Bank Card Info

[Susan&Mike]

Hi there, did a quick search and didn't see any threads on using your bank card and since it is Sunday I decided to take the lazy way and just start a new thread since I know one you pros will know the answer.
Would like to know alittle more detail on the $$$ issue. From what I gather cash is about the only thing most places accept. I just want to know if my bank card will work down there and also if your code has to be specific( like only 4 characters). I guess using your visa anywhere is pretty rare as well:( .... I am assuming that most of you take travelers cheques and just cash them as needed??
Whatever added info is greatly appreciated.
P.S. We are booked into Cabanas Tulum for our first 3 nights, then to Cozumel for a week and then back to Tulum for another 4 nights (which we have not booked yet) are hoping to wander around and find something during our first stay there and book the 4 nights then. So hopefully will find some new and undiscovered gem to report about.:)

[Gale in KY]

Yes, your bank card will work there, you can use either debit or credit cards at atms. There are several in Tulum Pueblo. I never use a credit card for anything but auto rental, and use caution at Atm's to prevent cloaning of your card. I have heard cases of this in the past, but nothing lately. You will need a 4 digit pin number. I would also let my bank know to expect some withdrawals from Mexico so they do not block your card for suspicious activity. This happened to my daughter when we were in Xpuha. Oddly enough, she could make purchases with her card, using it like a credit card, but it was blocked from allowing her to make withdrawals in cash.

It is not out of the ordinary for the atm's to run out of cash, especially during high season, so don't wait until you are completely out of cash before making a withdrawal..lol..I found the ATM at the bank in town to feel the most secure...perhaps it was the armed guard patrolling in front of the bank..:rolleyes:

[Susan&Mike]

Thanks for the info Gale. One more question I can cross of my list!!:D

[Userbe3231@aol.com]

The Grocery Store and most everybody takes American Express now too.

[Gale in KY]

Susan, Many places only accept cash..won't even take travelers checks, and if they do, they give a terrible exchange rate. More and more places take credit cards in town all the time..so if you need to use one you can. I always take a card with me for emergencies..I have never had to use one, luckily.
Cash your travelers checks at the bank for the best rate. You will need your passport with you to cash travelers checks or get a cash advance on a credit card at the bank. You can use the ATM much easier. I usually take enough cash to last me a few days when I go, then go into town to visit the ATM as needed, or to exchange dollars for pesos.

[Susan&Mike]

Thanks guys!! I am such a "visa girl" as I get airmiles....hello free flight to Mexico...so try and use it whenever I can, but will make sure have enough cash to start and then find the ATM. Being Canadian I don't need a passport as of yet to travel to Mexico, will this be an issue with cashing travellers cheques...just using birth cert and photo ID? Yes I know before anyone starts giving me heck(join my mother) I will be getting my new passport (old one expired) very soon, just not in time for this trip. I know bad girl:( I would just rather use the ATM the whole time, but might take a bit in cheques just incase machines or bank card crashes.

[Gale in KY]

There was a sign up in the bank when I was there, advising if you wanted a cash advance or to cash travelers checks, you would have to present your passport. That was a little over a year ago.

Ad Guy or Userbe, and Minnie have been back since I have, perhaps they can advise on up to date requirements?

[minniemex]

We just used the bank's (in Tulum)(HSMB?) ATM for cash - we try to bring as few cards as possible, but our backup card did not work as we did not have the correct pin # (we thought we did, should check these things out b4 you go) - we do not take travelers checks, as they are very difficult to cash nowadays, just alot of copying going on with them - Like Gale said, just don't wait until you need money before you get it - my husband always likes to have some to bring home, so that when we return, he feels good if he has some pesos in his pocket:D Also, using your visa - most places that took visa, charged you an additional % to use it - so, we just went with the cash -

[AdGuy]

There was a sign up in the bank when I was there, advising if you wanted a cash advance or to cash travelers checks, you would have to present your passport. That was a little over a year ago.

Ad Guy or Userbe, and Minnie have been back since I have, perhaps they can advise on up to date requirements?

We brought cash...yep...American dollars ($100 bills) to exchange at the PDC and Tulum cambios, so we didn't use our credit cards or ATM cards. I do know some folks at the cambios trying to exchange traveller's checks were asked for passports to do so. We've also had bad experiences using credit cards (bogus charges months after returning) so we just eliminated them as an option while down there.

[bellydancer]

Lee...we also have had a bad experience using a credit card to rent a car. So how do you rent if you don't use a card to secure it?

Also I think it was on this board but I can't seem to find the thread about it...someone mentioned a card that you could put X amount of money on so if the number was stolen then they couldn't charge much and also wouldn't have to worry with replacing your main credit card AGAIN...does anyone remember this? We also thought about just applying for another card just for using in Mexico.

[minniemex]

I think this is the thread -

http://tulum.info/showthread.php?t=763&highlight=visa

[AdGuy]

Lee...we also have had a bad experience using a credit card to rent a car. So how do you rent if you don't use a card to secure it?

Also I think it was on this board but I can't seem to find the thread about it...someone mentioned a card that you could put X amount of money on so if the number was stolen then they couldn't charge much and also wouldn't have to worry with replacing your main credit card AGAIN...does anyone remember this? We also thought about just applying for another card just for using in Mexico.


BD...you're right. The rental car was the one charge we placed on our AMEX. We notified American Express' Security & Fraud department that this was the only charge that should occur from Mexico.

[bluestraveler2]

I guess it's time to share my story. I'm one of those people who want to enter a situation with all my ducks in a row. So prior to going to Tulum I read every thread I could on the money issue. I've been to Mexico numerous times and for years we used travelers checks, then we used ViSA and our ATM. We never had any more trouble than running out of cash in our checking account and I had to go online to transfer money from savings to checking.

I felt secure in using my ATM, but I had this nagging feeling I needed to bring another source of money, so I brought my business VISA which I can draw cash from at any ATM machine.

We arrived in the airport without any pesos, so I headed to the ATM. And that machine kept spitting my card out and everything on the monitor was in Spanish (duh!) I got someone to translate for me and they said it was my pin number. Now I'm beginning to doubt myself. What is my PIN????? And the line is growing behind me and I'm thinking no money in Mexico. So I whipped out my VISA, popped it in, entered the PIN, and thank you to the Mayan Gods out popped my pesos. Unfortunately, being green, and not familiar with money conversion I only got $100.00.

The whole time I'm thinking, I so glad I brought another option for cash. I wish I'd done what Lee does and bring American Cash and exchange it. We only had $200 in American cash.

So the next day we head into town for some well deserved beer and other essentials which we were going to stock up on at the SF Market. We hit the ATM there and I tried my ATM card and once again it wouldn't work. We decided to try another time.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u277/bluestravelers2/IMG_1558.jpg

I was really concerned, but figured we would just have to use our VISA for cash. As we were walking downtown we passed the bank and there is an ATM there, so I gave it a try and out popped my pesos!!!!! So to make a long story short, my card worked at the bank, but for some reason it didn't at two other machines. And I would highly recommend following Lee's lead and take American dollars to exchange. We also were sure to bring home pesos this time so we don't need to get some immediately.

[dcap]

We brought 3 Visa gift cards. Each Had a $500.00 Limit. We kept these seperate from other things. We used them for Car rental, resturants, Lodging and Junk. We also brought $500.00 cash and used converter in cell phone to make sure all was accurate. National car rental did the hold on one card for 2 days. But sure enough it worked out fine. We converted some of the cash to pesos and used ATM w/ debit card for quick cash. I went online every other day to check accounts all was good.

Bellydancer: I may have mentioned the Gift Cards before. If something happened to one of them at least the amount was limited. We will do that again.

Dave

[bellydancer]

Thanks everybody...that's exactly the info I was looking for. Will check into the prepaid cards tomorrow. This sounds like a great way to handle car rentals.

[AdGuy]

I wish I'd done what Lee does and bring American Cash and exchange it...

And I would highly recommend following Lee's lead and take American dollars to exchange...


One down, so many more to convert! Why can't y'all come to bluestraveler2's sensible conclusion that what I say should be blindly followed? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_219.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)

[minniemex]

One down, so many more to convert! Why can't y'all come to bluestraveler2's sensible conclusion that what I say should be blindly followed? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_219.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)

You know what happens to someone when they get a big head - http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_3_103.gif

[AdGuy]

You know what happens to someone when they get a big head - http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_3_103.gif


Kayt...a scanner smiley? Where do you find these???