AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Mexico currency laws make it tougher to pay in $us

Under new currency laws that took effect last month along the Mexican Riviera and elsewhere, restaurants, stores and other businesses can now accept a maximum of $100 in cash per transaction. Tour operators Apple Vacations and Funjet Vacations are warning customers that "certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to, accept U.S. dollars for any purchase at all, " and airlines at Mexican airports can no longer accept U.S. cash for checked bag fees or other charges, says Tim Smith at American Airlines.

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This was the case in Walmart when we were in Playa recently. I didn't know until I tried to pay and I only had US$s with me, so they had to credit some of the items from my bill which I then paid, then they ran a second transaction for the items they just credited.

Totally crazy as I ended up changing two large bills which I had absolutely no problem with as Walmart usually gives the best exchange rate in town! I did feel for the people behind me in the queue however, and for the guy at customer services who was trying to buy a TV with US cash, and basically was told they could not take his money!!