Exchanging Currency

Chicago Guy:

Should be no problem on Calle Florida, just don't advertise you are carrying $.

As for QE3, take a look at a 5yr chart of ARS / USD. Since late 2008, no amount of FED debasement has affected the ARS' desire to weaken against the USD. It seems that a dysfunctional Argentina trumps a dysfunctional FED.

BF.

[QUOTE=Chicago Guy; 426388]In the 'cuevas' on Calle Florida, do you get a better exchange rate for large amounts?

Also, how safe is the area around Calle Florida? Would it be advisable to exchange max 1000 USD per visit?

And finally: Do you think QE3 will have any negative impact on the strength of the USD in Argentina?[/QUOTE]

I've google mapped Western Union near Calle Florida. There is none listed at Florida / Lavalle. Is there a Western Union or other cueva / arbolito at Florida and Lavalle?

Thanks.

Bf

[QUOTE=BlueFalcon; 426409]I've google mapped Western Union near Calle Florida. There is none listed at Florida / Lavalle. Is there a Western Union or other cueva / arbolito at Florida and Lavalle?

Thanks.

Bf[/QUOTE]I'm not convinced it's a 'real' Western Union. It just has a Western Union sign outside it!

And there are more cuevas / arbolitos at Florida and Lavalle than you can wave a stick at.

[QUOTE=DavieW; 426411]I'm not convinced it's a 'real' Western Union. It just has a Western Union sign outside it!

And there are more cuevas / arbolitos at Florida and Lavalle than you can wave a stick at.[/QUOTE]Re arbolitos in Florida, I've always wandered if the pesos you get are fake. Any experiences? Personally I wouldn't trust the guys offering 'cambio' further than I can throw them!

[QUOTE=Amantelondres;426413]Re arbolitos in Florida, I've always wandered if the pesos you get are fake. Any experiences? Personally I wouldn't trust the guys offering 'cambio' further than I can throw them![/QUOTE]Never had any problems myself. Used a few random ones at first, then the cueva referred to as 'Western Union' regularly for a year until my current, more discreet 'supplier. '

Don't know if it helps to be a fairly good Spanish speaker. Probably does.

[QUOTE=Amantelondres;426413]Re arbolitos in Florida, I've always wandered if the pesos you get are fake. Any experiences? Personally I wouldn't trust the guys offering 'cambio' further than I can throw them![/QUOTE]I know one guy that got a few fake hundreds mixed in. He didn't know how to check them and so they (cambio) saw an opportunity. I make a big show of checking every bill at every place I go to so I think that cuts down on the swindling. Check your bills right there where they make change. I also do this at hooks, or I used to when I was still goin there.

Their was a nice report we had made about one of the cuevas at Calle Cervino.

I can't see the reports. I think the moderator has removed it.

It is one of the best places to go and change money. No swindling.

I got a rate of 6. 20 about a week ago for 1000 us$

The first time I went to the Western Union place on Florida I checked every bill and they were all real. The second time I got lazy and just counted them. I ended up with 4 fake 100 peso bills. Fakes are really easy to spot. The silver dashed lines across the bill are not reflective and there is no watermark (the face in the white part). I would take a picture of a fake next to a real one but a pick pocket stole all my fake money. Which brings me to my second point. Wear jeans on Florida. If you wear pants or shorts with a vertical pocket they will just shove their hand in there, grab your money and run while a second guy distracts you. I've already figured out how to line my pocket with razor blades for my next trip.

I think dealing with the cambio's on Florida for your money exchange is pretty safe. They might try and slip you a few fake bills if you are touristy but they won't do very many. If they ripped you off for all your bills they know you would go to the police. It's not like they can pick up and run, they are in an office. Even the guys saying cambio on the street are only taking you to the office with the money guy. You're not exchanging your money right there on the street. If you just take 1 minute to check your bills before you leave it will be obvious if they are fake. When confronted what will they do? Probably give you a fake apology and pretend they thought those bills were real. These cambios are run like a business even if they are "black market". I used a street cambio guy and he lead me into a mall. Your not in some dark back alleyway.

It sounds like I've been extremely lucky regarding fake bills. I've never checked a single bill and I've changed many thousands of dollars over the last 5 years, and I've never had a fake one.

Or maybe I _have_ been slipped some fakes and I've unknowingly passed them on without even realizing it!

[QUOTE=DavieW; 426421]It sounds like I've been extremely lucky regarding fake bills. I've never checked a single bill and I've changed many thousands of dollars over the last 5 years, and I've never had a fake one.

Or maybe I _have_ been slipped some fakes and I've unknowingly passed them on without even realizing it![/QUOTE]I got a fake 100 peso bill from an ATM at Banco Frances at Cabildo why LaCroze once. I took it inside and the tool of a manager just kept saying it was impossible. This was way back before there was much of a gap between official and blue rates.

Are the cuevas on Calle Florida open in weekends and on public holidays?

[QUOTE=Chicago Guy;426510]Are the cuevas on Calle Florida open in weekends and on public holidays?[/QUOTE]There's always some open at the weekend. I've never wandered down there on public holidays, but I imagine the shops will be open, so the cuevas should be also.

[QUOTE=DavieW;426511]There's always some open at the weekend. I've never wandered down there on public holidays, but I imagine the shops will be open, so the cuevas should be also.[/QUOTE]I have changed money on the weekend. You will pay a slight premium due to the lack of competition, but will still be far ahead of using your bank card. I have never changed money on a Sunday, and off the top of my old addled head I don't recall hearing "cambio, cambio, cambio, dolares, reales, cambio, cambio" whilst walking in el centro on Sunday but I could be wrong.

[QUOTE=DavieW;426511]There's always some open at the weekend. I've never wandered down there on public holidays, but I imagine the shops will be open, so the cuevas should be also.[/QUOTE]I don't know about all, but the place I was using the last time I was there was always closed on holidays. (But it wasn't on Florida.)

Bob

Anybody got some they want to get rid of?

I'm off to the mother country for the first time in over 3 years and would like to have a few quid in my pocket when I arrive.

I'll pay a good premium over what you'll get at a cueva (if you can even sell them at a cueva?).