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A question and answer guide to what you might need to know
about
Argentina
What is the main language spoken? The main language is Spanish and it is very helpful if you know a few basic words for greeting, taking absence, and giving or understanding directions.
What is the main religion? Most people are Roman Catholic.
What clothes should we take? When arriving into Buenos Aires from your international flight you will find that even some peoples daytime attire is quite elegant, fashionable and on the conservative side. Ladies wear suits, dresses, skirts - city clothes. During the summer and weekends people tend to dress less formally. This said people don't usually shorts in the streets, but do wear tennis shoes. At night it depends where you are going. Sophisticated restaurants and tango clubs are dressy - a cocktail dress or suit will do. If the evening gets a bit cool or there is air conditioning a wrap like a shawl or blazer is ideal. For men the more elegant restaurants would require a jacket and tie. In the summer things are more casual, with just a shirt sufficing. Outside Buenos Aires anything goes! Things are much more relaxed and jeans and comfortable tops are ideal. Sometimes some of the Estancias are more formal and you will feel more comfortable changing into something smarter at dinner time.
What is the best currency to pay in? The Argentine currency is the Peso. There is a free market where the dollar is determined by supply and demand. US dollars are widely accepted, so you do not have to change much money into pesos. If you pay in dollars your change is often returned to you in pesos. Bringing a pack of small dollar bills is useful for tipping and even for taxis. At the moment the exchange rate is roughly 5.5 pesos to £1.00, which is what we have gone on throughout this website to give people a ball park idea of costs.
Can I use my visa card or should I bring Travellers cheques? Traveller's cheques are generally difficult to change especially in smaller towns and during weekends. A passport is essential. There is a 3% tax and banks generally charge about a 3% commission. To avoid this you can go to a branch of the issuing bank, especially if changing small amounts. Hotels will normally change traveller's cheques for their clients (often at rather a poor rate) All major credit cards are widely accepted.
Where can I get or change money? Banks are regularly open from Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 3.00pm. If you are in Buenos Aires and a few other major cities you can withdraw cash at the ATM's (Automatic Telling Machines). There are two international ATM acceptance systems, PLUS and CIRRUS. Many issuers of debit and credit cards are linked to one or both (eg Visa is a Plus and Mastercard is Cirrus). Visa can be used at Banelco ATM's and Cirrus cards at ATM's with the Link sign, for example Banco National de Lavoro.
How long is the season? Due to its altitude, of the four major Argentinean resorts, Las Lenas has the longest season, stretching from mid-June until mid-November.
When is the best time to go? If a busy bustling resort with a hectic nightlife is not your scene avoid July due to the students that pile in to enjoy their winter holidays during this month. Parts of August can be a bit tricky depending on what international snow events are taking place, and this has to be checked up prior to booking. September is always excellent giving you empty slopes and excellent skiing conditions. October is also good for Las Lenas particularly as after Sept 25th you are into the Low season for your lift pass which only costs 410 pesos (around £74.00 for a week!)
What times are the shops open and what about the restaurants? Shops are open from Mondays to Fridays from 9.00am (some 9.30 or 10.00) until 8.00pm and Sundays from 9.00am until 1.00pm. Shopping malls open every day from 10.00 am until 10.00pm. Restaurants, cafes and hotels work around breakfast being served until 10.00am, lunch runs from 12.30 until 3.00pm (with locals showing up at 1-1.30pm): Dinner is from 8.30 until midnight, with locals dinning from 9.00pm until the late hours.
Do I need to tip taxis, restaurants, porters etc? Yes. Restaurants do not include service charges in the bill, so expect to tip around 10%. Porters at Airports and Bellboys at Hotels are usually $0.5 per bag. If you use the concierge then a $15.00 tip would be fine. Taxis do not expect a tip and you pay what is on the meter, though if it is close to 5 or 10 pesos or whatever, you would round it up. If you take guides for skiing or sightseeing or whatever sport or activity you are doing, then between $10 - $20 depending on how satisfied you are can be given directly to the guide.
Can I reclaim VAT when leaving Argentina? Sometimes. VAT is 21% and is included in the final price of everything you buy except in hotels where it is specified separately. There are some tax-free stores, where you can get the VAT reimbursed at the airport. You should ask before paying and fill in a form.
Can I drink the water? In Buenos Aires you can, but in the countryside it is better to drink mineral water as the distances you travel in Argentina are so vast, and organisms in the water are very different in each place. To drink a variety of tap waters could cause stomach problems.
Is all food safe to eat? Yes! Milk and butter are pasteurised.
What voltage is used - do I need my adaptor? Electricity is 220 volts - 50 Cycles, alternating current (AC) wall outlets usually take Continental-type plugs, with two round prongs. To use US electric-powered equipment bring a converter and adapter. Most laptops operate equally well on 110 and 220 volts and so require only an adapter.
Can I use my mobile phone or am I going to be out of range? Fortunately, for the places that we organise itineraries for in Argentina, we can vouch for the fact that (if your network is Orange!) it is possible to phone UK with no problems. One very cheap way to phone out of Argentina is through the internet cafes. These are found in every town now and internet access itself is very cheap, just a few pesos, to be able to go and pick up your e-mail messages.
Are taxis safe to take? Yes, they are and also very inexpensive. In Buenos Aires a trip across town is around 5 pesos (£1.00) and out in the countryside a ten minute drive is around the same price. It helps if you know some Spanish for giving directions
Is there an internal luggage allowance when flying within Argentina? On most domestic flights you are limited to two checked in bags, but allowances may be determined by weight. Normally the first class allowance is 40kg, business class is 30kg and economy 20kg.
What if I become ill? Firstly you must take out medical insurance before travelling and make sure it covers all eventualities, particularly evacuation to your home country by a medically equipped plane. If you are on regular medication and suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, a cardio-pulmonary disease or other disorder a sensible precaution is to ensure a medical check up before beginning your holiday and get your doctor to provide you with a letter explaining the details of your disability in English and if possible Spanish. If booking through us, please let us know so we can ensure that you have an accurate translation with you. Also get a dental check up before you depart and if necessary obtain a spare glasses prescription. Many drugs in Argentina are manufactured under license from American or European companies, so the trade names may be familiar to you, therefore headaches etc, do not require you to haul a huge medicine chest around in anticipation of some minor problem. If you are booking through us you have an information pack with our agents number in Buenos Aires and local agent in whichever resort, or town you are staying in - help will be near at hand!
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