Cozumel - First Time

Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
at our expense.

Lee

Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
at our expense.

Lee

Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
at our expense.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:6V61g.7013$iB2.5354@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
> what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving
> with a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars,
> to pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was
> later converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The
> overall effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had
> we known we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been
> considerably less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather
> than give the operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to
> add to his benefit at our expense.
>
> Lee

I've had the exchange via CC cut both ways. In the olden days - whenever
that was - things seemed to be very favorable for the card holder. I'm
thinking about $35 cheaper for using the card on maybe a $300 tab. (Charged
in pesos similar to your transaction but in a different country.) Then
things changed, probably disclosed on those notices with the bill that go
directly in the garbage. Now I just pay with dollars or find a money
changer with the most favorable rate. I won't use a CC unless forced to do
so.

"Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:6V61g.7013$iB2.5354@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
> what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving
> with a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars,
> to pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was
> later converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The
> overall effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had
> we known we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been
> considerably less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather
> than give the operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to
> add to his benefit at our expense.
>
> Lee

I've had the exchange via CC cut both ways. In the olden days - whenever
that was - things seemed to be very favorable for the card holder. I'm
thinking about $35 cheaper for using the card on maybe a $300 tab. (Charged
in pesos similar to your transaction but in a different country.) Then
things changed, probably disclosed on those notices with the bill that go
directly in the garbage. Now I just pay with dollars or find a money
changer with the most favorable rate. I won't use a CC unless forced to do
so.

"Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:6V61g.7013$iB2.5354@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
> what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving
> with a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars,
> to pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was
> later converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The
> overall effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had
> we known we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been
> considerably less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather
> than give the operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to
> add to his benefit at our expense.
>
> Lee

I've had the exchange via CC cut both ways. In the olden days - whenever
that was - things seemed to be very favorable for the card holder. I'm
thinking about $35 cheaper for using the card on maybe a $300 tab. (Charged
in pesos similar to your transaction but in a different country.) Then
things changed, probably disclosed on those notices with the bill that go
directly in the garbage. Now I just pay with dollars or find a money
changer with the most favorable rate. I won't use a CC unless forced to do
so.

Thus spake "Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> :

>Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
>what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
>a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
>pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
>converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
>effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
>we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
>less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
>operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
>at our expense.
>
>Lee
>
>

That happens all over the island. If we are paying by credit card, we
haggle in pesos. It helps to speak enough Spanish to say "we'll come
back later". THAT will get the price down, especially when the cruise
ships are in town (we'll come back means we'll never come back)
--
dillon

I didn't climb to the top of the
food chain to become a vegetartian.

Thus spake "Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> :

>Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
>what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
>a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
>pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
>converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
>effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
>we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
>less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
>operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
>at our expense.
>
>Lee
>
>

That happens all over the island. If we are paying by credit card, we
haggle in pesos. It helps to speak enough Spanish to say "we'll come
back later". THAT will get the price down, especially when the cruise
ships are in town (we'll come back means we'll never come back)
--
dillon

I didn't climb to the top of the
food chain to become a vegetartian.

Thus spake "Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> :

>Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
>what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
>a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
>pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
>converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
>effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
>we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
>less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
>operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
>at our expense.
>
>Lee
>
>

That happens all over the island. If we are paying by credit card, we
haggle in pesos. It helps to speak enough Spanish to say "we'll come
back later". THAT will get the price down, especially when the cruise
ships are in town (we'll come back means we'll never come back)
--
dillon

I didn't climb to the top of the
food chain to become a vegetartian.

Dillon Pyron <dmpyronINVALID@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>Thus spake "Lee Bell" <pleebell2@bellsouth.net> :
>
>>Another thing to consider when visting Cozumel. Be careful to understand
>>what will happen when you use your credit card. We paid for our diving with
>>a credit card. The shop converted our agreed upon price, in dollars, to
>>pesos at an exchange rate quite favorable to himself. The cost was later
>>converted back to dollars, with a fee charged for the exchange. The overall
>>effect was a considerable increase in the cost of our diving. Had we known
>>we would be cheated in the transaction, our tip would have been considerably
>>less or we would have paid the agreed price in cash rather than give the
>>operator control of the transaction and an opportunity to add to his benefit
>>at our expense.
>>
>
>That happens all over the island. If we are paying by credit card, we

Happens EVERYWHERE outside the US where currency isn't on par with the
US$. And even sometimes when it is. We were in the DR and they had a
price for meals in US$, but they charged it on our card as pesos, and
then the credit card company charged us to convert it to $US. But
that's not as bad as the card that charged us an extra fee to change
from Bahamian dollars to US$.

>haggle in pesos. It helps to speak enough Spanish to say "we'll come
>back later". THAT will get the price down, especially when the cruise
>ships are in town (we'll come back means we'll never come back)

grandma Rosalie