Getting the most out of the high exchange rate - Como aprovechar al máximo la taza alta del Dólar
The exchange rate for the US Dollar has been hovering around the high Gs. 4,000´s for the last couple of weeks. I have heard through "radio so´o" (the Paraguayan grapevine) that this is a temporary phenomenom. Might as well take advantage while it lasts. Some tips for getting the most out of your dollars in Asunción.
- Change money in the Centro - The exchange rate offered in downtown Asunción (the "centro") tends to be higher than in Villa Morra and other areas. Most of the "casas de cambio" downtown are located along Calle Palma going 2-3 blocks in either direction from the Panteón de los Heroes
- Financieras usually have better rates then normal banks or exchange houses. There is a Financiera Brios in Shopping Villa Morra and there a couple of financieras along Palma.
- If you are changing a large quantity of money or are a regular ask for a better rate.
- Remember that US $100 bills with serials starting in CB and D are not being accepted.
I have not had any experience changing money on the street. Please feel free to comment if you have!
- Cambia dinero en el Centro - la taza de cambio tiende a ser más alta en el centro de Asunción que en Villa Morra y otras areas. La mayoría de las casas de cambio se ubican en la calle Palma extendiéndose 2 - 3 cuadras en ambas direcciónes desde el Panteón de los Héroes.
- Las financieras normalmente tiene mejores tazas que los bancos o casas de cambio. Hay una Financiera Brios en Shopping Villa Morra y varias financieras a lo largo de Palma.
- Si estás cambiando una suma grande de dinero o sos cliente regular pedí que te den una mejor taza.
- Recuerda que los billetes de US $100 serie CB y D no están siendo aceptadas.
Nunca he cambiado dinero con los cambistas en la calle. Siéntete libre para agregar un comentario si lo has hecho!
Labels: Daily life - vida diaria, Money - Dinero, Travel Info - Información para Viajeros
7 Comments:
Hi, I love this site, keep going please! Is it difficult/boring to write the same thing in two languages each post?
I was in Asuncion for one day in July 2006 (jajj un dia no mas, aprovechando el Paraguay ;o). First my friend and I tried changing money with some guy on the street (Palma), then we didn't trust doing that and told him we could get a better rate at a casa de cambio nearby (and thought it would be a safer practice). He said, "Pffft, it's a difference of 200 Guaranies, that's nothing." We went to a casa but we had to wait so long that we ended up going back to that guy on the street anyway. No habia problema.
Back then it was 5,500 Gs/$us1.
Thanks for the information! We will certainly look for the Casas de Cambio and the Fanincieras when we are in Asuncion next week. Have a nice day! Maybe one day we'll get the rate of 6,000 again!!
Thanks for checking out the site! Fortunately for me it is not boring to write in both languages. I decided that my travel guide should be in both (not sure whether that means two versions or both in one) so as to be useful to more people. So the blog is good practice!
Usually I write in English and then translate into Spanish. I try to strike a balance between keeping translations as literal as possible and still having them sound correct in Spanish. I want people learning Spanish to be able to follow along easily but at the same time some some phrases just don't sound right in Spanish if I am too literal. Also Spanish can be a lot more flowery than English.
On to the money situation.. I remember the days of Gs. 6,000 exchange rates! I used all my money then to buy candy from my aunt's despensa in Fernando de la Mora. Gs. 6,000 can get you a lot of candy!
Kath, please feel free to email me with any questions you might have while you're here. I'll do my best to point you in the right direction!
saludos,
Natalia
A couple of times I heard that its better to change tuesday through Thursday and avoid Mondays and Fridays.
I wonder if there is any truth to this?
Has anyone else had the experience of getting change back on the bus or almacen and being given caramelos instead of monedas? Candy as legal tender is just one of the things that made Paraguay so endearing.
Ahhh! I hate it when that happens! I´ve been "candied" all over Latin America. My sister has always wanted to go into a store and try to pay for something using a big bag of candy instead of money.
The worst is when they are lame candies!
yo he cambiado dinero en la los cambistas del centro de calle palma y me ocurrio que como extranjero me llavaba unos dolares con las series CB y D que las casas no lo aceptan pero los cambistas de la calle si lo hacen, ya que no hay ninguna prueba de que tales series sean falsas, y son de libres circulacion en cualquier pais menos en paraguay lo cual es absurdo, pero que le podemos decir, los cambistas de la calle te cobran 10 dolares por cada 100 que te cambien, ya que ellos mismo dicne que los venden en la frontera tanto de argentina como con la de brasil. asuncion me encanta!!! un abrazo grande a todos
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