Welcome
to Argentina, a country of magnificent landscapes and fascinating people.
Visit colonial cities, discover spectacular jungle waterfalls and marvel
at colonies of chattering penguins. All this and more will be yours in
Argentina. To make your trip most enjoyable, we offer the following information:
Documents
A valid passport is required of all U.S. citizens. Others should contact
the Argentinean consulate for entry requirements.
Valuables
We suggest that while touring or shopping you leave your passport and
the bulk of your money in the hotel safe; only take with you the money
you intend to spend or exchange at that particular time. It is also helpful
to take a copy of the picture page of your passport to carry in your wallet,
because it is sometimes needed to exchange traveler's checks. The copy
can also be useful if your passport is lost or stolen.
Health
No vaccinations are needed to enter Argentina. Throughout the country
there are good private and government health centers and hospitals. As
when traveling in any foreign country, visitors with sensitive stomachs
may want to drink bottled water and bring medicine from home.
Currency
And Exchange Rates
The currency of Argentina is the Austral, which comes in denominations
of 1, 5, 10 and 50. The exchange rate fluctuates, so you may want to check
the rate before leaving the United States. Money can be exchanged at banks
and many major hotels.
Tips
And Taxes
As in most countries, taxes are unavoidable and tips are given on the
basis of the quality of service. The amounts suggested for tips in this
section are a guideline for appropriate tips for average to good service.
Hotels:
Bellboys and maids are generally tipped for their services as you would
at home.
Restaurants:
It is customary to tip about 15 percent if no service charge has been
added to the bill. If a service charge has been added, it is customary
to leave an additional tip so the total tip comes to 15 to 20 percent
for good to excellent service.
Tour guides and drivers: On group tours, the average tip for a
tour guide is $2 per person for full-day tours and $1 per person for half-day
tours. The driver's tip is usually half of what is given to the guide.
For private car tours, guides usually receive at least $10 per full-day
tour and $5 per half-day tour.
Airports:
The international departure tax is about $25 payable in U.S. dollars or
Argentinean Pesos upon departure from Argentina.
Taxis:
Taxis are black with yellow tops and a red light on the meter. On main
avenues in Buenos Aires pickups are at specified stops. Look for people
waiting in line, then wait your turn. Drivers do not expect tips.
Souvenirs
And Such
Leather
clothes and accessories, some furs (don't buy leopard, jaguar or other
endangered species), antiques, silverware, gaucho paraphernalia, wines
and silver and gold jewelry are popular souvenirs.
Climate
Argentina is in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are reversed from
those in the United States. During the summer (January) in Buenos Aires
the temperatures range from 63 to 83 degrees; during the winter (July)
temperatures range from 42 to 57 degrees. Iguazu Falls is tropical, divided
into wet and dry seasons. The Andean regions and far south are pleasant
in summer, cold in winter. Winters in Patagonia are cold with possible
snow storms and very strong winds. Summers are mild with average temperatures
of 60 to 65 degrees during the day and 20 hours of sunlight.
Clothing
Outside Buenos Aires dress is casual. In cosmopolitan Buenos Aires casual
clothing is appropriate during the day, a jacket for men and dress for
women are appropriate for nicer restaurants at night. For trips to the
Patagonia, sweaters and a warm, waterproof jacket are essential. Dress
in layers, because temperatures vary during the day.
Useful
items to include:
- Light
raincoat/umbrella
- Medium-weight
jacket for cool evenings
- Warm
jacket, sweaters and heavy socks for points south (Patagonia)
- Sneakers
and comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen,
lip protection, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
- Binoculars,
camera, batteries and plenty of film
- Small
backpack (for day trips and to carry souvenirs home)
- Pocket
calculator
- Small
battery-operated alarm clock
- Personal
medicines
- Bathing
suit (for pool and/or thermal springs)
Time
Difference
The time is two hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States.
Most of the country observes a daylight savings period about half the
year.
Electric
Current
The electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC, so you will need an adapter
to run electric razors, hair dryers, etc. from the United States. Many
of the major hotels in Buenos Aires have 110 volt sockets for use with
U.S. appliances.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in most hotels,
tourist shops and major visitors centers.
Business
Hours
Banks are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most offices
are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but close from noon to 2 p.m. for lunch.
In Buenos Aires most stores are open during lunch hours.
Back to useful information
|