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Where/how to get dolar blue exchange rate?

Where/how to get dolar blue exchange rate?

Old Mar 18, 2014, 10:59 am
  #106  
 
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Just wanted to flag up an article on headforpoints.com http://www.headforpoints.com/2014/03...rs-with-azimo/

there some interesting reading on sending money, Azimo it would seem give you 16 pesos to the £1 GBP, compared to the official rate of 13 to the £1.

Anyhow just thought I'd float this in here as some additional info. Might be useful for European travellers like myself.
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Old Mar 18, 2014, 11:17 am
  #107  
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Originally Posted by Flying Machine
I was in Santiago, Chile last week and wish there was a Dolar Azul Market there.. Safe Travels..
Be careful what you wish for..... remember that such a situation would mean that the Chilean Economy would be in serious trouble, as is the case with the Argentine Economy. While its perfectly fine to want to get a better deal on things, its usually not a nice/good thing to wish bad things on others.... Im sure that wasn't the point you were trying to make with your above post.

Safe Travels....
Gaucho100K
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Old Mar 18, 2014, 11:18 am
  #108  
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Originally Posted by moronic50
Just wanted to flag up an article on headforpoints.com http://www.headforpoints.com/2014/03...rs-with-azimo/

there some interesting reading on sending money, Azimo it would seem give you 16 pesos to the £1 GBP, compared to the official rate of 13 to the £1.

Anyhow just thought I'd float this in here as some additional info. Might be useful for European travellers like myself.
Azimo seems to be the Xoom equivalent for UK based folks.... ^
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Old Mar 18, 2014, 12:50 pm
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Stand Corrected

Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
Be careful what you wish for..... remember that such a situation would mean that the Chilean Economy would be in serious trouble, as is the case with the Argentine Economy. While its perfectly fine to want to get a better deal on things, its usually not a nice/good thing to wish bad things on others.... Im sure that wasn't the point you were trying to make with your above post.

Safe Travels....
Gaucho100K
Yes Gaucho100K. Not my intent at all to wish harm unto others. I hear your point and will correct my OP..

Safe Travels
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Old Jun 12, 2014, 12:07 pm
  #110  
 
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I'm leaving for MDZ in a few days. Does anyone know a good place for Blue rate exchange in MDZ? Also, what is the latest Blue rate from USD? Many thanks.
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Old Jun 12, 2014, 1:51 pm
  #111  
 
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Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
Be careful what you wish for..... remember that such a situation would mean that the Chilean Economy would be in serious trouble, as is the case with the Argentine Economy. While its perfectly fine to want to get a better deal on things, its usually not a nice/good thing to wish bad things on others.... Im sure that wasn't the point you were trying to make with your above post.

Safe Travels....
Gaucho100K
Thanks for the insight. Yes, did not mean it the way you had described in your post. Just a traveler seeking a deal. Never thought about the impact as you stated.. Thanks and Safe Travels to you as well..
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Old Jun 13, 2014, 4:00 pm
  #112  
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Originally Posted by imm2b
I'm leaving for MDZ in a few days. Does anyone know a good place for Blue rate exchange in MDZ? Also, what is the latest Blue rate from USD? Many thanks.

There is a money changer that does blue rate in the mall called Galleria Tonsai, at 1173 Gen. San Martin. This is about 2 blocks walk from the Sheraton. They are on the Venus level (as I recall, one floor DOWN from street level) of this mall, and they also process Western Union and Xoom currency pickups. In fact, I believe that they are the only Xoom pickup location in Mendoza. I should also add, that this place is open on Saturday mornings until 1:00 PM as well as the typical M-F hours.

When I was last there, Blue rate was just above 6, and the official rate was about 4.25. Nowadays, The official rate is about 8.1 and the Blue rate is between 11 and 11.5 depending upon how competitive the area is and how much money you're changing. You'll be lucky to get anything above 11 in Mendoza, if the Buenos Aires Florida Street changers are giving 11.3 to 11.5

If you want to send yourself money from your U.S. bank account to pick up in Mendoza, I just checked and Xoom is giving 10.325, which is less competitive than it used to be. When I last flew into Mendoza a couple of years ago, Xoom was giving 5.9 when the blue rate on Florida Street in Buenos Aires was between 6.1 and 6.25
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Old Jun 17, 2014, 7:54 am
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lhgreengrd1 - Thanks for the info. We were able to exchange yesterday at 11 to 1 rate.
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Old Jun 18, 2014, 9:11 am
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There is a promotion on Xoom.com, send your "first" money transfer of $150 or more to Argentina or Colombia, and get a $90 eGift card which you can use on Adidas.com, keep in mind that you can't not use any coupon with this promotion.

https://www.xoom.com/futbol

I did it on Monday and I got the eGift card within minutes
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Old Jun 20, 2014, 3:48 pm
  #115  
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So are people taking a lot of USD to exchange with what, private parties who really want dollars and are willing to pay more than the official exchange rate?

As Argentina's fiscal situation deteriorates, could security for tourists, whether they're carrying a lot of cash to exchange or not, become a problem?

Seeing fares during Thanksgiving week drop in the last couple of days, wondering if it's tied to the uncertainty over the country's fiscal situation.
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Old Jun 22, 2014, 9:25 am
  #116  
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Originally Posted by wco81
So are people taking a lot of USD to exchange with what, private parties who really want dollars and are willing to pay more than the official exchange rate?

As Argentina's fiscal situation deteriorates, could security for tourists, whether they're carrying a lot of cash to exchange or not, become a problem?

Seeing fares during Thanksgiving week drop in the last couple of days, wondering if it's tied to the uncertainty over the country's fiscal situation.
Visitors that want to take advantage of the dual exchange markets do indeed bring down cash, or else use a solution like (or similar to) Xoom. You can trade on the street, or with someone that wants dollars... there is no one way to do this, there are various options and all have their pros and cons. Please read through this and the other threads on this forum to be able to make an informed decision.

Security has not gotten any worse over the past 12 months. Buenos Aires is not as safe as it once was, but its still nothing to be overly concerned about if you take basic precautions and use common sense. If you bring cash down, you don't have to walk around with it all the time, you keep some in the safe at your hotel and carry around only what you need. Again, basic common sense applies.

The term "fiscal situation" is quite a broad concept, and I don't want to turn this into a technical economics thread. As you surely know, airfares are pretty much demand and supply, I don't think they are seriously linked to Argentina's "fiscal situation". If you find good fares, I suggest you jump on them, plan your trip by reading a lot and asking all your questions.... and come down and enjoy yourself..... there isn't much you and I can do about the fiscal situation of any country, don't let that get in between you and a nice vacation.

Please feel free to come back and ask more questions, or start a new thread with what you need to know more about.... Im sure the other regular forum posters will be happy to join me in helping you plan your trip down to EZE.

Cheers,
Alex / Gaucho100K
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Old Jun 22, 2014, 10:08 am
  #117  
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I visited in 2006 and would love to go again but with talk of default, you have to wonder if that leads to instability.

Went on a tour of San Telmo or La Boca during the day. Guide warned not to come at night. But even in broad daylight, there were soldiers or police with automatic rifles posted in various areas.

When 40% of the population in the metropolitan area is living in poverty, stresses like a default may lead to widespread strife.

That's mainly what I'm wondering about.
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Old Jun 22, 2014, 3:20 pm
  #118  
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Originally Posted by wco81
I visited in 2006 and would love to go again but with talk of default, you have to wonder if that leads to instability.

Went on a tour of San Telmo or La Boca during the day. Guide warned not to come at night. But even in broad daylight, there were soldiers or police with automatic rifles posted in various areas.

When 40% of the population in the metropolitan area is living in poverty, stresses like a default may lead to widespread strife.

That's mainly what I'm wondering about.
Only You know what is best for You but I would be careful to conclude that a debt default would mean issues for visitors. Even during the 2001/02 widespread riots, there were no specific tourist attacks.... Argentina is not Egypt where tourists are pawns in a political war.

Actually, financial instability opens the door for great opps to save on various things while You aré here, from Shopping to hotel bills, etc. etc.
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Old Jun 22, 2014, 3:50 pm
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Originally Posted by wco81
I visited in 2006 and would love to go again but with talk of default, you have to wonder if that leads to instability.

Went on a tour of San Telmo or La Boca during the day. Guide warned not to come at night. But even in broad daylight, there were soldiers or police with automatic rifles posted in various areas.

When 40% of the population in the metropolitan area is living in poverty, stresses like a default may lead to widespread strife.

That's mainly what I'm wondering about.
I just came back from Buenos Aires after an 18 days stay. I have to say I haven't felt unsafe at any time, I mainly was at the Palermo area, with some short visits to Puerto Madero and San Telmo; and also other areas, as far as La Plata, but mainly to visit family & friends so not really walking the streets over there.

My wife, on the other hand, spent a lot of time in Quilmes with her mom, (a city 20km south of Buenos Aires, in the GBA area), and she witnessed an incident involving fire shots, fortunately not affecting her or her mom. But I guess no tourist would go to Quilmes, there's nothing to see there.
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Old Jun 23, 2014, 12:54 pm
  #120  
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Originally Posted by wco81
Went on a tour of San Telmo or La Boca during the day. Guide warned not to come at night. But even in broad daylight, there were soldiers or police with automatic rifles posted in various areas.
San Telmo is fine, day or night, as long as you're north of the highway (although it is best to stick to the busier streets at night if walking alone). La Boca, I wouldn't wander off of Caminito or the couple of surrounding touristy streets, day or night, without local escort who knows where he's going.
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