Cancun, Mexico

[Bathboy]

We are Visiting Cancun next month.
We are taking US travellers cheques and US Dollar currency. Is this correct please as just been told to take Pesos !!

[dzug]

Standard advice for most civilised places in the world is do not take travellers cheques do not take currency (except maybe a small emergency supply) but get local cash from an ATM with a debit card and pay for larger bills with a credit card.

Given that Cancun is full of Americans you won't have any problems if you do take US$$ though, either spending them or changing them.

[dannydingbat]

One word of advice - they will happily take your dollars but will give you change in pesos. Keep this in mind unless you want bags of worthless coins to bring home.

[Bathboy]

Thank you very much for your answers.

[munchie63]

And if you do decide to use a credit card, the post office have one that has NO foreign exchange fees, so you won't pay any extra little charges for using it.
I was told this when I bought my currency from them, took a form, and had the card 2 weeks later.
I'm intending to use it solely on holiday.

[Bathboy]

Thanks for that. Just been told by a travel agent that credit cards are not now recommended to use abroad due to cost and fraud.Articles in press confirm this today.
Thanks to all who responded

[jno]

I've been using credit cards abroad for years, though there's usually a poor exchange rate, but I think the convenience makes up for it. The only time I've had any trouble was when someone in South London apparently used my credit card number to insure her house... nothing like that ever happened to me in Mexico...

[Bathboy]

Thanks jno - that's nice to know.

[munchie63]

As I said above though, I've got a post office credit card, as there's no Foreign exchange fees.
Apart from Nationwide, all other banks slap on a 2.5% handling charge when converting the bill into pounds on your statement.
Also, there's a 3 month 0% on purchases, so I've got from April to July to pay the holiday costs off.

Fraud is a risk, but I think you're as likely to have a card cloned by a dodgy employee at a petrol station / restaurant / store as you are abroad.
Only tip I'd give, is ring your card company first and tell them when you're going away. If the card is used outside of these dates, they know it wasn't you.

[Bathboy]

Good advice

[jakeyboyea]

you can take either travvelers cheques, the american dollar or the mexican dollar went 2 cancun last year hope u have good time i did