with your parents and kids count.
When they got home to Montana, we got thank you notes from
everyone, including the Matriarch of the family, Marcia Shearer. She wrote me that it was an incredible time
for their family in Baja. She sent that
to me on Facebook.
Several hours after writing that to me, Marcia Shearer
suffered cardiac arrest while waiting at a stop sign in her car and is now in a
coma.
We only get one chance to make every moment as special as we
can. Her last fun time might have been here in Baja…with her family. Count your blessings. Be special to each
other.
That’s our story!
Jonathan
_______________________________________
Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western
Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his
wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La
Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar
on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.
If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com or drop by the restaurant to say hi!
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip
Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on
Trip Advisor
Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO
Website: www.tailhunter-international.com
U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/
Tailhunter YouTube Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate
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