Real vs Dollar and other currency issues

[Vagabundo1]

Where is the usd brl going from here?

[Questner]

I will post it here as many may combine travel to Argentina:

Six types of exchange rates for USD.

Maybe Argentinians have half of a trillion in USD under mattresses and more in Montevideo.

These rates are relevant for today August 4, 2020 and the mechanism will likely change in the future.

The official dollar (dólar official) is trading this Tuesday, August 4, at $ 71.86 for purchase and $ 76.84 for sale in banks.

As for the blue dollar (your black market or street dollar) (dólar blue), this day is trading at $ 131.00 for the purchase and $ 136.00 for the sale. Thus, it marks a gap (la brecha) of 82% with respect to the official dollar. The value of the blue dollar has a substantial difference with the official dollar, which is purchased from banks and has an established price.

On the other hand, the tourist dollar (also known as the solidarity dollar)(theólar turista / theólar solidario) is trading at $ 99.45. This value is the one used when buying dollars for savings or for making transactions abroad (using credit or debit cards) and it's higher by 30% of the value of the official dollar of the day.

Another exchange rate is the wholesale dollar (dólar mayorista), which starts the day at $ 67.80 for purchase and $ 67.80 for sale.

In relation to the Cash with Liqui (CCL)(Contado con liqui CCL), the reference price is $ 116.01. The CCL is the operation that allows companies to buy Argentine issued financial instruments in the local market and sell them abroad in order to use foreign currency for "hoarding".

How many types of dollar are there in Argentina?

Today in Argentina there are at least six different types of quotes for the US currency, some more used than others.

1) Savings dollar / card or tourist / solidarity dollar (Dólar ahorro / tarjeta o theólar turista / solidario): it has a surcharge of 30% imposed by the Government on purchases made with a card in foreign currency and on the acquisition of foreign currency for savings ("atesoramiento") within the official circuit.

2) Blue dollar (dólar blue): these are banknotes sold in the informal market, through what Argentinians call "caves" or "little trees" (cuevas o "arbolitos") on the street.

3) Counted with Liqui: (Contado con Liqui): it is a legal operation to get dollars abroad. It has became the preferred path for companies. Argentine stocks or shares are bought in pesos and then sold abroad in dollars.

4) Official or retail dollar (Dólar oficial o minorista): it is the price that individuals can access but always within the US $ 200 monthly limit (cepo).

5) Wholesale dollar (Dólar mayorista): it is the one used for foreign trade, the payment of debts denominated in USD and dividends. Theoretically, it is the one that influences the pricing of imported products.

6) Dollar for industry and services (Dólar para industria why servicios): due to the effect of withholdings, exporters of manufactures and services actually receive a dollar at a lower value than the official one, and much lower than the blue one. Within this category, there are different values for those who export meat and dairy products, for wheat, corn and sunflower and for soybeans.

[Java Man]

USD currently at $5. 72 due turmoil in the Bolsonaro government. If the Economic Minister quits, the Reals going into the tank!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapo...ts-government/#251 d0 f4 d30 ec.

[Nordico]

Been waiting for this.

[Steve 9696]

Exchange rates at the airport are bad, but if you do barter with them.

Most bank ATMs refused my UK card including Santander. Bradesco bank worked everytime, only use ATMs inside banks.

Assuming you need cash for a taxi, airport ATM is probably best.

You will get a better exchange rate using gambios, but you need to walk around a few, the more you change the better the rate.

See my earlier post about gparena.

The general rule of thumb is the farther you get from arrival gates the better the rate. Last two years I've been there was one on the right just before you go out the door to Uber or pickup. Very fair rate.

[Jingo10]

Specific ATM / Exchange suggestions.

Exchange rates at the airport are bad, but if you do barter with them.

Most bank ATMs refused my UK card including Santander. Bradesco bank worked everytime, only use ATMs inside banks.

Assuming you need cash for a taxi, airport ATM is probably best.

You will get a better exchange rate using gambios, but you need to walk around a few, the more you change the better the rate.

See my earlier post about gparena.

[Exec Talent]

Specific ATM / Exchange suggestions.

I will be staying essentially next door to Monte Carlo on Rua Hilrio de Gouvia, 19.

I will be arriving at 8:30 pm Rio international airport. I guess I would be arriving at the apartment somewhere around 9:30 10 PM Monday 2nd March.

My plan for the night is just to go to Monte Carlo keeping it easy and close by on thr fist night after a long flight.

Anyone care to make any suggestions for changing money (British Pounds) in that area, at that time of night.

I am assuming that the Gambios and banks will be closed.

The current exchange rate is 1 pound to about 5. 6 reals.

I see my options as.

First, good for you being aware of exchange rates.

Second, good job laying out your options.

You are right in that option 4 is probably best for a small amount with a plan to exchange more at a competitive rate later.

Another option is you should see some guys looking to exchange money for you. This is why it is important to know if they are offering you a fair rate. Hear them out and make a counteroffer. When I have done this I always have the amount I want to exchange easily accessible. You do not want to be looking in your bags, showing a lot of cash or fumbling around in the middle of the airport. You want to agree on the rate, make the exchange and move along.

[NotSoYoung]

Specific ATM / Exchange suggestions.

I will be staying essentially next door to Monte Carlo on Rua Hilrio de Gouvia, 19.

I will be arriving at 8:30 pm Rio international airport. I guess I would be arriving at the apartment somewhere around 9:30 10 PM Monday 2nd March.

My plan for the night is just to go to Monte Carlo keeping it easy and close by on thr fist night after a long flight.

Anyone care to make any suggestions for changing money (British Pounds) in that area, at that time of night.

I am assuming that the Gambios and banks will be closed.

The current exchange rate is 1 pound to about 5. 6 reals.

I see my options as.

1) Paying the credit charge surcharge in Monte Carlo (Iv read 50-70 reais).

2) Changing money at the airport (probably a terrible rate).

3) Changing money in UK first. Not many places to change and rate is about 4. 8 to 1 pound.

4) Withdrawing money from ATM at the airport- do you get the same rates from these ATM are there ATM fees?

5) Finding an ATM in the area near the apartment- I know there are ATM's on Av. Nossa Sra. De Copacabana (I understand Bradesco are generally quite good for foreign cards) but are these ATM's internal only or can any be accessed from the street given the tome In the evening.

With regard to options 4 and 5 I am not too concerned with fraud / cloning risk because these cards are specific travel card which I can manage online banking and can lock the cards when I am not using them and only have enough money in the account when and where I want to take It out.

I am leaning towards option 4 for the first night and then can worry about more withdrawals or changing money the next day.

[The Cane]

So, I stopped by at 11 in the morning on a Saturday at the Bradesco branch I had been using and three of the ATM machines did not work! One just seemed to be malfunctioning since it wasn't showing me all of the choices on the screen. I tried two other machines, but they apparently were out of money, or at least weren't carrying the amount I requested. Now, there was a large number of machines in there, but I wasn't going to move around trying all 12 of them (or exactly how many there were).

I decided to walk up the street to the Santander Select branch I had used, but they were totally closed! OK, so the hell with it! I went to Shopping Ibirapuera where I knew there were Bradesco and Santander ATMs. I was planning to go to that shopping center anyway. Got there and found the Bradesco machines located on the Piso Moema level, and pulled out what I wanted to. Santander is on the Piso Ibirapuera level, which is the floor on which you enter the shopping center from the street.

I can see how the first Bradesco I had been using might run out of cash on a weekend. It's at a busy intersection where a lot of buses pick up and drop off during the workweek. Those machines in there get used heavily due to a lot of foot traffic. I wasn't in dire need for some cash, but I wanted to plus up some because I know I have some upcoming travel to a city I have never been to before, and I just didn't know how hard or easy it would be for me logistically to find a convenient ATM machine that would work with my debit card. Better safe than sorry, especially since I will arrive on a weekend.

[The Cane]

For the first time since I've been coming to Brazil, I arrived planning to rely heavily upon ATM machines to get cash versus bringing a pile of dollars with me, and then going to a cambio to make exchanges for what I needed. There always seemed to be so much skim scamming going on in Brazil, so I always felt more comfortable bringing cash and exchanging it for reals. Well this time, my circumstances dictated that I would need to rely upon the ATMs, and so far things have been fine.

One of my frustrations in preparing for this trip was that I just couldn't seem to get enough good, reliable, updated information regarding the best banks to use, withdrawals limits, how to stay safe, and what precautions to take to prevent getting skimmed, mugged, etc. I did get some feedback, and a lot of it was common sense kind of stuff, which I already practiced. Like only using known and reputable banks, making sure that you go inside of a branch versus using a machine facing the street, making sure there is good lighting, protecting your pin, etc. All good advice, which I followed.

But which banks to use? Based upon my experience so far, I like Bradesco the best. The screen interface was the most user-friendly for me, and I could withdraw the most in one transaction. For example, one time I took out 2,500 reals at once. And, you can make multiple transactions to withdraw the amount of money that you want. Next best was Santander, which I have used before in Latin America and Europe. Although not as user-friendly, their ATMs in Brazil were easy enough to figure out. However, the withdrawal limit is lower at 1,000 reals, which is still good. And again, you can make multiple withdrawals until you have what you need. Both banks charge a fee, but my institution back in the States refunds all foreign transaction fees, and they don't themselves charge any fees. So, a pretty good deal when it comes to avoiding ATM fees, which I refuse to pay to get my own money!

Lastly, as a part of my experimentation with different banks, I also tried to withdraw money from Itau and Caixa. My card didn't even work at either of those two banks, and was rejected. So based on my trials so far, I recommend Bradesco and Santander in order to use a USA -issued debit card to withdraw money from their ATM machines. Hope this info helps somebody.

[Java Man]

Just checked recently and the American dollar is still holding strong against the Brazilian real! This could justify spending up to 800 reals on a really hot Brazilian tute at Scandallo who is ready to deliver the goods.

It gotten Even Better, currently at $R4.16.

[The Cane]

The Dollar is now at $R4.10. The Euro at $R4.57. Wow!

Just checked recently and the American dollar is still holding strong against the Brazilian real! This could justify spending up to 800 reals on a really hot Brazilian tute at Scandallo who is ready to deliver the goods.

[Java Man]

The Dollar is now at $R4.10. The Euro at $R4.57. Wow!

[Eszpresszo]

Apparently, this scam has been going on for years at the international airport. The authorities and banks are aware of the problem and have done nothing to resolve it. On one trip, I was a victim of this and that card had a chip. Google search shows the most recent post about this was in 2016.

"Before inserting card, grab, twist, and pull that part of the ATM, skimmers will come off or feel loose. Also look at the machine itself, if the colors of the parts of the ATM do not match, chances are they may have been tampered with. Lastly, look around the machine, there should only be a single camera lens on the machine. If you see a second camera, walk away."

My last trip, I used Bradesco exclusively, they don't charge ATM fee like the other banks.

Yes, they do. Around are 15-20 Reais per transaction, possibly higher. I can't believe that anyone who has been to Brasil would not have noticed that. I just came from Brasil. Schwab gave me a rebate on the fees, though. Your biggest problem will be finding an ATM that will take your overseas card. Not all ATMs, even in banks will take a foreign card. Some that will may be marked with a small notice with all card symbols. Santander sometimes posts a sign in their branch in English to indicate their ATMs will. See the attached photo I took outside the Santander branch on Paulista, near MASP. Another nearby Santander branch on Consolacao would not take my card. You may have to go to various bank branches to find one that will, and eventually you will. Short story long, you won't be able to get cash from just any ATM you see. And if your bank does not refund your fee, limit the amount of transactions you make at ATM. Also note that credit and debit cards are taken at about 95% of the businesses you will encounter. So, if you don't have cash it won't be a huge problem.

[Java Man]

Holy Crap! O Dolor has crossed the $R4 threshold! Currently at $R4.04.