Debit cards and ATM's are by far the best and most convenient. Travellers checks work, with a bit more effort.

US dollars are iffy - the currency is pesos, and are easily obtained from ATM's. Major vendors may handle them, but the smaller ones don't want or need the hassle of changing them.

VISA will work if you watch out for it...like don't let it out of your sight. Not sure about the fees either, I know there is a 3% currency conversion in there.

If you are changing currencies, the ATM's are usually the best rate, followed by the banks. The street stands are private and are out for a profit.....

And there are two ATM's right at the airport to get you started right.

We've always take travelers checks for daily expenses and then pay for our hotel at the end of our stay with VISA. We just don't feel like dealing with ATMs.

Take dollars & an ATM card that has been flagged by the issuing company & you will have no problems.

Travelers checks generally cost $$ to get & to cash.

On top of that, you will stand in line at a bank for 15-30 minutes to cash them so why bother with them.

Take dollars & an ATM card that has been flagged by the issuing company & you will have no problems.

Travelers checks generally cost $$ to get & to cash.

On top of that, you will stand in line at a bank for 15-30 minutes to cash them so why bother with them.

Travelers cheques are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Most places won't take them anymore. You'll have to go to a bank to cash them and then you'll have a pocket full of cash so why not just use the ATM?

We have used Visa, traveler's checks and American dollars with no problemo. Simply cash your trav cks at your hotel....we bring American dollar bills for tipping. Make sure to let your credit card company know ahead of time you are going out of the country so it will work down there. We don't want the hassle/security issue of ATM. One friend's ATM quit giving them money after 3 days and they were stuck. Traveler's checks are excellent and you don't need to go to a bank or machine at all. Our hotel cashes them easily.

Keep in mind that every time you use your debit card (not sure about the cash machine withdrawals, but I think there was a fee)there is a fee. so...pricey any way you do it. If you take money out at the ATM, there's a fee, and if you use the card, there's a fee. But...it's pretty much the only way you can do this, so we do LOL

Regarding the person who's ATM card stopped working after 3 days...each bank sets a daily and weekly limit on everyone's ATM card. Quite likely they had used their weekly limit and weren't aware that they even had one. Make sure you check with your bank and know what your card limit is set at as well as notifying them that you will be using it out of the country. A lot of people aren't aware of the limits because on a daily/weekly basis, usually don't pull the same cash at home as you might on vacation

You CAN have your bank increase that limit if you feel it isn't sufficient.

Nice to hear of someone for whom travelers cheques work.

I've heard of so many people having problems with travelers cheques. We were in South Dakota, USA and no one, no one would cash them. Even the bank said they didn't want to deal with them but said they would because I kicked up such a stink and threatened to call Amex. Even then they would only cash $200 at one time.

We had friends from Europe who were in PV and the hotel sent them to the bank to cash their travelers cheques. Other friends were told by a hotel in the Mayan that they didn't have enough float to cash them and sent them to an ATM in the lobby. They were cashing them to pay for a tour booked thru the guys in the lobby, who didn't take TC.

Banks do charge a fee to use an ATM but I don't think it's more than the exchange fee (to convert USD to Pesos) at home, or the fee on TC. I would definitly check with my bank to see how much it is. And you can change your daily/weekly withdrawl amount. It's a good idea to tell your bank and your credit card company the dates you'll be away so that they don't restrict you thinking that your card has been stolen.

Traveler's cheques have never been a problem for us, and we've been using them for well over 25 years in Mexico. They cost NOTHING at most banks, and they are safer than any other form of currency. They are guaranteed even if you rip them up yourself. We have always gotten excellent rates and have never had to wait more that a couple minutes to cash them. I've seen lines at banks and lines at ATMs and know people whose debit cards have been both eaten by machines and clones by thieves.

Most people here love their ATMs, so I won't intentionally give you false information about them. But at the same time, don't listen to anybody who says traveler's cheques are passe or bad or expensive. They are none of the above. They are easy and safe to use. All you need is a driver's license or valid picture ID.