I have been following another thread concerning counterfeit currency in BA (I'd rather not enter that discussion) and am wondering if credit cards are widely accepted at most restaurants (such as El Establo) and other establishments? Seems this might eliminate some of the fake money problems with the exception of taxis and other minor purchases.

I'm an older guy (not quite as quick as I used to be) traveling alone to Buenos Aires for the first time and would really like to enjoy the city with a minimum of worry about being ripped off. How wide spread is the fake money scam anyway? Opinions seem to vary. Do you really need to carefully examine your change every time you make a cash transaction?

I'm not paranoid about this (been ripped by taxi drivers from Dubai to Bangkok) but it is nice to know what to expect.



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I just returned and had no problems using credit cards in any restaurant. One word of warning, though...My experience was that you could not add a tip to the bill after they ran the card, so plan accordingly.

I didn't have any issues getting fake bills (although maybe I did receive some and unknowingly passed them on to other vendors ). Just look at your change and don't feel rushed. As with anything else in life, a courteous manner is a better way to handle any disputes.

BsAs is a lot like a big European city, from my experiences. I found it to be very walking friendly, although cabs are cheap (unless you catch the cab at AEP).

My experience, anecdotal as it is, has been overall a good one, but I do try to take some basic precautions. I do not try to get change for a larger bill from potentially risky sources (taxi drivers, waiters street vendors), and when using a taxi I make sure it's a "Radio Taxi", which is easy as most of them are. I never use a gypsy taxi.
I did have one attempt to swindle me when my wife and daughters boarded a taxi at our hotel on our way to the London Grill (too bad, it was closed several years ago). The hotel porter gave the driver the address and the little chatting I did with my family during the ride was in English. Back then inflation was rampant and the taxis couldn't keep up with the frequent rate adjustments, so they used a chart to show what the rate was when the meter clocked a certain amount. Well, when we got to the restaurant the driver said that the fare is X which I knew was way off the mark. So that was when I spoke Spanish for the first time: "Mejor llevanos a Lavalle entre Reconquista y San Martin - Better take us to Lavalle, between Reconquista and San Martin" which was the address for the local police precinct (are they still there, I wonder). I still remember with satisfaction the guy's reaction.
Bottom line: be cautious as you should in any place you are not familiar with but there is no need to become paranoid.

I go to BA a couple of time every year and by following some precautions have never received any fake currency.

First: Try to get most of your money when you arrive at the airport. There is an official bank, that has a window, just before you exit the sterile area. You´ll get a great rate, and make sure to ask for lots of small bills. I change $400 usually, and get at least $150 in 5-10-20 peso notes. They may not be thrilled about it, but it will save you grief in the long run.

Second: Seperate your money into larger bills and smaller bills. I keep my large bills in my shirt pocket, and my smaller ones in my pants pocket. This also helped me when they tried to pickpocket me on the subway. I didn´t see them go into my pants pocket, but did when she had her hand in my shirt pocket.

Always try to give taxi drivers correct change. They will pull a switch on you, so it doesn´t hurt to say, 10 pesos as you´re handing them the bill. They will try a switch with a 2 peso bill and tell you that you´ve given them the wrong money, or that it´s a fake. One thing I also do, is look at the last three numbers of the bill I´m handing them, in case they try the fake scam.

Most medium to larger sized restaurants take credit cards, but don´t depend on it. I´ve seen a number that have had their machine broken for months. Some smaller places that I like, like El Yugo, only take cash.

I'd say that the credit card usage in restaurants depends on the type of restaurants you frequent. If you're talking higher end, and/or those catering to tourists, yes, you can use credit cards. But I'd venture to guess that some 90-95% of restaurants here do not accept them.

One note about the "radio taxi" thing - this comes up time and again. Hailing a radio taxi is no safer than hailing a non-radio taxi (I'm not talking about a "gypsy cab, i.e., one that isn't even licensed, just someone in a car offering you a ride - which if you accept, you're simply nuts...). The whole thing about radio taxis applies ONLY if you call the taxi company to request the cab - so that a dispatcher has your name, where you were picked up, where you were going, etc. It's a hold over from problems that really more occurred quite a few years ago, and isn't really an issue here anymore, but then, it never hurts to be extra safe. But again, simply hailing a cab that has a radio versus one that doesn't is a useless gesture.

I think that the % of cash only restaurants is 80% if you take the entire population of establishments in the city. However, if you take the sub-set of restaurants that are inside the usual circles for visitors, then my guess is that your chances of using a credit card are much much higher, I would venture say 35-40%.

Having said this, I think that the OP has nothing to worry about... even if he must use cash to pay for meals at places that may not have plastic.

Thanks for the clarification. I was beginning to suspect that was the case. Now if only the guidebooks and other folks would quit repeating this biz about the Radio taxis....

Good taxi stories: Someone in our party realized she left a camera in the taxi, and went to the hotel desk to ask them to call the taxi company when the driver came into the lobby and gave her the camera he's noticed in the back seat.

My husband's Blackberry somehow slipped out of it's case in a taxi and the driver noticed it just after we got out and called out to him.

No fake money that I know of.

We had a very pleasant visit to Argentina, and I thought the people were great.

I had no trouble whatsoever using plastic to pay for meals in BsAs, Puerto Iguazu, El Calafate or Ushuaia. The only issue I had was not being able to include the service on the cbill after they ran the card. In any case, places seem to sport the VISA/MC logo on the doors if they accept. My biggest handicap was my severely limited Espanol.

The other issue that comes up with credit card use, is that outside of restaurants, some merchants may expect the buyer to pay a surcharge if they want to use a credit card. Unlike the US, this is a legal and standard business practice in Argentina.

It is also not uncommon to see some restaurants and higher-end stores post the rate of exchange they will give if you can pay in US$. Often that will be very close to the interbank rate, and for a year or two after the peso devaluation, it was sometimes a better rate.

John

John is correct... the way the implicit credit card surcharge usually works is that the listed prices are for credit card payment, but you are given a discount if you pay cash. The exact way this works will depend on establishment to establishment.

Have been to Argentina twice last year and going again in October. These are my suggestions:

1. change US$ into AR pesos in the airport. Immediately after customs on your right is Banco de La Nacion. Has no commission and by far the best exchange rate. You can change back whatever is left prior to departure. There is an US$ 18 departure tax in the airport before you leave.

2. You can pay in credit card in a lot of places where most tourists hang out. I pay the tip in cash. Let your credit card company know you are traveling to Argentina. If you have internet access check your credit card charges often if you are worried about theft.

3. Pay for the big stuff with credit card - hotel, tours, big purchases. Pay for the rest in cash. Keep small bills and take your time. No rush. I have NEVER had anybody try to rip me off in Argentina.

4. I have always taken taxis in the street. I use radio-taxi for the airport because I want a larger car for my suitcases or I want them to come at a certain time. Gypsy cars are not the street taxis. Gypsy is an unlicensed taxi as we have here in the US. Never take any taxi that does not look like a taxi and you cannot see the license and a picture to match the driver. I always make a mental note of the taxi number/name of driver. I have NEVER been ripped off by a taxi in Argentina. They are great, smart, know their way around and can give you a lot of information about tourism, politics, food or anything else you want. You can also hire a taxi for aprox US$ 10-12 per hour and they will take you wherever you want to go. Think about that if you have several places you want to visit in one day and don't want the "stress" of changing cabs.

5. Buenos Aires is fun, well organized, amazing food, great people, the best gelatto west of Milano and a well-deserved title of "Paris of South America". The prices also happen to be very good for us tourists at this time but at any price, Buenos Aires is magnificient.

6. If you like a spa, try the Four Seasons spa. They have a great gym, sauna and steam and a great outdoor pool. All this and impecable service for about US$ 50 per day. Worth the expense if you need a few hours to work out and relax.

Enjoy your trip and please report back when you return. We love to hear stories.

Where do you pay that? Is there a separate booth somewhere like they have in Auckland?

Get your boarding pass, check bag if doing so, booth is on the far left of the AA check-in lines, right near First and Biz check-in. Cash, US or Pesos, also credit cards accepted.

Thanks.

There is also a depature tax booth on the second level right beside the entrance to the screening area.

Payments can also be made in euros. The US$ exchange rate determines the number of pesos or euros that you pay. The depature tax is fixed currently at US$18 for international travel.


John