Exchanging Currency

[Mariot1000]

Hi there,

I went to Banco Santander today and got 3. 95 per US Dollar, I thought that was pretty good. No commission either. At the airport today they only wanted to give 3. 35 pesos for each US Dollar, what a difference.

By the way I forgot to bring my party pills, if anyone has any extra Celais or Viagra or could sure use the assist. I am staying in the Recoleta area.

Thanks much,

M

[Northsider]

Yes, they exchange almost everything.

They wouldn't take S. African rand, referred me to a place upstairs (but I didn't go)

[Gandolf50]

Hi:

Can anyone tell me if they will exchange Canadian dollars at the airport Banco de La Nacion?

Thanks

Yes, they exchange almost everything.

[Tigede Jade]

What commissions are taken in BA when cashing TC?

Are Euro TC (not only USD) treated correctly as far as the rate Euro / peso is concerned?

[Quality Time]

Have already exchanged the money here in Oz because I wasnt sure whether I would get a good rate for the aussie dollar from the banks in Argentina. I got a fairly good rate here, but will go to the Banco de La Nacion when I land at the airport and change for some smaller notes.

Hi:

Can anyone tell me if they will exchange Canadian dollars at the airport Banco de La Nacion?

Thanks

[Gandolf50]

I have found that most places give reasonable rates for dollars and euros for example. But I have found in trying to change pounds or mexican pesos (for example) that the rates can be absurd (and not in your favor) One place I have found in the city (Other then Banco de La Nacion in the airport) is on the corner of Maipu and Tuccaman near the Florida street tourist trap. The place is a tourist agency and money exchange. No commision, good rates, but they do require your passport or DNI.

[Lothario]

Have already exchanged the money here in Oz because I wasnt sure whether I would get a good rate for the aussie dollar from the banks in Argentina. I got a fairly good rate here, but will go to the Banco de La Nacion when I land at the airport and change for some smaller notes.

99% of the time, it's stupid to exchange outside of Argentina. I know that the good bank at the airport (Banco de La Nacion) gives good rates on USD and Euros. Don't use Global Exchange or the other ripoffs at the airport. You can ask the bank for lots of small bills. I always do.

[Jaimito Cartero]

99% of the time, it's stupid to exchange outside of Argentina. I know that the good bank at the airport (Banco de La Nacion) gives good rates on USD and Euros. Don't use Global Exchange or the other ripoffs at the airport. You can ask the bank for lots of small bills. I always do.

[Lothario]

So as long as I use a bit of smarts, I shouldn't have any problems by the sound of it.

Thanks mate.

Is to use them (almost anywhere other than a taxi or kioski. If you are at a restaurant or bar, etc. If you have 20s and 50s in your pocket when paying for lunch or dinner, break out the 100 note (s. I have never had trouble getting change back at privados (although one should go in with exact change on hand.

If you haven't already purchased pesos in Ausiland, I'd suggest waiting until you get to Bs As and hit the ATMs (somewhere in this thread there is info on the best ones at EZE. Depending upon your mode of transport from EZE to your destination, you may get a few smaller bills in change.

[Wild Walleye]

Sounds like these are difficult to cash in BA?

Exchanging money here in Australia the banks can only give me pesos in $100 notes as they can't source any lower denominations.

Whats the best way to break these when I get to BA?

Will a bank swap some $100 pesos for smaller notes when I arrive?

Cheers,

Lothario

Is to use them (almost anywhere other than a taxi or kioski). If you are at a restaurant or bar, etc. If you have 20s and 50s in your pocket when paying for lunch or dinner, break out the 100 note(s). I have never had trouble getting change back at privados (although one should go in with exact change on hand).

If you haven't already purchased pesos in Ausiland, I'd suggest waiting until you get to Bs As and hit the ATMs (somewhere in this thread there is info on the best ones at EZE). Depending upon your mode of transport from EZE to your destination, you may get a few smaller bills in change.

[Lothario]

Sounds like these are difficult to cash in BA?

Exchanging money here in Australia the banks can only give me pesos in $100 notes as they can't source any lower denominations.

Whats the best way to break these when I get to BA?

Will a bank swap some $100 pesos for smaller notes when I arrive?

Cheers,

Lothario

[Northsider]

Just used my Cap1 credit card for the first time in a long time before seeing your posts, Black Shirt. I then remembered why I don't use it often.

Last week I was about to buy an airline ticket in another country (S. Africa) online. I called Cap1 and gave them a heads up about it, and it was duly noted. I bought the ticket, and a few hours later get an urgent email about a possible fraudulent transaction and must call in. Yeah, then I remembered I had never used their card abroad without having to call in, ever. At least now with Skype it's a little easier, but if I'm on the go I'll use a different card. Even in the US I've had instances where my card got blocked when buying gas (btw, I have excellent credit, so that's not an issue)

Another thing is their phantom exchange rate. Yes, no charge for international transactions, but they hit you on the rate. I just calculated it with the S. African air ticket, and it was 1%. I first caught them at it in the 1990s, and it was app. 1-2% if I recall correctly. Call Cap1 and ask about it, and you'll never get them to admit it ("that was the rate at the time of the transaction, sir") I'm not griping about the 1% (especially on a $40 transaction) but I don't like to be bs'd.

Citi used to do the phantom rate on foreign ATM transactions when they didn't have a service charge for using a Citi card, and there again you'd never get them to admit it. Then they officially tacked on a 3% transaction fee, and the exchange rate became one you'd see on the likes of Oanda; in fact, it was even a little better than before the fee became official.

[Rev BS]

Yes. Thanks for pointing that out. However, you do pay 3% of the transaction as a cash advance fee. How does that compare to exchanging USD cash? Do you think you get a better exchange rate (vs cash) with CapitalOne?

NOTE: A trick I've used for years is to pre-load my credit card with a few thousand dollars positive balance. Then, when I take a cash advance, this avoids the high 24.9% cash advance interest rate (but it does not avoid the aforementioned cash advance fee)

Because of the fee, I never use cash advance from credit cards. That is why I have the HSBC account for ATM, you can easily open an internet account in the US. It is highly rated and one of the largest banks in the world. Since I am overseas most of the time, I don't like alot of cash on me. I have used it extensively in Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Brazil in the past. As with currency banking rates, they are usually very good. Argentina has the Banelco fee, which you cannot avoid, I forgot how much it was.

[Yankee617]

The best credit card for travelling internationally is CapitalOne. It does not charge for foreign transactions.

Yes. Thanks for pointing that out. However, you do pay 3% of the transaction as a cash advance fee. How does that compare to exchanging USD cash? Do you think you get a better exchange rate (vs cash) with CapitalOne?

NOTE: A trick I've used for years is to pre-load my credit card with a few thousand dollars positive balance. Then, when I take a cash advance, this avoids the high 24.9% cash advance interest rate (but it does not avoid the aforementioned cash advance fee)

[Rev BS]

When exchanging USD cash.

1. What size notes are best to bring from the USA? $20, $50, or $100.

2. What size transaction seems optimal? $100, $200, $400, $600, $800, or.

3. How does this compare to using credit cards or bank debit cards?

I'm thinking of visiting BA for a couple months (during Winter in USA) and am now doing bits and pieces of advance research. For a change, I plan to stay in one place just to live a relaxed life, while studying spanish and doing some light mongering when the mood strikes.

I visited BA (and Uruguay) once before a couple decades ago; that was only for a couple weeks. Since then I've traveled extensively along Brazil's coast, usually 3 weeks at a time (and only 3-4 days in any one place) Now I want to visit the spanish-speaking countries of S. America more thoroughly. My reasons for starting in BA instead of, say, Colombia are:

+ BA seems more cosmopolitan,

+ Current BA prices are the best I've ever seen, and.

+ I have some Argentine friends in BA (young married couple)

All comments welcome. Thanks!

The best credit card for travelling internationally is CapitalOne. It does not charge for foreign transactions. For ATM, I use HSBC as they have banks extensively in South America, Asia and Europe (not sure about Africa) You will save substantially on ATM fees.