Orlando_Vic

My wife and I are planning a trip to Argentina in mid-April. We plan to visit Buenos Aires and take short side trips to San Antonio de Areco and Iguazú Falls with the assistance of WOW! Argentina.

What are your thoughts on using cash (from ATMs) vs. credit cards for restaurant meals and snacks, and other larger purchases such as clothing and perhaps some wine or other souvenirs to take home?

I would prefer to use credit cards as much as possible, but realize that some businesses might not take them, particularly in smaller towns. What is the conventional wisdom on this? All ideas are appreciated.

Graziella5b

Hi Orlando, we go very often to Buenos Aires. From my experience the combination of both options is the best. In some places they do not accept credit cards only a few, but for instance a charming little bistro that I recommend called Resto in Calle Cordoba takes only cash, then for shopping the reality is that many stores at the end of the day would give you a good discount because the credit cards in my opinion are abusive with the merchants. Cash would come handy in there, also for taxis, cafes, movies etc so take money from the ATM machines. Be alert. I have done it all the time and no problem, usually I go in the morning before the banks open, because the machines are available anyway. I use a bank card from my US BANK the banks in Argentina that I prefer are Bank of Boston, Itau Bank and Paribas Bank. They have offices all over, many, many. Bank of Boston has offices inside most malls too. But of course I also use the credit cards which are widely accepted.
The advantage is that you do not have to worry carring cash and that no money is coming back, so mistakes are avoided.
A little advice: always pay taxis with small change. Make a point of having coins and small bills.
I hope you have a good time, I always use WOW too and always have been very happy so I am sure you will have a good time.
If you run out of cash in supermarkets they usually take dollars and give the change in pesos. Or they do take credit cards. I am talking of the big chain supermarkets like Jumbo, Disco, Carefour, etc.

Graziella5b

Give my regards to Cintia,BTW we might be in Buenos Aires in April too.

Graziella5b

Do you speak Spanish? If so , go to a musical, they have great musicals in Buenos Aires, the last one we saw was Sheet Charity. Very good.

Graziella5b

God, this is endless I meant SWEET CHARITY

advisere

I had trouble finding an ATM that worked. THe Plus system is few and far between. Money talks in Argentina when you buy goods. That being said, I eventually found a machine at a Jumbo and it worked,but only allowed a small amount. My advice is to set up a cash/PIN with your regular credit card-alot of us (me) use our debit/cash card and don't take advances from our credit card so get a pin and use it at more ATM's. It is not like the states-armed guards etc.

raquel_z

I spent a month in Argentina - mainly Buenos Aires - and used my PLUS ATM card without any problems. I am not sure where advisere was looking because all of the LINK and Banelco machines (which I would say covers the majority) seem to work with the PLUS system. I did find that from most Banelco machines, I was only able to withdraw 500 pesos at a rack. I found that the link machines (like the Banco de la republica Argentina at the airport) let me take at least 1000 pesos.

I agree with Graziella, that though in the many places you will be able to use your credit card, its always good to have cash on hand. And also make sure you have small bills and coins. If you use an ATM, take amounts like 990 pesos (as opposed to round multiples of 100..) to at least start off with some smaller bills.

Enjoy
raquel

CollegeMom

In BA, there were many atms availabe, but not all had the same coverage. I carried both Pulse and Internlink atm cards, and often had atms that only accepted one type. I found it better to have both then try to find an atm that worked with one card. Do get the odd amounts to get small bills, and save those bills for the cabs (radio only) in BA. Most credit cards in US are now charging a 1-3% processing fee in for international charges so check with your company. We had no fees for using the atms to get pesos. The smaller the town, the more likely pesos instead of credit cards will be used for things other than hotels or large meals. From experience,before you leave, I would suggest you notify your credit card company and atm issuing bank that you will be using their cards in Argentina so activity is not denied. With all the identity theft, the card companies are very cautious. In BA, hotels and larger restaurants all take credit cards, but we found it just as easy to use the atms daily so we weren't carrying a lot of pesos and paid cash for meals, souvenirs, and museum entrance fees, etc. BA is my favorite city, and I am sure you will enjoy it! Iguazu Falls was awesome!

blearynet

We had an ATM card from Washington Mutual which did not work anywhere in Argentina. Absolutely nowhere! It worked fine in other countries. When we could not use our ATM card, we tried our Citibank card to get a cash advance. This didn't work either! We actually ran out of money by the last day and could do nothing. Big disaster, and when we returned home, the bank said they had no clue why our card would not work in Argentina. (We then changed banks.)

drdawggy

I have heard a very recent reprt that Visa cards on the Banelco-Plus system are now limiting withdrawals to 100 pesos. I have not heard this about other types of cards/systems.

mikemo

Got $1800. pesos at the ATM just beyond customs at EZE.
No problems in AR and CL with my USAA no fee ATM and low fee CC.
Hotels in CL wave the IVA/VAT if you pay in cash with USDs, but I could not duplicate that in AR.
You should def let your bank(s) know you'll be using plastic there.
M

Orlando_Vic

Thanks all! It looks like a combination of cash and credit cards works best. Yes, I will plan to have a good supply of small denomination bills and coins handy.

Graziella5b, I have obtained cash discounts on a few purchases in Spain a long time ago. I'll look for it in Argentina, particularly with larger purchases. Good idea!

blearynet, thanks for the tip about Washington Mutual. I was planning to take their ATM card and use it as my primary method of getting cash. Now I won't.

mikemo, Yes, I do have a USAA ATM card and will rely on it more, now that I know Washington Mutual's isn't accepted. I'll also plan on using my USAA Visa as they only charge 1% on foreign transactions (vs. 3% from others). Thanks for the tip about the ATM just beyond customs at EZE. I'll look for it.

drdawggy

The rules appear to have changed this past weekend.

Other boards are confirming the rumor I heard earlier today about Bancelo-Plus system not dispensing more than 100 pesos per transaction, 300 total per day. Plan to bring travelers checks or cash as a backup and/or search for ATMs that are not a part of the Bancelo system.

drdawggy

I just received an email from a compadre who used an ATM with the Cirrus system without a problem.

Orlando_Vic

drdawggy-

This is great info. Thanks!

Hopefully other people will see it too and be forewarned.

drdawggy

Hopefully they will recognize the folly of this policy and drop it before long.....

Graziella5b

Speaking of Ezeiza if you care to change money look for the kiosk of Banco de la Nacion, better rate, it is hidden behind a kiosk of another bank that of course has a bad exchange rate.

If they limit the amount it will be a disaster, for me at least because I always change everything in the ATMs.

Scarlett

We used our Washington Mutual ATM card for 2 weeks in BsAs, every day and never had one problem.
We did find that the ATMS worked differently from those here in Portland, you have to take the card out before money comes out in some of the machines, so we had to pay attention to the directions.

dr dawggy, I am hearing Cirrus is working everywhere too, hoping this is something that is not going to last, else we will just change bank cards. What a pain in the neck though, for travelers there now!!

mikemo

G5b,
No better rate than the USAA ATM - nearly interbank here in Mexico and when we use those in AR, CL and Europe.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

drdawggy

One of the other boards posted that the problem with Banelco should be fixed today.....back to withdrawals as usual. Whew....I was worried, as I will be back in BA in early March.