Argentina Currency for Dummies

[Jamietravelstheworld]

Can someone explain Argentinian currency to me like I'm a first grader? I just don't get it. There's a blue currency rate, another color rate, and a credit card rate - I'm so confused. I just need a simple, clear, what currency do I use explanation. Thanks.

[TwoSue]

10 hours ago, Jamietravelstheworld said:

Can someone explain Argentinian currency to me like I'm a first grader? I just don't get it. There's a blue currency rate, another color rate, and a credit card rate - I'm so confused. I just need a simple, clear, what currency do I use explanation. Thanks.

They have a lot of exchange rates but when we were there a year ago, there were three that were important. There is an official exchange rate that you would get if you withdrew cash at an ATM. There is the blue rate that you would get if you changed cash on the street at a cambio. This was about twice the official rate. Then there was the rate you got if you used a US credit card, which was slightly less than the blue rate. We took crisp $100 bills and changed them at the blue rate.

However, just this week their new president devalued the peso almost in half (SO many pesos per dollar...it's changing daily) and may be trying to eliminate the blue rate. So depending on when you're going, you'll have to keep an eye on it to see what the best rate is