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El Jefe · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 27

Thanks again for the responses. I'm pretty open about where to take a little vacation, all I really care about is finding a decent beach in a decent sized city to relax at for a couple weeks. Puerto Escondido looks great and I've been reading a lot about it but if it's too inconvenient I'll look elsewhere. I'm not too picky. Thanks for that link, MotherF; looks like a fun, wild month upcoming there. I have a backpack and a pretty big carrier/roller bag because I'm a bit of a hoarder. I don't mind flying and I'll check the rates later, I have enough disposable funds to pay for a little convenience if I need to.

BBB, I just got off the phone with someone at the Faja de Oro hotel and he said it was fully booked for the weekend, so I guess that option is out (though he did quote me the amount you said, 290 pesos, I believe). Kind of odd since the web told me that they have around 100 rooms. I'll keep looking but it looks like the Hotel Edison around the area I mentioned earlier is where I'll end up. Not much information about it online but it seems alright. Another big thanks for the input, it's been extremely useful.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 3:50 pm Post subject:

El Jefe · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 27

I've only read good things. I'll try to get there maybe sometime next week. Still a little hazy since getting in late last night but I had a great time walking around the Centro Historico area today. Planning on changing hotels tomorrow or Monday; the one I'm staying at is nice but around the Bellas Artes station north of Alameda and I'm not really digging the area. Found a nicer place for 350/night a block from Zocalo. I'm probably going to scout out more of the city and take care of business with the bank account and phone stuff from there for a week. Enjoying the scene so far, extremely friendly people.

MotherF · Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:26 am Post subject:

El Jefe · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 27

Good idea on the bus, saw some people going around on one today. I hope by be difficult you don't mean impossible. I banked with Citibank in Korea and just transferred it into my US Citi account with the plan of triangulating part of it into a Mexican Citi account, since they have the lowest fees. I'm on a tourist visa but those fees would be a herculean kick to the groin if I had to constantly endure them. How do most people who stay here long term handle their funds?

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 6:50 pm Post subject:

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 6:54 pm Post subject:

MotherF · Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 7:03 pm Post subject:

Yes, unless things have changed it's impossible to open a Mexican bank account on a tourist visa. Mexican banking laws can be fastidious and I know people with HSBC accounts in other countries, but they can not transfer money between those accounts and their Mexican HSBC account. Banking is my least favorite thing about Mexico. Everyone I work with has some sort of resident visa, and open their bank accounts pretty much the day after receiving their visa.
The good news is you shouldn't have a problem withdrawing cash (pesos) from an ATM machine with your foreign bank card. There are even some ATMs at the airport that can give you dollars.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 12:56 am Post subject:

And if you have a PayPal account, or can open one, and get a debit card, PayPal only charges $1US to take out money.

El Jefe · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 27

Thank you both again. That's unfortunate but I should have figured as much. Upon closer look at the Citibank branch locator page, it does say Banamex in the map section for their locations here. Hopefully I can work something out with them tomorrow, I'm glad you notified me about that MotherF or tomorrow would have been a confusing day. Otherwise, that PayPal option seems like a good deal. I'll just use my credit card until I figure that out since my US Citi account charges me 3% on every transaction, which is pretty exorbitant.

Thanks for the recommendations BBB, but I'm moving to hotel San Antonio tomorrow. I checked out the rooms and for a cheap 350 and the location, I just think I'll be more comfortable there. My hotel is big, clean and nice but at night it seems to transform and the earthquake wrath is right outside of my window. And I don't know if this is a normal Sunday occurrence but it sounds like people have been setting off bombs all day.

MotherF · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject:

inotu-unotme · Joined: 26 May 2013 Posts: 197

It may be worth your time to google global banking. USAA can be set up over the internet. Its far from a perfect solution but global banking has its place.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 5:21 pm Post subject:

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject:

MotherF · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:38 pm Post subject:

Must.make.sure.god.is.listening.
Twisted Evil