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Citibank has allowed me to withdraw 2290 pesos in one transaction
at their branch: Callao/Alvear. I have an account with them and a good sized balance (dickhead take note) and their ATM Visa card.
Their branch Santa Fe and Libertad would only dispense 999 pesos, don't ask me why.
Jackpot
I was finally running out of the $300 US that I changed at the airport. I hit the ATM in the Village Recoleta mall, and took the highest amount they had displayed in pesos (700). They had another amount tab, but figured I´d try the standard one. Exchange was 2.8687 peso to a dollar, before subtracting the $1 atm fee. Seemed decent to me.
...good ATMs allow two (2) withdrawals of 1000ps each = 2000 per day, ending midnight.
On Fridays after filling the machine this rate drops to 500 x 2 = 1000 (get cash before midday, to be shure.
Best choices: the ATM in "Galleria Pacifico" aside entrance de Calle Viamonte or in this shoppingcenter in the basement (which makes 4 x 1000 per day).
Also Banco Nazionale del Lavoro and Societé General.
Citibank machines are limited to 900ps per withdrawal.
Sometimes you have to tryout three machines to get what you deserve...it's like in the casino.
Take care, walking around with cash is dangerous wherever you are on this funny blue planet ;)
ATMs and Cambios like to give you $100AR denominations. How and where can I get lower denominations like $5 - $20. Many taxis will not break a $10-20AR when you only wanted to give them $5AR.
[QUOTE=Coolman]ATMs and Cambios like to give you $100AR denominations. How and where can I get lower denominations like $5 - $20. Many taxis will not break a $10-20AR when you only wanted to give them $5AR.[/QUOTE]When your using an ATM after you have entered your pin and you pick withdrawl most of them flash a screen with different amounts of money. Choose other amount and punch in 10 pesos less than you wanted. If you wanted to take out 600 pesos put in 590. Unless it's late Saturday night or Sunday most ATM have the ability to give smaller bills.
Can the Cambios exchange US dollars for Pesos in lots of smaller bills?
Thanks,
[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]When your using an ATM after you have entered your pin and you pick withdrawl most of them flash a screen with different amounts of money. Choose other amount and punch in 10 pesos less than you wanted. If you wanted to take out 600 pesos put in 590. Unless it's late Saturday night or Sunday most ATM have the ability to give smaller bills.[/QUOTE]
The girls will accept US currency, however you may find that they will ask for more (based on exchange) Example: A chica that would accept $150 pesos, may ask for $60 US. I find it easier to deal in local currency. You can exchange at any bank. I usually use the bank to the right of that area just outside customs (next to a bookshop). Of course ATM's city wide will accept your card as well.
You will look like a stupid gringo if you use dollars and will face higher prices everywhere.
[QUOTE=Nasty Nate]Okay. I've only had one trip to BA and used the ATM next to the crew layover hotel. Intercontenental. But do you have to changeout money? I've found most prefer accepting US bucks over pesos anyway. For you guys who travel down to BA more, let me know.[/QUOTE]There are a few, and only a few, places that will give you a better price for dollars and it's not really that much. Some stores will have a sign in the window saying something like you$S 3.00 or you$S 3.10. For the vast majority your much better using an ATM and paying in pesos.
Any of those places that give you a preferential exchange rate for retail sales would give you a better nominal price in pesos. It is an illusion, a snare and a delusion, and I am surprised you would fall for it. Econ 101.
[QUOTE=Dickhead]Any of those places that give you a preferential exchange rate for retail sales would give you a better nominal price in pesos. It is an illusion, a snare and a delusion, and I am surprised you would fall for it. Econ 101.[/QUOTE]Never shopped them, however being the wiley fucker that I am I would have talked in pesos, if the prices wasn't right I would have dee deeed, if it was a good price I would have whipped out the dollars. I'm suprised at you for thinking I would pay a premium for anything but a hot blonde in a gorrila suit.
[QUOTE=Dickhead]Any of those places that give you a preferential exchange rate for retail sales would give you a better nominal price in pesos. It is an illusion, a snare and a delusion, and I am surprised you would fall for it. Econ 101.[/QUOTE]Incorrect I say.
Economics 102. If you have some kind of indisputable discount from a negotiable purchase price, then you mention the discount after settling on the final price. That way the seller is not factoring in the discount during the negotiations.
On the suits thread, I posted about a fairly large purchase I once made at Dior. I negotiated only in pesos and got a very good discount since I bought 2 top-quality suits, ties, overcoat, etc. I knew, however, that the store was offering 3.30 pesos per cash dollar, about a 10% premium. When I bought all this, I didnt have cash dollars on me, but I needed to return about a week later to pick up the tailored items. So I left about a p300 deposit and returned with the US$ and got the discount.
[QUOTE=Moore]Incorrect I say.
Economics 102. If you have some kind of indisputable discount from a negotiable purchase price, then you mention the discount after settling on the final price. That way the seller is not factoring in the discount during the negotiations.
On the suits thread, I posted about a fairly large purchase I once made at Dior. I negotiated only in pesos and got a very good discount since I bought 2 top-quality suits, ties, overcoat, etc. I knew, however, that the store was offering 3.30 pesos per cash dollar, about a 10% premium. When I bought all this, I didnt have cash dollars on me, but I needed to return about a week later to pick up the tailored items. So I left about a p300 deposit and returned with the US$ and got the discount.[/QUOTE]It worked for me too last year at Dior. I did the same. Discount first then I paid the discounded price with euros. If I can recall correctly it was 4.00 pesos to the euro.
Last year they were giving those tax refund papers and I also got the VAT refunded at the airport, some 500 pesos.
Last April they did not. They said they discontinued to be part of this program and I discontinued to shop at their shops.
El Greco
I arrived at 01:00 last Saturday morning at EZE.
I always use the above ATM located on the left just before the exit to the street for the remises. It can be easily spoted.
This time I punched 1.500 Pesos and I got them at once.
El Greco
When leaving the country - What is the best way to change your money back to dollars?
[QUOTE=OslersVoice]When leaving the country - What is the best way to change your money back to dollars?[/QUOTE]When I travel, I never exchange local currency back to USD. I normally save it for my next trip. If I'm not planning to return anytime soon, I would use the remaining cash to pay my hotel bill or rental car and put the balance on the credit card.
[QUOTE=OslersVoice]When leaving the country - What is the best way to change your money back to dollars?[/QUOTE]Downtown ATMs are giving away Castellanos dollar bills lately.
So the best thing to do is change, whatever is left, at the airport bank before passing immigration.
Minus 2 pesos for your next visit luggage trolley.
El Greco
El Greco.
Thanks for info on HSBC ATM at airport! They are my bank and don't charge me any fees or commissions. Do you know of any HSBC ATM"S downtown in the Recoletta area?
There is one on Callao near the intersection with Vincente Lopez, I think.
Mickey Mouse in other days used to withdraw huge sums from there, but I'm not sure what for.
[QUOTE=Cactus]El Greco.
Thanks for info on HSBC ATM at airport! They are my bank and don't charge me any fees or commissions. Do you know of any HSBC ATM"S downtown in the Recoletta area?[/QUOTE]Do not know for Recoleta but there are many of them around the city.
One I know is on Paraguay near Maipu corner.
El Greco
[QUOTE=El Greco]Do not know for Recoleta but there are many of them around the city.
One I know is on Paraguay near Maipu corner.
El Greco[/QUOTE]That location sounds like my favorite ATM to withdrawl money, the address is Paraguay 720 which is between Maipu and Esmeralda. The reason is when I withdraw 500 pesos there, I usually gets 50 - 100 pesos in 10 pesos bills. They come in handy since I always like to give exact change in privados.
I do not believe this has been addressed in the esteemed forum. I am asking because in Colombia there was only 1 bank that would accept an AmEx-branded card for cash (Bancolombia) What is the situation in BA? I would love to use my Travelers Cheque card for cash (I load it through my Hilton AmEx card and earn points in the process, a win-win setup) So, do most machines take Amex cards or are there any special ones?
[QUOTE=Tbird]I do not believe this has been addressed in the esteemed forum. I am asking because in Colombia there was only 1 bank that would accept an AmEx-branded card for cash (Bancolombia) What is the situation in BA? I would love to use my Travelers Cheque card for cash (I load it through my Hilton AmEx card and earn points in the process, a win-win setup) So, do most machines take Amex cards or are there any special ones?[/QUOTE]I suggest you call the american expess number for atm locations. I know american express now charges 1.5% to cash amex travelers check to dollars.
Looks like I should be using REDLINK-branded ATMs. There seem to be dozens of them. Problem solved, I guess.
You havent sean the interest bill yet on your credit card either.
Don't come to Argentina Mongers without a Debit card, it makes things so much easier.
Also never change money or withdraw on you debit card on Friday's. They Fuck for as much as 5 pesos on the exchange rate.
Seams they don't want the exposure over the weekend.
Exon
Also never change money or withdraw on you debit card on Friday's. They Fuck for as much as 5 pesos on the exchange rate.
Seams they don't want the exposure over the weekend.
Exon[/QUOTE]That is the second time you have mentioned this so I must now say:
WRONG!
If they did not want peso exposure over the weekend they would give you MORE pesos for the dollar, not FEWER.
Hello? Supply and demand? Let's review. I don't want pesos. So, I want dollars or euros or Swiss francs. There is a finite supply of each currency. My lack of desire for pesos decreases their value. My desire for dollars or euros or francs increases their value. Therefore each dollar or euro or franc or Albanian lek will cost MORE pesos to buy.
Clear?
Out of curiousity, I just checked my online account Exon. There was no difference for my Friday debit card withdrawls, save a few cents+/- but that happens almost every time just due to normal fx variations.
I assume "fucking" you on the exchange rate means unfavorable variance. Although I disagree with the way he said it, Dickhead is right. If they didnt want to hold pesos they would pay you more pesos / USD (actually the same amount of pesos for less USD in the case of ATM withdrawl) Regardless, it doesnt happen to me.
Definitely you said (twice) that one should not change dollars for pesos on Friday because one would get fucked. But anyway I am in Mendoza, staying in a nice clean 2 star hotel for 40 pesos, flying directly in the face of Jackson's completely ridiculous statement that his "first class apartment" rents for the same price as a 2 star hotel room. And he does not provide breakfast like my hotel does.
There is also a lot of good, reasonably priced pussy here but I am not going to report on it because I don't want to contribute anything useful to a board owned and run by someone who insults me at every opportunity.
Also I was in Perú where I stayed in nice 3 star hotels for 55 soles which is about 48 pesos, and in okay 2 star hotels for 35 soles, and the last night I stayed in a 10 sol hotel near the Lima airport. I always wanted to stay in a three dollar hotel and now I have. Boy, was it sleazy. They charged one sol for soap and 2 for a towel. Fortunately I had my own but just for research I asked to see a towel. Have you ever seen a formerly white towel that has turned evenly beige? It's not a pretty sight, I assure you.
I met two really dumb girls from the UK last night and we went out and played a variety of games: pool, duck pin bowling, and finally chess. The loser had to pay for the games and the beer and I assure you I never lost so it worked out well. Then I ditched them for a hooker. Ha ha. This town is about 25-30% cheaper than BA for most things and wine is really cheap. I prefer beer but have adjusted quite nicely.
Nice to see you posting again, DH. I for one would enjoy you telling us about Mendoza, and am sure that others feel the same way. However, I thought I would comment on a couple of things you posted.
[QUOTE=Dickhead]flying directly in the face of Jackson's completely ridiculous statement that his "first class apartment" rents for the same price as a 2 star hotel room. [/QUOTE]Mendoza is not Buenos Aires. When Jackson moves his apartment from Buenos Aires to Mendoza then such a statement might make sense. $75.00 a day for an apartment is less than many hotels (including 2-star ones) charge in Buenos Aires.
[quote=Dickhead] I am not going to report on it because I don't want to contribute anything useful to a board owned and run by someone who insults me at every opportunity. [/QUOTE]I must have missed the part where he was insulting you by allowing you to post at will on his board, and by his having had you as a dinner guest in his home 10 or 20 times.
As for the "every opportunity" part, I just reviewed Jackson's posts on the board. You haven't been mentioned in a post he made since at least last September. In September, he described an incident at El Alamo restaurant wherein you had too much to drink and did something which people who have too much to drink tend to do. And I think he described it pretty diplomatically. I don't think that qualifies as insulting you at every opportunity.
Anyway, why didn't you use the old DH magic and get those two ditzy Brits into bed for a threesome? If they were good-looking enough to drink and bowl with, they were certainly good-looking enough to service the little guy, weren't they?
[blue]Hi Hunt,
DH sent me a PM a couple of months ago advising me that I had insulted him in some manner, but he's never enlighten me as to exactly how, and I've been unable to identify the transgression myself.
Thanks,
Jackson[/blue]
[QUOTE=Dickhead]There is also a lot of good, reasonably priced pussy here but I am not going to report on it because I don't want to contribute anything useful to a board owned and run by someone who insults me at every opportunity. [/QUOTE]I'm sure this is simple Dickhead sarcasm that some members took seriously for some reason. BTW Dickhead, I would be very interested in your Mendoza reports. I went once a few years ago and although I liked the city, it seemed rather tame. I was there with my then GF so I couldnt scour for P4P - Id like to know what you found.
[QUOTE=Dickhead]I always wanted to stay in a three dollar hotel and now I have.[/QUOTE]Congratulations on achieving another milestone of yours. Jackson's apt is a first class place which you would know if you ever visited it. I'm sure you could find a "2star" room in a shitty location on Corrientes Av for less. However, his perfectly located, modern, well-furnished apartment is quite a bargain at $75. A comparable 3 room suite at the Recoleta Suites, about 50 meters away, would probably cost several times that amount.
[QUOTE=Dickhead]This town is about 25-30% cheaper than BA for most things and wine is really cheap. I prefer beer but have adjusted quite nicely.[/QUOTE]Keep pinchin' pesos for us Dickhead. And be careful with the wine, it will fuck you up more than you might expect. Although it appears that you have adjusted quite nicely, since the bubbly, positive, carefree, happy-go-lucky Dickhead has returned.
[blue]Hi Moore,
The reference was to a previous series of posts wherein one Forum Member advised the Forum that he patonizes the more expensive clubs and deliberatly pays the girls more that is required because he believes that the more expensive working girls have a reduced rate of STD infections.
Thanks,
Jackson[/blue]
I have visited Jackson's apartment and certainly it is quite nice and better than a 2-star hotel. But as usual Hunt the former O t t o G are a h a m is full of it, because there are no $75 US two star hotels in Buenos Aires. Here are some 2-star hotels in which I have recently stayed in BA, with prices:
(my favorite) Gran Hotel Vedra 60 pesos (rack rate is 64 or 74 depending on the room; rooms vary considerably in size and quality)
Hotel Marbella 75 pesos.
Hotel Europa 70 pesos.
Vedra and Marbella include a mediocre breakfast for this price. Marbella will charge you for a double room if you bring a chica in, even if she doesn't stay very long. I refused to pay the last time and haven't stayed there since, but I just checked the price on I believe it was Monday.
Although I have been "invited" to the mansion many times, I have on every occasion either paid money, at least 25 pesos, or cooked, or both. Every single time. I have no problem with that.
I was not even slightly drunk that night at the Alamo and greatly resent comments to the contrary by fucks who weren't even there. Just like I resent Hunt's comment about me being a drunk who can't hold a job, which he quickly deleted. I've had the same job for six years now. Now you want to talk about a drunk, talk about the owner of the Alamo. There's a fucking drunk for you. Hunt has certainly never seen me drunk; I've only ever met him once.
It used to be there were a bunch of good guys on this board and a few assholes. Now it is mostly assholes like Marak and Goblin and Moore (what an argumentative douche bag) and a few good guys.
So fuck off.
I found that all the banelco ATMs SUCK. I raised my limit with Wells Fargo in the states to 500 dollars per day. There are some LINK ATMs near Callao and Corrientes that I use to take out 1500 pesos a shot. I have done it twice.
The Banelcos would only let me take out like 500 at a time. The fuckers. Grrrr.
It costs me 10 bucks every time I use the ATM. What a rip off!
-may be the mudfight aside ATM should be extinguished:
The ATM usually without probs handing out twice 1000PS are in Galeria Pacifico (Basement and subsuelo) Fridays afternoon the ATM oftenly are limiting the output to 500, usually NOT in the Galeria.
Getting back to mudfight: not even 3 star hotel rooms charge 75USD = 227,50Ps.
ATMs-
I have never been able to take out more than p500 per transaction at any ATM machine, and Ive tried many times. The daily limit on my bank card (huge US bank with Interlink and Plus symbols on back) is US$400 I think. So I should be able to withdrawl about p1200 in one shot, but local ATMs often impose their own restrictions. So when I need more than p500, I have to make 2 back-to-back withdrawls of p500, which means getting dorked twice for bank charges. I guess Ill try the Citibank on Callao and Alvear recommended below since its close.
Mudfight-
I've found the star rating system to be quite unreliable in Argentina. I've paid fairly big bucks to stay in "5star" hotels here (Hotel Argentino in MardelPlata, PanAmerican in Bariloche, Sheraton Iguazu) that ranged from shithole to "average", respectively. Then stayed at "1stars" like Tirol in Bariloche that were great (and cheap). I've found that there is a correlation between between stars and price in Argentina, but not much else. From what I've seen, there are probably less than a dozen hotels in this country that would qualify as 4/5 stars in the USA. Just having laundry service and a bellboy doesnt make a hotel a 5 star, especially when the rooms look like the filthy fuckrooms at Envidia.
My bank has 400 USD per day ATM withdrawl limit too. But the few times I tried to withdraw 1000 pesos, they were denied. That's ok as I normally don't spend more than 500 pesos cash per day anyway. ;)
[QUOTE=TangoManiac]It costs me 10 bucks every time I use the ATM. What a rip off![/QUOTE]I have made ATM withdraws in number of countries in Europe and BsAs, the transaction fee always has been 1 USD each. So I can't really complain.
Open a HSBC checking account in USA. Keep a minimum of 15,000 in the account. Withdraw with a HSBC debit card from that account anywhere in the world at HSBC branches - no fees, official exchange rate. I have pulled 2 mil pesos at one time. Limit of one pull per day. I do not know the max amount you can take out daily. Maybe someday I'll enter 3 mil and see what happens.
Other tips: keep much more than 15g in the HSBC account to avoid shortage. After all, we are not micromanaging a few dollars here. This is spending money and to be used for impulse purchases. Order a second debit card after receiving the first. Keep it as a backup in case of damage to magnetic stripe on the one you use frequently. You would not want to be without a working card while on vacation, or while living here. Although I did have a card delivered to local BA branch from home office of HSBC in Buffalo.
HSBC account can be opened by mail, probably internet as well; plenty of info needed due to Patriot Act.
Thanks for the info Thomaso. US$15k is kind of a large minimum balance to have just sitting permanently in a checking acct though. For me checking is just a clearing acct, I rarely have much more than 1k in it for very long. The ATM debit fees on my card are low and p500 is usually plenty for my daily cash needs. More than anything, its just a pain in the ass occasionally having to make multiple withdrawls over several days when I need a larger cash sum for something.
For instance, its much cheaper for me to just ATM withdrawl my entire monthly cash requirement (rent, bills, etc) even though it takes several transactions over several days, and then deposit it into my local Argentine bank acct, from which I pay everything electronically via transfer or pagomiscuentas.com, than wire transfer money from my US acct to my Argentine acct. That wire transfer costs a flat US$100 (40 in USA plus 60 here). I prefer to not hold more than a month or 2 worth of expenses in an Argentine bank acct. So doing that every month or so would burn US$1k a year just for wirefee charges.
Two Citibank ATMs on Santa Fe that I use a lot are now closed Saturdays and Sundays and after 12 midnight during the week. There must be some security or vandalism reason for this as it would seem to defeat the whole purpose of an ATM.
HSBC atms still operate normally, though for me, that means a transaction fee. I will be curious to see if the Citibank ATM at Callao and Alvear which normally has a policeman in front is also shut down in this manner.
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