25% Discount on your Vacation!

Almost every day someone we know complains about the stock market, the decline in value of their investments, how everything is so expensive. If you were planning a trip and someone told you where you could get 25% off I'll bet you would look into it right away! Well that is the case with everything in Mexico. Every day. Every item. That's right, Mexico is having a 25% off sale! 

For the last three years the peso has slipped against the US dollar, the Canadian dollar and the Euro. That means that on average by converting our dollars to pesos while in Mexico we are saving at LEAST 25% and many times considerably more than that. We give them a dollar they give us the equivalent in pesos of roughly $1.25. As I write this the exchange rate for the US dollar is $12.76 and for the Canadian dollar $12.34. As you can see in both cases this is around 25%.  Because 10 pesos roughly equals a dollar assuming an even exchange rate you should divide by 10 as your base then anything over 1 is your discount percent.  I give them $1 USD they give me 127 pesos. Of course those with Euros to spend really make out. They get 161 pesos for 1 Euro!

Two years ago the USD dollar-peso exchange rate hit 15 pesos to the dollar at one point and I think the average for the high season was over 13. This past year is has has been more stable hovering between 12. 25 and 13 for some months.  Even as the cost of items goes up the exchange rate continues to provide a nice bargain for those of us with our income based on these currencies.

 An ice cold Pacifico, our favorite cerveza  ;)

Then on top of that there are a number of items that are a great buy even without the added exchange value. Fresh produce is cheap and plentiful. Beers such as Corona, Pacifico and  Dos Equis are usually between $1 and two dollars! Of course at home these are the imported beers that usually cost between $4 and $6! Margaritas are usually 2 for one during Happy Hour and that can last all afternoon in many establishments! :)

My Ya-Ya Diane and her friend Bob enjoy Margaritas as big as your head!

And yes, a room or condo with an ocean view can be pricey but try and find a place in Florida that has access to the ocean within a few blocks from anywhere in town, 250 fine restaurants, most within walking distance, no need for a car and I will assure you Puerto Vallarta is a bargain every time. Not to mention they throw in the mountain view for free! ;)

The open market on Lazaro Cardenas on the south side is worth a trip even if you eat every meal out.

Dental and Medical care are of a quality that will surprise you and the cost is a fraction of what we pay in the States. For those of us without dental insurance a cleaning can cost well over $100 at home and can be had for $400 pesos by an English speaking dentist in a new building with state of the art equipment.  That is about $32 my friends. Everyone we know is having their beautiful porcelain crowns done or replaced in PV.  The cost last season was $4500 pesos for an Empress crown- the best quality. At the time the exchange rate equaled a cost in USD of $350.  At home my dentist charges $1500 and if I pay in cash he discounts it to $1350 so I saved a full thousand dollars! Please don't show this to our wonderful Puerto Vallarta dentists! ;)