General Info

[James Tott]

Hi guys,

Do you have any info regarding buying viagra,generic viagra or cialis in asunsion.If available can you buy it without prescription?and how much does it cost?I will appreciate any information available.

Thanks,

Jim

[Lexton]

If you come to Paraguay, bring lots of cash or be prepared to pay a lot of ATM fees. The Gs25,000-Gs30,000 fee per transaction has spread everywhere in about 4 weeks. With the fall of the dollar, Gs25,000 is over $5.

These goddamned banks are experts at behaving as a cartel. The ATM fee appears to be everywhere. I have tried Banco Continental, InterBanco, Banco Integracion as well as Citibank and ABM-Amro. All have the fee.

I still think the fee must be for an international card. This fee is so high that I can't imagine Paraguayans paying it. That means it is open season on tourists here in the ATM machines. We can probably look forward to various attempts to increase the fee even more in the future.

The dollar has gotten hammered against the Guarani. It is now about 4670 per dollar today, down from 5100 in the past year, and 6100 in the past 2 years. The loss over 2 years is about 24%. So things are getting progressively more expensive for tourists in Paraguay. You can thank the Bush administration and their attempts to bankrupt the country.

There was also a 12% increase in the price of my hotel last month. Combined with the fall of the dollar, the hotel price is up 22.5% in the last 4 months. It appears that the inflation of Paraguay is going to be like that of Argentina: high but not affecting the exchange rate, so tourists get hammered.

[Lexton]

Another thing to watch out for. It doesn't necessarily help you to get an account with a big international bank like Citibank or ABN-Amro so that you can use their ATM machines and avoid the foreign ATM fee.

Many of these banks have also introduced an International Transaction fee of 1% to 3%, which they charge even in their own ATM's. DO NOT get an account with a bank that charges a Foreign Transaction Fee percentage. That transaction costs them no more than a local transaction. They are just robbing you. All of the cost, plus profits, are covered by the 1% foreign currency conversion fee that Visa or MC charges. They take all of the foreign currency risk. The US bank sees the transaction as a normal US$ transaction.

Also, an ATM transaction costs a bank practically nothing. A check is far more expensive to process, even today when most physical checks are no longer sent between banks. They are simply trying to introduce ever increasing fees, at a time when the cost to process accounts and transactions has declined tremendously.

[Lexton]

Just as I thought, the thievery of the banks is spreading out. After the introduction of the GS25,000 fee introduced at Citibank, I withdrew money at ABN-Amro on Oct 17, 07 without an ATM fee. Yesterday, after returning to Paraguay, I withdrew money from ABN-Amro again on Nov 06, 07.

Looking at my account, it appears that ABN-Amro has introduced a foreign ATM fee of about GS30,000(something over $6) per withdrawal. This is in addition to the 1% Visa fee. There was no warning, no message about it on the machine. In my account, there is no separate fee shown, The fee was simply included in the base transaction amount. Because of this, even those banks that re-imburse foreign ATM fees will not reimburse this. You are stuck.

This is really pissing me off. I will try to start looking for local banks in the hope of avoiding the fees.

One way to punish these bastards is: Even if the fees become unavoidable, do not use the big international banks like Citibank and ABN-Amro that started this crap so that they will profit from this thievery. Go to smaller local banks, preferably Paraguay banks, and let them make the money instead. Take a stand against being robbed.

A $6 ATM fee is like a charge of $6 more for delivering the Coke in a soda machine. It is absolute robbery.

Also, I can't believe that the fee for Paraguayans is Gs25,000 or Gs30,000. That is 6 hours pay for a lot of people. I think they must be charging more because it is an international card. Are there any local Paraguayans with experience on the ATM fees charged to locals with Paraguayan cards?

Does anybody else know anything about avoiding the fees?

[Lexton]

Those damned thieving banks are raising there levels of thievery again. The moment I have been dreading has arrived.

Citibank this week introduced a foreign ATM fee of Gs25,000($US5). I was using a VISA card from the US.

I was given a message announcing the charge and an opportunity to cancel, which I did. I then went to an ABM-AMRO and extracted money there. There was no message of a fee, the ATM operated in a normal fashion, so I assume there was none until I can check the account.

It looks like Citibank is leading the pack in robbery. I fear the other banks will follow. Avoidance of ATM fees is becoming an ever bigger issue. If I were to use my Wells FEEgo card(God forbid) to withdraw $US400(an amount still possible here) it would cost me:

Wells FEEgo: Foreign ATM=$5, International Transaction 3%=$12, Total=$17
Visa foreign currency 1%= $4
Citibank foreign ATM= $5
Grand total= $US26 to extract $US400!!! = 6.5%

At a time they are paying <1% per YEAR for checking interest.

And as the banks create greater monopolies, they get harder to avoid. Another classic example of robbing the little people. Thank the corporate imperialists in power.

[Pija666]

Mongers,

I will be heading up to Asuncion on October 17th with a few well-known mongers from the Buenos Aires scene. We were able to get a non-stop flight from Buenos Aires (we live there full-time) on GOL for $143 USD including taxes. Getting the visa was a breeze at the Paraguayan consulate (Viamonte 1851, half block from Callao) in Buenos Aires; just show up with your passport, $65 USD, and one passport sized photo, fill out a form, and you return the next day and its ready to go. You can expect a full detailed report to come in the near future on Asuncion and possibly Concepcion, as I hear the hottest Paraguayas are there.

Suerte,

Rock Harders

When you get here PM me your phone or email and I'll give all the help I can.

[Rock Harders]

Mongers-
I will be heading up to Asuncion on October 17th with a few well-known mongers from the Buenos Aires scene. We were able to get a non-stop flight from Buenos Aires (we live there full-time) on GOL for $143 USD including taxes. Getting the visa was a breeze at the Paraguayan consulate (Viamonte 1851, half block from Callao) in Buenos Aires; just show up with your passport, $65 USD, and one passport sized photo, fill out a form, and you return the next day and its ready to go. You can expect a full detailed report to come in the near future on Asuncion and possibly Concepcion, as I hear the hottest Paraguayas are there.
Suerte,
Rock Harders

[Johan007]

Here's an update on visa requirements for Paraguay. I got my visa in Buenos Aires same day, but you will do better giving yourself a couple extra days.

You need your passport; 1 photo suitable for passport use, and $65 USD in cash.

If you have an airline ticket in your hand that shows your flight the next day you may get same day service.

If you do not speak Spanish, you should consider taking someone to translate because my sense was that the Paraguayans really don't care if you come to their country or not.

The address of the consulate is Viamonte 1851 which is close to Calloa. The hours are 0800 to 1500. If you want same day, you need to get there early in the day. There will be a lot of people queued up for various documents, and there are about 4 different lines, so you need to ask which line to get in.

They will take your passport and keep it until they issue the visa, so if you don't have a copy, make one so you have it while you are waiting for the visa to be issued. If you get same day service, they will send you away until later in the afternoon - usually after 1530.

wow...65 bucks just for a visa???
What if you just travel by land and want to cross the border??I mean a normal turist visa...

@@@@@@ UPDATE@@@@@@@@@ I FOUND OUT THAT FOR MOST CITIZENS OF EU COUNTRIES LIKE MYSELF (Dutch) there is NO need for a visa if you do NOT stay longer then 90 days!!!!!!!!
For US/CanadiANS i DON'T KNOW....
If you leave the country by the airport there is a tax of 25 USD to be paid.

Paraguay seems more and more intresting to emigrate. I know many germans went there...and for 5000 USD you can have your perm visa...!
They have very low costs of living and Ascxencion is a VERY cheap City...compared to many others:-)

here is a very informative link...alas in german language.

http://www.paraguay-online.net/

been thinking myself to go there later this year. Only bad thing are the quite costly tickets from Europe:-( and the many hours in the plane.

regards,

Johan

[Pija666]

Hi Pija666, I read your Paraguay posts and became interested in the place. I am originally from Brazil, but live in US, speak passable spanish and good portuguese. Maybe you could show me around that place as I need to explore cheaper places than Brazil. Can I enter Paraguay with a brazilian passport? I don't want to pay for a visa as an american.

All the countries from MERCOSUR(including brazil) don't need a visa with each other, as I understand. So you have to practice Spanish, to try and get the better prices and the rest is just come as soon as you can, man.

Don't try to make the women go to your hotel, or they're going to make you an horrific deal like $200, (and most of that, like 150! Is just for the hotel guy). If you go to the "casas" you never pay more than $20 for an hour with a beautiful Paraguayan. For more advice. Look some other reports here.

[Travel Fun]

Here's an update on visa requirements for Paraguay. I got my visa in Buenos Aires same day, but you will do better giving yourself a couple extra days.

You need your passport; 1 photo suitable for passport use, and $65 USD in cash.

If you have an airline ticket in your hand that shows your flight the next day you may get same day service.

If you do not speak Spanish, you should consider taking someone to translate because my sense was that the Paraguayans really don't care if you come to their country or not.

The address of the consulate is Viamonte 1851 which is close to Calloa. The hours are 0800 to 1500. If you want same day, you need to get there early in the day. There will be a lot of people queued up for various documents, and there are about 4 different lines, so you need to ask which line to get in.

They will take your passport and keep it until they issue the visa, so if you don't have a copy, make one so you have it while you are waiting for the visa to be issued. If you get same day service, they will send you away until later in the afternoon - usually after 1530.

[Pija666]

One of his favorites according to his report on a paraguayan web she has this info:

"Soy tierna, agradable y cariñosa. Me gusta de todo! Megusta sentir el extasis y el placer y si es con vos mejor! LlamameServicios especiales a Hoteles y Domicilios!

Edad 20 años
Altura 1.70 metros
Medidas 90-60-90
Tipo Trigueña
Idioma Español
Horario De 11:00 a 21:00 Hs.
Zona Petirossi
Agencia Claus Prod. II (Tte. Farina)
Teléfonos 208392 0971-615960 0971-613877

[Lexton]

I have seen references to this in various places. I have no idea if it's true, but may be. Why else would his daughter come to Paraguay, especially near the summer? It sure wasn't for the weather, or the city night life, etc.

What is true: Since the advent of the WTO, Paraguay has increased its exports dramatically, especially of beef. The big landowners are making a lot of money. So there is a sort of rush to become a big owner of agricultural land.

The income gap between rich and poor is obviously growing, with the rich getting richer. The price of beef has increased to world market prices, and is up 50%-100% in the last year or so. The common people are having trouble buying it, and other products for export. The money earned from exports has very low "velocity" for the economy, because beef production uses little labor, much land. It goes right back out of the country in imports of oil products, cars, and other imported items for the rich. What little is put in the local economy goes right out to China, India, etc. for imported products for the common people. The infrastructure in terms of roads, water, electricity, etc. is generally going to hell. There is currently a big issue with the negotiation of new contracts for the hydroelectric dams, with some papers talking of Paraguay getting a bad result.

The US is reportedly building a base in the Chaco, although officially the US denies this. But the US has clearly been trying to increase it's military presence here. Conventional wisdom is that the US wants to be able to protect the interests of the oil companies in Bolivia. So Bush may know something that we officially don't regarding more US presence at high levels.

I am somewhat worried about all this. The Guarani is obviously being manipulated. The country had 10% inflation last year, but the Guarani gained 16%, from $1=6200 to 5100 now. I saw a projection in Sundays paper talking about $1=Gs4250 by the end of 2007. That should not be happening with their inflation. But obviously, things will be getting more expensive here for tourists. It could be the manipulation of the Guarani is trying to offset the effect of world market prices, since the beef prices are set in dollars and euros, which have declined equally in value relatively. That would tend to help hold the line on further price increases on export items in the local market priced in Guarani.

In the Argentina forum, they are beating up on Kirchner for suppressing exports of beef, etc. Obviously, he is trying to prevent this same thing from happening in Argentina. And the Peso has declined to the dollar. So Argentina is getting cheaper or staying equal, while Paraguay is getting more expensive for tourists.

Another trend I hate to see: There is something of an evangelical movement afoot, it seems. They closed the bars early in Asuncion starting in 2005 and many closed or moved. There appears to be more harrassment of the working women on the street this year. I notice that the ads in ABC have changed from "departmento privado" and "acompañante" to "casa de masaje" and "masajista" and there are less of them. That really annoys me because I was going to try a newspaper ad again, but haven't been able to figure out a way to word it that would be accepted. That had to be government influence. Since this kind of crap is going on in the US as well due to Bush and friends, there may be more influence than we suspect. They certainly know more than we do.

[Mature Man]

I heard that one. It's next to Moon's land which is about 170,000 acres and having the largest water aquifer in Latin America.

He may end up there to ensure that he does not get the same treatment he handed out to Sadaam.

Lexton, did you read about George Bush purchasing 100,000 acres in Paraguay?

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...928928,00.html
"Rumours of Mr Bush's supposed forays into South American real estate surfaced during a recent 10-day visit to the country by his daughter Jenna Bush. Little is known about her trip to Paraguay, although officially she travelled with the UN children's agency Unicef to visit social projects. Photographers from the Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color tracked her down to one restaurant in Paraguay's capital Asunción, where she was seen flanked by 10 security guards, and was also reported to have met Paraguay's president, Nicanor Duarte, and the US ambassador to Paraguay, James Cason. Reports in sections of the Paraguayan media suggested she was sent on a family "mission" to tie up the land purchase in the "chaco"."

[HappyGoLucky]

Paraguay is not a tourist friendly country, and has no tourist infrastructure. They are not trying to create a tourist industry, and if anything are retreating from tourism. They don't have the money. They are not even officially that friendly toward Americans, which is why they have had a visa requirement for Americans since August of 2002.

Lexton, did you read about George Bush purchasing 100,000 acres in Paraguay?

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...928928,00.html
"Rumours of Mr Bush's supposed forays into South American real estate surfaced during a recent 10-day visit to the country by his daughter Jenna Bush. Little is known about her trip to Paraguay, although officially she travelled with the UN children's agency Unicef to visit social projects. Photographers from the Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color tracked her down to one restaurant in Paraguay's capital Asunción, where she was seen flanked by 10 security guards, and was also reported to have met Paraguay's president, Nicanor Duarte, and the US ambassador to Paraguay, James Cason. Reports in sections of the Paraguayan media suggested she was sent on a family "mission" to tie up the land purchase in the "chaco"."

[Aladin99]

I have seen Microcats questions for travelling to Paraguay. I was there for 6 weeks in March and April this year. I arrived without any Spanish language skills but reasonable English and French knowledge. The first two weeks I learned Spanish in a very nice language school in the old microcenter of Asuncion.

During this time I lived with a guest family only Spanish speaking. During all this time I had never bad experience even walking trough the city at 3 a.m. There is a lot of police and military presence on all important spots. I also met American people because the living costs a very low in Asuncion. There are some very nice bars and restaurants for all purposes. If you hire a Taxi driver for a night you will find most oft the places easily. The only disadvantage is that they are all in different places.

It’s easy to meet nice girls in shopping centers or Pubs. For tourist point of view there are in the south Missiones Jesuites and of course the Igauzu waterfalls. You can drive with fast Air-condition busses from ASu to Ciudat Este. From there I can recommend a very honest taxi driver for visiting the waterfalls. Absolute great experience.

My conclusion I would come back to Paraguay without hesitating.