Real vs Dollar and other currency issues

[DasBooty]

The 200 reais notes have two problems. Most places have no change and they spend a lot of time checking out the notes to see if they are fake.

I've yet to come across a 200 $ bill. They must be rare if people stop to verify them?

I also pay girls in cash and use a credit card for everything else.

[Zeyto]

Money. Dinheiro vs card. When I pay by cash in the shops or supermarket the cashier gives a crazy look now what I am going to do with this. Nearly everything is set up to be paid by pix, card, or debit, especially self-service food joints. I pay garotas GDP for their service in cash dinheiro. Everywhere else I use the credit card tap to pay feature. The brasilian payment system has beaten me down for paying in dinerho. I am worn out trying to get the correct change, it is a fcking hassle when paying in cash. Nobody has change for 200 reais or 100 reais notes. And I have a shit load of Brazilian small coins from paying cash. I store them in a little piggy bank to give as presents on "DIA das Crianas" to all of my girlfriends with small kids.

It's a good thing I decided to check out the recent reports before I head out here end of this month. As much as I was trying to avoid using my cards and just using cash I guess I'm going to have to have to. I'll follow your lead and pay the garotas in dinheiro and use card for everything else. Btw with current exchange rate, is Av. Nossa Sra. de Copacabana 371 in Rio still the best place to exchange USD? Would they be able to change $3000?

[Tochka]

One of the things that seems to have gotten worse since my last trip to Brazil is more and more people saying they don't have change. This was an issue for me in Argentina and a serious issue for me in Venezuela. I would not say that it's really bad in Brazil now in this regard, but I have run into it noticeably more this time around. The use of debit and credit cards by Brazilians to pay for things is higher than ever before, and this certainly contributes to the lack of change on hand. If you like to pay for things with cash as I do when vacationing (it helps me to control spending and stay on budget) then try to keep a nice mix of bills on hand when in Brazil these days.

Money. Dinheiro vs card. When I pay by cash in the shops or supermarket the cashier gives a crazy look now what I am going to do with this. Nearly everything is set up to be paid by pix, card, or debit, especially self-service food joints. I pay garotas GDP for their service in cash dinheiro. Everywhere else I use the credit card tap to pay feature. The brasilian payment system has beaten me down for paying in dinerho. I am worn out trying to get the correct change, it is a fcking hassle when paying in cash. Nobody has change for 200 reais or 100 reais notes. And I have a shit load of Brazilian small coins from paying cash. I store them in a little piggy bank to give as presents on "DIA das Crianas" to all of my girlfriends with small kids.

[Sperto]

I always look for ATMs that dispense 200's in Copacabana.

The 200 reais notes have two problems. Most places have no change and they spend a lot of time checking out the notes to see if they are fake.

[Lalabo]

Maybe it's not obvious regarding Bradesco ATMs. Assume you enter a Bradesco and want to withdraw 2500 reais. Don't use the machines that offers 10,20, 50 and 100 reais notes. They won't allow 2500 reais withdrawals. Instead use the machines that only allows 50,100 (and maybe 200) reais notes. They will normally allow 2500 reais withdrawals.

Good observation. I did find few Bradesco ATMs that in SP & Rio that dispense R1250 but never correlated it to machines dispensing lower denominations. I will keep it in mind and report here if I see any exceptions. I always look for ATMs that dispense 200's in Copacabana.

[Sperto]

Maybe it's not obvious regarding Bradesco ATMs. Assume you enter a Bradesco and want to withdraw 2500 reais. Don't use the machines that offers 10,20, 50 and 100 reais notes. They won't allow 2500 reais withdrawals. Instead use the machines that only allows 50,100 (and maybe 200) reais notes. They will normally allow 2500 reais withdrawals.

[The Cane]

In Copa I found a Bradesco branch at the corner of Nossa Senhora and Santa Clara. I didn't really need it, but I tried to get 2,500 reals from the ATM and it worked. There's a reason I prefer Bradesco over all others!

[The Cane]

In Sao Paulo I was able to pull 2,500 in cash multiple times in one stop. Just tried a Santander ATM in Rio near Copacabana beach and the limit was 1,000 reals. I don't know why the change but nothing is different on my end with my bank. It could be that the limit is lower in this area because the foot traffic is so heavy, which would cause the machines to run dry sooner. Don't know, but it's something to be aware of. Will try to find a nearby Bradesco next time to see what happens. Happy mongering!

[The Cane]

One of the things that seems to have gotten worse since my last trip to Brazil is more and more people saying they don't have change. This was an issue for me in Argentina and a serious issue for me in Venezuela. I would not say that it's really bad in Brazil now in this regard, but I have run into it noticeably more this time around. The use of debit and credit cards by Brazilians to pay for things is higher than ever before, and this certainly contributes to the lack of change on hand. If you like to pay for things with cash as I do when vacationing (it helps me to control spending and stay on budget) then try to keep a nice mix of bills on hand when in Brazil these days.

[The Cane]

Here on the ground in most places you can now get 6 reals to 1 dollar! The first time I came to Brazil many years ago it was like 3 to 1, and on a couple of trips it dropped to 1. 8 to 1. Happy days are here again for the touring monger in Brazil!

[The Cane]

The Bradesco ATM in the mall had been closed for a while. There was a branch between Hotel Mercure Times square & Hotel Wyndham which was also close. I now use the Bradesco branch (a 5-10 minute walk from the mall) on Av. Ibirapuera near Metro station close to Hotel Mercure Times square.

I have used that one too and thought about walking to it but it was too hot outside for me LOL!

[Lalabo]

The Bradesco ATM that used to be in the Ibirapuera Shopping Center is no longer there. At least I didn't see it (also looked on the map layout). There were a bunch of Itau machines, but I don't care to deal with them. Finally found a Santander and was able to get my money from them (made two 2,500 reals pulls).

The Bradesco ATM in the mall had been closed for a while. There was a branch between Hotel Mercure Times square & Hotel Wyndham which was also close. I now use the Bradesco branch (a 5-10 minute walk from the mall) on Av. Ibirapuera near Metro station close to Hotel Mercure Times square.

[The Cane]

The Bradesco ATM that used to be in the Ibirapuera Shopping Center is no longer there. At least I didn't see it (also looked on the map layout). There were a bunch of Itau machines, but I don't care to deal with them. Finally found a Santander and was able to get my money from them (made two 2,500 reals pulls).

[Java Man]

What's up with Mondays and the Bank ATM's? Yesterday was the second Monday I couldn't withdraw Reals from Bradesco ATM's. I visited the two branches: NS Copa and Barrata Ribeiro. No problems today.

[Sperto]

Can you withdrawal more than once? I was able to withdraw $R1000 twice today at Bradesco in Rio. You should be able to withdraw until you hit YOUR banks daily limit.

Yes, you can. In Banco Bradesco you can make at least two withdrawals, 2500 reais each.