thanks Alex: great list. I would agree that these things make life easier, but the one thing that has changed my experience of life in Mexico is Mexican friends. I need the laughter when I take something too seriously or the push when I get frozen. I probably would figure things out eventually without this encouragement, but I wouldn't have as much fun.
What an important reminder. However, this was a list of "things" and I can see why she may have decided to not include her dear Mexican friends on a list of "things" she can't do without. Some people might get the wrong impression. That said, I can totally understand what you mean. You consider them priceless, and that's a rare and beautiful thing to find in this world in other human beings.
Alex, mi favorita mochilera. I've been in Qro for three weeks and every time I talk to another traveler, they ask, "have you watched Backpacking Brunette's UA-cam channel? Everyone. You have a loyal fan base. Buen trabajo.
The keyboard! Yes!! I bought a laptop on Amazon Mexico and totally agree with the keyboard struggle!! It was just different enough that it interrupted the muscle memory and I couldn't handle it either. Returned to Amazon and bought the same laptop from Amazon USA and got it shipped to Mexico. Which actually turned out to be a little cheaper even with import fees, surprisingly.
I really love the Capital One 360 card while in Mexico. It has never declined unlike some of my other cards, and the exchange on it is pretty true to the going rate. I mostly use for point of sales and use my credit union card for cash withdrawal cuz they reimburse the atm fee instantly. No foreign fees on both. I may check out Charles Schwab though.
Rick Steve's convertible backpack, Schwab, PacSafe shoulder bag (Tons of security features), local brand of pedialyte for dehydration issues, PeptoBismo (for you know what), mi sombrero de paja toquilla.
All of this. I have had a Rick Steves convertible backpack for years and it’s been great. I’d like to get the Osprey but the old RS won’t die. My bomba is a USB rechargeable and is available on Amazon or in most larger supermarkets. I love it! As someone else said, I just changed the country on my Amazon account and it works great.
i have used Remitly to pay my rent in Puerto Vallarta. Backpack the easiest! Doing HouseSit Mexico to experience, explore and learn about Mexico. Some units have W/D and my laundry service is fabulous in PV. Explore and learn! Mexico is my home!
Great list. Like you we do not have a Mexican bank account. We take cash out for almost everything. As you said Cash Is King. As harken back to a previous video, CHANGE. Always keep an abundant supply of smaller bills and coins handy. Our debt card is with USAA, they reimburse us for ATM fees the same day as the withdrawal. We use PayPal to pay our landlord electronically. There are no fees and the exchange rate is usually better then the banks. We do have an English language library exchange here in Guanajuato but I use Kindle for my reading material as well. The water guys come to our neighborhood once or twice a week and deliver the water into our home. It's 33 Pesos per garafone. We use five garafones per week. We have multiple hummingbird feeders and use the purified water for their food and they are sugar junkies (three for the birds and two for us and the cat). Our home came with a washer so that was a plus. We have a large roof terrace with plenty of room to hang the wash. We have two fireplaces and used them just a few time in January and February. We are from Wisconsin so winters here are laughable. Our car is a luxury which we may get rid of in a year or so. You have delivered another very informative video.
Yeah, I live in Mexico and I just switched the country in Settings and was good to go! I don't have Prime, so not sure if that carries over or not but didn't need a second account which was nice
I am looking into making the jump from the states. When I change my VPN to show my location as Mexico, my Amazon account opens without difficulty and only shows items that ship to Mexico. Hope this helps.
Hola Alex and Taylor from PV. I used a Cap 1 card for 4 years, but opened a bank account this year with Intercam. Love it. No fee and use the debit card for almost all my non only peso purchases. I write a check from my bank in the US once amonth. Most of what you said holds true, but I have to air conditioning for myself and my perro Gia. It gets a bit hot here in Vallarta!
I’ve been here for a month in El Centro and I’m thinking an electric cargo bike like the Radwagon 4 would be the thing to have. You can haul groceries etc. and easily get around.
Thanks for your list, good to know, especially sunscreen on the tops of your feet (hubby's feet got burned one summer in MI) because I always forget that part.
New Sub been binging on your videos great info! If you already have the info. Could you elaborate more on pets/ traveling on bus and handicap accessible friendly buses?
I have Charles Schwab accounts but haven’t used the debit card in Mexico for over a year. I have a bank account here and transfer funds from the US when the exchange rate is favorable. Every time that I purchase something here, I am using my Mexican debit card and am using funds that were transferred at a rate of exchange of my choosing. My current funds in my Mexican bank were all transferred at 21.5 to 1 or better. The current exchange rate when using a Charles Schwab is “who knows”, but the official rate is now just under 20 to 1.
@@victoriagagarina4262 One “catch” is that if you withdraw cash as needed, you have zero control over the exchange rate when you use the Schwab debit card. Another is that it is a “VISA” debit card and although Schwab charges zero fees and does refund any foreign bank charges, they use the official “Visa” exchange rate, which generally has a 1% “network fee” built in that cannot be avoided. Nobody talks about this because very few pay attention to the actual costs.
You could also open a second checking account with Schwab! I have two 🤓 If something happens to your card, they will express mail you a new one to Mexico! Great customer service!
@@phildodd5532 Maybe you are talking about the ATMs of other US banks? I used my Cap One card in Colombia and Turkey this year without Cap One ATM fees. Some of the Turkish banks built in a surcharge that did not appear as an ATM fee, but I found one that didn't (Ziraat Bank if anyone is headed that way).
Any Canadian friends here that use Scotiabank for withdrawing money? I recently saw that my scotiaonline allows me to send CAD to any mexican bank... the only requirement is to have a CLABE and it takes just a couple of days... has anyone tried this? I would like to transfer some amount. of money for a big purchase in Mexico... and want to get the most of the exchange rate... any comments would be greatly appreciated!!
Tell me what would be on your list of things you couldn't live without in Mexico!
thanks Alex: great list. I would agree that these things make life easier, but the one thing that has changed my experience of life in Mexico is Mexican friends. I need the laughter when I take something too seriously or the push when I get frozen. I probably would figure things out eventually without this encouragement, but I wouldn't have as much fun.
What an important reminder. However, this was a list of "things" and I can see why she may have decided to not include her dear Mexican friends on a list of "things" she can't do without. Some people might get the wrong impression.
That said, I can totally understand what you mean. You consider them priceless, and that's a rare and beautiful thing to find in this world in other human beings.
@@le_th_ Good point. Thanks
Alex, mi favorita mochilera. I've been in Qro for three weeks and every time I talk to another traveler, they ask, "have you watched Backpacking Brunette's UA-cam channel? Everyone. You have a loyal fan base. Buen trabajo.
The keyboard! Yes!! I bought a laptop on Amazon Mexico and totally agree with the keyboard struggle!! It was just different enough that it interrupted the muscle memory and I couldn't handle it either. Returned to Amazon and bought the same laptop from Amazon USA and got it shipped to Mexico. Which actually turned out to be a little cheaper even with import fees, surprisingly.
Wow, after living a year in Querétaro Centro, I cannot agree more with this list!
Thanks for watching! Anything you’d add?? 🤓
I really love the Capital One 360 card while in Mexico. It has never declined unlike some of my other cards, and the exchange on it is pretty true to the going rate. I mostly use for point of sales and use my credit union card for cash withdrawal cuz they reimburse the atm fee instantly. No foreign fees on both. I may check out Charles Schwab though.
I'm going to look into the Capital One 360 since you're the second person who has mentioned it! Thanks, Marcie!
You are a ray of sunshine packed with good information. Sub well earned.
Rick Steve's convertible backpack, Schwab, PacSafe shoulder bag (Tons of security features), local brand of pedialyte for dehydration issues, PeptoBismo (for you know what), mi sombrero de paja toquilla.
All of this. I have had a Rick Steves convertible backpack for years and it’s been great. I’d like to get the Osprey but the old RS won’t die. My bomba is a USB rechargeable and is available on Amazon or in most larger supermarkets. I love it! As someone else said, I just changed the country on my Amazon account and it works great.
i have used Remitly to pay my rent in Puerto Vallarta. Backpack the easiest! Doing HouseSit Mexico to experience, explore and learn about Mexico. Some units have W/D and my laundry service is fabulous in PV. Explore and learn! Mexico is my home!
No te pierdas mucho!!
Great list. Like you we do not have a Mexican bank account. We take cash out for almost everything. As you said Cash Is King. As harken back to a previous video, CHANGE. Always keep an abundant supply of smaller bills and coins handy. Our debt card is with USAA, they reimburse us for ATM fees the same day as the withdrawal. We use PayPal to pay our landlord electronically. There are no fees and the exchange rate is usually better then the banks. We do have an English language library exchange here in Guanajuato but I use Kindle for my reading material as well. The water guys come to our neighborhood once or twice a week and deliver the water into our home. It's 33 Pesos per garafone. We use five garafones per week. We have multiple hummingbird feeders and use the purified water for their food and they are sugar junkies (three for the birds and two for us and the cat). Our home came with a washer so that was a plus. We have a large roof terrace with plenty of room to hang the wash. We have two fireplaces and used them just a few time in January and February. We are from Wisconsin so winters here are laughable. Our car is a luxury which we may get rid of in a year or so. You have delivered another very informative video.
Very cool that there is any English-language library in Guanajuato 🤓 yes, PayPal is another service I couldn’t live without in Mexico!
I was able to sign on to Amazon Mexico with my Amazon US account and then order and get deliveries in Mexico, no problem.
Thanks for sharing! That must have changed since we set it up back in 2017. I appreciate the update!
Yeah, I live in Mexico and I just switched the country in Settings and was good to go! I don't have Prime, so not sure if that carries over or not but didn't need a second account which was nice
I am looking into making the jump from the states. When I change my VPN to show my location as Mexico, my Amazon account opens without difficulty and only shows items that ship to Mexico. Hope this helps.
This was so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
backpacking brunette, who's that, reminds me of somebody i heard of last decade?
good vlog, more please!
Glad you found it helpful, Dave!
Nice video Alex. I am not sure what I could live without but I may learn about that sooner than I thought. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you found it helpful, JP!
Hola Alex and Taylor from PV. I used a Cap 1 card for 4 years, but opened a bank account this year with Intercam. Love it. No fee and use the debit card for almost all my non only peso purchases. I write a check from my bank in the US once amonth. Most of what you said holds true, but I have to air conditioning for myself and my perro Gia. It gets a bit hot here in Vallarta!
Totally agree, Ronald! Air conditioning would be a must for me too if I lived in Vallarta!
You are so right about the Kindle! Unfortunately, my 2011-era Kindle bit the dust yesterday! 😥
I'm getting ready to replace a 2019 Oasis. I want a paperwhite bc I think it will be better for reading at the beach!
Buen video Alex sigue asi
I’ve been here for a month in El Centro and I’m thinking an electric cargo bike like the Radwagon 4 would be the thing to have. You can haul groceries etc. and easily get around.
Thanks for your list, good to know, especially sunscreen on the tops of your feet (hubby's feet got burned one summer in MI) because I always forget that part.
New Sub been binging on your videos great info! If you already have the info. Could you elaborate more on pets/ traveling on bus and handicap accessible friendly buses?
I have Charles Schwab accounts but haven’t used the debit card in Mexico for over a year. I have a bank account here and transfer funds from the US when the exchange rate is favorable. Every time that I purchase something here, I am using my Mexican debit card and am using funds that were transferred at a rate of exchange of my choosing. My current funds in my Mexican bank were all transferred at 21.5 to 1 or better. The current exchange rate when using a Charles Schwab is “who knows”, but the official rate is now just under 20 to 1.
So many bloggers recommend this account. What's the catch? What are the fees?
@@victoriagagarina4262 One “catch” is that if you withdraw cash as needed, you have zero control over the exchange rate when you use the Schwab debit card. Another is that it is a “VISA” debit card and although Schwab charges zero fees and does refund any foreign bank charges, they use the official “Visa” exchange rate, which generally has a 1% “network fee” built in that cannot be avoided. Nobody talks about this because very few pay attention to the actual costs.
Ooops! Thanks
I use our credit union debit card, which has no ATM fees anywhere, or pays them. Plastic bombas are available everywhere in Mexico...
This may seem like a dumb question but do people with more melanin do well?
Great list, spot on. What happened to your electric pump?
It's too slow!
Ok, I got my Schwab debit card, but I worry what happens if I lose it or an atm eats it ?
I’ve heard SOFI is second best ???
You could also open a second checking account with Schwab! I have two 🤓 If something happens to your card, they will express mail you a new one to Mexico! Great customer service!
My landlord is now making me pay rent with cash. Such a large stack to be walking around with
Yeah, not ideal for sure!
Is there any Canadian debit card that will reimburse ATM fees while in Mexico
Check out Scotiabank!
A friend of mine use his debit card in a ATM and he didn’t receive the money she asked that is scary because the bank charged the amount😖
I had that happen once, but I just called Charles Schwab and they reimbursed me!
We use Capital One 360 card. No ATM fees or conversion fees. We love it.
Ooooo I’m not familiar with that card! Thanks for the tip, Latoya!
There are atm fees if you can't locate their atms, which are far and few between where we live.
@@phildodd5532 we've used the card here in Costa Rica for five years. There are no fees with this card.
@@phildodd5532 Maybe you are talking about the ATMs of other US banks? I used my Cap One card in Colombia and Turkey this year without Cap One ATM fees. Some of the Turkish banks built in a surcharge that did not appear as an ATM fee, but I found one that didn't (Ziraat Bank if anyone is headed that way).
What about Nabisco Triscuits????? My best to you both :)
This might be hard to believe, but I didn’t eat Triscuits once when I was in the US this summer 😱 I’ll need to make up for that next time I’m back 😜
Hola Alex saludos
You’re like a walking billboard!
Just wanted to share some items that I find helpful!
Are you so beautiful and nice, thank you for will show my country magic and sometimes muy caotico y loco en la ciudad de Mexico
A generator for all the times the electricity goes out...
lol I've heard about this.
I've been really fortunate that the power has never gone out at our house for more than a few hours & even that is very rare!
Snack food
$192.00 FOR A BACK PACK? HUH?
If you travel a lot & want a piece of luggage that will last, I think it’s worth looking into.
I just picked one up on Amazon for $130 USD. Black and Blue only though.
Prolly Mexican men lol
Not on the list, but I have some very good friends here & life in Mexico wouldn’t be the same without them!
Any Canadian friends here that use Scotiabank for withdrawing money? I recently saw that my scotiaonline allows me to send CAD to any mexican bank... the only requirement is to have a CLABE and it takes just a couple of days... has anyone tried this? I would like to transfer some amount. of money for a big purchase in Mexico... and want to get the most of the exchange rate... any comments would be greatly appreciated!!