Argentina - Cashing travelers checks overseas (Argentina)

I am kicking off a 9 month RTW trip in a couple of days. Towards the front end of the trip I will be living in Buenos Aires for 1 months while I take Spanish classes. The apartment I am renting has been arranged and I have to pay the rent (as well as a security deposit) at the time of check in. The rent and deposit can be paid in either US dollars or Argentine pesos.

My initial thought was to carry AMEX travelers checks (US dollar denominations) with me when I depart from South America. I'll be traveling in Paraguay for a couple weeks before I reach BsAs so I don't really want to be carrying $1500 in US currency. While the AMEX checks seem to be the safe option, I've got some questions that AMEX has failed miserably to answer over the phone:


What fees are associated with converting the checks back into cash in BsAs? I assume the official AMEX office is the best place to go.
Is there a daily limit for conversion?
Is it better to convert into Argentina pesos or US dollars?
Am I better off abandoning the traveler check idea and just using my ATM card (0% fee card from TD Bank)? I'd have to get the limit raised in order to draw sufficient funds on a single day.


Any advice on this matter would be appreciated! If there is a better forum on FT for this sort of inquiry then I'd be grateful if the mods could move the thread.

This is an ideal thread for the Travel->Argentina forum, and I'll move it there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

If you have a no fee card ATM, then that is your best option. Travelers checks are not great because you have implicit fees through poor exchange rates... its very common to see signs at exchange booths where they will pay AR$3.98 for USD cash but only AR$3.60 por travelers checks.

I suggest you carry you ATM card and have a cash reserve of approx. 500 US$.

I agree with Gaucho. I have brought AMEX travelers checks down to Bs. As. a couple of times and found it very frustrating. There are usually long lines at the AMEX office in Microcentro, and the exchange rates are terrible.

I've used Banco Piano's (http://www.bancopiano.com.ar/Servicios-cambiarios_4246SS1.aspx) foreign cheque cashing service once. Didn't get the best rate obviously, but it worked as a way to get lots of cash all at once. They came to my office with the cash, and I gave them my cheque. No holds, no waiting. Just a poor rate.

I've also been under the impression that if you have an American Express Platinum card (the charge card) you can get the same cheque cashing service from them.

But ultimately, I do what everyone else does and just hit the ATM.

Agree with above posters. In 2007, my one experience cashing a TC in BsAs, I was changed a $10 fee on a $100 check by the bank.