OpenStreetMap
I am headed to Buenos Aires for SOTM 2014 tomorrow, and reading up on money and general travel tips. I found this page on bringing and exchanging money. Some of the tips in there:
- Bring cash, preferably in US$50 / US$100 bills
- Pay in US$ whenever you can.
- There is an unofficial ‘blue dollar’ rate that is much better than the official US$ / Peso rate.
I have never been to Argentina before, and I have no idea if these are good tips. Perhaps an Argentinean mapper can shed some light on this?
See you at SOTM!
讨论
zarl 于 2014年11月 5日 08:01 的评论
Maybe wikivoyage (see the “Buy” section) helps.
Pampero 于 2014年11月 5日 20:30 的评论
Hi mvexel, I’m Argentinian. You can change your money in the black/grey/unofficial/blue market, which pays approximately 13 to 14 pesos for each dollar. In comparison, the official exchange rate is 8.50 pesos for dollar. Yes, it’s not legal but more or less tolerated, be discrete. I’ve never heard of tourists been in trouble for being catched doing that; but I don’t work in tourism industry neither.
Bring cash, preferably in US$50 / US$100 bills -> yes, blue market will pay less or even refuse 20 dollar bills or smaller. Pay in U$S whenever you can -> I don’t know. Those places will set their own exchange rate, which will not be better than the blue market. But if you don’t want to deal with exchanging money in the blue market, it will be better than the official rate.
I will suggest that you change on a day-per-day basis (or every 2 days top), then if you miss-calculated it will not be a large quantity. Spare money for food (a sandwich: 20 to 40 pesos, eat in some place: 150 to 200 pesos, water bottle 1 liter: 15 pesos, small coffee in cafeteria: 25..35 pesos, 4 bananas: 15 pesos, local beer bottle in the mini-market: 25 pesos), move around (taxi: 60 pesos for 20 blocks travel), some recreation… If you can pay the hotel in local currency, big win!!!.
Also, there are 2 kinds of 100 pesos bills: Roca and Evita. Evita ones are not fake: http://www.ba-h.com.ar/buenos_aires/coins_and_bills_in_argentina.htm In fact, Evita bill is the safest one. The first time you exchange money, ask for some small bills (5, 10, 20, 50 pesos) because we locals always complain we don’t have small change.
Another thing: try to be careful with your personal belongings, NEVER leave it unattended, not even at the conference. If you are showing some expensive shiny rolex watch or your new Iphone then you could attract the attention of the wrong people (thiefs).
Don’t be afraid to ask people for directions (to go to some place, or where to eat, etc), generally we try to help as much as we can. Make a couple local friends in the conference and they will be delighted providing help. People are very friendly (of course, there are exceptions, but is a good general rule).
Sorry for the grammar, hope you enjoy your stay ;)