Hi ,
Have heard Peru is not the best place to be using ATMs. We are staying in the Novotel in Cusco pre and post Sacred Valley and MP and were wondering if they had an ATM within the Hotel. Would be interested in your experiences with getting $ in Peru and any tips.
Many thanks.

I only use my www.capitalone.com no ATM foreign exchange fee

Visa CC in Cusco..at ATMs in Big Banks only use big banks

plenty in your area avoid small ATMs

and debit cards due to "skimmers" on the smaller machines

Avoid street change lots of petty theft counterfiet risk...

www.insuremytrip.com always wise

usually pay everything I can with CC ATM soles

for the smaller stuff carry back up new not torn small

USD in my money belt...works great,have fun,

YOu can find ATM machines inside the banks or bank lobbies, you may need to swipe your card to enter a secure lobby after business hours.

If you are going to Ollantaytambo there is one inside the Hotel Sauce lobby.

You can also find the Global NeT ATMs at the airports.

I used a Fidelity mysmartcash Visa debit card...no fees at all, you get the interbank exchange rate and they even refund any charges from the bank who operates the ATM. There was never any problem finding or using an ATM; I used them in Lima (including immediately after arriving, in the baggage claim area of the airport), Cusco, Urubamba (Sacred Valley) and in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu).

Many thanks qwovadis,migb & dtwkc think we will plan for using the ATM's in the banks where possible.

Good advice above re using ATMs INSIDE banks. There are often pickpockets working the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets with the sole intention of relieving unwary travellers of their cash. Make sure you stash the cash away beore exiting the bank.

Thanks Crellston certainly will share cash between us to protect us a little more. I guess it is best to pay Restaurants with cash, so will need to research the cost of meals to ensure we have enough cash.

The fancy tourist restaurants around the Plaza de Armas will be happy to take your credit card. If you go to the smaller places a 50 sole note will pay for two of you. It is more of a problem if you are traveling alone.

I was in Cuzco in July and had no trouble using ATMs (my ATM card is a MC). I mostly used one of the ATMs on the corner of Plaza de Armas; if you're standing in front of the Cathedral, the place I am talking about is all the way across the plaza on the righthand corner. I liked the secure feeling of being in the lobby; in the evening, swiping your ATM card will allow you to enter.

You have good tips here re: needing to have small bills and change. I usually carried my passport, a credit or ATM card, and some cash in a small neckpouch that is hidden under my shirt. I always had some small bills and change handy in my shoulder bag and front pocket that I used for small purchases, street or market vendors, etc.

I went inside banks a couple of times just to get some smaller bills; absolutely no problem doing that. Change is an issue!

There are all of the major international banks just a bolck off the main square (plaza de armas) they have 24 atm booths if the actual bank is closed with guards and they are tons of tourist police around. look up on the internet which bank cooperates with your own bank ofr no fee: like scotia bank is partner with bank of america, so no transaction fee. stock up on cash because in the scared valley or aqua caliente, there are few palces and the ones you do find will pound you with fess. dont use the hotel atm's; they are a total rip off and a security concern. a capital one visa credit card is the one that will avoid all foreign currency exchange fees. We just did the same trip in May; everything is fine down there; it is quite safe and pleasant. enjoy, dont be paranoid.

I agree, take reasonable precautions that you should take anywhere in the world, but there's no reason to be paranoid. There is definitely a strong security presence in Lima and Cusco.

I used a Capital One Visa credit card at restaurants and for hotels, but for all other purchases, including tickets to Machu Picchu and all of the sites in Cusco, taxis, etc we had to pay cash. I actually got a slightly better exchange rate on my cash withdrawals with the Fidelity debit card than I did with the Capital One card, but it was between 2.792 and 2.802 throughout the week (this was Aug 28-Sept 4).

The only ATMs that ever charged a fee were the yellow Global Net ATMs (which charged 7.50 soles, so about $2.70, and with the reimbursement it was a non-issue anyway). The BCP and other bank ATMS did not charge a fee at all, even in Aguas Calientes, so don't worry about getting all of the cash at once; you will have plenty of ways to get more as needed.

Thanks Annabelle2, telecole & dtwkc for the tips. We have travelled quite a bit so are used to being a little careful. Will look up banks before we leave. Our tickets to Machu Picchu already paid for so one less thing to have cash for. Looking forward to our trip we leave in 6 weeks.

your hotel is close to the main square of Cusco you will find many ATMs machines aroud there, if you want to feel safe go to SOl Av, there many banks with ATMs machines just at the gate of them.