I'll be coming into Cozumel on a cruise ship on the 18th, and I really don't want to pay the "Tourist Rate" for taxis, etc. But I just checked my dive wallet, and only have 27 Pesos left from my last trip. Does anybody know if there is a Cambio in the International Pier compound? Or across the street in that retail center? Somplace I can quickly get $40-$60 worth of Pesos? No, I do NOT want to use my Debit Card, because Bank of America will use its own exchange rate, currently 18.22 to the Dollar (AWFUL!), plus charge me ATM fees. And I do NOT want to know about the Bank in that retail center, because I am not going to carry my Passport all around Cozumel. JUST THE LOCATION OF A CAMBIO NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL PIER, PLEASE.
I apologize DjDiverDan as this isn't an answer to your very clear, precise request for information. I hear and understand your issue with the "Tourist Rate" conundrum and agree that it can be an issue. My solution to the issue would be different. For one day and $60, I wouldn't try to get pesos. I've been on the island many, many times and my sole transportation has been taxis. I've had well over 100 meals at restaurants on the island. It's very easy not to get "tourist rated", heh, and find yourself overpaying by any significant amount. This rate might be off but close, so let's assume the fare from the Cruise terminal to the square is 110 pesos. ($5.72US @19.20 to 1). My conversation with the taxista would go something like this: "How much to the square? Is it 110 pesos?" If you know it is, but you get a different answer, I'd say "OK. No Thank you.", and walk away. If the driver confirms the rate, I'd say, "So, 6 dollars US?" and if he/she says, "No, $11.", I'd say "Ok. No Thank you.", and walk away. If he/she says, "Yes. 6 dollars US.", you've made the deal, and only lost 28 cents. For some, that's a problem. For me, it's not, so with a rate really close to 20 to 1, it's easy to calculate in your head, even for a T-shirt priced in pesos. 84 pesos? That's a little over $4US. If they say, "$4.50US", close enough, even though I'm getting "took" for 13 cents. If they say more than that, I'd point out the exchange rate. At restaurants, I ask for the bill in pesos, and keep track of the menu price and what I'm charged.
With one exception, I've always been on island for my vacation. That's when I exchange for pesos. I have my favorite little cambio, but it's near the square. If I run out of pesos for a minute or two, it's never been a problem. Plus, I have a Cozumel Taxi Angel. When they say it's 80 pesos from Casa del Mar to the square, or vice versa, and I ask what it is in US dollars, I've only heard $8 when the rate was very near 10 to 1. The last time I asked I was told $6, which at the time was a sniff over the actual exchange rate, but again, no big deal.
Taxi, taco, T-shirt. If the bill is 274 pesos, nobody's going to argue your payment of $14.50US, even though they don't like the coins. At least they've never argued with me.
