queenangelfish
10/20/2016 10:23 EST
Hello all!
I have read in other posts/articles that it is not easy to exchange cash in Guatemala for local currency. Are there the typical "casas de cambio" or money exchange kiosks there at all?
In other words, if I arrive from Mexico or Belize, with Mex Pesos or Belizean dollars, where can I exchange them in, for example, Flores or Lake Atitlan? Or at the airports?
I know most people suggest just using ATM's for withdrawals but my bank charges extra fees that add up over time.
Thank you!
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bajasur
10/20/2016 10:30 EST
There is a casa de cambio in Antigua. Located on 5th Avenue. Walk north on 5th toward El Arco, it's in the first block north of the park on the right hand side. Also, I've changed US $100 in BAM and BI, limit use to be $200 per week.
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AlPavarotti
10/21/2016 00:43 EST
The money you save by not paying the ATM fees is what you'll lose when they rip you off at the Casa de Cambio. Not only that. They might exchange US dollars to Quetzales. But I seriously doubt they exchange belizean dollars or mexican pesos.. Good luck.
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queenangelfish
10/21/2016 10:29 EST
Thanks for the comments, much appreciated!
xe dot com lists the Quetzal as trading at 7.49 per US dollar... I know you always less on the streets, but is that anywhere close to what people get thru their ATM withdrawals?
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AlPavarotti
10/21/2016 11:36 EST
Yes. What you get at an ATM is pretty close to the official rate of exchange. From what I've read it's been going down a little bit. Another thing. Banks will only let you buy quetzales with US dollars if you have an account with them. In other words the ATM is the way to go in guatemala. I charge pretty much everything to my Business CitiCard because it doesn't charge me a foreign transaction fee. I always keep a zero balance. I just let them know about my travel itinerary before I leave . And that's how I've been flying for free all over the world for the last 20 years. And I also keep an account with a separate bank to be used with my debit card during my travels.
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zaqwsx
10/21/2016 21:39 EST
think of what you have left when you leave a Latin American country as play money to give the grand children. The only place you are going to change it is at the boarder and then with a 3 to 15% discount. Catholic Charities is also usually there to take your useless money. Use the ATM and only take out what you need. Check with your bank I suspect they have a card with no international charges. Swab has no international charges and reimburses the local atm fees. If you are going to be traveling that might be a consideration. and just forget about coins, I finally filled the bottom of the fountain at my house with useless coins.
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