The last thing you want after returning from a relaxing Latin American vacation is to feel the veins throbbing on your forehead when you see your bank statement.
Hidden travel costs and charges are around every corner waiting to slap you, but with a bit of preparation you can breathe a sigh of relief when you check your post-vacation account balance.
Here are 7 easy to implement money-wise tips that will save you hundreds on your next vacation.
1) Credit and Debit Cards - your plastic best friends
Credit cards are widely accepted to make payments in larger hotels, better restaurants, souvenir shops and stores, and to obtain cash advances. They are also acceptable as ‘proof of funds’ at borders. There’s also an ever-growing network of ATM machines that make it very easy to withdraw cash in local currency.
Visa is the most widely accepted for both purchases and cash advances, followed by MasterCard. American Express is not as widely accepted but also a good option.
Advances are increasingly available using ATMs (cajeros electronicos), for which Cirrus, Maestro, Plus and Delta cards may also be used, plus you can walk into many banks and arrange a higher cash advance in certain countries (Peru and Colombia for example). The rate of exchange is often the most favorable, and long bank queues can be avoided.
2) Check to see if your bank is sneaky
Before leaving you should check with your bank or credit card company whether they impose any handling charges. Make sure you have a separate note of the number and validity of your cards, as well as the phone numbers to call should they be lost or stolen.
It may also be worthwhile advising your bank that you intend to use your card abroad (and in which countries). Some banks, if they detect an irregular spending pattern, assume the card to be stolen and suspend the account. Barclays in the UK have very tight controls on its cards for example, Barclays customers beware!
Check your account carefully on return from Latin America to ascertain that payments for the card are legitimate.
3) Get the right ‘balance’ of local currency vs US dollars
It is not advisable to try to acquire Latin American currency before travelling. If a currency is
available in High Street banks or foreign exchange outlets the exchange rate is usually very
poor (nor will they be interested in buying any Latin American currency back when you return).
Strikes notwithstanding, you should be able to change dollars and / or travelers checks at the
airport or border upon arrival but try to avoid changing in the actual airport itself as the rate will be very poor. A good option would be to take a small amount of local currency from the airport ATM.
In Latin America, small denominations of US $ cash are often as readily accepted as the local currency, so keep a bundle of small bills as backup. If travelling between neighboring countries in Latin America any surplus local currencies can usually be exchanged into the next local currency, but normally only at border posts, the next big town across the border or airports, and nearly always at a loss.
To avoid getting scammed on your currency exchanges, check the Internet for the latest update on rates and write down how much to expect back in the new currency when you hand your money over.
4) Travelers Checks? Nope.
Traveler´s checks are increasingly less favored by travelers who find their use cumbersome in
comparison with bank cards. Traveler´s checks are becoming harder to cash and the charges are creeping higher.
There are a lots of alternatives, so if you you want to be smart with your money, this probably is not your best option.
5) Eat, sleep and travel local
Even though the cost of living in Latin America differs enormously between countries and can fluctuate wildly over time within a single country or region, services directed at tourists (e.g. hotels and restaurants) are more expensive.
The price of restaurant meals in Latin America varies as much as it does in Europe. At the bottom end of the scale, cheap, filling and often none-too hygienic meals can be obtained in markets, often for just a couple of dollars. This is usually the best source of regional food, but be aware of the high risk of stomach upsets. Modern snack bars, often of the fast-food variety, are much safer and cheaper, if uninspiring. A bit more up-market, you will find restaurants with pleasant decor, uniformed waiters, and menus offering both international and local dishes, but you will pay accordingly. Ask your tour operator for their suggestions.
6) Tipping - A little goes a long way (but sometimes too far)
It is impossible to give firm guidelines regarding how much to tip a provider of services in Latin
America, as the cost of living varies widely from country to country. However, it’s extremely uncomfortable to be caught out in a situation where you should or shouldn’t be tipping, especially as it is the major source of income in some jobs. But you don’t want to be taken for a ride by a crafty local - there’s nothing worse than getting scammed.
Be sure to get some advice on tipping situations in your destination - your travel agent / tour operator or a good guide book will provide you with suggestions for situations in which tipping is expected, and how much.
Whatever the amounts and situations, be sure to have to have small-denomination coins in local currency. You’re not likely to get change from tipping a large note, and foreign currency won’t be much use to the majority of people.
7) Bargaining - fight for your discount
Bargaining is normal procedure in most street and indoor markets, though no fair generalization can be made about the amount by which the price can be reduced. Shed any inhibitions you had about a pricing debate, and enjoy the negotiation!
Tourists can usually expect to have to pay more than locals. In Peru, the asking price is often 50% more than the vendor is prepared to accept, while the Otavalo Indians in Ecuador and street traders in Bolivia rarely come down more than 10%. In Guatemala, some traders will reduce their prices by 30% and others hardly at all.
Many street vendors are extremely poor, so respectfully bear this in mind when relentlessly hammering down prices.
Have you got any money-saving tips for travelling in Latin America? Do you remember when you ended up spending way too much money, or you avoided spending anything?
Author: Jon Clarke - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America
