malagajohn

Remember that US autumn is spring time here...

detony

WESTERN UNION v XOOM. Headed to BA in 2 weeks. We extended our stay in Rio and flying from GIG to EZE so I am not coming directly from USA and brining lots of USD$ so I need another way to get a decent exchange to pesos. Reading here and elsewhere WU and xoom are two options to send myself money. Does anyone have recent experience with these options...ease of use, fees, exchange rate, convenient locations to pick up the pesos, etc. Thank you.

malagajohn

Western Union probably pays higher rates than Zoom. But you have to check what fees you pay on each transfer.

Fees differ depending on which country you send the cash from and the method you send it. There are also codes to get reduced fees if you search for them via Google.

I use WU from the UK .

Look at Remitly and Azimo as well.

fliesdelta

What's the credit card situation as far as paying for taxis goes?

malagajohn

Most of the cabs have a credit card facility, but you may have to download the app

Here is a link to the Premium Taxi , which explains things

https://taxipremium.zendesk.com/hc/e...s-con-Tarjeta-

malagajohn

Paying anything by international c/c is not very efficient.

The official dollar is just over 100 and the grey market dollar is just over 200.

Paying in pesos is a big saving.

Eastbay1K

If anyone is considering a trip soon and airfare is decent, I'd suggest making the trip sooner rather than later. At $200 to US$1, it is currently unsustainably inexpensive. A trip to/from EZE is about (all prices in USD unless otherwise stated) is under $20. A Subte ride is an expensive 15˘ when compared to a bus ride halfway across town for 10˘. I was drinking some very nice wine by the glass at a very nice place for lunch today that was about $2.50 a glass. Sorry, no dead cow house pricing yet - it has all been home cooking or take out so far ... speaking of which, the nice salads I brought home this evening were about $3 each. Some of the chain take away empanada and medialuna spots have the empanadas for about 30˘ and the medialunas for 15˘. The place where I got the salads (and they make decent empanadas - but I'm eating homemade ones right now) were an outrageous 80-something cents a piece!

Note that if you're restaurant shopping, you may find either inaccurate or more likely, no pricing on menus, unless it is someplace offering current online ordering.

Eastbay1K

It is blue, not gray, my dear

Eastbay1K

I was just scrolling up in this thread and wonder if you'd like to update this post.

malagajohn

I will continue to call it grey market when I communicate in English so that my readers can understand me...If I say Blue Market , not everyone understands.

When I speak in Spanish, I will say "dolar azul " as most are aware of the local market situation.

malagajohn

Just prior to the last elections, the government was putting pressure on the building contractors to finish the new terminal so that Macri and his entourage could open the new terminal prior to the elections - the plan was for an August September media jamboree.

However, the plans were canceled following an industrial accident.

https://www.pagina12.com.ar/220503-a...idos-en-ezeiza

A presidential visit was made prior to leaving office in December 2019

https://www.casarosada.gob.ar/inform...onal-de-ezeiza

https://eleconomista.com.ar/politica...-ezeiza-n30129

No one is really sure what the plans are - the terminal is completed but currently unused.

Flying Machine

Thanks for the detailed update malagajohn ! I remember that unfortunate accident, however I haven’t been in Argentina due to the pandemic since March 2020, So I was unaware that the terminal has not opened. It looked like they were building some nice infrastructure there, hopefully airlines and passengers will be able to use it soon…

stan1162

Not sure where you are, we too, are in BA currently. Moving to another apartment at the end of the month, for another 2 months. This is our 1st stop since going full nomad, and am wondering how much cheaper Southeast Asia/Thailand really is? Full body massage here. $9.00. Golf greens fees yesterday $6.00

Eastbay1K

That is interesting, because in the USA most would call it the Black Market.

Eastbay1K

I did not know quite what to expect when I arrived here on Friday re: the arrivals situation. One still exits the building at the same old door. Fortunately, the messy roadway construction appears to be complete. This is my first visit since January 2020.