Money

You're never far from an ATM in Santiago. Exchange houses are clustered on Agustinas between Bandera and Ahumada. Cambios Afex ( 688-1143; Agustinas 1050, Centro; Universidad de Chile) is efficient. There is also a whole bunch of cambios (money exchangers) on Av Pedro de Valdivia in Providencia, although some will not change traveler's checks apart from US dollars. The branch of Afex ( 223-7202; Av Pedro de Valdivia 44, Providencia; Pedro de Valdivia) has the widest range of exchange facilities, but check the rates elsewhere for the best deal. You can exchange cash at the airport, but rates are pretty poor. Note that cambios pay slightly less for traveler's checks than for cash.

Numbers you can call if you lose your credit cards or traveler's checks:

Amex ( 800-201-896)

Diner's Club ( 800-220-220)

MasterCard ( 1230-020-2012)

Visa( 410-581-9994)

Dangers & annoyances

Violent crime is relatively rare in Santiago, but petty crime is on the increase. And unfortunately gringos tend to be targets, especially for opportunist thieves. Be on your guard but not paranoid around the Plaza de Armas, Mercado Central, Barrio Brasil, Cerro Santa Lucía and Cerro San Cristóbal in particular. Don't be flashy with your belongings, and try not to talk conspicuously in English into your cell phone. Finally, don't drop your guard if you're out on a big night in Bellavista. Organized groups have been known to target drinkers, especially on Pío Nono. As with any big city you are safer in a pair or group late at night, although there is no need to worry unduly. Santiago remains one of South America's safest cities and with a little common sense and awareness the chances of any problems are slim.

Scams

Around Cerro Santa Lucía and the Plaza de Armas you may be approached by someone handing out poetry on slips of paper, telling you how they cannot afford to pay for their studies. They probably are not students and the poems are unlikely to be theirs.

Make sure that you are not charged a fee to go into Cerro Santa Lucía. Santiago's parks are free.

 

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