apage16

Hello! My husband and I are about 2 weeks out from our first trip to South America. We are starting with 3 nights in Rio, followed by 2 nights in Iguazu and 3 nights in Buenos Aires. We are staying at the Marina All Suites, the Hotel das Cataratas and the Park Hyatt respectively. As this is our first time I am wondering if any of your experts have tips for us. I have heard that it is best not to use the ATMs in Brazil so we are planning to get a good amount of real from Wells Fargo before we go but I have heard that it would be in our best interest to bring US dollars to Argentina and exchange them on the underground market?

avrooster

Welcome to the Fodor's Argentina forum, apage16!

At this writing, in Argentina, you can save around 30% on anything which can be paid with a credit card, INCLUDING your hotel bill, by paying in cash pesos obtained by selling cash US dollars in the "underground" currency market.

I have posted extensively on the subject, such as:

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...get-40-off.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...hange-rate.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...a-currency.cfm

The risks involved in carrying cash are obvious, but you are staying at the second best hotel in town, which certainly provides a safe place to keep your cash and you need to find a safe way to carry around the amount you wish to have with you.

I assume you know you should not wear expensive jewelry, such as a Rolex watch or that kind of thing. I have also posted extensively on the subject.

Let me know if there is anything I can do for you in BA and have a great time in my town with your DH.

catchingtradewinds

My husband and I have spent the last 10 weeks in Argentina. You can read about our experience and some of the things you should know about Argentina (including exchanging money) on our blog at:

http://www.catchingtradewinds.com/1/...at-60-off.html

I also recommend visiting Mendoza, Argentina if you like wine and you have the time. It was as good or better than Napa, but a quarter of the cost.

http://www.catchingtradewinds.com/1/...-do-lunch.html

Have fun on your trip!

avrooster

Great blog, catchingtradewinds, but your "you can live like a Porteño for about 60% or 70% off" by exchanging your cash dollars at the "blue" rate instead of at the official rate is extremely exaggerated.

It was never that high and now it stands at about a little over 30%.

Have a great time in our country.

apage16

Thanks so much! We are leaving my engagement ring and our expensive jewelry at home and I bought a concealed money pouch for myself and a money belt for my husband. I'm super excited!

avrooster

Great!

Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

I would probably have suggested you stay in the Palermo area, but I guess it's too late for that now.

You'll certainly have a great time in my country.

Susan7

I've never had problems using ATMs in Brazil.

apage16

Thanks avrooster! We are staying at the Park Hyatt because my husband works for Hyatt and our stay is free I read about something called the bird poop scam on another thread? What is that so I know to look out for it?

avrooster

Oh, I see!

Is this the thread you saw?

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...a-comeback.cfm

Do as I say in that thread and you'll be fine.

More on the subject in another forum:

http://tinyurl.com/ku7jhuh

Have a great time in our country with your DH.

PatrickSch

We returned last week. I tried to buy Argentine pesos at Boston's Logan airport- they won't sell them. At Atlanta I bought $100 dollars worth of pesos- 6 pesos to the dollar and they told me they wouldn't buy them back. In Buenos Aires our guide directed us to an exchange booth in a store in La Boca where I got 11 pesos to the dollar. If you walk down Florida street about every 30 seconds a guy will yell cambio at you- one of our group exchanged there and got 11.5 pesos to the dollar.
By the way we were victims of the poop scam- or mustard scam as our guide called it- in San Telmo on a walk in the Foder's Buenos Aires book. I yelled and they walked away so be alert. Even though they got no money it wasn't fun smelling like some foul smelling mustard for almost 24 hours. We had checked out of the hotel and couldn't shower until we got home.