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 Editorials | January 2006 
The Plight of the Peso: Tales of a Mexican Holiday
 Shannon Binder Bray - communitypress-online.com
Refreshment and rejuvenation; that's what I consider to be the ultimate payoff for a great holiday. And upon my recent return from a week in Puerto Vallarta, that's what I got; but at what cost?
Our week was much tamer than last year's Dominican experience; aside from a well supervised whale watching adventure, the only real danger was noticing all the armed guards in the Detroit Metro and Minneapolis airports.
It was upon our arrival in Puerto Vallarta where we first noticed the power of the peso. Pesos exchange at a rate of ten to one with American dollars and, as like most third world vacation locales, workers rely on their tips as the foremost portion of their income.
Given this fact, it is not surprising that the many travellers are viewed as prospective contributors.
At our resort in Nuevo Vallarta the air was warm, the grounds well manicured, and the beaches reminiscent of the Sandbanks back home. Dotted throughout the swells of surf were boogie boarders, young and old, waiting for that perfect wave to conquer for a free ride into shore. On the beach a rhapsody of trinkets were exchanged between guileful vendors and bronzing sunbathers, each sale at a different price point, dependant on bargaining skill and desire.
Even though workers at the resorts do not rely on their small hourly wages, they can earn up to 90 American dollars in gratuities during a 12-hour day to do as one bell boy described as "not hard work in beautiful weather." It has been enough to ensure the 28-year-old Marcus a comfortable retirement as he invests his tips into local residential rental properties. When there is a poor tip pool, however, some are quick to call out their disappointment as one sailing crew in neighbouring Paradise Village did after an early morning sail during which, undoubtedly, much mention was made to the expectation of a high gratuity on top of the charter fees. Additionally, some restaurants in nearby Bucerias see that handwritten bills reflect a hefty surcharge for their unsuspecting tourist patrons.
Furthermore, in an area where a cerveza runs a modest 5 pesos at a very local market, a conservative 15 pesos at a tourist market and an acceptable 15-30 pesos at tourist cafes, the cost at Puerto Vallarta International led the way at 50 pesos. When in Rome...
It's all part of the holiday experience; one can expect to pay more for the convenience of having freshly chopped salsa and homemade guacamole served to you at the stern of a 30-foot sailing vessel, for the pleasure of not having to leave your sun lounger to shop for souvenirs, for the relief of indulging your thirst immediately following a five-hour flight, for seeing your food freshly laid out on a platter prior to being grilled and sautéed, and for witnessing the feat of a taxi driver squeezing 12 people and 17 pieces of luggage into a van.
However, a word to the wise: there is some merit to all of the travel guides out there (Lonely Planet and Moon Travel Handbooks among those highly recommended), something seasoned travellers have no doubt learned throughout their years: when, where, and what to buy. No doubt we'll do a little more research before we get stuck at the airport again paying $9.50 American for 400 grams of Doritos! |
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