General Info

Every time I return to Paraguay, I see more independents and universitarias advertising on hot.com.py and other sites. They are asking 400.000 or 600.000 or 800.000, so their prices are way out of line with the fees charged in even the expensive casas. Does anyone know if these expensive chicas are putting competitive pressure on the casas? Are the most attractive chicas drawn to the high-end market (it does seem they are taller in the ads)? My guess would be that they don't get a lot of business at those rates, but if they hit on just a few appointments a week, they would be making as much as some chicas working in casas all week long 10 hours a day. I worry this is a trend that could dominate the future. Paraguay has always been a place where you can get the best for a surprising low cost. I'm not saying I'm an expert on this. Actually I would like to hear from an expert.

I'll close with my personal observation over many years of mongering that there is little correlation between cost and real value.

What I did was call the place and inform I am on the way.

Find a taxi, call again and ask the driver to sort out the address.

One driver even escorted me to the correct door.

[QUOTE=LuvLatinaGirls;1317304]They can ask for 600k guarani all they want. I had the best time at PY Escorts for 150k for the hour, went back there three times. Big problem with hot. Com, they don't post addresses, and trying to understand the girls when you phone is not easy! Any updates on the addresses is always appreciated.[/QUOTE]

I scrimped and saved for three adventures this year, first Lima, Peru, which I just got back from and had a great time.

Next, Asuncion, Paraguay and finally, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I met so many very nice Paraguayan ladies from my visits to Buenos Aires, Argentina that I decided to try to meet Paraguayans at their home base!

I RTFF and I think I will try Parada 838, Deseos, PY Escorts and I will ask around for the latest casas and the latest going-ons, and of course Nonpros. I speak Spanish and I think I will be OK. Any comments or observations would be appreciated.

Also, does anyone know at the ASU airport where do I find the Official airport taxis? Where do I find the taxi stand? Is it a fixed price or is it by taximeter? Would it be OK to walk outside of the airport and take a taxi?

And about how much would it cost from the ASU airport to about the Shopping del Sol Mall area? It's about 8. 5 kms or about 10 minutes from the airport. (I know it's away from the action but I had to stay in the area).

And as a backup I read that the bus terminal is across the street from the airport, is that right? Does anyone know the bus number to Shopping del Sol Mall?

Also, in the ASU airport are there ATM machines? I need to get some Paraguayan money to start.

I read that Paraguay charges a lot to withdrawal from the ATMs. I have a Schwab Debit card, will all my ATM charges be refunded? Or should I change USD at a Cambio Casa?

I tried to get taxi info from my hotel but it seems they are so incompetent they can't even tell me taxi info to their hotel.

Oh, thanks to others I got my Paraguayan Visa at their Embassy in LA (Los Angeles, CA) and paid $160.00 USD. It is good for the life of my passport. I plan to return to Asuncion several times so I spent the extra effort.

May be a strange question, but can you drink the water in Asuncion? Is the tap water treated? Should I buy bottled water?

Should I avoid ice?

This is my first time in ASU, I'm a little nervous, I'll report my finding when I return, thanks in advance!

I'd like to upgrade the situation with the ATM machines. Back in 2009 I posted about a new fee of $5-6 that was introduced for foreign cards. From AP I gather that in Argentina a new fee of some $ar13 was introduced about the same time.

Nobody uses ATM's in Arg anymore because of the exchange rate, so I don't know what happened there. Here, Dickhead says he didn't notice anything unusual, and was only hit for the 1% international fee from E-trade, which paid any other fees.

I would like to confirm the situation now. I stopped using ATM's when the fee was introduced, and only use my Paraguay bank account. But for getting some dollars one day, say to travel to Buenos Aires, I might want to pull $ from an ATM.

If someone uses an ATM, can you report the situation. When the fee was introduced, at one point in the process a screen was displayed that said (more or less): "To this transaction a fee of (Gs25000-when pulling Guarani or $5-when pulling dollars) will be added. Do you wish to continue? From what I could learn, this fee was implemented thru the network and may have been a tax or government "usage fee" and thus not necessarily an ATM fee that would be reimbursed by Schwab or E-trade.

At the same time, the maximum withdrawal was dropped from at least $500 (I always pulled $400 equivalent) to $200 or Gs1,000,000. They said this was for security reasons, BUT YOU COULD PULL THIS AMOUNT 3 TIMES / DAY! Some security! It was obviously to maximize ATM fees.

It has been years, and It is possible that they had to back off of this fee and possibly the low limit also. If ATM usage cratered, VISA and the network wouldn't be happy. Also, they are trying to attract foreign businesses (I. E. New World Trade Center). So if someone has experience or gets experience and can relate it to this information, can you please report?

Hi Lexton,

I called Charles Schwab and they told me that "All ATM Fees will be refunded" at the end of the month on my statement. That includes all fees and taxes. That to be sure and save my ATM receipts and file a complaint if any fees are not refunded.

Thanks again for your posts!

[QUOTE=Lexton;1589234]I'd like to upgrade the situation with the ATM machines. Back in 2009 I posted about a new fee of $5-6 that was introduced for foreign cards. From AP I gather that in Argentina a new fee of some $ar13 was introduced about the same time.

Nobody uses ATM's in Arg anymore because of the exchange rate, so I don't know what happened there. Here, Dickhead says he didn't notice anything unusual, and was only hit for the 1% international fee from E-trade, which paid any other fees.

I would like to confirm the situation now. I stopped using ATM's when the fee was introduced, and only use my Paraguay bank account. But for getting some dollars one day, say to travel to Buenos Aires, I might want to pull $ from an ATM...[/QUOTE]

Hello,

I'll be in Asuncion, Paraguay next week.

Can anyone tell me the Voltage and type of electrical plug that Asuncion uses?

Would it be 120 V or 220 V and 2 straight pin plugs, round plugs or other?

Any other info would be helpful.

Thank you kindly.

Hollywood

Hi all,

I'm here in ASU and to answer my own question the voltage is 220 V.

The plug style is 2 round posts but my hotel has outlets for all types of plugs just so your appliance can take up to 220 V.

If your appliance is 110-120 V you will need a converter to 220 V.

Good luck to all!

[QUOTE=Hollywood124;1590963]Hello,

I'll be in Asuncion, Paraguay next week.

Can anyone tell me the Voltage and type of electrical plug that Asuncion uses?

Would it be 120 V or 220 V and 2 straight pin plugs, round plugs or other?

Any other info would be helpful.

Thank you kindly.

Hollywood[/QUOTE]

Hollywood noticed quite a few 'whities' in Paraguay and I had read earlier about some Europeans who settled here and also were given land too.

Here is a summary of the cultures of Paraguay.

The name "Paraguay" derives from the river that divides the eastern half of the nation from the western Chaco region. The vast majority of the population (95 percent) shares a Paraguayan identity, but several other cultural identities exist. The indigenous population is composed of seventeen ethnic groups from five linguistic families. Most immigrants have blended into the national population, but several groups have maintained distinct identities and cultures. Those groups include Mennonites (100% white Europeans), who settled in the western (Chaco) and the northern regions early in the early twentieth century; Japanese, who settled in agricultural colonies primarily during the 1950's and 1960's; and more recent Korean, Lebanese, Indians from India and ethnic Chinese immigrants, who have settled in the urban centers of Asuncióand and Ciudad del Este since the 1970's. In the 1960's and 1970's, large numbers of Brazilian immigrant farmers moved to the eastern frontier region and became the backbone of the soybean export sector. By the 1990's, a second generation of Brazilians had been born and raised in Paraguay, and a few intermarried with the local population. These brasiguayos form a distinct subgroup.

Wealth and income distribution are extremely unequal. A small elite owns most of the land and the commercial wealth and reaped most of the benefits of economic growth in recent decades. Recent surveys indicate that 20 percent of the population of the greater Asuncióand metropolitan area and 60 percent of the population in rural areas live in poverty. Indigenous peoples are the most impoverished. Mennonite and Japanese immigrants have established thriving agricultural colonies, while the more recent Korean, Chinese, and Arab immigrant groups are concentrated in urban commercial activities and reexportation. Brazilian immigrants are disproportionately concentrated in midsize commercial farming enterprises but also include extremely impoverished small farmers and laborers as well as wealthy landowners and middle-class entrepreneurs.

Hello, I have looked and looked and did not see anywhere this has been discussed. I am visiting ASU and CDE shortly and would like to know what would be the best way and places to change money to Guranies or is USD dollar used in some places? Are there money changers around the cities or have to use ATMs or Banks? Shall I bring cash USD to exchange? Thanks.

[QUOTE=Lexton;1589234]I'd like to upgrade the situation with the ATM machines. Back in 2009 I posted about a new fee of $5-6 that was introduced for foreign cards. From AP I gather that in Argentina a new fee of some $ar13 was introduced about the same time.

Nobody uses ATM's in Arg anymore because of the exchange rate, so I don't know what happened there. Here, Dickhead says he didn't notice anything unusual, and was only hit for the 1% international fee from E-trade, which paid any other fees.

I would like to confirm the situation now. I stopped using ATM's when the fee was introduced, and only use my Paraguay bank account. But for getting some dollars one day, say to travel to Buenos Aires, I might want to pull $ from an ATM.

If someone uses an ATM, can you report the situation. When the fee was introduced, at one point in the process a screen was displayed that said (more or less): "To this transaction a fee of (Gs25000-when pulling Guarani or $5-when pulling dollars) will be added. Do you wish to continue? From what I could learn, this fee was implemented thru the network and may have been a tax or government "usage fee" and thus not necessarily an ATM fee that would be reimbursed by Schwab or E-trade.

At the same time, the maximum withdrawal was dropped from at least $500 (I always pulled $400 equivalent) to $200 or Gs1,000,000. They said this was for security reasons, BUT YOU COULD PULL THIS AMOUNT 3 TIMES / DAY! Some security! It was obviously to maximize ATM fees.

It has been years, and It is possible that they had to back off of this fee and possibly the low limit also. If ATM usage cratered, VISA and the network wouldn't be happy. Also, they are trying to attract foreign businesses (I. E. New World Trade Center). So if someone has experience or gets experience and can relate it to this information, can you please report?[/QUOTE]Well they still have the 25.000 per withdrawal fee, but the withdrawal limit has been raised to 1,500,000 GS since years. Still annoying though.

Hi Life,

On my recent first-time trip to ASU I used the Charles Schwab ATM savings bank card.

With Schwab all fees and taxes are refundable at the end of the month.

Save all receipts just so you have proof if there are any irregularities.

Casa de Cambio are all over the place. But for the best rate is the ATM on a USA bank.

I think Fidelity and T. Rowe Price and the other investment houses have the same deal, but check and get it in writing to make sure they refund all fees. (all lie to get your business).

Yes, bring some USD just in case you have an emergency. Make sure you have a safe in your room or use your hotel's safe deposit box. Things get stole even in the best of hotels.

Good luck!

[QUOTE=LifeIsABeach;1596759]Hello, I have looked and looked and did not see anywhere this has been discussed. I am visiting ASU and CDE shortly and would like to know what would be the best way and places to change money to Guranies or is USD dollar used in some places? Are there money changers around the cities or have to use ATMs or Banks? Shall I bring cash USD to exchange? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Hollywood124;1598474]Hi Life,

On my recent first-time trip to ASU I used the Charles Schwab ATM savings bank card.

With Schwab all fees and taxes are refundable at the end of the month.

Save all receipts just so you have proof if there are any irregularities.

Casa de Cambio are all over the place. But for the best rate is the ATM on a USA bank.

I think Fidelity and T. Rowe Price and the other investment houses have the same deal, but check and get it in writing to make sure they refund all fees. (all lie to get your business).

Yes, bring some USD just in case you have an emergency. Make sure you have a safe in your room or use your hotel's safe deposit box. Things get stole even in the best of hotels.

Good luck![/QUOTE]Thank you, Hollywood. I also heard that there are quite a few money changers in centro during the day. Did you initially change some money at the airport?

I didn't realize this was never explained here. I guess I can do it now.

Exchanging money in Paraguay is very easy and honest in the exchange houses. Paraguay is a small country with very busy borders with Argentina and Brazil, and has a lot of import / export business with other countries also. So money changing is a very common event.

There are exchange houses all over, downtown and around the big malls. Almost all of them have a digital sign in front showing their exchange rates for the Guarani (Paraguay currency) for buying and selling Dollars, Argentina Pesos, Brazil Real, and Euros. Many banks have signs still, but may or may not change money. Many don't anymore, except for clients of the bank.

The best rates are in Asuncióand Centro in various houses. Most are open daytime until about 1800. Some may be open later but with a lower rate. The spread on the $ is the best at about 1% in the best houses, up to 2% in others. The spread on the Euro is terrible, typically about 7-10%. I suppose it would be cheaper to buy $ with Euros in Europe to use to buy Guarani in Paraguay.

There are also money changers on the street, especially in El Centro. Don't use them unless you are desperate. They know every way there is to cheat you. If you use them, keep it simple in small amounts. Be wary of the number of bills, and any change to receive. Calculate and write the change amount and the amount you should receive if you can. If there is more than one person to deal with, walk away. They will work together to confuse you. You are dealing in 10's and hundreds of thousands of Guarani, and it is easy to be confused.

The exchange rate can vary for no apparent reason. The Central Bank now has a lot of reserves and can manipulate the crap out of the Guarani because it is a small market. I have spotted a few patterns, where they have come out selling or buying to screw some group or other. It usually isn't enough to worry about for the tourist. You can't arbitrage it.

Dollars might be accepted in some places at some rate, but it isn't a good idea. All small business is done in Guarani. Computers and some electronics are at times priced in dollars in some stores, especially in El Centro, Ciudad del Este, and some other border towns. Cars are often priced and sold in dollars. The businesses do a huge $ trade for import and export. Real estate is at times priced in dollars because the numbers are so big.

You pretty much need to change some money as soon as possible to pay for taxi's and food kinds of things. The hotel will depend on the deal you have, but it can be priced either way if it is a tourist type. The best price will probably be in Guarani, but YMMV.

I have posted earlier about the problem with the ATM ripoff, so you have to decide if and how you will deal with that.

Thank you Lexton for detailed report. I'll change some at the airport and the rest downtown as I go along. The hotel is supposed to pick me up and included in service. In case the hotel forgets, I'll take a Taxi.

I made a mistake in the comment about exchanging money. That spread usually only matters to you if you change too much and want to change some back. Don't do that with Euros. On the Euro spread, it is generally the Paraguayans getting screwed, not the tourist.

Excuse the senior moment. I'm thinking about too many things.