What is the best way to pay for things in Mexico City?
Credit cards, debit cards, prepaid travel cards and cash are all accepted in Mexico. Outside of a few purchases like transportation fare or local shops, a credit card will be your best bet for everyday purchases.
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Using your debit card in Mexico is generally safe, and carrying a debit card is safer than carrying a large amount of actual cash on you. A possible downside is when your card isn't accepted or stops working.
Publicly accessible ATMs in Mexico are susceptible to manipulation and all too often card data is copied and stolen. Shopping with a credit card, on the other hand, usually works without any problems. The major supermarkets and souvenir stores accept all major card systems.
Some, but definitely not all. Big touristy attractions and popular hotels will accept cards, but it's a good idea to carry cash. If you're looking to eat Mexican City street food, you'll want to have cash. Similarly, a lot of non-touristy activities in Mexico City will require cash.
Dollars or pesos? In most tourist areas in Mexico, it is acceptable to tip in either pesos or dollars, though pesos are more practical for the person being tipped. If you do tip in dollars, be sure to only tip using notes and not coins as coins cannot be exchanged.
It's up to you how much you tip, but the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10% – 20% (15% is a good standard in tourist areas) of the bill or ticket price.
It's recommended that you buy pesos before you land in Mexico, just in case you need the cash. According to this USA Today article, the most economical way to do this is to buy pesos from your bank in the U.S. Most banks will do this for free, especially if you're not withdrawing a significant amount of money.
While it is possible to use US dollars to pay for tours, tips, and even accommodation, you will need Mexican currency for cash transactions in Mexico. In places that do accept physical U.S. dollars, such as hotels, using them may result in very unfavorable exchange rates or additional fees.
ATM Rates & Fees. The best way to get pesos in Mexico for your trip is to use your debit card at an ATM. We recommend exchanging enough pesos from your home country before your trip to make it through your first day. Afterward, simply get cash from a local ATM to get the best exchange rate possible.
If you are searching for how to get pesos in Mexico, currency exchanges at the airport or downtown will always offer you a worse exchange rate than your bank. That's how they make money! For this reason, I only suggest using this option when you have some leftover pesos before your return flight at the airport.
Still, bringing a small amount of cash for service tips (spa treatments, bartenders, waiters and waitresses, tour guides, etc.) is smart. To determine the appropriate amount of cash to bring, add up the total cost of the property and bring 25% of that to spread out over however many days you plan to spend there.
It's up to you how much you tip, but the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10% – 20% (15% is a good standard in tourist areas) of the bill or ticket price.
It's up to you how much you tip, but the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10% – 20% (15% is a good standard in tourist areas) of the bill or ticket price.
If you enter or leave Mexico, you must declare any sum of money equaling US$10,000 or more that you bring in cash, checks, money orders, other cashable documents or a combination of them. Failing to declare carries a fine ranging from 20% to 40% of the exceeding amount.