I wrote a blog some few years time ago on a few tips to help your stay in Argentina go smoothly. I thought it was time again to revisit the tips and maybe add a couple more. What prompted me was that we had a couple of guests on La Margarita who left yesterday and they had trouble drawing money from the cash machine so here goes:
1) Please don’t change money in the money change bureau as you arrive in the luggage hall at Ezeiza airport. It’s a rip off and they will give you really awful rates. If you do need to change money once you pass through immigration there is a change bureau to the right as you leave which gives a much better rate – if you can wait till you arrive in the city center there many change places which will give you great rates .
2) Don’t buy Argentine pesos outside of Argentina – if you can find them the rate will up 20% less. We just had a guest on La Margarita who did just that and when she asked what rate we gave on La Margarita she nearly fainted the difference was so big.
3) The cash machines here have a limit of between $500 – $1000 pesos at a time. The limit is usually `$1000 per day and you may need to put your card in 3 times to get that money and you will be charged 15 pesos each time. So if the first bank you use only lets you take out $400 or $500 try another bank that lets you take out more.
4) It can be difficult to change $100 pesos notes here so make sure you have small notes with you when you go out. When you go to take out money from the cash machine instead of asking for say $500 pesos ask for $490 – that way the machine will deliver some small notes – some banks don’t let you do this but many do so just go to another bank that lets you.
5) Taxi drivers don’t like changing $100 pesos notes, if they do agree to do so be aware they may give you false notes in return. Better to make sure you have small 10 and 20 pesos notes – most taxis trips in the city are no more than $30 pesos so with these small notes you will be assured of not having to offer a $100 note.
6) Buses and the underground are the cheapest in the world here and very safe. The underground is quick and it costs less that 50 cents per trip – its an absolute bargain and easy to use.
7)) Prices have risen somewhat here but there are many thing still are cheap in comparison to Europe or America. Taxis, wine, cigarettes and long distance buses are a bargain. On eating out prices can still very be reasonable especially if you avoid the center of really touristy areas such as Palermo Soho, Recoleta and St Telmo. Eat in such places as Almagro. Congreso, Barrio Chino in Belgrano and Onze. There you will find great restaurants such as Peruvian, Parrillas (traditional Argentine steak houses), Brazilian etc and they offer great value
8) If you want to socialize in the city , meet people and learn a bit of Spanish at the same time there is no better place than Spanglish Exchange
http://www.spanglishexchange.com/. They organize great events five times a week -have a chat with Maya an American who runs it - she is a mine of information having lived here for a good few years
9) If you intend to explore South America have a look at the web page of South American Explorers Club – it gives great advise on all sorts of travel topics here and they have a club house you can go to meet fellow explorers
http://www.saexplorers.org – nice people as well
10) Of course when you need a rest from the city and you fancy leading the gaucho life for a few days where better than Estancia La Margarita (
www.estancialamargarita.com) – look forward to seeing you
No doubt if you are thinking of coming to Argentina do it – it is a wonderful country and I am sure you will have the time of your life
This is David Cummings alias the English Gaucho of to have a siesta – what a life
Hasta pronto
