All posts in “Standard”

Google in Mexico

April 21, 2013 / Comments Off / Posted in: General, Helpful Hints, Standard

These days your computer tattles to your search engine where you are. The search engines put you in a pigeon hole by reading your ip address, and here we are in the pigeon hole called Mexico. This is why when you try to use Google your computer forces you to use Google.mx. The Mexican version of Google, with nearly everything in Spanish.
So you want to use good old Google.USA. but your computer won’t let you.

If you’re not in Mexico yet, set Google as your home page and it will hold GoogleUSA in it for you.

But if you’re already down here Google will no longer allow that. You can delete .mx until you’re blue in the face and you can’t get it to go to USA.

Here’s all you do:

Enter www.google.com/ncr

It’s that simple.

Usually it works. If it doesn’t, try again in a little while.

ATM Warning…

March 8, 2013 / Comments Off / Posted in: General, Helpful Hints, Standard

Personally, we’re not users of ATM machines. However, wanted to pass this on to those who may be tempted to use an ATM in Cabo (or Mexico).

Caboholics posted this: If you are out & about in Cabo this week & find yourself shoulder to shoulder with some spring breakers, please inform them about the ATM’s on the street & the perils in using them, we were at the Wyndham dollar exchange yesterday getting peso’s & this young man stormed in unhappy with the 50 dollar service fee assessed to him for withdrawing money from the ATM there.

We tend to just pay in US Dollars or convert them to Pesos at the Wyndham exchange  or a bank (take your passport).  Most Cabo restaurants also take credit cards.

Baby and Child Supplies/Gear Rentals in Cabo San Lucas

August 2, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: General, Standard

If you’re traveling these days with kids, the airline surcharges for kid stuff (strollers, car seats, pack n plays, etc.) can really add up.

It’s much easier to just rent the items you need at your destination.

Baja Baby Gear rents strollers, car seats, cribs and just about anything you’ll need for your little one (http://www.heavenincabo.com/baja-baby-gear/).

For babysitters, Gillian of Baja Babysitting offers services (http://www.heavenincabo.com/baja-babysitting/).

Current Mexican Peso Exchange Rate

June 6, 2012 / Comments Off / Posted in: General, Standard

The following exchange rate is the free-market exchange rate, as traded. Expect a markup (or markdown) of approximately 3-5% by currency exchange dealers.

Note: the best exchange rates are found at banks in Cabo.  Also, there’s a popular exchange dealer located in the Tesoro/Wyndham hotel downtown.  TAKE YOUR PASSPORT, as it is required for any exchange in Mexico.  Of course, the worst possible exchange rates are at the airports — but you knew that, right?

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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