Advice about currency exchange

With 2.9 million people, Salvador is Brazil's fourth largest city.  Under normal circumstances,  it's a vibrant, cosmopolitan center, with a rich culture, a wonderful cuisine, a frenetic nightlife, and plenty of activity all the time. 

Because of covid-19, these are not normal circumstances.   Brazil is going through a particularly difficult time with the disease right now, so observe all health precautions.   Bahia, the state whose capital Salvador is, is currently listed as "stable" for covid, but the illness is accelerating in the neighboring states, and probably will in Bahia, as well.

Commercial hours will quite possibly be curtailed in Salvador during your stay, which will affect hours that foreign exchange shops, "casas de câmbio", are open.  So it's a good idea to exchange at least some euros at the airport in São Paulo or Salvador, just to have some reais in your pocket when you get to town.

Salvador is a major city, so you shouldn't have trouble exchanging euros, providing that the câmbios are open.  Bank ATMs process cash advances through the major international networks,  so you should be able to obtain cash, in reais, using your credit cards or debit card, if they participate in one of the networks listed on the ATM. 

The airport ATMs should be pretty safe.  In the city, try to use ATMs in bank lobbies, and avoid ATMs in retail locations, which can be subject to scamming.   Avoid ATMs on the street because of the prevalence of street crime in Brazilian cities, which seems worse with the pandemic.

This is a difficult time to visit Brazil.   Stay safe!

Kurterino

   Man I wish it were me!!!!
    I have spent a lot of time in Salvador wrestling with these issues.
    The bank ATM in the airport has been removed recently.  Other bank ATMS at Banco do Brasil and Santander, will not give you any more than R $ 100 per day the first times you use them.
     The best way I have found is to take US cash to the Shopping Bahia mall (its huge and very modern) near the center of the city.  There are several places inside the mall which will do exchanges for you, including Travel Agencies and Caixas.  They customarily do not open until 11am or 11:30, later than the rest of the stores in the mall.  They will give you the very, very best exchange rates that you can find anywhere in the world, much better than NYC, because they are hungry for US dollars.
     Most stores, restaurants and even taxicabs will accept US credit cards or debit cards .... if you have any issues with debit cards, then tell them that its a credit card, that works .....
     Be very careful carrying cash, always have someone with you and never show it to anyone until you need to.

gosh I wish I could go with you.....

photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/167129605 … 1817351896

I have learned the hard way, for exchanging foreign currency to Brasilian, while in Brasil, I ALWAYS use local travel agencies, they like doing it, they give by far the best exchange rates, and never charge an exchange fee. It always works out great, fast, and easy. Not one of them has even hesitated to do this for me.  Those little currency exchange places are a serious rip-off.

Recently the RF and PF began raiding tour operators and Cambios and closing the businesses for failure to pay and report the exchanges.
Yes, we had a few I used at a good rate, but 2 are closed today.
I 2nd carrying dollars and euros in today's world.

abthree wrote:

With 2.9 million people, Salvador is Brazil's fourth largest city.  Under normal circumstances,  it's a vibrant, cosmopolitan center, with a rich culture, a wonderful cuisine, a frenetic nightlife, and plenty of activity all the time. 

Because of covid-19, these are not normal circumstances.   Brazil is going through a particularly difficult time with the disease right now, so observe all health precautions.   Bahia, the state whose capital Salvador is, is currently listed as "stable" for covid, but the illness is accelerating in the neighboring states, and probably will in Bahia, as well.

Commercial hours will quite possibly be curtailed in Salvador during your stay, which will affect hours that foreign exchange shops, "casas de câmbio", are open.  So it's a good idea to exchange at least some euros at the airport in São Paulo or Salvador, just to have some reais in your pocket when you get to town.

Salvador is a major city, so you shouldn't have trouble exchanging euros, providing that the câmbios are open.  Bank ATMs process cash advances through the major international networks,  so you should be able to obtain cash, in reais, using your credit cards or debit card, if they participate in one of the networks listed on the ATM. 

The airport ATMs should be pretty safe.  In the city, try to use ATMs in bank lobbies, and avoid ATMs in retail locations, which can be subject to scamming.   Avoid ATMs on the street because of the prevalence of street crime in Brazilian cities, which seems worse with the pandemic.

This is a difficult time to visit Brazil.   Stay safe!

Thank you, very helpful!

So € will be easily exchangeable, or are US $ preferred? (If I have to get $, I’ll lose some here through the exchange rate, so unless it’s a lot better than having €, it’s not worth it)

Hi, I'm fairly new to this wonderful country. I recently ran out of Reals (cash). I discovered that even the fruit vendors at the steet market take Credit Cards. It seemed funny to pull out my Mastercard for $6R worth of puneapple, but the vendor didn't seem to mind. And Mastercard  (from Canada) seems to give the posted rate with no extra fees. It seems cash (Euros, dollars, or Reals) are pretty much redundant.

it seems I like to use "seem" a lot. (Blush)

Drjmagic wrote:

Hi, I'm fairly new to this wonderful country. I recently ran out of Reals (cash). I discovered that even the fruit vendors at the steet market take Credit Cards. It seemed funny to pull out my Mastercard for $6R worth of puneapple, but the vendor didn't seem to mind. And Mastercard  (from Canada) seems to give the posted rate with no extra fees. It seems cash (Euros, dollars, or Reals) are pretty much redundant.

Your bank might charge you a "foreign transaction fee". It depends on credit card holder agreement between you & the bank.

Californian.in.SP wrote:

Drjmagic wrote:

Hi, I'm fairly new to this wonderful country. I recently ran out of Reals (cash). I discovered that even the fruit vendors at the steet market take Credit Cards. It seemed funny to pull out my Mastercard for $6R worth of puneapple, but the vendor didn't seem to mind. And Mastercard  (from Canada) seems to give the posted rate with no extra fees. It seems cash (Euros, dollars, or Reals) are pretty much redundant.

Your bank might charge you a "foreign transaction fee". It depends on credit card holder agreement between you & the bank.

I was expecting a foreign transaction fee, but I haven't been charged any. Even if I was, it would only be a small percentage (2-4%) which is less than I was paying Transferwise. Unless it is a huge transaction, for me the convenience and security of a card outweighs cash.

tip:  In Brazillian Portuguese, the plural of "Real" is "Reais".  Its pronounced to sound a lot like "Hay Ice" .....

Inubia wrote:

tip:  In Brazillian Portuguese, the plural of "Real" is "Reais".  Its pronounced to sound a lot like "Hay Ice" .....

Hay Ice... Sounds like Spanish...

Soy milk 

Drjmagic wrote:

Californian.in.SP wrote:

Drjmagic wrote:

Hi, I'm fairly new to this wonderful country. I recently ran out of Reals (cash). I discovered that even the fruit vendors at the steet market take Credit Cards. It seemed funny to pull out my Mastercard for $6R worth of puneapple, but the vendor didn't seem to mind. And Mastercard  (from Canada) seems to give the posted rate with no extra fees. It seems cash (Euros, dollars, or Reals) are pretty much redundant.

Your bank might charge you a "foreign transaction fee". It depends on credit card holder agreement between you & the bank.

I was expecting a foreign transaction fee, but I haven't been charged any. Even if I was, it would only be a small percentage (2-4%) which is less than I was paying Transferwise. Unless it is a huge transaction, for me the convenience and security of a card outweighs cash.

Banks, well at least my bank (Citi Bank) charges foreign transaction fee at the END of my billing cycle.

And YES, I agree with you about convenience and security. But be careful, sometimes small street vendors can charge your card twice, first time they charge and say "sorry, it didn't go through" and charge (swipe your card) again. It happened to me couple times in SP.

Kurterino wrote:

Thank you, very helpful!

So € will be easily exchangeable, or are US $ preferred? (If I have to get $, I’ll lose some here through the exchange rate, so unless it’s a lot better than having €, it’s not worth it)

I don't think that you'll have much trouble exchanging Euros, particularly in a major city like Salvador.

Drjmagic wrote:

it seems I like to use "seem" a lot. (Blush)

"Seem" is not inappropriate on this subject. 

Unexpected people, like fruit vendors, may accept foreign credit cards.  Restaurants are usually good about it.  But major retailers like department stores may balk, quite unexpectedly.  Cash isn't quite obsolete yet.  And debit cards.

My only advice as to small vendors is their WiFi company and security.
Cannot remember which company here charged on your card.

Thanks to everyone who answered, and especially your remarks about safety are appreciated. I’m used to traveling in Asian countries and frankly, after years of mostly riding through countrysides without even so much as a scare in that regard, that is very useful advice.
About the taxis at the airport in Salvador: are the licensed taxis “safe” to use? Is there a scam of some sorts I should be aware of?

I have a trusted driver, always use the same man when Im in Salvador.  My gut instincts tell me that theres a glut of taxis ...hungry drivers have time on their hands to get more "creative" .....

Kurterino wrote:

Thanks to everyone who answered, and especially your remarks about safety are appreciated. I’m used to traveling in Asian countries and frankly, after years of mostly riding through countrysides without even so much as a scare in that regard, that is very useful advice.
About the taxis at the airport in Salvador: are the licensed taxis “safe” to use? Is there a scam of some sorts I should be aware of?

Major Brazilian cities like Salvador have flat rate taxi services between the airport and the city.  If you want to use a taxi and not get ripped off, look for a taxi kiosk or counter somewhere near baggage claim.  Usually, you'll pay them, they'll give you a slip to give the driver and direct you to the pickup point; these taxis are safe to use.  Be sure to grab the business card of the company you choose, with their contact info.  The fixed rate should also apply in the other direction, heading to the airport from the city.   If you try to hail a gypsy cab (which may not even be possible) and he tries to go on meter, you may be taken for a ride in more ways than one!

Uber has also become common in Brazil, and if your phone works here and you have the app on it and an account, you can just summon an Uber as you would anywhere else.

If you don’t have a lot of bags you can use the subway system in Salvador from the Airport. You take a free bus to the station. It depends on where your going to stay. The subway has two or three lines. Check it out can get you closer much cheaper than a taxi.

Kurterino wrote:

Thanks to everyone who answered, and especially your remarks about safety are appreciated. I’m used to traveling in Asian countries and frankly, after years of mostly riding through countrysides without even so much as a scare in that regard, that is very useful advice.
About the taxis at the airport in Salvador: are the licensed taxis “safe” to use? Is there a scam of some sorts I should be aware of?

The taxi kiosks outside of the airport terminals are probably the safest way to get any taxi service, anywhere in Brazil.  Airport taxis are not just regular street taxis, they carry a different government license and are usually a different color car than street taxis. In addition, you pay at the airport kiosk. That way, there is no risk of funny business of driving you all around the back roads, they go as quickly as possible since it is pre-paid.