Today's leading local newspaper features a letter to the editor written by a visitor who was ripped off by our "old friends" from Global Exchange. As this thread's title indicates, this is a quite conveniently located currency exchange booth you will find in most or all of our airports.

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1108931

Their business is fleecing the unsuspecting foreign tourist. We have warned against using their services any number of times. However, their business plan relies on the fact that the supply of fools is unlimited. At the airport, I have personally warned people against using them and they went ahead and changed there anyway. Well, there is only so much you can do. Deep sigh.....

The lady who writes the letter to the editor says tourists who are ripped off will think twice before returning to our country and she is right. But her math is flawed, which doesn't help to understand her letter.

What I simply cannot believe is that someone can travel to a country without first finding out what the local exchange rate is versus their currency. If the letter writer had read this or other Argentina forums, she would have been forewarned.

Wherever there are tourists, you will find tourist traps. But what is quite remarkable about this one is that these thieves catch you as soon as you step off the plane and are waiting for your luggage, with nothing better to do than to step in their trap.

I believe there even is some kind of warning about this posted somewhere near their booth. I'm going out of my country over the next weekend and, when I return, I'll check to see if it's still there and exactly what it says and I'll report here, OF COURSE.

You'll have a great time in our country, but be sure to read this forum first. Buenas tardes.

Thank you avrooster for the repeated warning. I don't think EZE has a lock on exhorbitant exchange rates. Seems to be the norm, at least in my experience. The general good advice for going into any country, including the US BTW, is to have a supply of local currency on hand when you land, then only get cash at banks or ATMs.
The only airport with a user friendly exchange rate that I have found is on the island of Tahiti, Faa, where the local bank opens a branch when the international flights come in. So you deal with a bank, not a money-changer.

Hi, BillJ!

I most amicably have to disagree with you on this. We usually recommend that tourists change their foreign currency at the Ezeiza branch of the Banco de la Nación, which usually offers quite good rates. I do NOT recommend buying Argentine pesos outside our country, as the rate most likely will be VERY bad.

avrooster- We hope you have a good trip next weekend! John & Robin

Thank you, crzn1, it's nothing too exciting, just a short trip to Bolivia to visit a relative.

avrooster:

Safe travels to you. I agree with you about not getting pesos until arriving in EZE and using ONLY Banco de la Nation in the airport which provides not only a good exchange rate, but an easy and safe way to exchange before finding safe transportation to town (Remis or EZE Taxi is best). In town, the banks and ATM machines are available. Wish I were coming instead of just having left...

~MarnieWDC

Just tell DH you miss BA and come back, but PRONTO, Marnie!

Av,

You certainly are one stubborn rooster.

You win your bet and then some....

Hi, Rastaguy!

If you wanna go with me to a potentially interesting semi-political rally in the Plaza de Mayo tomorrow, just holler, or preferably e-mail me!

avrooster, I thought your original comments referred to those currency exchange booths that are in every international airport I've been in. I noticed one at EZE. The one at LAX is notorious. They are also along the street usually in the higher touristy areas.
I did not realize there was a bank branch also at EZE. Of course I agree with you that would be better.
But I will restate my opinion that having a little local currency available when you hit the ground is advantageous. And, not to start an argument, but I got very favorable exchange rates on Argentine Pesos from Bank of America and Chilean Pesos from CitiBank shortly before I left. The rate was every bit as good as on the ground rates I saw posted at banks around Buenos Aires a few days later.
It is also readily apparent that most shops are very willing to take US dollars. While we were there, there was a consistent 3.5 conversion rate in several stores. Near the end of our trip, that went to 3.6.
Thanks again for your continued advice.

By the time we traveled to Argentina, we had read so many warnings about Global Exchange that we were talking to other travelers about it. No one who got off our plane from NYC even stopped at the Global Exchange (which led to a rather long line outside of EZE bank branch, unfortunately).

Anyway, I'd like to say thanks to avrooster and everyone else on this forum; I lurked on this forum for several months before our trip, and thanks to warnings like this, my wife and I had a great time in Argentina!

Gracias, ctong27, in the name of our top poster drdawggy and lesser others!

Just kidding! LOL!!!

Should we expect a trip report from you, ctong27?

Don't expect a trip report from me - but my wife is planning on putting one together for her blog, and I plan on stealing it and posting it here!

Great, as long as you give her proper credit! LOL!!!

The firm which runs our airports (Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 SA) has written a letter to the editor of our leading newspaper about this matter.

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1109908

They make three points: 1) That there are two other places in the airport where you can change your currency. 2) That you should know the rate of exchange of the country you are going to. 3) That there are signs and screens, both in the baggage area and in other areas, indicating the correct rate of exchange.

About (1), my reply is: what about the smaller airports where Global Exchange is the only option available?

About (2), my reply is: I agree, as I said in my OP.

About (3), my reply is: I'll check out how clear this is, as also promised in my OP.

Av,

Sorry, I didn´t get a chance to check fodors.

I was down at Plaza Mayo on the 18th and saw some things going on. Mostly policia and barricaded.

I swam up Calle Florida. Interesting.

Great, Rastaguy, you swam with the dolphins or what? LOL!!!

Still wondering about your "You win your bet and then some...."

I'll be in Bolivia from Saturday until Tuesday.

I'm pretty sure you are having a great time. When should we expect the first chapter of your trip report?

Global Exchange also operates currency-exchange windows at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. One is in baggage claim. Another is in the area of the departure gates. Their rates are terrible, and yet I see people lined up there all the time.

Well, like I said in the above OP, "the supply of fools is unlimited." LOL!!!

are the banks open 24 hours at the airport?