Money exchange

[woodley]

Does anyone have any reccomendations on how to go about exchanging money for Peru. Is it better to order from the bank before we leave, at the Airport, On board ship( if they offer this service) or wait till we get there.

 

Also are travellers checks widely accepted and used in Peru?

 

Credit cards, are they accepted almost everywhere or will we find they are only accepted in a small number of places.

 

Just trying to get organized before November.

Thanks

[greatam]

Does anyone have any reccomendations on how to go about exchanging money for Peru. Is it better to order from the bank before we leave, at the Airport, On board ship( if they offer this service) or wait till we get there.

 

Also are travellers checks widely accepted and used in Peru?

 

Credit cards, are they accepted almost everywhere or will we find they are only accepted in a small number of places.

 

Just trying to get organized before November.

Thanks

 

USD accepted everyplace in Peru. In fact in Cusco, some of the ATM's offer DUAL currency-Sole's or USD (the one at the Inka Grill is frequently out of USD). Remember roughly 3 soles to the dollar. And there are money changers out on the street all over Lima (not so much in Cusco/Puno because they want USD). DO NOT use the street money changers. If you absolutely feel you MUST change your money, do it at the Cambio. But there is absolutely NO need.

 

Credit cards are accepted in hotels and restaurants almost everyplace (Visa more so than others-forget Discover in Peru). DO NOT plan on using a credit card in local markets-there is usually a surcharge if they are accepted at all, you can't negotiate very well with a card AND there have been reports of credit card rip offs. I use CASH ONLY in the markets.

 

Forget the travelers checks unless you plan on cashing them on the ship. They are surcharged almost everywhere in Peru-up to 20% in some places (average is about 15%).

[woodley]

I do not have a Visa card but do have a master card. Do you think it would be worth appling for a visa card.?