Dollars or local currency?

[RebelWolf]

Can anyone who has been on a recent tour shed some light on whether it is still possible to change money on the black market since the borders reopened or whether you are expected to just spend dollars if on a tourist visa or change money in a bank? On a similar theme, when on a tour, is there a choice of restaurants to go to or are tour groups taken only to the expensive 'tourist restaurants'. Most tours include some, but not all meals, so I am thinking of the ones not included, as I would like to be able to choose a more 'local' restaurants.