Money in Argentina
 

Is is best to take travellers cheques, (either US, or Cdn - I'm Cdn) how hard is it to exchange money, only at the banks, hotels,or are there money exchanges on the streets?

How about using Visa there? Is it widely accepted?

Hey,

I wouldnt use travllers cheques they are always hard to cash, even in Europe. There are ATMs everywhere and visa shouldnt be a problem.

Save your self a major head ache. Do NOT take traveler's cheques. Use a credit card and an ATM card. If they are lost, you can replace them just as qucikly. The exchange rate is better. May merchents will avoid travelers cheques. With an ATM you can get cash at any ATM machine. With cash, you can count on a 10% discount in many shops.

If you want to exchange travelers cheques, you'll need to do so at either a bank or hotel and you can rest assured that the exchange rate will not be in your favor. You'll also need to present your passport any time you cash them.

Save the head ache and use your ATM to get cash and your creit cardfor bigger purchases.

I take American Express TC's, but only as an emergency stash of cash. I don't use them unless ATMS aren't working and I am out of cash. ATMs can fail. I have experienced this problem in Ecuador several times and once in ARgentina, but only when the economic crisis was at its worst.....American Express TC's can be cashed without commission at the AXP office on Plaza San Martin.

Visa is accepted, but not as widely as in North America. Cash is king.

There are exchange houses and banks in virtually every city. Banco de la Nacion gives a very good rate of exhange.

another option which i used on my recent trip to argentina. you can pay many things in dollars. i had no problem paying in dollars at restaurants, larger stores. you will get a little lower exchange rate in some cases. i was told not to exchange money at the hotels as they tend to offer a lower exchange rate, the casas de cambio were fine and offered a fair exchange rate. i wouldnt bother with travellers checks at all