Key travel information for Argentina

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Entry formalities
Current passport with or without visa depending on your nationality. Consult with your nearest Embassy or Consulate. Visitors coming from countries not bordering Argentina are exempt from all taxes on travelling articles and new articles with a value not more than US $300 and 300 additional US dollars if they are purchased in the duty free shops within the national territory.

No vaccination certificate is required for entry into the country, except for passengers coming from countries where cholera and yellow fever are endemic.

Currency
The official Argentine currency is the peso, which is no longer pegged to the United States dollar but fluctuates. There are 2, 5, 10, 50 and 1 00 peso bills and 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents and 1 peso coins.  

Language
The national language is Spanish. English, French and Italian are quite widely spoken.   

Transport
The country has a modern air, maritime, river, terrestrial and urban transportation system.

Buses travel to all destinations in the country with very comfortable units (air conditioning, color TV and toilets).

Numerous international airlines land in Argentina: Aerolineas Argentinas (Argentina), Air France (France), Alitalia (Italy), American Airlines (USA), Avianca (Colombia), British Airways (Great Britain), Canadian Airlines (Canada), Cubana (Cuba), Ecuatoriana (Ecuador), Iberia (Spain), KLM (Netherlands), LAB (Bolivia), Lan Chile (Chile), Lufthansa (Germany), Malaysia Airlines (Malaysia), Mexicana (Mexico), Pluna (Uruguay), SAA (South Afita), Spanair (Spain), Swissair (Switzerland), TAM (Paraguay), Transbrasil (Brazil), United Airlines (USA), Varig (Brazil), VASP Brazilian Airlines (Brazil), Quantas (Australia).

The Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) is located 35 km away from the City of Buenos Aires. Domestic air services, which operate out of the Jorge Newbery airport in the city, are covered by Aerolineas Argentinas, Austral, Dinar, LADE, LAER, LAPA and SW; Kaiken and TAN operate in the provinces.

Flight duration from Buenos Aires to provincial capitals and to the main tourist centers are:-

Airports have ground connection services with urban centers: buses, taxis and chauffeured hired cars (remises). 

Car rental
In addition to local firms, the main international car rental companies have offices in the country’s main cities and airports.

Taxis
In the City of Buenos Aires there are 32,000 taxis and the fare is a flag-down initial price plus an additional cost per distance covered and time elapsed. Payment is made at the end of the ride and only the amount on the meter is to be paid.

Lodging & accommodation
Argentina's hotel infrastructure is good and plentiful in all categories, graded by a system of stars. Other accommodations are a great variety of cabins, camping grounds, farms and inns.

Tips
It is customary to leave 10% in cafeterias and restaurants and to tip doormen, porters, ushers in cinemas, etc.

Food
Meat and wine have given the country an excellent reputation. The local cuisine is varied and tasty. The Northwest region has its own specialties: empanadas, tamales, humita, carbonada and locro.

In addition, however, the strong immigration flows that populated the country explain the existence of delicious international cuisine: Italian, Spanish, French, German, Smiss, English, Chilean, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Arab, Jewish, Basque, Scandinavian, Greek, Dutch, Hungarian, Russian.

The new Argentine cuisine, created by top-ranking chefs and encouraged by demanding gourmets, is up to international standards, competing with the best in the world.

Shopping
Most stores are to be found in downtown areas. Also shopping malls have been built in Buenos Aires and the main provincial cities. High-quality goods are available, particularly in leather, wool or designer fashions, as well as furs, crafts and antiques.

Stores are open from 9/9:30 am to 7:30 pm, although some close at midday and remain open later, and from 9 am to 12:3011 pm on Saturdays. Nevertheless, these timetables are not compulsory and some shops remain open on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Big shopping centers are open every day until late at night.

Tax (VAT) reimbursement
Travelers will be reimbursed the 21 % value-added tax they have paid, if they have purchased locally made products for a value higher than $200* (with a bill of sale) at stores participating in the system, which are identified by a "TAX FREE" sticker on store windows.  [* check the amount at the shop as this can be changed by the Government at any time]

Payment means
Although the US dollar is widely accepted, foreign currencies can be changed to pesos in banks and authorized exchanges. The most widely honored credit cards are American Express, VISA, Diners and Master' Card. There may be difficulties in cashing traveler's' checks outside Buenos Aires.

Communications
Excellent telephone, fax and Internet services are available. International direct diang is available from anywhere in the country. Argentina's country code is 54, which must be followed by the city code and the local number. 

Telephones
Public pay phones operate with coins or with cards that are purchased at cigarette counters and newsstands as well as at telephone company stores. There are also speaking booth stores where payment is in cash and where fax services are available. There are reduced rates between 10 pm and 8 am To call 4broad you must dial 00, the country code, city code and number. For domestic city-to-city calls, 0 must be dialed before the corresponding city code.

Post offices
There are post offices in all urban centers, where telegraph (telegram), postal (letters, parcel post, express mail, courier, printed material deliveries) and monetary (transfers, collection for third parties) services are provided. 

Time zone
There is a difference of -3 hours with Greenwich meridian time.

Electricity
220/240 volt, 50 cycle alternate current. 

National Holidays
These dates are national holidays in Argentina:-

The national holidays of June 10 and October 12 which fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday are Moved to the nearest Monday. The holidays of June 20 and August 17 are celebrated the third Monday of the corresponding Month.The other national holidays are Marked on the stated days. Good Thursday is an optional holiday for private businesses. 

Tourist Information
Local information offices are found in all provincial capitals and tourist centers. In Buenos Aires the National Tourism Secretariat’s Tourist Information Center is located at Av. Santa Fe 883, (1059) Buenos ,Aires, Phone 0800-555-0016 or 4312- 2232.  There are offices at the Ezeiza international airport and Jorge Newbery city airport.

The City of Buenos Aires Tourism Secretariat’s Information Centers are at Sarmiento 1551, Sth floor, (1042) Buenos Aires, Phone 4372-3612, at Florida and Diagonal Norte, at Calerias Pacifico, at the Cafe Tortoni, and at the Caminito Street. For further information go to the National Tourism Secretariat’s Intemet address:- www.sectur.gov.ar  

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