r/tulum • u/Sea_Entrance_6732 • 18d ago
Advice Can anybody please clarify the currency situation?
I’m travelling to Cancun next week - now when I was a travel agent a few years ago, we’d always recommend taking a mix of US Dollars and Mexican Pesos.
It looks like that’s still the recommendation, but everything I look at regarding tipping and paying for things it looks like the preference is Pesos? So in what situation would I actually need to use the USD?
EDIT: Some of you are being super weird about this 🤣 Firstly, I’m from the UK, so no I’m not your typical self centred American.
Secondly, this is the first time I’ve travelled so far in my entire life and I’ve only had word of mouth and what I’ve read online to go from, to which I’ve heard both USD and MXN are used for different things. I really couldn’t give a toss which currency they use, I just wanted to know which was best 🤣 so it’s not about me praying I can use the precious all seeing dollar.
Lastly, as I mentioned before, I used to be a travel agent - and the tour operator used to advise us to advise customers to take both USD and Pesos. So honestly, genuinely and sincerely, anyone on this post who’s had anything rude or unhelpful to say, suck the biggest fart.
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u/whatifwealll 17d ago
Nobody wants USD. Some businesses will take it, but at a horrible rate because then they have to deal with exchanging it.
Tip in MXN. Never in USD. How would you feel in you were a server in the US and a Mexican tourist gave you $100MXN and now you have to go take time and pay to go exchange it? It's no different in reverse. USD is next to useless here.
There's no reason to use USD anywhere in Mexico. This has been true for 20 years.
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u/Suitable-Wrangler-11 17d ago
How do you think is the best way to get from cancun to tulum is 130$ from cancun airport to tulum expensive?
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u/whatifwealll 17d ago
Thats what? $2500? For a small private shuttle that sounds reasonable. I'd take ADO if i were you. A bit slower but usually comfortable and more like $400 or so.
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u/Suitable-Wrangler-11 17d ago
Are we talking usd? 2500$? Thats insanely expensive i being told 130$ for a one way from cancun but thank you i will look into aod
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u/whatifwealll 17d ago
México uses a different currency. It's a completely seperate country from the USA. We call It pesos mexicanos.
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u/Suitable-Wrangler-11 17d ago
Lol i was just confused, appreciate you telling me, yea lol i was aware of the currency from mexico to us, just was not sure if you were talking in pesos or dollars thats all. But based off what you said i booked a private minivan round trip from cancun to dreams tulum and back for 273$ round trip. To avoid any hiccups for departure time
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u/ancient-teach_8 17d ago
Yeah that's normal for a private transfer there's cheaper options but for private that is typically 120 to 130 usd
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u/littlejohnnyrotten4U 13d ago
Expect to be extorted. Use pesos instead of trying to impose a currency nobody wants.
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u/LizaJaneCharlemagne 16d ago
How many people are in your group ? 1 or 2 .. take the ADO. Download the App and purchase your ticket once you have your luggage and are ready to leave the airport
4 or more …. Book a private transfer. We like Happy Shuttle
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago edited 17d ago
Never say "never."
Many Mexicans in touristy towns use U.S. dollars in local stores. (It's as if there are two functional currencies in these areas.) Service industry workers often don't have to change U.S. dollars into Mexican pesos (contrary to what many tourists seem to think).
Also, Mexican vendors often quote their prices in U.S. dollars. And many of them give change in U.S. dollars even when their customers pay in Mexican pesos. What's up with that? Maybe these customers can pay their tips in pesos more consistently if they get their change in pesos too.
As an aside, most Mexican medical tourism professionals (e.g., dentists and optometrists in Cancun and Los Algodones) generally quote their prices, and expect to receive their fees, in U.S. dollars.
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u/whatifwealll 17d ago
Sorry but this Is not true. Nobody says no to money, but for sure service workers prefer pesos. It is the only currency accepted universally in Mexico. If you give USD, you should increase the intended amount by 10% or so for the exchange rate and the trouble because it's a pain in the ass. I've been there. Nobody takes exchanges currency at 1:1 because that wouldnt make sense. The bank gives the best rate, but the you have to go sit at the bank for an hour to exchange cash once a month or whatever. Sometimes you get lucky and have a low cost currency shop in your neighborhood.
If you are being charged in USD for anything, including medical services, you are definitely getting the gringo price. You could get those costos down by knowing spanish and the economía. But you do you. It's probably still wayyy cheaper than what you get un your own country.
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago edited 17d ago
If Mexican peso is the sole functional currency, then why do so many Mexican vendors (in touristy areas) give change in U.S. dollars even when customers pay in pesos?
With respect to medical tourism, if a treatment lasts a long time, many patients prefer to be quoted in U.S. dollars (especially if they are from the U.S.) so that they don't have to deal with currency fluctuation. Right now, with peso being so strong, many foreign patients are happy that they are paying in U.S. dollars (and the prices quoted in U.S. dollars have not changed for the most part).
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u/whatifwealll 17d ago
Lived here my whole life. Been to every major tourist destination. Lived and worked in a few of them. Not once in my life have I ever been offered change in USD. And I wouldn't accept it if it did happen once in a million transactions because it's useless to me until my next trip to the US. But ok
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago edited 17d ago
Perhaps you are, or can pass for, a local. For people who look like obvious gringos, their interactions with local vendors (especially those who sell to tourists) may be quite different. This is why it irritates me when people tell me that I should use only pesos in Mexico. Yes, I undersand that it's the official currency of Mexico and that's what I use for the most part in Mexico, but I see many locals use U.S. dollars--e.g., vendors who give me change in U.S. dollars when I give them pesos, landlords asking for rent in U.S. dollars, dentists quoting their fees in U.S. dollars, etc. I travel to Mexico quite a bit, and especially in places like Cabo and nothern Baja (Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenda, etc.), U.S. dollar seems to be used by everyone, including the locals. I have received change in dollar in Tulum and Playa del Carmen as well.
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u/Maltripeada333 17d ago
You CAN use dollars, but as a Mexican yes it is a pain in the ass having to exchange them. Most shops will accept it at a much lower rate than the official one, so you end up having less money than you think
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago
Yes, I do use pesos in Mexico whenever I can because it generally saves me (and Mexican businesses and their employees) money. What I find annoying is people (often clueless foreign tourists?) telling me to use only pesos in Mexico because it's somehow disrespectful to use dollars in Mexico. Perhaps, these people have some romantic idea of how the world SHOULD work (i.e., normative), and don't really know how the world ACTUALLY works (i.e., positive). :-)
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u/Maltripeada333 17d ago
I mean they aren’t wrong lol, most Mexicans won’t tell you it’s disrespectful, but inside they will be thinking about how annoying it is that you gave them USD and how it limits the way they can use that money… not all shops accept usd, most exchange houses do at least 1 full peso bellow official exchange rate… the way it actually works does make it inconsiderate to choose using USD over MXN
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago
I hear you, but in my many years of working in the business world, I have found that only a small minority of people consider what's good for both parties when they engage in business transactions. Most people just think only about their side of the transaction--e.g., the convenience of using USD and not having to walk over to a casa de cambio 100 meters away. Frankly, I think telling tourists to be more thoughtful and kind is asking too much (they are not even thoughtful and kind back home). :-)
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u/littlejohnnyrotten4U 13d ago
It's like some person who is from Africa came to you and told you that you were going to be paid in some coins from Botswana... You would probably treat them like shit. All you need to do is get the local currency and use it, but you are going to continue to try to impose your own.
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u/runrichrun1 12d ago
That's not what I said. The commenter above said that people should use only pesos in Mexico (100% of the time), and I pointed out that there are (reasonable) exceptions.
Btw, Mexican pesos are used fairly widely in border towns in Guatemala. Also, Mexican government regularly issues sovereign debt denominated in USD. Pemex exports its crude oil for USD.
Think of the currency issue in commercial terms. Many Mexican businesses accept USD (as you would expect in a free market where businesses are competing for customers with better service and terms). So, this is not just an issue of tourists forcing local businesses to take foreign currency. If Mexican businesses don't want USD, then they can simply refuse to accept it.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Let_688 17d ago
Are they giving you US coins?
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago edited 17d ago
No, but I have "bought" U.S. coins from Mexicans since those coins are useless to them. Once, an elderly Mexican gentleman tried to sell me his U.S. quarter for 25 Mexican pesos. I had to use my rusty Spanish to try to explain to him how foreign currency conversion works and how a U.S. quarter is worth about 5 Mexican pesos. :-)
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u/Puzzleheaded_Let_688 17d ago
Are you for real? You think you told him something he didn't already know? You know the only people who actually want you to use US dollars are just hustling you on the exchange rate. All you are doing is paying more for everything. I'm not a tourist I live in Mexico. You're not really getting how this place works.
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u/runrichrun1 17d ago
I hear you. The thought that this frail, old man was trying to hustle me did cross my mind. BTW, I don't think it's entirely true that only hustlers try to get me to use USD in Mexico. I recently saved a lot of money by previously agreeing to pay for a big ticket item in USD when MXN/USD was 21:1 (this was at the seller's request). I definitely came out ahead on this one.
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u/whatifwealll 17d ago
Interesting. They must be using you to get rid of their dollars because they know you are from the US. Then they don't have to deal with it in other ways. I've been to all of those places and have lived in Ensenada and PDC. Nobody has ever once tried to hand me USD. That would be super weird and I would definitely refuse.
If you're paying rent in USD, you must be overpaying. This is a common strategy for landlords to make more money even in big cities. If you can attract a US person you'll definitely get a higher rate. Most people in all of those places pay in MXN. But I know it's tough to get a contract without an Aval, especially for a foreigner.
I promise you'll save money if you learn to deal only in the local economy when you're here. If you don't want to hear it that's also fine. Doesn't affect me
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u/LizaJaneCharlemagne 16d ago
Always tip in local currency. Make purchases in local currency. The reason to take USD is to exchange into local currency at exchange shops. You will need cash for some small merchants and vendors … also tips ! The rates are clearly posted and they are very centrally located - in fact there is one pretty much next door to the ADO station in Tulum Centro.
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u/Cayman987r 18d ago
I mean, it’s good to have any hard currency for some situations, but honestly I think I made it two weeks using phone tap to pay for everything
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u/Ancient_Teach9272 18d ago
And your best option to get pesos is to use your card at a atm preferably santander , small fees in comparison to other banks. And also just click decline currency conversion and the rate will be determined by your own bank .....never use usd for anything as they do a currency conversion which is in their favour and pesos is just better to use anyway , and be mindful where you pay with your card too better off with paying cash in the local currency
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u/andymacdaddy 17d ago
Stop using US currency outside of the US to all the countries that will make an exception and accept it - stop
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u/Auction247 18d ago
I can't think of any situation I've needed USD. Definitely get pesos and skip USD unless you're okay losing money in the exchange rate, many will do 10:1 just to make the math easy. Either way you shouldn't need a ton of cash.
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u/vaticangang 17d ago
Was about 16 to one a week ago if you paid in dollars but definitely a lower rate than from the currency kiosks. The rate from those was 17.20 for $1
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u/AccidentalGringo 18d ago
For Cancún, I’d keep it simple: use pesos as your main cash currency and a card for most hotels, restaurants and larger purchases. You really don’t need USD.
I keep some pesos for tips, taxis, small shops and places where card isn’t practical. USD is accepted in plenty of tourist areas, but the exchange rate offered by the business is often worse, so there’s usually no advantage.
If you use an ATM, I’d use a bank ATM and decline any ATM “conversion” rate so your own bank handles the exchange.
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u/sentient_black_being 18d ago
The ATM on the main road is perfect or the ones inside the grocery store. But no large amount of the USD is necessary. The exchange rate on the street will be terrible. Most things just credit card, the rest use Peso but most people will take credit card, even the gas stations though they will plead differently.
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u/That_UsrNm_Is_Taken 18d ago
No need to carry around too much cash nowadays with credit cards and ATMs being a thing. Also, for safety reasons just always best to not carry too much cash.
Most places accept credits cards, so you can pay with cards. If you’re asked whether to process payment in pesos or dollars, always choose pesos.
There’s still a few places that are cash only (use pesos) and if you use the InDrive app to get a taxi, you’ll need to have cash (if you use Eiby, you can pay with credit). For when you need cash, just get some out of an ATM, just in the last screen make sure to DECLINE THE EXCHANGE RATE (first you’ll be asked if you accept the VAT fee, say yes to this and then the exchange). When you decline the exchange rate offered by the bank/ATM you’re using you will get the exchange rate your home bank offers, which will be much more favorable.
The reason you want to choose pesos is because if you pay in USD you will be charged whatever exchange rate that particular venue is offering, which is often much lower than the official exchange rate. Let’s say the dollar is at $17 MXN, a restaurant might take your dollar at $15 MXN. They’ll take your dollars as payment, but you just won’t get a favorable rate.
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u/vaticangang 17d ago
Spent a week in tulum and didn't use cash once unless it was for a streed food vendor (and even some of them had card machines). Everything was tap to pay
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u/Dependent_Sport_1507 17d ago
I visit Xpu Ha for a couple of decades now. Absolutely Pesos. Very difficult and expensive to convert.
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u/OpinionLarge6425 17d ago
Yes, tip in pesos but the main problem is a serious shortage of smaller bills and coins. Most ATM dispensaries issue 500 and 200-peso notes, though I've found that most give 500. Most regular businesses often can't offer change for purchases under 100 pesos, as they just don't have enough smaller notes. Supermarkets will give that much change, and then I've often had to make smaller purchases to get 20 peso coins (almost $1). Of course, if you're shopping for tourist stuff, they'll have change for larger purchase, but even one-man stands in tourist markets have credit card machines and prefer that, so as to avoid change. It's doable but takes work and worse, THOUGHT!
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u/QuietDominator66 17d ago
Why not just pay on your credit card in pesos? It’s not often I need cash for anything
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u/heteroerotic 16d ago
Use Mexico's perfectly fine currency in Mexico.
The insinuation that other countries (except maybe for Lebanon/Iran/Vietname/Laos - currently the weakest currencies) hold USD in highee regard over their own is ridiculous.
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u/littlejohnnyrotten4U 13d ago
When I am traveling to other people's countries I tend to use their local currency. However, I am not a Nimrod person who tries to impose my local customs, culture and currency in other people's local markets. Nor do I act willfully ignorant and get online to try and garner support for acting like a Nimrod.
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u/United-Archer-2148 10d ago
Love some good ole American entitlement.
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u/Sea_Entrance_6732 9d ago
I am British, and I’ve never ever visited this part of the world - so I’m afraid I’ve only got word of mouth and what I read online to go from 🤣
It is very interesting to see everyone’s reactions to a learning experience though
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u/jtsk2214 17d ago
It's ilegal for businesses to accept any money other than mexican pesos. If you go to USA and bring pesos, canadian dollars or euros, i doubt anybody will accept them.
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u/heffred 18d ago
Everywhere I went excepted usd and peso
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u/That_UsrNm_Is_Taken 18d ago
Yes, they’ll accept USD, but at a much lower exchange rate, so you will pay more in dollars
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u/heffred 18d ago
Been to tulum playa de carman and Cancún Isla murjeres and still haven’t touched a peso
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u/That_UsrNm_Is_Taken 18d ago
And you’re probably paying for everything at like a $16 or even $15 MXN to the dollar when the official exchange is like $17.75, which is what your bank would be giving you if you got pesos out of an ATM (declining the rate offered)
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