Archive for the ‘Need To Know’ Category

Most Tourists Don’t Need a Pre-arranged Visa to Enter Argentina

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Most tourists don’t need a pre-arranged visa to enter Argentina but it depends on your country of citizenship. Tourists from Canada, United States, Germany, Australia and the UK — just to name a few countries — don’t need to get a visa in advance of their arrival. If you are a citizen of one of […]

Flying Out of EZE – Get There Early

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

The Pistarini International Airport, EZE, is a busy airport. Departure is much less organized than arrival. I recommend arriving at least two hours before your flight. Two and a half hours would be better. Three hours may be needed if the airport is busy. A taxi ride from central Buenos Aires (Palermo, Recoleta, Micro Centro, etc.) takes […]

Major Newspapers in Buenos Aires

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

The two main Spanish-language newspapers in Buenos Aires are Clarín and La Nación (The Nation). I find the depth and quality of journalism of both papers to be very high. I do, however, prefer to read Clarín primarily because it is published in a smaller tabloid format. Newspapers are sold at newspaper/magazine stands on many […]

Electricity, Voltage, Outlets and Plugs in Argentina

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

Electricity in Argentina is 220 volts, 50 Hertz, AC. In recent years Argentina has switched to Type I plugs and outlets. These are diagonal with flat prongs. The neutral and line wires are reversed from that used in Australia and other countries. Some buildings still use older Type C outlets which have round prongs. Some […]

Renting a Cell Phone

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

If you need to rent a cell phone while visiting Buenos Aires here are a few of your options. If you are renting an apartment from an agency, the agency may be able to set you up. For example, when I needed a second cellular for my girlfriend’s use the agency handling my apartment rental […]

Oh Oh, Travelers Diarrhea

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

Even though the water in Buenos Aires is safe to drink, upset stomach or travelers diarrhea can still strike. Last December I discovered, much to my dismay, that two common, effective, brand-name products that help relieve the symptoms of upset stomach are not available in Argentina. These products are Pepto Bismol and Immodium. Fortunately, similar […]

Best Neighborhoods for Tourists

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

What’s the best neighborhood in Buenos Aires? Well, the decision of where a person wants to live often comes down to a matter of taste, lifestyle and personal preference. That said, let’s take a look at my favorite neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, ranked in order from best to least-best. Palermo Palermo is probably the best […]

Taxi Safety

Friday, December 19th, 2008

Taxis are everywhere in Buenos Aires and you’ll almost certainly use them during your trip. There are two types of taxis in Buenos Aires: radio taxis and regular taxis. Radio taxis can be identified by the sign on the roof that says “radio taxi”. If you wish, you can call a radio taxi to pick […]

Getting a Taxi at the Airport

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

For tourists, the safest, most reliable way to get from the airport to your hotel or apartment in Buenos Aires is to use the official airport taxis. After you have passed through immigration and picked up your luggage, you will emerge in the airport greeting area. Look for a large booth that says Taxi Ezeiza. […]

How to Use the Subte

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

The subway in Buenos Aires is called the Subte (SOOB-tay). Here’s what you need to know to use it. First thing, you’ll need a map. You can find one online at the official Subte website. Different Subte lines are identified with different letters. Line “D” is the line most often used by tourists since it […]