A quick note about what we found while travelling in venezuela... changing american cash (or maybe euro not sure) gets you a way better rate then the bank like 3600 bolivares to the dollar compared to 2150 which the bank or visa gives you... it has something to do with the currency being tied to the dollar but this dosen´t reflect the actual value... (we are not really positve but feel free to comment if you actually know what´s going on)... the guide book says that this is illegal but not really enforced and by the number of people offering it seems ok to do...
so of course not recommending to break the law but for those travellers who are looking to strech their money... like us... every bit helps...
also if anyone know about selling bolivares out side of venezuela (brasil in particular) and if it is possible please let us know (all the rules with this currency are hard to keep track of...)
Reply to this Hi there,
While I was in Venezuela I always traded my dollars on the black market, usually with travel companies in Mérida where I was staying. ATM's are hard to manage (you have to be superman fast with your pin or it will log you out!) plus you only get the official rate. It was really easy to trade money with the travel agents. Usually you get a higher rate trading $100 or more at a time. The most I got was 3600 Bs to the dollar about 7 months ago, but my boyfriend recently said it was trading as high as 6000 Bs to the dollar, because of the change to the Bolivar Fuerte. Either way, it is an easy way to get more for your money, but one should take caution not to trade with random people on the street who hollar "I buy dollars!", but somewhere more reputable like a tour company.
I don't know much about trading outside of VZ but if I hear anything from my guy I'll add to my post.
Reply to this I am going to Venezuela in December and wondering what I should bring for currencies and how much for a month? I am going to be staying with a friend.
Thanks so much
Reply to this Try to bring as much cash as you can (dollars or Euro) as this will make you pretty rich in Venezuela. With the official exchange rate (which is what you get if you use your credit card) everything is very expensive here.
Reply to this How much is it worth carrying, though? Surely the risk of taking dollars into SA in large amounts is having them all stolen?
Reply to this I have been talking to my friend that currently lives over there in Venezuela and she has been told the bank wont exchange my US travellers cheques for that currency..soo what am I supposed to do then?? I am going for a whole month.
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