Hey there! If you're already familiar with using Western Union, giving Xoom a shot might not be a bad idea. It's pretty similar, and you can use their website. Even better, if you've got a PayPal account, you can do it there since Xoom is part of PayPal. Just log in, look for the "Send cash for pickup to 110 countries" option, pick the country, and enter the amount to check the fees.
Transfer money online securely and easily with Xoom and save on money transfer fees. Wire money to a bank account in minutes or pick up cash at thousands of locations.
www.xoom.com
Now, the exchange rate for Xoom isn't as awesome as WU's, sadly. It's 878.40 compared to Western Union's 939.72. But, if you're in a bit of a tight spot, it's not too bad.
To pick up the cash, Xoom is buddies with "Cobro Express" and "Giros Express." You can find their locations on the Xoom website. If you're up for a mini-adventure, another idea is heading to Colonia or Montevideo for some US Dollars as
@Vero mentioned. There are places there that take PayPal, Zelle, or crypto transfers and give you dollars in return. It's a bit of a journey, but it can be a fun little getaway.
I've done it a couple of times. Just take the ferry, stay overnight, and enjoy the town. I love this fantastic restaurant called Dos 22 that has great food. Or Sio Sushi and Cocina with good seafood and sushi. You can hit the ATM at Banco República for USD without any fuss. Their fee is around $5 per transaction, and the limit is $600, but you can do multiple transactions.
So, if you're thinking of getting some quick cash, maybe try Xoom with a debit card or take a ferry to Colonia for some adventure and dollars.
You sound pretty desperate for cash so I'm guessing you're not sweating the small stuff like exchange rates and fees between WU and Xoom. Xoom charges $2.99 with a bank account, $4.99 with your PayPal balance, or $8.50 with a debit card. So, you're not looking at too much money. Now, WU for the same amount is charging fees of $8.99, regardless of funding with a bank account or debit card. Xoom is a bit more expensive but not too much in the grand scheme of things.
Quick tip: If you send with a debit card, it should speed things up, like, possibly within minutes. If it's a bank account, you might be waiting a few days.
You can see Xoom Partner locations here:
Xoom has thousands of money pickup locations and bank partners worldwide. Find a convenient location where your recipient can pick up their money transfer or a bank partner where they can receive a direct deposit to their bank account.
www.xoom.com
I've been around BA since this summer and the cueva hustle got old real quick for me. If tech is not your jam and Spanish ain't your strong suit (same here), the Colonia ferry is the way to go for a tech-friendly, English-friendly fix. I can barely say hola and chau so I can't just hit up 10 cuevas, asking them through Google Translate how to score some physical dollars for my rent – not my idea of a good time. That's why I'm all about the ferry to Uruguay – easy peasy nice and easy and makes me feel oh so good.
I've done it twice, end of October, end of November, and probably I will go in a few weeks. It's like a little escape with a change of scenery, good eats, and vibes. Colonia's a gem, trust me. Sure, you could do a day trip, but overnight is my jam – less stress with customs and immigration, and it feels like a mini-vacay. Airbnb for the night, hitting up a cool spot like Sushi and Cocina or Dos 22 for delicious food – that's my go-to. Even with ferry tickets and Airbnb, it's probably around the same or a bit more than a cueva, but for me, Colonia is just more fun, even if it means "losing" a day.
Answering your question – getting USD in Colonia is a breeze. Hit up the ATM at Banco República, like a 15-minute walk or a quick taxi from the ferry terminal. My Airbnbs were super close to the bank and the waterfront with all those cute cafes and restaurants.
The ATM at Banco República spits out USD, so just swipe that debit card. During my last visit, it was $5 per transaction, and the limit was $600. I'm with Charles Schwab, and they refund me ALL the ATM fees, so I can pull out $2,400 across four transactions, costing me $0. You shouldn't have trouble grabbing similar amounts, or even more if needed. There are four ATMs inside the bank, so no street exposure, plus armed security or police just a few feet away.
The dollars I've snagged were fresh out of the pack – crisp and clean. If there's a daily limit, I haven't hit it yet. Usually, it's your home bank blocking the move, not the ATM. For instance, my bank's daily withdrawal limit is $800, but I can bump it up to $4,000 through their app. Also, I've got a backup checking account and debit card with another bank, just in case. If anything goes wonky, I can zap funds between banks using Zelle.
The cool thing? One trip to Colonia and I'm set for months, no need for Western. Union, Xoom or cuevas. Time spent there is time saved elsewhere. Plus, having a stash of physical USD is handy. If I need pesos, I hit up the cueva in Palermo Soho right by the park, or I try to use my Visa to stretch those dollars before my next Colonia trip.
I'm sure there are other suggestions out there, but if I were in your shoes needing quick cash, I'd roll with a debit card on Xoom, hope for a same-day deal, or hop on that Colonia ferry tomorrow morning. If you need help with Xoom or anything Colonia-related, hit me up, and I got you!
