I am in Montevideo for a few days and have discovered that the GST (iVA in local parlance) is automatically refunded if you pay car hire or restaurant meals with a non-Uruguayan debit or credit card. It is targeted at Argentinian visitors but we all get to benefit. The refund works out to be about 18% on restaurant meals and around 9% on car hire.
The link says benefits expired in April but they were extended.
Excactly the first thing I thought of haha
Same. I was just thinking last night I'd really like to go to Rand McNally…I've heard it's nice there
Just watch out for the hamburgers
Targeted… To those in Uruguay. ;) Thanks op
Well it's about time!
/Broden on/
Do they do CashRewards?
Thanks. I'll book the next flight there to take advantage of the discount
That's the spirit ozbargain needs!
Most of the cruises going from Buenos Aires to Brazil do stop at Montevideo so this would be handy to know if you are touring/cruising South America.
Not niche enough, needs to be more specific…
Seriously…
Thanks. Got 5
Lunch sorted.
You'll get there quick!
sharing is caring (excepting BO and STD) :)
so, whats great about Uruguay? Would you live/retire there?
edit
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attractions-g294064-Activitie…
It’s mini Argentina but safer (just avoid the old town part in Montevideo at night and exercise common sense - like what we do here) Great asados (bbq meat) and nice wines.
Quick Scooby gang, to the negmobile
anyone from Uruguay here? what's interesting there?
Been there once. Day trip to Colonia from Argentina in a Ferry.
If you like meat, they do cook really nice bbq, however not sure it’s every one’s cup of tea to eat brain, blood sausages, tongue etc.
Montevideo is reasonably nice, much like a mini Buenos Aires if you've been before - beautiful architecture, good food, nice beach/coastal waterfront, bohemian neighbourhoods, albeit a little gritty in parts and clogged with busses everywhere.
Better to move along the coast for something different altogether. Whether it's the history of Colonia, the ritz of Punta del Este (basically, a luxury resort town), or the seclusion and serenity of La Paloma or Cabo Polonio (beachside hamlets).
I heard there is a little Chinese shop in the Asian quarter of Casablanca that offers free cookies on arrival. PM for details.
Mod: Comment edited Ref.
Surely worth its own post
I’ve never understood why people visit Chinatowns in other countries. You could just go to China no?
Can you not read? Free cookies is why
$1 packet of cookies. $200 a night hotel. Priorities.
Had a nice Chinese meal once, in Venice
Succulent?
Is that the fabric shop in Derb Omar opposite Mr Lee's Chinese restaurant? If so, better make it there fast. In one week he's returning to China to open a Haier washing machine repair business. No free cookies sadly, but an 11% discount for cash payments and a 3 month warranty on all repairs. If you can't make it to his shop with your washing machine you can courier it to him and he'll ship it back in 4-5 months for a reasonable fee (but no cash discount obviously).
"The cookies are cursed"
That's bad.
But they come with a free frogurt!
OK. I don't think this is a "bargain". 9% discount on hire car or 18% on a restaurant on the other side of the planet. I wouldn't consider these discounts to be a bargain even if they would be available in Australia.
Are you serious? 18% off any restaurant of your choice in Aus would be an incredible deal tbh
You've got a point. The restaurants that don't need to discount never do.
The summary from Lonely Planet sums it up pretty well, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/uruguay/montevideo, it's culture is it's attraction, I couchsurfed there with locals and loved every bit of it, I was there during the march for the "disappeared", almost 200 people who "vanished" during the last dictatorship, it was incredibly moving! They're progressive with social policies, first country to legalise marijuana, same sex marriage and abortion both legal and properly legislated, there are still some human rights stains on their record, but no more than ours that's for sure, I'd go back in a heartbeat, I still miss our mate' sessions!
(profanity) this is a niche post, even by ozbargain standards
bargain. im heading there now for this.
Thanks OP, also doing a day trip to Colonia from Argentina in a few months. Few extra dollars for pisco sours. Is this automatically applied or will I need to ask them in Spanish?
Hola amigo, quita el IVA por favor, soy un jodido turista.
There, done.
PS. It's automatic, as per OP, with a non-Uruguayan debit/credit card.
this is recurrent. AFAIK they always did that in certain times of the year. Montevideo and Buenos Aires (Arg) are nice cities to visit. you can also jump to Bariloche and surroundings for some 🎿 ing
This deal appears tailored for an Uber Eats delivery
Is phone fine?
Just had breakfast for two at a local restaurant here in Montevideo - 565 pesos less 101.88 = 463.12 pesos. I swear even the food tastes better when you are paying 18% less for it. I paid with my no FX fee ING Visa card like a true Ozbargainer (Urbargainer?).
Spent a few days in Punta del Este a large number of years ago, an hour or so up the road. Rich mans paradise, with a billion dollars of cruisers parked at the marina at any given time. Worth a visit, even for a day. The Monte Carlo of South America. Bloody expensive, so the 18% off might take the sting out of your spend.
Saying this is a bargain because you need to pay to travel to Uruguay to take advantage of the bargain is like saying a discounted app is not a bargain because you need to buy a smartphone first.
It’s niche, yes, but it will help some people. Personally, I’ve been deciding between Uruguay, Argentina and Costa Rica to spend a month or two. This post comes at a good time now that I know I can save 18% on living expenses. There are other considerations of course, but it’s something serious for me to take into account.
Hey guys, I just stumbled on an incredibly cheap restaurant in Yonsa. The menu is brilliant and the servings are more than any one person could possibly eat. What’s more, it’s conveniently located just across the road from the train station. You can’t miss it. Highly recommended. Check it out if or when you’re passing through.
Yonsa, as in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
https://youtu.be/4paLVu0gNcQ