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While this is not overly common, it has been known to happen that someone stops a taxi which ends up being an illegal, unlicensed one. The driver takes the unwitting tourist to a secluded spot where accomplises are waiting. The tourist is then robbed and forced to withdraw money from the ATM machine also. I stopped many a cab without incident but to ensure your safety get the number of a radio cab company and order cabs by phone rather than stopping them at random. If you get a good driver, you can ask him or her for their phone number also or you can take taxis from controlled taxi ranks.
Ensure that the taxi driver immediately switches on the meter so that the fare is clearly displayed. Note that this fare will be in pesos not - as taxi drivers have been known to suggest - in US dollars (three times the value).
Your fare from the International Airport at Buenos Aires into the city should be about 30 or 35 pesos. Clarify this with the driver first. There will be guys at the airport trying to coax you into other cars charging 80 pesos for the same trip.
Especially outside of busy, sunlight hours stick to main touristic areas such as Recolleta and Calle Florida. If possible, befriend local people who will advise when it is best to visit places like La Boca. Being accompanied by a local is always safer and more informative.
Beware of fake money. Argentina has lots of it. There is a line beside the watermark which contains tiny writing declaring the denomination of the note. This writing is usually missing from fakes. One way to avoid getting stung is to hold your own note up to the light to check its authenticity before handing it to the vendor - thus establishing that you are aware of the forgery problem. The vendor will think twice about trying to slip a fake on to you.
Be vigilant but don't forget to enjoy yourself. It's a wonderful country. Leave a Comment
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Argentina, as you probably know, enjoyed a boom period where their currency was one-to-one with the US dollar and its citizens became very accustomed to having significant disposal incomes which made foreign travel cheap for them. As they learned to their cost, the government decisions which had led to this were dubious at best and the economy balanced on a thread. It all fell apart in 2001 with disasterous consequences for those with savings and investments. Argentina is plagued with civil unrest - the 'picateros' taking to the streets in protest over this or that on an almost daily basis. These protests are non violent, if a little noisy, but they do disturb traffic and draw hundreds of bullet-proof clad police who pull temporary barriers into place around government buildings. The police presence is always strong around the city centre - testament, I feel, to elevated crime statistics in the wake of the crisis. Argentina has had the tables turned on it. It is now incredibly cheap to visit with the US dollar buying three pesos. Argentinians are now finding it prohibitively expensive to travel to places they frequented less than five years ago. The Government has also imposed punitive import taxes in bid to encourage self sufficiency so, while Argentinian labour and produce is cheap, anything imported is quite expensive.
The net results of all of this are many. While some Argentinians will welcome the foreign dollar brought by tourists I would counsel a measure of tact. Commenting on how cheap goods are could be seen as crass. Goods are certainly not cheap for Argentinians labouring for the peso. Because of the power of foreign currency tourists are seen as rich to the locals and, as such, lucrative targets for the unscrupulous. Leave a Comment
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I would highly recommend NOT bringing travellers cheques to Argentina. First of all, because you have to have your passport with you to change them and carrying your passport around with you is NOT a good idea on the streets of Buenos Aires in general. Secondly, because they are nearly impossible to change, after finding a place that will do it, you often have to wait in long lines and fill out papers. Anyway, that has been my experience, and I would recommend just bringing your ATM card! Better exchange rates too! Leave a Comment
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Here are a number of tips based on my experience in Buenos Aires:
Don't openly display foreign goods or wear clothes bearing obvious designer brands. These are expensive in Argentina and immediately mark you out as affluent.
Wear - as do the locals - muted colours without texts, prints or patterns and trousers rather than shorts. You will not stand out as a tourist as much.
Get a couple of strong plastic carrier bags. Put one inside the other for strength and use this to carry around cameras and the like. It will look like shopping rather than valuables. Backpacks and cases can be targets.
When seated at a restaurant or the like put the leg of the chair you are sitting on through the handles of the bag to avoid both subtle and obvious snatches.
Don't carry large amounts of cash with you. One hundred pesos is only 35 US Dolars but it is a significant amount to Argentinians. Therefore seperate your money. Keep the main sum hidden always and don't use it. In a different pocket keep just 40 or 50 pesos in 5 or 10 peso bills. When paying for things draw the money from this source so you are never seen to have larger amounts of cash at hand. Leave a Comment
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I just wanted to mention that no one ever received the postcards that we mailed from Ushuaia.
The post office was closed when we went there so we dropped our postcards in the outside box. We didn't think that would be a problem but I guess it was.
I would suggest you do not mail yours that way. Leave a Comment
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Because of the recent crisis, crimes have increased in Buenos Aires. Care should be taken at several places :
PLAZA SAN MARTIN – The plaza is OK in the day-time, I supposed. It actually is very pleasant in summer and many times, I found myself lying on the grass slopes there to read or sleep. But I had learnt from my friend that it is not safe at night.
AROUND MAIN BUS STATION AND RETIRO – Take care in the area where there are a lot of vendors or when you are getting on a bus.
NEAR ONCE TRAIN STATION – This is the poorer and trashier part of Buenos Aires. Take care.
NEAR CONSTITUCION TRAIN STATION - Even worse!
NEAR LA BOCA – This is also a poor neighbourhood. Due to the unsanitary conditions in the past, the rich moved to the North and hence, the area here was soon taken over by the poor. On the road towards La Boca, beware of robbers. We were victims of the stain-and-distract robbery. But once in La Boca, it should be fine. Leave a Comment
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When you receive your change after paying for something, look at each and every bill to make sure you received PESOS as change. Since the crisisin December of 2001, a local form of currency was issued that is only accepted in certain places, and having this currency usually turns out to be a hassle. There are several types, most notably LECOPS and PATACONES, and you don't want this! It is very easy to tell the difference between pesos and Lecops or Patacones. Pesos always have some kind of pictures on BOTH sides of the bill, and Lecops and Patacones only have WRITING on the back and nothing else. If you see nothing but writing on the back of the bill, tell them before leaving the counter you want pesos!!! Leave a Comment
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Road signs and signals are merely recommendations. Speed limits and stop lights are common examples. Particularly late at night, drivers will simply flash their lights as they approach a red light, if they see no cross-traffic flashing their lights they cruise straight through, often without slowing. Police and government are known for their laziness and corruption. The police carry guns but are not allowed to carry bullets, thereby not aiding in being a deterrent of any sort.
Obviously some cities are better than others, but still, watch out!
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Be carefull about the lockers you get directly underneath your bed. They look secure but I know friends that were robbed their money from these lockers in Mendoza. All you have to do is lift up the mattress and you can get acess to the locker. Ridiculous isn't it? I have seen these kind of lockers in my travels that are directly beneath the bunk beds. So now I will inspect these more carefully where ever I go. Leave a Comment
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During the week I spent in Buenos Aires I saw no trouble but the country is in dire straits so take care. Make sure you know the name and full address of your hotel or apartment (carry a business card with it on) to show taxi drivers as they may not speak English. Last year there was rioting in BA when the banks closed and the damage can still be seen. Many banks and stores are now boarded up with shutters and have armed guards. Leave a Comment
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