The Banco Nacion should be open then... if not, there are ATMs at EZE.

Ok, thanks!

Has anyone stayed at the Ceasar Park (using Amex Plat FHR privileges)?

The Reindeer is coming to Buenos Aires in October!

What is the postage rate for sending post cards to the U.S.?

This is a beautiful thread!

Wow, what a fantastic thread! GU Wonder, Gaucho 100k and other what great insight. I have been researching Buenos Aires for a few weeks and am looking at an October long weekend type visit. Thanks for all of the information. I am quite excited. ^

Exchanging dollars to pounds in Argentina
 

I am in Argentina and going to the UK next week. Is it better to exchange dollars for pounds at one of the exchange houses or wait until I get to LHR? Is it even possible? (I don't use my ATM card, ever)

Welcome to FT travelgirl5534

I would recommend using an ATM. Its generally the cheapest way to get
foreign currency without a lot of transaction fees. Rates are also
bit better compared to many currency exchange places.

From your post, I conclude that you currently hold USD cash and wish to get cash in Pound Sterling.

If this is the case, do not exchange this in Buenos Aires, as you will get arbitraged twice. Local money changers only do USDs to Pesos directly (a few are now doing Euros to Pesos also), but any other currency gets traded via Pesos first. This means that to get Pounds in Buenos Aires, you will first get transacted from Dollars to Pesos, and then from Pesos to Pounds... in the end, it will kill you. I suggest taking your USD bills to London and then seeking a good exchange bureau, which may mean waiting until you are in town. My guess is that your best bet is to use your ATM card at LHR and then swap your USD bills in the city to get the rest of the Sterling you will need.

Good call! Thanks! I would have exchanged it here and traded 2 times. :)

Been there, done that. Don't feel bad, and welcome to FlyerTalk!

Hi guys --

Can anyone give me an update about the domestic Argentine airline situation, especially as it pertains to foreigners buying tickets. I have an AA award ticket that is "supposed" to include a connecting LAN Argentina flight, but LAN doesn't seem to want to make any award tickets available. So I may need to buy a domestic ticket. The domestic prices on Aerolineas' and Lan's US-focused websites seem high (especially compared to what I paid a couple years ago). Is there any way for a "gringo" to save money buying domestic tickets through a BA-based travel agent?

Thanks.

travelgirl5534, Gaucho 100K is spot on here.

If you are dead against using your ATM card, then exchange at LHR what you need for your immediate spending.

Then when in London (or any of the other big cities/towns), look out for a Marks & Spencer store that has a exchange bureaux. There is a list here. If you are in London, use the search box entering "London" as the stores are listed under their areas like "Covent Garden". Clicking on the "L" link doesn't pull up the London stores.

M&S normally have the best exchange rates, that's in my experience and also that of surveys. But do check a couple of local banks as well just in case, do not use any of the "exchange windows" that are around in the tourist areas, use a bank, main travel agency (Thomas Cook, etc.), not an on street window. The street exchange windows offer appalling rates and there are regularly reports of them being less than honest, using tricks to short change you.

M&S do not list their $/£ rates on their site (they do list £/$), I will be in one of the stores later today and I will check and edit this post.

For info Travelex, run a lot of the airport exchange bureaux, here is a link to their rates.

Update on UK exchange rates: 21/08/2007 11:30

Marks & Spencer $2.06 = £1.00
NatWest (Big UK bank) $2.144 = £1.00
Travelex $2.1543 = £1.00
High Street Money Changer $2.165 = £1.00

These rates were taken from the M&S Bureaux in Watford, just north of London. The High Street changer was in the same town and was a general money change, Western Union, DHL type store. NatWest and Travelex rates online, rates at the airport may be different.

Assuming no other charges $1000 will get you £485.43 in M&S, £461.89 in the High Street Changer. The UK is expensive enough for $ visitors, so do make sure you get the best rate for your $.

I hope this is useful to any Argentine visitor to the UK. Gaucho100K helped me the same when we visited BA and Bariloche this year, so it's pay back time..!!

Thank you so much for your help! The list of locations will be a life saver, or should I say a huge money saver :D Especially considering there seems to be quite a bit of a difference between the 2 given $1000 USD is exchanged and the difference is 23.54 pounds that's a huge difference. Hopefully someday I will get the chance to help someone like the way you have helped me. I really appreciate it ^

Shouldn't questions regarding changing money in London be on the London forum, rather than the Buenos Aires forum? :confused:

Prices have changed since you last bought your domestic tickets, with increases that have been up to 40% for some routes. In addition, please note that airlines have restricted fares that are available for residents of Argentina, so non resident tourists do not apply.

The possibility of purchasing resident only fares has been discussed at lenght on various threads, you have to decide if you want to roll the dice. Let me dig up a couple of the threads that deal with the details of what the options and rules are on this and get back to you.