General info about Buenos Aires

  Foreigners :  Buenos Aires recieved a very strong immigratory flow in the end of 1800´s so it can be called as a cosmopolitan city. This makes it a city used –and pleased- to receive foreign visitors. As a foreigner you will feel comfortable during your stay.

  Pedestrians : Argentine motorists do not allow crossing to pedestrians. Be careful, specially when crossing street corners. The first seconds of a red light are taken as green by motorists –and in special by drivers of public buses

  Weather
  Temperature ranges along a day:
  Summer 70 90 F Daylight: 6.30 to 8.30 PM
  Winter: 40-60 F, although last winters have been quite warm.
  Daylight: 8 AM  to 6 PM
  There is no dry or rainy season. It rains 1000 to 1200 milimeters per year  
  along the whole year; relative humidity is usually high.

  Open Closed – Rush hour :  Buenos Aires day has a late start and very late closing. In general, offices open at 9 AM and close at 6 PM. This make that during weekdays rush hour is from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM (to downtown) and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (from downtown to outskirts). Downtown is known as Centro, whose limits are uncertain, but a thumb rule is to consider Centro the area 20 blocks around the Obelisco
  Stores may open only after 9 and never close before 7 PM. They are normally opened countinuously (do not close at noon) but this may not be so moving away from downtown.
  Supermarkets and food shops open up to quite late (8:00pm or 9:00pm). During weekends, several shops open only Saturday morning, but your will still find many groceries opened and during weekend

  Fly Buenos Aires :  Buenos Aires, Ezeiza and Ministro Pistarini are synonyms to designate the international airport of Buenos Aires, whose three letters code is EZE. For Argentines, the usual name is Ezeiza, although the official name (that appears in some of the air tickets leading to confussion) is Ministro Pistarini.
  The international airport of Ezeiza is 25 Km South of the city, connected by a highway that brings you straight to the center of the city (South side). When the traffic is normal, the trip takes 35 minutes, this time may be extended to 1 hour during “rush” hours.
  The airport for domestic flights is Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (code: AEP), called simply “Aeroparque” and it is situated by the center of the city. (15 minutes drive out of rush hour)

  Leaving the airport :  When you pass the Customs and enter the country, and if you have not made previous arrangements, you will be besieged by taxi drivers or rent car drivers called “remises” (that differ from taxis for not having a display showing the price). Do not accept independent drivers. Choose the companies with a desk at the airport, either car or bus. For example regular services as described in www.tiendaleon.com.ar
  Before leaving airport, is a good idea to change some money at the Banco de la Nación Argentina (see below)

  Buying food, medicines and personal articles :  Kioscos and Maxikioscos (Drugstores) are compact shops that sell sweets, cold drinks, sometimes sandwiches and some personal hygiene products (soap, shampoo, etc.) and medicines (aspirins, antiacid). They have an extense timetable, including 24 hours shop. They usually have telephone booths. Pharmacies sell medicines and personal beauty and hygiene products.

  Shopping Malls :  They open from Monday to Monday from 10:00am to 10:00pm. These places are perfect to buy clothes, footwear, sporting goods, etc. of quality. They have food areas (called Patio de Comidas) with a great variety of offers

  Exchange :  Dollar notes are commonly used in Argentina. They are normally accepted at hotels at current exchange rate, or a bit less. Restaurants and shops usually accept them, but do not give back small change or coins. It is better to have local currency for smaller expenses Aprox under USD 50).
  Traveller checks have limited use and when accepted (not very commonly indeed), you will obtain a lesser rate than dollar notes. The best with Travellers is to cash them in Exchange Agents (again, rate is slightly smaller than notes). Euros are accepted in exchange agencies at current rates, but they are not used as cash. 

  Exchange rate :  These days there is not difference between official rate and free or “black market” rate. To know the current exchange rate, you can visit, among others, the website www.dolarhoy.com, with details of exchange agencies and more.

  Exchange at Ezeiza :  There is a network of rates counters, very good loking, that should be carefully avoided as they pay 60% or 70% lesser than the current exchange. Use Banco de la Nación Argentina offices. There are two at the Airport that open every day. One is located at Aerolineas Argentinas sector and opens from 6:00am to midnight (12:00pm). The other office, at the international sector, is open 24 hours.

  Exchange in downtown:  Banks exchange dollar notes, but they are open only from Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Exchange agencies remain open a bit longer, although they are only situated in the financial district and in a few more places.

  Credit cards :  MasterCard, VISA and AMEX are the most common ones, although sometimes they are not accepted for small amounts.

  Taxis :  Taking taxis not recommended by the hotel or by a local contact can lead to the same risks as in any other big city of the world (surcharge, etc.). Taxis have a digital display that indicates trip cost in argentine pesos and cents. It is not a frequent custom to leave tip, except when you have to place luggage in the trunk

  Buses : In the city and the suburbs you can take a bus to any place paying a very low price, but driving is rough and bus stop posters or driver’s indications, etc. are poor. If you know where to take off or if the distance is short, take it, otherwise use another option. You have to bring your own coins.

  Unbdergound, Tube, Subway: the local name is Subte www.subte.com.ar. It is the best way to move within the central area.

  Food issues :  Breakfast: being a city that dinners late in the night, breakfast does not start early in hotels. Standard time is 7.00, and sometimes later. Check with your hotel.
  Restaurants do not open very early in the afternoon (the standard is 8:00 pm, but in touristic neighbourhoods they open before) and up to very late (they normally accept guests up to 12:00 pm). Argentine food and wines have a was well acquired renown. The offer is very wide. Enjoy it
  Fast foods and some other places open 24 hours.
  Water and other drinks: running water is completely safe for drinking, although its chlorine flavor is not very pleasant. Wash your teeth or drink water from the faucet with confidence.
  At restaurants, running water is not served but you can order it (although locals rarely ask so). Bottled water is relatively more expensive than any other drink. Argentine wine cost/ benefit relation is very convenient. Take advantage of it! Beer is mostly of the Lager type and it is served very cold.

  Telephones and Intenet :  Dollar rates for calling by phone or for connecting to Internet are low. There are plenty of “locutorios”, places with several telephone booths where it is possible to speak comfortably, and computers connected to Internet and Skype, that are charged according to worn time. Some of them are open till very late (over 10:00pm), this varies according to location. Many premises have only computers and are just called “Cibers”. On the other hand, cybercafes are less frequent, that is to say coffee shops providing computers use. Wi-Fi is widespread