Colombian Stores/making change (best, country, people, time)

[GBCommenter]

Question for the forum - If I have only $50K peso notes when I get off the plane and make a purchase at a store, do stores typically have change? I know this may seem like a silly question, but when I visited Ecuador (about 10 years ago now...) though they use the USD it was fairly difficult to break bills beyond about a $5 bill. I even struggled to get a bank to break down the one $50 bill I somehow came across.

I am thinking of going with a relatively small amount of pesos upon landing into the country, but the exchange only has 50K notes, and I am arriving into Medellin Airport pretty late so not sure how much will be open in the airport.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Vacanegro]

Go to ATM in Airport - take out the required pesos. Repeat as often as necessary at local cajero automatico. Problem solved.

[Oraculo]

Yes, stores usually have change and prices at the airport tend to be high.

Only time I've struggled to get change was when I was buying at tiendas de barrio or when taking a cab (some drivers don't carry change with them).

[Pueblofuerte]

Depends where you're shopping. 50k notes can be a hassle sometimes.

[klmrocks]

At ties Colombia I felt I was unconvincing people when using larger bills as I was not usually shopping in higher end stores or spending 1/3 or thr value of the bill. I equated it to playing for an ice cream cone at a ice crean truck with a $100 bill. Most people start off with a certain change float. If you spend $2 and pay with a $100 bill it is a pain in the butt. Re the airport .... we got finger printed when trying to exchange money there so ...that was inconvenient. I alway equate being finger pinted with getting in troubke plus the ink almost meesed up my manicure. The ATM situation sucks as you can only take out small amounts at once and are getting charge big fees by tge local bank plus your international bank each time.

I dont like using big bills even here due to the change issue. Just try your best to use the big bills any time paying bigger stores ex grocery stores.

[GBCommenter]

Thanks for the thoughts!! The exchange I went to only had $50K notes so that's what I'll start with upon arrival. I'm getting in late and just going to the hotel that night so I don't expect I'll spend much first night. I'll use Uber or one of the other apps so no cash needed there.

I can check with the hotel on change in the morning so I don't have large bills floating around. However, these posts let me know the best plan will be try to find change smaller bills from the larger stores.