Move to Playa del Carmen Mexico

If you’re going to live here for an extended period, you might want to think about your long term banking arrangements. It’s easy to withdraw money from your US bank accounts using ATM machines here. They are conveniently located and you can withdraw up to 5000 pesos. Even so, there are some things you will want to consider before your leave the US.

First you might want to let your bank know that you will be using your debit cards in Mexico, particularly if you have never used your cards internationally. This should prevent any security measures from restricting access to your funds while you are in Mexico. You will want to also make sure your daily withdrawal limit is where you want it to be.

Second, consider completing a wire transfer agreement so you can wire funds internationally over the phone. Even though you may not intend to wire funds in the future, it is a good idea to have the option in case something comes up. Most banks will not let you wire funds by phone without a completed wire transfer agreement and most require your physical presence when completing the required application forms. This is a process that generally two to three weeks to complete so plan ahead. Typically your bank will mail you a wire transfer passcode that you will  have to confirm receipt of by mail and by phone before wiring funds. It’s best to get this all taken care of before you leave the states. Just a reminder, always keep your phones numbers current with your bank. 

You may or may not want a checking account in Mexico considering all accounts are peso accounts. We decided that we preferred to wire funds once a month from our US account instead of dealing with mulitple ATM charges. It also makes sense to have a local bank statements to validate our income for our FM3 rentista when it comes up for renewal. It certainly can’t hurt.

To open a bank account in Mexico, you will need

•  a FM3 or FM2 Visa
•  a local address
• a utility or phone bill
• your passport
• two local references with phone numbers

We chose Scotiabank because of their Canadian roots and large international presence. We chose the branch near Juarez and 5th because we knew that the banking officer there could speak a little English. Your experience at other banks may be different. At Scotiabank you can choose between a debit card account and a checking account. We recommend the debit card account. It will take a week or so to get an imprinted debit card. Once you get your debit card, you can go back to the bank to make an online banking agreement for Internet access to your account. While it is easy enough to check your balance and transaction record online, a good knowledge of Spanish would be helpful.

There are other options for banking in Playa del Carmen. Obviously the greater your financial resources, the more you will want to diversify your banking relationships. There is a Monex branch in the La Antiqua building at the end of 10th Avenue. Monex is an investment bank offering a number of financial instruments including US dollar money market accounts. I understand that with an established account in good standing, Monex will cash your US checks.

Yes, we have all heard that phrase, and yes, it is generally true. However, the water used in the restaurants in Playa del Carmen is safe bottled water. The last thing the restaurants here want is a bunch of tourists getting sick because of the water in a particular restaurant, expecially in this day and age of fast communication via the Internet. A few of the restaurants have their own water purification systems, but water you drink in restaurants and the ice that is in your drink is safe. You can also eat fruits and salads. They have been washed in a bacteria fighting solution with bottled or purified water.  

You should not drink the water from the faucet unless you have a filtering system in your condo or hotel room. The same, of course, is true if you move to Mexico. Okay, I hear you asking, “But, why?” Although tap water in Mexico is notorious worldwide for not being entirely drinkable for travellers, the people who live here often do drink it with no ill effects. This is mainly because they have built up a tolerance to it from drinking it all their lives. However, a visitor here can become violently sick for 24-48 hours if they drink it. The reason is that the water is home to many and various single-celled organisms. Approximately 80% of cases are caused by bacterial infection. The notorious consequences (diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness and fever) have become known as ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’ in honour of the Aztec king whose hospitality to visitors from Spain was so rudely repaid. We tell our friends and relatives who come to visit us here that they should not even rinse their mouths after brushing with it. Just keep a bottle of water in the bathroom for that purpose. Also, contact lens wearers should use bottled water to clean their lenses. Wash your hands before you eat, or if this is not feasible, use a hand sanitizer.  Most cases are mild and are best treated by Pepto Bismal, and drinking liquids to replace fluid loss, combined with a light diet as soon as possible. In the event that the worst happens, and a member of your family becomes seriously ill, Playa del Carmen has good medical facilities, and hotels and pharmacies (farmacias) can direct you to reputable doctors.

There are other things that one should be aware of when visiting or moving to Mexico. This is not the United States. Things are different here. This is a different culture where almost everything is written or spoken in Spanish. Simple tasks like buying food, special medicines, shoes (sizes are very different) or snacks you are used to may become almost impossible. When we first moved here, I remember we stood staring at the different meats in the deli trying to figure out which one was turkey. We could have asked the person behind the counter if we had known how to ask in Spanish. We soon found out that pavo is the word for turkey and pecho is the word for breast. We also soon found out that everything you store in your kitchen should be in sealed containers or they will get weevils in them.

The tastes, smells and sensations are different here. Mexican food is not TexMex or what you find in a Mexican restaurant in the U.S., but we think the food here is absolutely delicious, and with the European influence here, one can find wonderful Italian, German and Argentinian food, as well. If you are a little finicky, stick to familiar meats, fruits and vegetables, and explore as you become more accustomed to the new environment.  Even the sunshine can be brutal and cause a terrific sunburn because we much closer to the Equator here, so sunscreen is a must! However, if you forget to bring some, you can find it all over town, including in our local WalMart.

I guess the main point I am trying to make here, is just don’t expect things to be what you are used to. Mexicans are much more “laid back” than most people in the U.S. They don’t get in a hurry and the typical answer you get if you ask when you can expect something to happen, is mañana, which may mean tomorrow or may mean sometime next week. If you can “roll with the flow”, you’ll be much happier here. You will soon get used to the differences, and that’s when you begin to feel “at home.”