I relied on colectivos in Mendoza and found that drivers expect ARS in cash - no POS machines. A few newer buses in Buenos Aires let me tap credit car...

At Mendoza airport I exchanged USD, but the rate was visibly low. I walked to downtown and used a Banco Supervielle ATM which offered a rate close to ...

I tried paying by card during a midnight ride, but my Mastercard was declined with the message “Tarjeta inválida.” The driver said they rarely get tou...

I stayed 10 days and averaged US $110/day, mainly because of guided glacier tours and wine tasting in Mendoza. Without these splurges, my spend droppe...

I’ve tried about 15 different ATMs across Argentina and none let me take out more than 15,000 pesos at once. Most capped at around 35k (~$35 USD) and ...

Street taxis in Armenia? Always cash. No POS, no receipts. I once tried to argue but gave in. Use Yandex Go or GG app - they charge fair rates and you...

I was surprised how analog everything felt. No transit cards, no tap-to-pay - just coins and small dram bills. Even the bus from Yerevan to Sevan only...

The hostel in Goris flat-out asked for dram on arrival - no machines, no exceptions. In Yerevan, Retro Hostel accepted my Mastercard, but the reader w...

I tried to use Amex at a Yerevan design shop - but they said they only accept Visa. Same with my coffee runs. Armenia isn’t Amex-friendly, but Visa an...