Luxury Hotel in Buenos Aires-Worth It?
Feb 18, 2022, 7:34 am
#106
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,295
PH! with a Virtuoso or Prive rate.
The trick is... the real cost to you would be 50% of the rate you see online.
Per law the hotel has to charge you in Argentinian Pesos. The "oficial" rate is ~112 ARS per USD. If you pay in USD cash or with US credit card that is the rate for the exchange. But there is a parallel "illegal" market which reflects the actual value of ARS, it's called "dolar blue", you can go to Florida street or many other places and get up to 220 ARS per USD. The current exchange rates can be found at dolarhoy .com
This applies to everything in argentina, never give dollars at a rate less than 200 ARS per USD.
As a plus, visitors do not pay IVA (Tax) on hotels stays, so you are are saving 21% extra.
The trick is... the real cost to you would be 50% of the rate you see online.
Per law the hotel has to charge you in Argentinian Pesos. The "oficial" rate is ~112 ARS per USD. If you pay in USD cash or with US credit card that is the rate for the exchange. But there is a parallel "illegal" market which reflects the actual value of ARS, it's called "dolar blue", you can go to Florida street or many other places and get up to 220 ARS per USD. The current exchange rates can be found at dolarhoy .com
This applies to everything in argentina, never give dollars at a rate less than 200 ARS per USD.
As a plus, visitors do not pay IVA (Tax) on hotels stays, so you are are saving 21% extra.
For the IVA Tax - Do you pay this at the hotel and get it refunded on emigration, or is it waived at the hotel's point of payment? Hyatt.com doesn't break out taxes, it only shows a total USD price.
Thanks again, super helpful insight.
--
Edit to Add: re IVA tax - i was searching around looking for a tax breakout and booking.com says:
"21% VAT is applicable. Foreigners who pay with a foreign credit or debit card or by bank transfer must present a foreign ID and/or supporting documents from the national migration authority in order to be exempt."
Now, I know this is unlikely to be reliable, my question is do you still get the 21% exemption if paying in ARS cash...?
Last edited by Surgee; Feb 18, 2022 at 7:47 am
Feb 18, 2022, 7:40 pm
#107
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Argentina
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Accor Plus Silver
Posts: 182
The rate PH BA shows is without taxes.
Feb 20, 2022, 9:17 am
#108
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 1
I don't like the location of the luxury hotels. The Recoleta area is a total bore (which is a big thing to say re BA). Palermo Soho is fabulous - I could have stayed there for weeks and weeks. There are some cute boutique hotels that look fine. We stayed at a members club.
I spose depends a bit what your after? I tend to stop off in BA on the way down to Patagonia for don't mind a bit of bustle.