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Subject: Re: Return ticket...does all of Latin America require it? Posted on: Mon, 08 May 2006 10:20:50 MDT

In article <1147089208.251168.296630@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
"SD" wrote:

> aaJoe wrote:
> > > I honestly don't undertand why you want US dollars instead of local
> > > currency.
> >
> > Because your bank in Arkansas will probably have a lousy exchange rate
> > for Bolivian currency. US dollars are universal. Most everyone likes
> > them and is willing to trade them on an open market.
> >
>
> Wrong, my bank in Washington state gives the interbank rate on currency
> exchange when I use the ATM. .
>
> > > Many places in Honduras won't touch anything other than new
> > > crisp bills, anything worn or torn will not be accepted. If you are not
> > > in a tourist area it is even more difficult to use US dollars.
> > > If you use US dollars to pay for things, you'll get change back in the
> > > local
> > > currency, not US dollars, and the exchange rate won't be favorable from
> > > a merchant.They want a profit when they change it at the bank.
> >
> >
> > > I haven't seen an AMEX office in three years of living and traveling
> > > around Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Honestly, most people use
> > > ATM's because it is less hassle to find them than it is to find the
> > > AMEX office, cash is dispensed in local currency so you won't need to
> > > convert, and you won't have to worry about counterfeit US$20 - of
> > > which there is a large amount floating around in Central America.
> >
> > Good points. I'd love to use ATM's but can't see how an American bank
> > in the US is going to better a local exchange rate with US dollars of
> > cash or travelers checks. Often travelers checks get a better rate than
> > cash - a further incentive to carry them.
>
> Enjoy your vacation standing in bank lines for hours on end, assuming
> you'll find a bank that will cash traveler's checks.

I hear you. ATM's rock. Now how would I check local exchange rates to
see what the difference is between North American banks and latin
american banks?