Cash(US), Traveler's Cheques , or Credit Cards...

[sawfly1]

just got back from cancun.
always like to use my debit card, always worked before,
this time it did not work anywhere.
not sure what the problem was
bt we did not tell the bank we were going there this time.

maybe that was it.
good thing my daughter was along with her credit card and pin.
she was my banker..

another thing , you never know when you will run into an outfit that only wants cash.
then all of a sudden you are short on cash.
so tell the bank where your going , take your debit .
take credit cards with pin #s and some US cash
exchange rates at the hotels are horrid.

[newguy]

if you book fishing trip just use credit card.exchange on that not too bad.My taxi driver would take canadian as his wife would just spend it at Walmart and get the best exchange anywhere.But most would not shop there.They laugh at the prices in playa del carmen .They can buy better vanilla at a third of the price if you know where to go.I find best to take lots of canadian cash.I never used any card this year down there.just kept exchanging and buying more pesos as needed.And no exchange on canadian that is not used.

[lesm]

Rockpile, I live in the very south end of PV( Romantica Zone) near the newly built wharf and across from the park, about half a block from the ocean on the Malecon. I rent a studio from the hotel on a monthly basis, however thinking of buying a condo this winter near where I stay. Torn about that decision!

[Guest]

Atm,s all the way .have used them in cuba ,all over eastern caribean , all over mexico ,jamaica . Never has a problem .local bank will charge a little more than atm

[Jay-mo]

I'm surprised so many are recommending using ATM's. My wife and I were in the Mayan Riviera and Cancun area last January. The ATM's were taking $6-7USD per transaction. Maybe that's not normal, I thought it was way too much.
I would take as much US cash and pesos as you feel comfortable carrying. Use your CC where possible.

[Casered]

tweety.... i am "encouraging" them to get off the resort and go see some stuff(hence the question about how to handle the money), guided group tours for safety reasons. Keep your nose clean attitude. And you know, for someone who has never done a lot of the hot destination thing maybe staying on the resort is a good place to start. Confidence...? Caution...? The last one I won to Jamaica I gave to them as well.... they did the group tour thing off resort and had a blast.

To each their own...

I think people are way too afraid of the danger in many foreign countries. Especially in the tourist areas. I have walked the 7 mile beach alone in Negril, Jamaica many times at night. I have never been seriously threatened. However, I wouldn't walk through north central Regina at night. So it's all in knowing where you can and can't go. A little danger keeps things interesting. Kind of like farming.