Chile Forum

The only real problem with dollars and Chile is that they are not worth anything anymore. Really.

Chile is a Peso economy. You can change dollars at any bank, and there are exchange houses all over the place, but Chile is not a dollar economy. You can not go out to a bar and just pay for your drinks with dollars like you would say in Mexico or even in Argentina. Once in a blue moon you might come across a place that has a sign saying they will buy dollars or perhaps a Hotel will exchange dollars, but don't depend on it. For the most part you are going to get a terrible exchange rate on them.

Leave the dollars in your bank, and bring your ATM card to get pesos (please search the forums for ATM card related info).

There are massive 30+ page threads beating this topic silly on the forum.

Yep, it's exactly as I thought. I wouldn't expect any foreign country outside of u.s, who hasn't been colonized by the u.s (besides Mexico) to accept dollars in any shape or form. How could you assume such a thing in the first place? Must be an American imperialistic thing. Same kind of reasoning that makes certain people in the u.s to believe America to be greatest country on earth. How funny. (Mind you, I'm not an american, I have lived here for about 5 years and am happy to move on to greener pastures.)

More than anti-collonialistic it is the natural laziness of most of Chileans. they hate go to the casa de cambio, too much effort, much better than gringo do it. In almos any other Latin American country dollars are accepted and they charge a little making a small profit with the exchange: in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina you have no problem paying with dollars, but the lazy Chilean businessman "le da lata ir a cambiarlos"

tombrad2 wrote:... but the lazy Chilean businessman "le da lata ir a cambiarlos"

funny you should mention that tom.. I am always amazed by the lack of tourist orientated services that will take in foreign currencies.. unlike most countries I have been to where having dollars is an advantage and most of the time they will quite happily take that over their own currency.. Chile seems to be quite oblivious to the benefits of making a little extra on the conversion rates.. not even that.. just to even get someone's business even.. they will quite happily see you walk out the door with ur gringo dollars than to accept them and get ur business.. just plain funny!

When we were in Vina this past Nov, the tour place were okay with me paying in Dollars. We took a tour around Vina and Valparaiso. Rode up one of those cable things. Kind of a rickety thing.

We've been there for nine months now, and we love it, but don't confuse Chile with Switzerland. You can live a first world life here for the most part, you will save money as opposed to, say, living in California or Italy, but the experience comes with a few strings attached. From personal experience and to double down on advice already given in this thread, yes you need to have bars and an alarm system or you'll get robbed, and no, you don't want to pay a year worth of rent upfront.

Now that I have introduced my landlord to the delights of a deposito judicial (i.e. rent is locked in court until we've resolved our differences) I'm sure she regrets the time when I used to pay her three months upfront by wire! You mess with me lady, say hello to my lawyer

loreleiah wrote:Is there a town with a perfect mix of old world charm and newly founded modernism that tourists haven't ransacked?

I don't know if it's too late to throw my 2 cents in, but you don't have to cross the border every three months to renew your tourist visa. You can extend your stay. I am not quite sure how much, but probably cheaper than having to cross the border every 3 months. With that said Santa Cruz, Chile is a nice place. It is a little bit South of Rancagua, but close enough to other communities that have a few gringos here and there. Plus, the coast isn't a far drive either. If you're really looking to get away from Santiago Huasco, Chile is untouched by Gringos. It is a coastal town in the 3rd region. They are known for olives, olive oil...anything to do with olives. A really great place to catch some rays and eat some mariscos.

Goodluck!