Archive for “May, 2012”

UPDATE: now 14.45 Mexican Peso: From 10.5 to 13.5 to the dollar in a matter of days!

May 31, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: General, Standard

May 31, 2012 Update:

The Peso is now at 14.4 to the US Dollar. While prices have generally risen in Mexico since our post in 2008, they haven’t risen as fast as the Peso has dropped compared to the Dollar. Meals and activities in Mexico are less expensive than they were several months (and years) ago.

October 9, 2008:

The Mexican Peso is in a freefall these days.  Just a week ago it was about 10.6 to the dollar.  Now it’s 13.5 to the dollar.

Visitors to Mexico are now enjoying essentially a 25% discount.  For example, last month a dinner priced at 250 pesos would cost about US$23.80.  Now, that same meal is US$18.50.  That is, until prices are raised by the locals to make up for the decline in the Peso.

Keep in mind that Cabo San Lucas is one area of Mexico probably tied more to the US Dollar than any other part of Mexico.  As such, prices will probably be adjusted quickly at tourist-oriented shops and restaurants.  The main-line grocery stores and shops probably won’t adjust their prices for awhile — at least until they start losing money.  Inflation (that’s what this is, when a currency declines in value vs. another) usually lags.

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=MXN

Smartphone Users: READ THIS before using your phone in Mexico!

May 30, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: Helpful Hints, Standard

This is covered elsewhere on our website, but it’s worthy enough for a post of its own.

Data Roaming:  If you have a cell phone, especially a smart phone (iPhone/Android/Blackberry), note that data roaming charges can be EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE (see the image below). If you don’t know if you have data roaming on your plan, you should assume that YOU DO NOT and turn data roaming OFF.

Turning your phone off may not be enough; REMOVE THE BATTERY or place the phone in AIRPLANE MODE. Seriously — friends of ours spent five days in Cancun and were presented the following month with a $3700 data roaming bill!!!

Bottom line: KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN COVERS BEFORE YOU USE YOUR PHONE ANYWHERE INTERNATIONAL or you could come home to this (from an actual user, checking his Facebook account “just a few times…”):

Need more information?  Here’s an LA Times article:  http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-money-20130428,0,2853399.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=69323

Using your Cell Phone while in Mexico

May 30, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: Helpful Hints, Standard

Check with your wireless carrier to see if calls while in Mexico are included with your plan (or see if you can add a Mexico option).

If you have a nationwide plan with Verizon, you’re in luck — give Verizon a call and they’ll change your plan to “plus Mexico” for $10 per month. Just call them when you return and have that option removed, with the result that you’ve just added Mexico for only 34 cents per day of your trip.

Data Roaming:  If you have a cell phone, especially a smart phone (iPhone/Android/Blackberry), note that data roaming charges can be EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE (see the image below). If you don’t know if you have data roaming on your plan, you should assume that YOU DO NOT and turn data roaming OFF.

Turning your phone off may not be enough; REMOVE THE BATTERY or place the phone in AIRPLANE MODE. Seriously — friends of ours spent five days in Cancun and were presented the following month with a $3700 data roaming bill!!!

Bottom line: KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN COVERS BEFORE YOU USE YOUR PHONE ANYWHERE INTERNATIONAL or you could come home to this (from an actual user, checking his Facebook account “just a few times…”):

Discounts in Cabo

May 27, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: Restaurants, Shopping, Standard

We jokingly refer to these as “food stamps.”

Los Cabos Guide is a glossy tourist publication. They make their money from selling advertising and in certain cases, they allow merchants and restaurants to pay for the advertising with redeemable vouchers. Los Cabos Guide then sells these vouchers at 50-65% of face value to the public. The vouchers are denominated in US Dollars and easily redeemable at the merchant or restaurant.

You can order these before your trip and they’ll mail them to you or deliver to your hotel. You can also pick them up when in Cabo, but the office for Los Cabos Guide is several miles away from downtown (see map below).

http://www.loscabosguide.com/discount.htm


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Silver Exposure Jewelry Store

May 27, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: Shopping, Standard

Patti’s favorite store in Cabo. Reasonably priced. A lady by the name of Jodie owns this store and has great customer service.

Unique silver jewelry creations and very reasonable prices in this small store located on Marina Blvd. near Taco Loco, Rip’s Bar, Giggling Marling and Cabo Wabo. 10% discount for cash. If you’re planning on proposing and looking for the best jewelry store near you, then you may check out LIV Jewelers.


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Taquería “El Paisa”

May 26, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: Restaurants, Standard

Taqueria “El Paisa” is another local’s joint. In fact, you’ll likely be the only gringos dining. But, don’t let that dissuade you, as the food is excellent (for a very inexpensive restaurant). This is the exact opposite of the typical “marina” dining experience; very authentic and very inexpensive.

The prices are right, so have fun and experiment. Order a lot of variety, have fun, and give the menu items a try. Menu items include grilled tacos of arrachera and beef, potatoes, quesadilas, vampiros, gringas and more.

A family of four can probably eat for US$30 (and still leave food on the table).

On Leona Vicario (the one-way main street heading south), about five blocks north of Lazaro Cardenas.


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El Pollo del Oro – Thumbs Up!

May 26, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: Restaurants

Very affordable chicken, ribs and fantastic fish burritos. The ambiance is “local Mexican joint” (in fact, we heard it was a former covered basketball court). The prices are right (typically less than US$6 per person) and the food is usually pretty good. While we usually eat here once per visit for lunch or dinner, breakfast was so-so and as a result, we can’t recommend it for that meal.

Located on Morelos and 20 de Noviembre, just north of the marina/mall area by about three blocks.


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