General Notes

Money - We usually bring 100 $1 bills for tips for shuttle drivers, hospitality personnel, bartenders, and waiters/waitresses. While restaurants generally accept credit cards, they prefer cash tips. Often, we will use our Charles Schwab card to withdraw pesos from ATMs if we want to pay in pesos. We do not obtain pesos before the trip because there is an ATM at the airport. Please note, our Charles Schwab card does not charge transaction fees and provides a cash refund of any withdrawal service fees. It is a good card to use for international travel. We also have a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees. US Currency is accepted in Cabo and the surrounding areas.

Visa - There is no longer a requirement for a tourist travel card or visa.

Water - We were told about 10 years ago that the water in Cabo is safe to drink. Since that time, we have been drinking the water without reservation all through Cabo Peninsula. We have experienced no issues with the water. Please note, we do not follow this practice in other parts of the mainland Mexico.

Crime - In over 25 or so visits to the Cabo Peninsula, we have experienced only one issue with crime. We’ve read stories about issues with crime, but we have always felt safe and welcomed by the locals. Our one issue with crime occurred when Blair left our Charles Schwab card in an ATM at a store in a hotel and someone must have walked off with it. We saw a charge for $900 or so, which we reported and it was reversed by our bank. We filed a complaint with the hotel manager and they responded appropriately.

Timeshares - Booking timeshare sales meetings are a money-making business for many of the locals. You will find locals anxious to set up a timeshare booking everywhere you turn. For example, if you are grocery shopping and asking for limes, a friendly store clerk may ask if you are enjoying Cabo, how long you will be staying, and whether you would have already booked a timeshare appointment. They can be rather persistent. Many of the attraction vendors, like whale-watching counter sales people, will try to give you a free tour in exchange for a timeshare appointment. The timeshare meetings can be interesting, but they are almost always difficult to end at the time promised. The compensation, including the free tours, can be tempting. However, we recommend against agreeing to a timeshare appointment unless you are up to the 3-plus hour commitment, which invariably includes a series of aggressive sales pitches before they will release you.