Confused about travel cards?

[Marche exile]

Hi there
So I'm not long here and I'd like to get about on public transport.
I'm really confused about the Monedero cards. Is it some sort of Charge card? How do I get one? How do I recharge it.
Whats the difference between a Sube card and a Monedero card?
Also I hear you can get one that does both Tubes/subways and buses.
God if anyone can help I'll be extremely grateful.
Many thanks.

 

[solerboy]

The monedero cards and the newer sube cards are charged with cash which allows easier passage through stations and relieves the need for change on the buses.

At present there are no savings to be gained with these cards they only offer convenience. There may be plans to give Sube cardholders cheaper fares in the future so if you plan to stay for a long period it may be worth getting one.

There are various Sube distribution places in the city which allow you to obtain a card for (i beleive) ar$10, you will need ID. I think a a passport is allowed.

 

[La Fleur]

The Monedero card has been around for years, and is for use in the subtes (and some buses, trains etc – see Medios de transporte). They are anonymous cash cards, so you get one (the card itself is free), load a cash credit onto them, and if you lose the card you lose the money. You used to be able to get them at the subte stations, but now you must go to a Monedero office to get one. That in itself might be an exercise as the Monedero site has an empty page now where it used to have a list of offices for getting the cards. You could call them to ask where their offices are now. From memory, one was at Tribunales, next to one of the green D line subte .entrances. Once you have a Monedero card you can recharge it very many places (puntos de recarga), including in the subte stations.
Centro de Atención al cliente
Capital y GBA: 0800-362-6663 (MONE)
[email protected]


The Sube card is much more recent, and can be used on the subte, buses and trains (RED Sube). This card is issued to you, and you must show your DNI or passport to get one. At first they were free but now I think they cost 10 pesos each for the card. You get the card here (Centros de Obtencion), or you may still be able to order it over the internet. You recharge the cards in the same way as the Monedero card (carga tu tarjeta), but if you lose the card and report it lost or stolen, your credit can be transferred to your new card. Each passenger must have a separate card – you are not supposed to swipe the card several times for several passengers travelling in a group (although rumour has it that this sometimes works, or worked). There are many theories (and here) as to why the government pushed everyone to get this card in a great hurry earlier this year, but it is clear that one reason was so that subsidies could be targeted at some point, when all of the general subsidy on BsAs transport has been lifted (ie because the card is attached to a DNI, all the people in a certain tax group could receive a subsidy, while others do not). At the moment, though, all people pay the same fare on buses, trains and subtes regardless of whether they pay by Sube, Monedero, or efectivo (cash).


Hope this helps.

 

[Greg2231]

The monedero cards and the newer sube cards are charged with cash which allows easier passage through stations and relieves the need for change on the buses.

At present there are no savings to be gained with these cards they only offer convenience. There may be plans to give Sube cardholders cheaper fares in the future so if you plan to stay for a long period it may be worth getting one.

There are various Sube distribution places in the city which allow you to obtain a card for (i beleive) ar$10, you will need ID. I think a a passport is allowed.

Yep all you need is a passport and 10 pesos, all post offices in theory have the Sube cards, which is were I got mine, and more likely instead of a discount for using a card, there will be a higher fare for using cash.

 

[Marche exile]

Yep all you need is a passport and 10 pesos, all post offices in theory have the Sube cards, which is were I got mine, and more likely instead of a discount for using a card, there will be a higher fare for using cash.

OK so whats the difference between the Monedero card and the sube? Also I understand the sube cards are in sort supply? Did you find that? Do you get them there and then? How do I charge them. These might seem silly questions but with limited Spanish I'm going to be armed with all the likelihoods

 

[PhilipDT]

OK so whats the difference between the Monedero card and the sube? Also I understand the sube cards are in sort supply? Did you find that? Do you get them there and then? How do I charge them. These might seem silly questions but with limited Spanish I'm going to be armed with all the likelihoods

Sube cards are tied to your identity and at some indeterminate point in the future may or may not result in a personally applied discounted travel fare.

Monedero cards are anonymous, but at this point in time work exactly the same.

 

[TERKILD]

And.....one more very important difference: The Monedero you can use to pay for the highway toll!!!!!!! Muy Importante!

 

[Marche exile]

Sube cards are tied to your identity and at some indeterminate point in the future may or may not result in a personally applied discounted travel fare.

Monedero cards are anonymous, but at this point in time work exactly the same.

Mmmm I think the odds are pretty slim that discounts will given away after everyone has gotten used to paying full price I wonder which would be easier to get for me. I'm here for 2 years and I'm getting my DNI soon but only have a passport at the moment.
Thanks anyway, R

 

[irina]

Mmmm I think the odds are pretty slim that discounts will given away after everyone has gotten used to paying full price I wonder which would be easier to get for me. I'm here for 2 years and I'm getting my DNI soon but only have a passport at the moment.
Thanks anyway, R

You can get a SUBE card with a passport, I did.

And I don't think discounts will be given, the issue is that there were stirrings about the subsidies being taken away for buses etc (like they already started with the subte) and that SUBE cards would be a way of controlling who could still have access to subsidized prices.

 

[Panini]

Each passenger must have a separate card – you are not supposed to swipe the card several times for several passengers travelling in a group (although rumour has it that this sometimes works, or worked).

Hope this helps.

I swiped for 2 ppl yesterday and have been on a tour were the tour guide swiped for 10 people, so it can be done.