The Expat Files - 05/28/12

-Be sure to sign up for my Saturday am, June 2nd teleconference call. Do this by going to www.expatwisdom.com and signing up for my free report- “17 Undiscovered Latin American Paradises”. By signing up you will automatically get an email with the details on how to participate on the phone or skype.

-Some advice about changing US dollars to local Latin currencies and vice versa, and how to avoid getting gouged when doing so. The truth about buy/sell (compra/venta) rates, and how to work them in your favor.

-In places that accept both dollars and the local currency, every so often the exchange rates will actually favor the dollar over the local funny money. Here’s how savvy expats can take advantage of that discrepancy. For example; when off the tourist trail, and making a purchase of over $20 in any Latin American store, always ask if they take dollars (acepta dolares?). Many that do take dollars will actually give a much better exchange rate than the banks do (don’t ask why) just take advantage of it.

-The changing face of Latin American airport security. Are they tightening up? Are they getting stricter? Yes, but this is the third world so their version is always a much more lax and imperfect copy.