CDMX seems like by far the safest spot for me. They've got a disproportionate share of the hospitals and some of the private hospitals are top notch. I think that by the time this thing dies down (probably next Spring/Summer) that most of us will have gotten coronavirus. So if/when that happens, and if my girlfriend or I happen to get hit hard, we could get better care here than most places.

Any advise? Planning on Rosarito next month. Coming to check it out and apartments in a week or two. How is getting on PS an Party? I have never had an account. I saw people had internet issues along time ago being so close to border, Im sure not an issue anymore. Was planning on using a unlocked portable hotspot and local source dat sims. Being so close keep my phone I guess. Once on I think my US hotspot would work unless they need constant MX IP. ? Dont know new territory for me. Im in Vegas at moment. Live going to be weird 5 handed. I want to travel. So now is kinda a good time besides corona. Anything to help my transition would be appreciated. Banking etc.. I was going w capital one. No foreign atm or trans fees, however was trying to move all my money out of US banking if could. I do have a coinbase, skrill account. Skrill new. I have yet to use. Since we dont need here. ACR used to except but I dont see it anymore. WSOP online is a joke so I stay off. Looking forward to grinding PS and Party if I can. If not still be a fun trip before Asia reopens. Then off to Thailand, Philippines etc..I love it there. Hope you can help Thanks. I have yet to get a single response to any posts.

Not to derail, but could you add more to this?

just not enough options online w WSOP. 100% rebuy tourney at 8min or less except the high stakes $50+. Company too infant. No tiers of buy in. 2 5 dollars tourney then 2 15 dollars tourneys. No separation in tourneys at all except when there are circuit events. Just compared to another site that has been around along time....its a joke. Only a couple states can play on it. Player pool super small. Not worth your time.

thx for the info.

/my derail

Sorry, no clue on the banking stuff or setting up Party/Stars as I haven't gone through either of those processes yet. Re: your internet question, it's been pretty solid here in CDMX.

where do you bank.? havent you been down there awhile now.? where do you play? banking from my research seems like a problem or hassle. To open an account in mexico have to have FM3 visa which I will have to check requirments and cost before I go. Maybe worth it even if not going for more then 6 months. I know I can get the 6 month or less tourist card at the border. Not sure on FM3. Probably just have to bite the bulllet. So I can have an account. Want all my money out of U.S. just in case something happens. I dont like my money all over in different countries. Citi is Banamex. But still charge fees if you dont transfer into a Banamex account. Santander I think is HSBC. Which I dont have here in vegas I dont think. Either way. Not on my list for banking. I contacted skril personally to ask what rules are. I had to close my U.S. account so I can re open in mexico. Bitcoin only an option out of the states, but cant get a skril card in Mexico or a local account to send money to. So cant leave money w Skril. Neteller Im sure same since they own each other. Ok so Ill have to figure out the FM3 and how much work that is and time. I only have less then 2 months before scheduled to move. Lease up and not trying to stay here any longer then necc.

I haven't really needed a Mexican bank account up to this point. I just play on the American facing online poker sites or poker apps and do all transactions in Bitcoin. If I need pesos I just use my Schwab debit card. I've been here a bit over 2 years, but always on tourist visas (FMM Visa). However, next time I go back to the States, I'm planning to get a temporary residency visa. Once I have that, I think I'll finally open up a bank account.

FYI most ewallets stopped providing a debit card for LATAM, including Mexico.
Still they're very useful to move money between sites, but not recommended to use them to convert your usd to mxn, at least not on a professional level, as their exchange fee is around 4% depending on ur vip status.
You might wanna try Much Better tho, they're new on the ewallet for gambling sites market, but seems they have smaller fees overall and p2p transfers are free.
Best way to convert usd to mxn I have found, needs triangulation (either usd-crypto-mxn using bitso; or usd-eur-european bank-mxn), not super easy but imo it is worth when converting over 50k usd yearly. This way think u'll pay around 0.5% exchange fees, which can turn to 0% if u enter a mexican crypto/poker swap group.

Yes I talked to Skril, so I imagine Neteller the same since are related there is no debit card for MX available. Maybe bitpay, not sure didnt ask. Dont use much if ok to use in MX. On banking did more research. I was trying to get all money out of U.S. banking. Im not sure possible unless able to stay in one place for a really long time. Found out Bank of America has allegience W Santander and free to use ATM w no charge. I found out many of the bigger banks say there is no charge no matter the bank, just dont use street corners. So many things to figure out. There is a change I can go to Asia without MX. So not looking into that. Onward flight stuff, Visa stuff, which would then change banking to citi prolly. Citibank is in vegas and also in Thailand and you can find in Vietnam major cities, and Philippines. Not many. So still again might be just easier to have a bank that has free ATM use so I am not limited to like 2 ATM in the city. Of course I plan to get a months worth out in cash and only use ATM on occasion. So maybe not bad. Any more help? I m in the Thailand threads as well. I got 2 months to figure out. I trying to figure out my scripts also. My meds are apparently illegal in Thailand. So...yeah

You might want to look into getting Revolut and/or N26.
That will save you a lot of money while traveling.

I have not heard of revolut.? I have heard of N26. I thought that was for Europe customer only as accounts are in EU.? I thought I saw something on them that I immediately was like "well N26 is out of the question"? I can recheck specifically on them and revolut. I also was looking at other people traveling with money. Do people just take their rolls in cash and then open an account? I imagine back in the day, again I was not around then, that many people had most funds on sites.? Where at stars or party they were safe. Like a bank account. Why so many had to get an local account right away so they had money to live, being is most funds locked up on site until they have proven they had actually moved out of restricted zones, 'the states', so they could access to their money. I read on Cambodi thread that someone had 6K life roll when landing in Cambodia. Are people just going with cash? I know anything over 5k or 10k depending on place has to be claimed. Dont know how they would even find out. I dont think cash comes up on the scanner. I have only had my bags checked like once in all my trips. It was in Korea I think. I watched they did not dig too much. Seems pretty unsafe. From what I can tell still better to get a local bank when you finally post up somewhere. I think I might keep Capital until I get somewhere I like and post up for at least 6 months and open a local account to avoid fees etc...I will check revolut and N26 again tho. Exhausting just to find a good bank to trust decent amount of money with. Once I have a local account I guess you just transfer. So no minimum bal. what ever account I choose would be great. Maybe keep just a little in states for an emergency flight home. So I have funds in states. Move everything else. Thanks for the replies. Maybe I should put an avatar on here.? So people are more friendly. LOL Thanks again

Afaik N26 and revolut both require a European address, and to have a proof of it, which can be an obstacle.

Both N26 and Revolut are available now in the US.
https://www.revolut.com/en-US
https://n26.com/en-us

Both are available. I have checked out both of them. Watched reviews etc.. N26 and revolut have limited ATM w/d of like 200 dollars a month. These are more like spare accounts for travelers not a place to keep your whole roll unless you live in EU and are using in EU. Still have foreign and atm fees. So does Monzo. Starling is for business. I think I will keep my roll state side until I am able to open a foreign account. This seems like the best option. Capital One checking is where I have an account, I have not made a dep. yet. I have 60 days to do so opening online, has no atm fees or transaction fees. Just have to wait until I have enough time in foreign country when borders open to open a foreign account. Thanks for the advise.

I think it is better to start your own thread or use another (banking) thread for this.

FWIW Revolut gives you a debit card with interbank exchange rates, which will save you money when eating out, doing groceries etc. I also don't get why you want to move your money out of the US. I'm not American, but I think Schwab doesn't charge ATM and foreign exchange fees.

Fossilkid ... did you feel the quake (I read reports that CDMX residents could)? I hope the damage isn't too bad in Oaxaca.

Yep, it happened 600km away but could be felt even here. It tipped over a stick of deodorant in my apartment. Luckily the early warning system worked out ok and I was already on the street before it happened. I heard there were a few deaths and injuries in Oaxaca though.

I didn't realize CDMX had an early warning system. That's great. Probably a reaction to the devastating '85 quake. My understanding is that CDMX is so vunerable because it was built on top of a dried out lake.

Yes, it used to look like this. It must have been amazing and even the Spanish who arrived said it was the most impressive thing they'd ever seen. Sadly, the Spanish systematically ruined it. You can still see remnants of the main temple in CDMX's center. Most of the water has long since dried up, but you can still see a tiny glimpse of what the canals may have been like in Xochimilco. Because the foundation is a dried out lake, the city actually sinks a cm or 2 each year. It also makes the area more susceptible to earthquakes.



It's a fascinating history and part of the reason I love Mexico so much. I recently watched this primer on Aztec History which is pretty well done. It details their arrival to Tenochtitlán (modern day CDMX) up until the Spanish eventually gained control.

Thx for posting that pic. Never knew (or could have guessed) it once looked like that.

How did early warning system warned you? Siren?

That is correct. Most people in the city heard it I think around 30 to 40 seconds before and were able to get out. It is a bit weird cuz I live in the suburbs, and we 1st felt it so went outside quick, and it was til we were outside that the nearby siren started with the earthquake alarm.

FYI, the last one that caused a ton of damage back in 2017, sirens system did not work out due to the epicentre being so close (around 120 km south to Mexico City), while most of the time epicentres occur close to the sea (over 400 km apart from Mexico City)

Hey guys, I am thinking about moving to CDMX next year. I am looking for someone to share an apartment with. Planning to grind and study PLO cash games, sports/workout , learn to speak Spanish and enjoy the delicious mexican cousine.

Hi,

You can join Facebook groups about foreigners in CDMX, for exemple, the group about french people in Mexico, has every week offer about sharing houses in Condesa or Roma with others (mostly mix foreigners/mexican). A room is around 7-8k mxn monthly with the bill included.

Thanks for the laugh ! Cousine (in french) means cousin, I hope you will enjoy the mexican cousin ! But the food (cuisine) too ! Ahah