Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Travel plans questions

About packing: can I bring music cds? How much wine is allowed? Should I bother with small dollars for tipping?What do you think about TSA pre check?

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About packing: can I bring music cds? How much wine is allowed? Should I bother with small dollars for tipping?What do you think about TSA pre check?

I'm sure you can bring CDs. There are some excellent Mexican wines available; no need to bring any. Don't tip with dollars. 20% in Pesos is pretty much standard. Pre-check lets you get through a little faster.

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TSA Pre only works in the US. It will do nothing for you here in Mexico. Global Entry gets you through customs and immigration on your return.

Although I tip very well in the inexpensive and medium price places, 20% is not a "standard" tip here.

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There are great wine options in Zihuatanejo. It will just take some sampling (not a bad thing) to find what suits your taste/mood. There are many options from Mexican and Chilean wineries. There is also great cheese options and fresh bread to help your sampling. Enjoy!

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Any of your questions are easily answered by simply checking on line.

Please do not plan to use any currency other than pesos. Atm's are easy to use and give the best exchange rates. Changing foreign currency is involved, for both visitors and residents requires going to a bank with proper ID, at the right times. So, please don't use foreign currency. Foreign coins have no value at all, they cannot be exchanged for pesos.

Enjoy your visit!

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Atm's are easy to use and give the best exchange rates.

As of just a month or so ago, Inbursa has the lowest ATM fee. (Some of the banks charge outrageous ATM fees.) Inbursa is across the street from the Merza grocery store on Calle Ejido.

Inbursa Bank

Changing foreign currency is involved, for both visitors and residents requires going to a bank with proper ID, at the right times. So, please don't use foreign currency.

You can normally change your currency at the airports without documentation but you get raped financially.

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Recently INBURSA raised their fee a little bit, and raised the amount you can get per transaction. Don't know the limit, used to be 5,000 per transaction, but it let me have 7,000 yesterday. Never a line either. Usually has empty parking places in front too!

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Thanks for your feedback. We’re still going to bring some CA wine because we’re NO. calif wine snobs. Maybe we can share some wine with you during our 9 week stay. Looking forward to the warm weather, we’re typical CA weather light weights.

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you probably want to bring receipts for the purchase of the wine just in case you get questioned by customs in the Zihua airport. I believe but I am not positive that the limit before a tax will kick is $500 USD value per person. Best to double check that.

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About packing: can I bring music cds? How much wine is allowed? Should I bother with small dollars for tipping?What do you think about TSA pre check?

Funny you ask about music cd’s. I’m not sure but if you look at the customs regulations I think it still specifies 30 cd’s and it’s been that way forever
Many years ago- mid/late 80s, I came to Mexico to work on my music.
I came with one of those binders which contained about 100cd’s.
I had no idea of the regulation at that time.
I also came with one of those portable sound systems of that era- I think
It was the KLH 20.
As we were arriving into Puerto Vallarta I read the back of the customs form and noted for the first time the restriction of 30. And I wasn’t sure my portable sound system would be allowed without duty.
Anyway luckily I hit green and had a very musical stay in Yelapa until I got dengue at the very end.
Enjoy your music…and your wine…

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