k wrote:
> "John Doh" wrote in message
> news:1143149709.704091.240420@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > k wrote:
> >>
> >
> > I forgot to ask about money.
> > I normally use my credit card when I travel.
> > But that will likely not be a good choice in the smaller, non tourist
> > villages.
> > And I don't like the idea of carrying much cash around Tulsa, Oklahoma,
> > USA, let alone some small village in Mexico.
> > Checks are also likely not to good an idea.
> >
> > How should I go about handling my finances while I am down there?
> > Can I cash a check at a local bank and open an account there, and keep
> > going back to that for my daily cash?
> > Should I use my credit card at the motel, and get a cash advance form
> > them?
> >
> > How should I handle this?
>
> I'll reply to both of your posts in this one.
>
> Ex-pats = ex-patriots, or people who are not living in their native land.
Ahhh.
Learn something new every day.
I have never heard that title before.
> If you look around, especially in sunny climes, you'll find that a
> surprisingly large number of Americans and Europeans retire to places that
> will either allow them a grander existence on the money they have, or allow
> for a longer retirement. Costa Rica famously lures American retirees with
> tax incentives and stable investment opportunities. There are entire
> developments in Mexico made up mostly of American retirees The newly free
> Eastern European countries are becoming popular as well, especially Bulgaria
> with its low cost of living and laid-back populace.
Excellent!
I am not the first with this brain storm then. :-)
>
> As for money, I use a credit card where I can and cash other places. I can
> replenish my cash at ATMs, which are everywhere. I don't like their fees,
> so I normally get a week's worth of spending money.
What is common for an ATM fee to get money form a USA bank from a
Mexican ATM?
>You're still too
> worried about crime in Mexico. Carry some spending money in your left pants
> pocket, and put the rest in the other pocket. If you get mugged, which has
> about the same odds as you getting run over, then hand the robber the little
> stash from your left pocket. Robbers are, by nature, not very bright
> people, but you knew that. Don't even carry a wallet. I keep credit cards
> in my shirt pocket, with the flap down and buttoned.
Good advice.
Sound similar to my standard operating procedure.
My standard is to carry a fake billfold with junk "your name could be
here" credit cards in it, and a left pocket full of $1 bills.
If stopped by thieves, I put my hand in the pocket while acting like I
am cooperating, then throw a fist full of those $1 bills in the air as
I turn and run like hell while they are trying to catch all that cash.
In Mexico I would think pesos would be used instead of $1 bills.
The billfold is for pick pockets.
Yes, I am still concerned about crime, but no more then I am in my
neighboring big city here in Oklahoma, USA.
>
> If you decide on a place, you can then google around for local websites and
> judge for yourself how well English is used in the area.
?
I'll try that, but am not sure as to how that would work.
I'm on dial up for a net connection, so I'll try that tomorrow when I
have more time.
>You know, even a
> non-English speaking guide can be useful if you just want to be shown the
> way to areas of attraction. Just bring your own guidebook to figure out
> what's what when you get there, because getting there is the larger
> challenge when you don't know where you are.
Yes, getting there was another problem that I was going to address once
I figured out where I was going to go.
As to the non English speaking guide, one thing that I noticed that I
would have trouble with was just knowing how to order food, or what
they said it cost.
Finding my way around was big on my list too.
But there is allot of things that I would need to be able to
communicate to accomplish, and I can barley speak proper English, let
lone a foreign language. ;-)
>
> You haven't mentioned health, so I will. There are two ways to think about
> the water. It's not good for you because you're not used to it, and you'll
> go through some Immodium for sure if you drink from the tap. (Fancy hotels
> purify the water, and the tap will say so) That said, if you do drink
> some, after the symptoms pass, you can drink it again and not get sick. If
> you go for a long vacation, or if you decide to stay awhile, then by all
> means drink a little tap water early on, suffer the consequences, and then
> you'll be immune. Otherwise, bottled water is available everywhere.
My health is over all pretty good.
I do construction for a living, so my life is pretty physical.
Normally, I don't even drink the tap water in the USA, but that may not
actually be practical there.
Considering that there will be tap water in ice and such.
Are we talking about a 2 day case of the runs?
Or something worse if I drink the water?
What does carbonated drinks run there?
Beer?
Though beer may not be my best over all choice, as it is much stronger
there then in Oklahoma, USA.
>
> I have been to Mexico many, many times and have never gotten ill from eating
> the food. Believe me, I try most anything, and lean toward street food.
> Food is where you can save the most vacationing in Mexico. My wife and I do
> enjoy a fancy restaurant meal sometimes, but it's street food that sets our
> bells a-clanging. If you see smoke and it smells good, head that way, and
> you'll find a treat for sure. If you're at the sea, there are palapas
> everywhere selling grilled fish that is just-now caught and cooked in garlic
> oil over coals. It's absolutely and uniformly delicious, and very habit
> forming. The same goes for taco stands and fruit stands, where you can get
> a quart of freshly cut pineapple, papaya, mango, strawberries - whatever,
> because you pick the ingredients, for about a buck. If you don't like hot
> stuff, don't get it. Unlike Tex-Mex, in Mexico the heat is normally offered
> on the side, not built in.
Oh man!
I got to go there.
This sounds great!!!
>
> Marinaded flank steaks (I forget the name) are equally delicious. You will
> see vegetables and fruits so fresh and tempting ... never mind, you'll see.
Wow!
Hay, do they have melons?
That could help with the bottled water situation.
>
> Stop worrying and go. It's not so different from where you are right now.
> You'll make friends, and you'll come back happy from the experience.
>
> Keith
You have no idea how much I appreciate all this help you are giving me.
You have been really great.
If you are even in the same place that I am, I definitely owe you a
drink of your choosing. :-)
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