Credit card use

[wailea4me]

We are on an Oceania cruise in March from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. This is our first time in South America. Is it safe to use our credit cards in restaurants and stores?

[VidaNaPraia]

In Rio restaurants, the ***** usually brings the machine to your table. Do not let your card out of your sight. You can follow the staff person in a shop or restaurant if the machine can't come to you. Most shops and food establishments take Visa and MasterCard, even for small purchases. Let your CC company know you will be in Brazil. I must add that I travel regularly and have never had a problem. Do be careful with ATMs at GIG airport though, which regularly seem to have cloning problems.

[Keith1010]

It is safe in major places. With that said not only let your credit card company know your travel dates but also check your card on line while traveling for usage.

 

Keith

[pmacher61]

Agree with all mentioned above especially not letting card out of sight in Brasil. In Argentina spenders would gain a significant advantage using US cash in lieu of their credit card. There is a well established black market for the US dollar. The official rate of exchange (which you will get by paying with a credit card or obtaining local pesos from an ATM) is about 5 pesos to 1 dollar. The ubiqitous black market rate is 7.85. See http://ambito.com/economia/mercados/monedas/dolar/

 

Most merchants selling large ticket items including some fancy restaurants will give a rate of exhange for US cash at close to the black (aka blue or unofficial) rate. The difference is approximately 50% and expected to increase as the ecomomic conditions in Argentina deteriorate (annual rate of inflation has averaged about 30% over the past few years).

 

Money changers (aka "cuevas"), though illegal, are ubiquitous in Bs As. Many travel agencies and jewelry stores openly make change at the blue rate to all who enter. Avoid the hawkers on Florida St. who might traffic in counterfeit bills. Ask you hotel bartender, busboy, or a friendly trusted local where one might change. It is done universally without danger.