Buy argentine pesos at SCL?
Jul 18, 2015, 7:14 am
#1
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Buy argentine pesos at SCL?
I'll be flying to Buenos Aires on the Air Canada flight from YYZ that stops at SCL. I'll need enough cash when I get to EZE for the bus or taxi into town, and the exchange rates at EZE range from awful to absurd.
Do the exchange booths at SCL offer a good rate on USD->ARS? I'd think they'd want to get rid of their ARS.
Do the exchange booths at SCL offer a good rate on USD->ARS? I'd think they'd want to get rid of their ARS.
Jul 18, 2015, 9:03 am
#2
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Your best bet still may be to get some upon arrival @ EZE if you have a no-fee ATM, or a no forex fee credit card to charge the taxi fare. And who knows, you might find someone on your flight who wants to sell pesos at a rate better (for him) than the blue rate, but better for you than the official rate.
I would not expect anything other than "official" plus commission @ SCL.
I would not expect anything other than "official" plus commission @ SCL.
Jul 18, 2015, 12:43 pm
#3
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I'll be flying to Buenos Aires on the Air Canada flight from YYZ that stops at SCL. I'll need enough cash when I get to EZE for the bus or taxi into town, and the exchange rates at EZE range from awful to absurd.
Do the exchange booths at SCL offer a good rate on USD->ARS? I'd think they'd want to get rid of their ARS.
Do the exchange booths at SCL offer a good rate on USD->ARS? I'd think they'd want to get rid of their ARS.
Jul 18, 2015, 1:14 pm
#4
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On my last day in Santiago, I decided to exchange my last Chilean Pesos for Argentinian Pesos at AFEX Catedral. The buy rate was 54. The quoted sell rate for dollars was 615.
So, that makes for a "blue rate" of 615/54=11.39. Not bad considering the blue rate in BA is about 12.40 at this time.
At the airport, the buy rate was 59 + $1.50 comission.
So, that makes for a "blue rate" of 615/54=11.39. Not bad considering the blue rate in BA is about 12.40 at this time.
At the airport, the buy rate was 59 + $1.50 comission.
The offical rate back in April was about 8. The airport rate was 615/59= 10.42.
Jul 21, 2015, 8:40 pm
#7
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Xoom is also an option, not as good as the Blue rate but still far better than the Official rate. Only hassle is that you have to pick up your cash from one of their locations.
Jul 21, 2015, 9:45 pm
#8
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just for the trip into town
Once I get to B.A. I'll be staying at a hotel downtown and changing cash via "cambio cambio" is no problem. It's just the money for the trip into town.
Jul 22, 2015, 8:03 am
#9
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I really wouldn't waste time thinking too much about this. Even if you have to pay the official rate for your taxi ride into town you're not exactly going to get ripped off. If you do arrive peso less try asking at one of the taxi booths if you can pay with dollars at a more favourable rate.
Oct 28, 2015, 9:08 pm
#10
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Nov 3, 2015, 12:02 pm
#11
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https://www.afex.cl/prontus/CambiosM...spx?leng=en-US
Nov 3, 2015, 12:22 pm
#12
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Correct. One month ago I exchanged in Temuco CL. I used AFEX, which I think is the same company in SCL airport. I chatted with them a few days before, to be sure they would have enough ARS, then had Xoom (RIA was also an option) transfer USD to CLP for u$d10 fee. When I picked up, I exchanged for pesos Argentina as I had arranged. 5 minute on-site transaction. Overall it was closer to the blue. 1 U$D = 15AR$. More than u$1000 so enough cash for my trip, without killing time to exchange or Xoom pickup once in Argentina.
https://www.afex.cl/prontus/CambiosM...spx?leng=en-US
https://www.afex.cl/prontus/CambiosM...spx?leng=en-US
Nov 4, 2015, 8:37 am
#13
Join Date: May 2004
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Anyone who does get out of a taxi/car under a circumstance like this should take down the licence number of the car and, ideally, snap a photo of the sign they're supposed to display over the back of the seats that has the driver's licence number, etc.
Nov 4, 2015, 12:16 pm
#14
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I would only suggest this if you are dealing with a known/trusted driver. Remember that the taxi will be containing everything you flew into Ezeiza with, and it's not unknown for a dodgy taxi driver to just disappear with all your stuff if you give him the opportunity.
Anyone who does get out of a taxi/car under a circumstance like this should take down the licence number of the car and, ideally, snap a photo of the sign they're supposed to display over the back of the seats that has the driver's licence number, etc.
Anyone who does get out of a taxi/car under a circumstance like this should take down the licence number of the car and, ideally, snap a photo of the sign they're supposed to display over the back of the seats that has the driver's licence number, etc.
Unless I was using one of my couple of regular drivers, I would never ever do this. In the unlikely event I didn't have a choice, my "necessary" bag would come out with me, but I wouldn't want to be wandering Florida with a roller bag containing passport, keys, money, etc.
Better option is to see if the taxista might change you some $. It might not be at the best evar rate, but it should be at an "it will do" rate until further opportunity.