From the United States you can pay for a serenata (serenade) in Mexico by card online. Serenattia charges in Mexican pesos, and your bank or card issuer does the conversion. You pay 100% when booking and the money is held in escrow until the event.
What card do I need to pay from the United States?
Serenattia charges by card online. What you need to verify is that your card allows international online purchases, because we process the charge in Mexican pesos. If you are not sure, ask your bank before booking. We do not give guarantees about how each bank processes charges in another currency, because that depends on each issuer.
How do you pay by card from the United States?
Serenattia charges by card online and the amount is charged in Mexican pesos. We do not handle conversion or exchange rates: the conversion is done by your bank or your card's issuer when processing the charge. If you want to know whether your bank applies any fee for purchases in another currency, ask them before paying.
A practical tip: check the total amount in pesos before confirming the payment and keep your receipt. If your bank sends you an alert for an international charge, it is normal to want to authorize it right away. We cannot tell you how much it will be in dollars because we do not handle exchange rates: that depends on the date and on your bank.
How much will I pay in total?
The total is made up of three things: the musician's rate, the service fee and, if you ask for an invoice, the VAT.
- Musician's rate: the visible price on their profile. The musician receives 100%.
- Service fee: 10% of the rate, with a minimum of $200 MXN, paid by the client.
- VAT (16%): only if you request an invoice, and it goes on top.
As an example calculation: with a rate of $1,500 MXN, the service fee (10%, minimum $200 MXN) would be $200 MXN.
Everything is shown in pesos before paying. To compare rates by city, check the price index for music in Mexico.
Why do you pay 100% when booking?
Because that way the Serenattia team can confirm availability and the musician has the booking secured. But your money does not go straight to them: it is held in escrow and released at the event, when the musician's QR code is scanned before they play.
For someone paying from the United States, this is an important protection: you do not have to trust that someone will deliver without knowing anything. If the musician does not show up, the payment is not released.
What do I have to do from the United States?
Very little. The important thing is to have at hand the details of whoever will receive the serenade and a card you can pay with online.
- Define the date and the destination city in Mexico.
- Check in /musicos the musicians published in that city and their prices.
- Make the booking and pay the total right away. A deposit is not paid with the rest later: you pay 100% when booking.
- Wait for the availability confirmation from the Serenattia team.
- Coordinate with the team, when booking, how the QR code scan will be done on the day of the serenade.
If you have questions about your family's city, you can consult the team before paying.
Book ahead. The more room you give the team to confirm availability, the calmer the coordination will be and the easier it will be to resolve a change of address or date before the event. We do not promise musician arrival times or response deadlines, but we do offer a clear, online process with the price in view from the start.
For first-time bookers, this is a summary of what happens with your money. First, you choose the musician and confirm the booking with your card. Second, the charge is made in Mexican pesos for 100% of the total. Third, the money is held in escrow. Fourth, the Serenattia team confirms availability. Fifth, at the event the musician's QR code is scanned before they play, and only then is the payment released. If you are one of those who prefer to understand every step before paying, this sequence gives you the full picture.
It is also worth separating three things that are sometimes confused: the price the musician publishes, the service fee the client pays and the invoice. The musician's price is what they receive in full. The service fee is 10%, with a minimum of $200 MXN. The invoice is optional and, if you ask for it, the VAT (16%) is added. With these three pieces clear, there are no surprises when paying.
If you need to compare rates between cities before deciding, check the price table by city in the price index for music in Mexico and go to /musicos to see the profiles.
An honest clarification: Serenattia was born in Mexico and the musicians are in Mexico. We only offer serenades in the cities where there are musicians published: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla, Querétaro, Toluca, Monterrey, Cuernavaca, Mérida, Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
If you are a musician in Mexico and want families from the United States to find you, you can publish your free profile at /registro-musico.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay in dollars?
No. The charge is in Mexican pesos. The conversion is done by your bank or your card's issuer.
What is the exchange rate?
Serenattia does not handle an exchange rate. Your bank applies the conversion when processing the charge.
Is a deposit paid?
No. You pay 100% when booking.
Who scans the QR if I am not in Mexico?
It is coordinated with the Serenattia team when you book.
Can I ask for an invoice?
Yes, and the VAT (16%) goes on top.
How far in advance should I book?
It is best to book ahead so the Serenattia team can confirm availability. We do not promise response deadlines or musician arrival times.