To change to peso or not - that is the question.

[Hawkeye-X]

We will be cruising and will have 3 port of call to the Mexican Riveria, and would like to know if I should convert my $ to pesos.

The cities we will stop at is: Cabo San Lucas, Matzalan, and Puerto Vallarta

My wife thinks we should. My parents says not necessary. Who is right?

[Capn Sunshine]

1. Your wife is half right.

Change half to pesos.
If you go through that, you can change more.
Have fun, Hawk!

[Hawkeye-X]

2. Wish we could stop at your restaurant....

but alas, not this time, but we definitely will return to California - with my son :)

[tularetom]

3. Done this cruise three times - never converted

We never had a problem.

Credit cards will convert for you and most restaurants accept dollars.

Just don't get too far from the tourist areas.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Everyone warned me the same thing here

So we're going to stick with the group that we signed up with.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Your wife,

If you use your credit card in Mexico you will be charged fees by your credit company. Yes, that came as a shock and surprise to me when I paid for dad's hospital bill in Mexico City using my credit card.

Also realize you should do that HERE in the US.

No9w if you run out of money, and only then, consider using USD with the locals who at times take dollars as a courtesy but the rates will be higher than at the bank. Use cash, if you can, see CC commentary. Oh and try to avoid the stores recommended by the cruise line. They are a racket. Something I learned while in an Alaska cruise.

[Warpy]

6. You'll probably get a better exchange rate at a bank than a business

but the businesses on the border have always been quite willing to take dollars. It's 12.7 pesos to the buck today, but keep an eye on the exchange rate. It's been as low as 8 to the dollar in the last few years.

A handy dandy chart and conversion widget are at http://www.xe.com/

[izquierdista]

9. Don't go to a bank

Generally, the casas de cambio that are all over the tourist areas have better exchange rates than the banks. Banks have a spread of a percent or more, and the casas de cambio are usually half that (or less).

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I should add the caveat

bring the passport, since the latest currency control rules make it more difficult to do that in country.

Why I advise doing it in the US.

[Warpy]

12. Great advice

I'd forgotten about those in the tourist areas. My experience has been with border towns.

[Bluebear]

7. No exchange necessary for that itinerary.

You won't need pesos.

[izquierdista]

8. No

When I lived in Mexico, I paid my rent in US dollars and it was written into the lease as such. The only place you can't use dollars in Mexico is to pay your electric bill (CFE requires payment in pesos). I have a hard time thinking of any other place that required payment in pesos.

[Obamanaut]

11. Or take a tour of the US. Most everyone takes USD here. And, there

is less worry if you stray from the tourist areas.