Is using MasterCard a problem in Argentina?
 

When we contacted one of the travel agents in BA, they only accept Visa or American Express. We only use Mastercard at home. If we need another type of card better to know now. Thanks.

It may have just been that TA's policy, since Visa and Master Card are easily used in Argentina. Check with your credit card company regarding international transaction fees since those can vary from zero to 3%. ATM cards also work to get pesos with often the best exchange rate but again check on your bank's fee structure for foreign transactions. Also notify the credit card and ATM companies that you will be using them in Argentina or they will probably deny transactions for security control.

Thanks for your reply. We haven't had problems with our bank card at ATM's and always let citibank know when we are out of the country. We just thought if we needed to get a Visa or AmEx we would do it soon as the trip isn't til Oct. We try to limited the number of credit cards we use and carry. Less to lose.

I just returned from a 3 week vacation in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay and only used Mastercard. I had a back up card just in case but it was accepted in all of our hotels and the ATM's in all countries.
You will have a wonderful trip
Pat

lenugent:

We had to prepay much of our reservations, which we did to the vender's US bank account by bank transfer. The Bs. As. travel agent had to have our credit card for air line tickets. I was reluctant but had no problem.

For all other money requirements we used cash withdraw and traveller's cheques.

I am anal about giving out my credit card to unknown persons.

Our cash withdraw account is at a bank where we have no other accoutns so money can not be transfered by the bank as they sometimes do. This is to further limit my financial risk. Of course the traveller's cheques are good and a fee is charged for cashing them. We cashed those at the national bank and had to have our passport which they photocopied each time. Even with a short line up, we had to wait longer than we should have. The fee was less than credit card purchase as we cashed $500.00 to $ 1000.00US each time. That bank was all over so this was most conveninet. My wife and I would then split up the cash [in pesos] and I even put different amounts into different pockets. No wallet to bulge in my trousers.

Hope this is of some help.

Woodie

Thanks Woodie. We use ATM's for cash and travelers cheques and split up the cash. But the separate account to limit risk is a good idea.