American Dollars or Pesos?

lol! This is mexico folks, everything defies logic here

We have gone to PV for 10 years and have never had any problem using our drivers license with photo to cash trav. checks. Even last year at the airport and in Bucerias at the Bital Bank and had no problem using license with photo. Probably depends on the person at the counter.

I always use the ATM at the bank downtown, as trying to get to the counter at the bank can take all day. Just remember that the ATM give PESOS so if you withdraw $50.00, you will get 50 pesos or $5.00US. Also most of the better restraunts and the like now take Credit Cards, which saves having to carry alot of Pesos.

Regarding the use of credit cards--there have been many reports of cloning of credit cards when being used in PV. Probably safer to change your currency into pesos and pay those bills rather than taking a chance.

I just got back from P.V. Found the HSBC bank at the airport to have the best exchange rate. Only back draw........very slow moving line. Got $1085 peso to $100.00 US

To the original posters, and as others have mentioned, NO the US dollar is not \"more valuable\" and does not have \"more bargaining power\".

It is only as good as the rate of exchange on any given day. The vendor/shop will have to go to the bank to exchange US into peso just like you would. Plus you are basically changing money at the discretion of a vendor or store or restaurant, rather than a bank/cambio window/ATM which gives standard rate. You get a tiny bit better at a bank than an ATM but usually have to wait in long lines (not worth the pennies saved to me).

\"Better\" restaurants may take charge cards but lots of smaller, great, local places, especially in El Centro or Old Town do not accept them.