USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT ARGENTINA
Before travelling, it is necessary to gather information on the details of your destination. For this reason, we offer you a brief guide of useful services so that you may begin your trip to Argentina as soon as posible.
* Time Zone.
3 hours behind GMT. The time does not change with the seasons.
* Documents.
Except for bordering countries (Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil), a current passport is required for all other nationa1ities for entry into Argentina.
There is a limited number of days/months for a visit to Argentina, with or without a visa. This limit varies accordingto the type of entry stamp (tourist, student, business).
* Visa.
Argentina requires a tourist visa from the following countries:
Afghanistan, Argelia, Albania, Angola, Antigua y Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahreim, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bielorusia, Buthan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cypress, Comoro Islands, Democratic republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Republic of Korea, Democratic and Popular Republic of Korea, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Slovakia, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Giorgia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Ecuatorial, Guyana, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordania, Kenya, Kirguistan, Kuwait, Kazajstan, Lesotho, Libya, Libano, Liberia, Latvia, Lithuania, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mali, Mauricio, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, West Samoa, St. Vicent & Granadines, St. Tome & Principe, Sierra Leona, Somalia, Thailand, Pakistan, Tadjikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Palestine, Philipines, Rwanda, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Solomon Islands, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Syria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Ukraine, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
This list and the entry requirements may undergo modifications, as they are updated and altered without prior warning.
It is therefore recommended that you confirm beforehand the information with your travel agent or with the Argentine consulate nearest to your home.
Keep in mind that all countries in general, even when not requiring a visa, require sufficient funds for a visit, a retum ticket and/ or all necessary documents for onward passage.
* Customs.
Laws strictly prohibit or restrict entry with protected fauna, drugs, steroids, firearms and related items.
Each traveler older than 18 years may carry up to 2 liters of alcoholic beverages, 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars. There is no limit for the entry of personal items and clothing. Photographic and electronic equipment and computer related items must be declared upon entry.
Baggage may be inspected by customs officers, though foreign visitors generally without delay.
Land borders usually have stricter controls, particularly for citizens of neighboring countries.
* How do I arrive by plane?
To save you the time, below we provide a list of airlines that have regular flights to Argentina.
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Canada, Air France, Air Plus, Alitalia, American Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Cubana de Aviación, Delta Airlines, Dinar, Grupo Taca/Lacsa, lberia, LanChile, Uoyd Aéreo Boliviano, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mexicana de Aviación, Pluna, Qantas Airways, Spanair, Swissair, Tam, Transbrasil, United Airlines and Varig.
Check with the airline or your travel agent for frequency and connecting flights.
* How do I get around by plane?
The most important airlines that offer domestic flights are Aerolineas Argentinas, Austral, American Falcon, ARG, Dinar, Lade, Laer (Líneas Aéreas de Entre Ríos) and Southern Winds.
* Driving.
Driving is on the right side.
Seatbelts are obligatory, despite that local drivers often do not use them.
Maximum speed limit in the cities is 60 km/hour. On the highways it is 130 km/hour.
Careful driving is recommended.
The price of gasoline is high: U$s 1,059 per liter. Diesel costs one-third of this.
* Driving License.
An International or InterAmerican Driving License and a National or State Permit from the country of origin are required.
Drivers must be at least 18 years old.
Three obligatory documents that must be carried in the automobile are: the receipt fot the last tag tax payment, proof of insurance coverage and the title document.
* Car rental.
Renting a car is expensive, though good discounts are often available.
All cities and places of touristic interest have at least one rental agency.
Avis. Tel: 4300-0854
Dollar. Tel: 4315-8800
Localiza. Tel: 0-800-9992999
Hertz. Tel: 4816-8001
Required: valid driving license and you must be at least 21 years of age, though in some cases 25 years may be requiresd. It is sometimes necessary to put up a credit card as a deposit.
* Charters to the International Airport.
From Ezeiza International Airport there are buses that will take you to the city of Buenos Aires. There are taxis and remises at the exit doors.
Buses Manuel Tienda Le. Tel: 4314-3636
Buses San Mart. Tel: 4816-7676
* Taxis & remises.
Should you need a taxi, you'd better call and ask for one to pick you up wherever you are, being charged by the trip from the place you have been picked up to the place you are travelling. Within the city of Buenos Aires, the lowest fare is $1.12 and the clock shows the total cost of the trip.
Radio Taxi Madero Norte. Tel: 4301-1600
Radio Taxi Palo. Tel: 4956-1200
Radio Taxi Ya. Tel: 4951-2466
Radio Taxi Gold. Tel: 4305-5050
Radio Taxi Prestigio. Tel: 4857-6666
Remises are cars with a chauffeur that will take you wherever you go, being charged a previously fixed fare. We suggest asking for this kind of service at the hotels' front desk.
Remises Universal. Tel: 4315-6555
Remises Millet. Tel: 4816-0101
Remises Intercar. Tel: 4864-3147
Remises Le Coq Tel: 4964-2000
Remises Good Times Tel: 4757-0147
* River services.
The following companies offer different tours:
Buquebus. Tel: 4316-6400
Cacciola. Tel. 4393-6100
Ferrytur. Tel: 4511-1350
* Currency.
The local currency is distinguished by the $ symbol.
Coins are for: 1; 0.50; 0.25; 0.10; 0.05; 0.01 centavos.
Notes are for 2; 5; 10; 20; 50 and 100 pesos.
Law sets the peso and the dollar at parity, making latter acceptable as a form of payment, except in certain companies and for certain services, such as postal and public transport.
Changing dollars presents no problem. Other currencies should be changed in "casas de cambio", or exchange shops.
* Credit cards.
The most widely accepted cards are Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and - rarely accepted by smaller businesses - Diner's Club.
While it is prohibited to charge a fee for payment with credit cards, most businesses offer a 10% discount for payment in cash.
* Travellers' checks.
Businesses usually do not accept travelers' checks as a form of payment. It is recommended that you exchange them in the appropriate exchange shops and banks.
The most frequently used travelers' checks are American Express and those offered by Citibank.
* Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).
There are many. Most allow transactions in pesos and in dollars.
You may also get cash advanced with Mastercard and Visa credit cards.
The two current networks (Banelco and Link) work with the Cirrus and Plus systems.
Ask the bank that issued your credit card to find out if it can be used in Argentina.
* Health.
No special measures are required regarding health. Although emergency services of the Argentine public hospitals are good and usually free, it is recommended that you carry international medical insurance.
* Vaccinations.
There are no specific vaccinations required.
* Laws concerning alcoholic beverages.
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase or to consume alcoholic beverages in public places. Only one glass of beer or wine is permitted before driving. Violation of this prohibition may lead to heavy fines.
* Travelers with reduced mobility.
Despite that Argentina has progressed greatly in recent years, it is still far from offering the attention that persons with reduced mobility deserve.
There are ramps on sidewalks and in public buildings. Local bus transport also has low floors.
* Telephones.
It is recommmended that you make calls from a public telephone or from a private telephone center (locutorio), as these have much more econonic rates than hotels and inns.
Long distance calls of al types can be made: direct, collect, operated assisted, calling cards, coins and/or credit cards.
Rates for international calls have been lowered, though not for urban calls.
There are many private telephone centers (locutorios) that offer discounts for medium and long distance calls during set hours.
* Electricity.
220 volts, 50 cycles.
* Weights and measures.
Decimal Metric System.
Rural inhabitants employ the league, which is equivalent to 5 kilometers.
* Temperature.
Measured in degrees Celsius (Centigrades)
* Tipping.
It is customary to leave a 10 % tip in restaurants and cafes.
In hotels - where there is no set rate - it is common to tip the porter, the baggage handler and the cleaning service.
Source: T&S Argentina Magazine.