Money — Credit cards, ATM’s and Finding Change
• While in Argentina be sure to hoard (yes! hoard!) your small bills and change. There is a huge problem with the flow of currency in Argentina. It’s not uncommon for subway workers to let passengers ride free because they don’t have the change to sell tickets or for the grocer to hand over a piece of hard candy in lieu of your small change.
•If you try to pay a cab driver with a 100 or even a 50 peso note he will very likely laugh at your naiveté — if he doesn’t outright insult you (or even try to scam you). Check out this 2008 article in Slate magazine on the world’s most ridiculous economic problem. The best remedy we’ve found to find small change is to buy groceries in the Chinese Supermarket (or “chinos’ as they’re called) — for some probably nefarious reason, they can almost always change a hundred peso note. Another habit to get into is to withdraw odd amounts from the ATM, like AR$190 instead of AR$200. That way you are sure to be given some smaller notes.
• If you get out of the tourist zone you will find many restaurants and stores will not accept credit cards, and if they do they may only accept one type of credit card. Many businesses also give you a better rate if you pay en efectivo (cash) because of credit card transaction fees. For convenience and safety’s sake it’s best just to carry enough cash to cover your day’s expenses.
•Thankfully, ATM’s are abundant in most major cities and accept all types of debit and credit cards – the downside is a relatively new AR$15.65 fee on every transaction. If you plan on relying on a bank card during your stay in Argentina you may want to consider finding a bank that reimburses transaction fees. To be on the safe side carry two bank cards, kept in different places, during your stay.
• Traveler’s checks — such a great idea, but they are, at best a total headache and at worse virtually useless in most of Argentina, unless you enjoy spending your time standing in line at the bank. Personal checks are virtually unheard of in Argentina, it’s even illegal to send them through the mail. Leave your checkbook at home, it will do you no good.
