Argentina Travel Tips & Useful Info

You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Argentina and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis A are strongly recommended. A yellow fever vaccination is also recommended and you may be requested to present a yellow fever certificate when entering the country.

Do I need anti-malaria tablets for Argentina?

In larger towns and cities the locals tend to drink the tap water. But it has a high mineral content which can cause upset stomachs in travellers who aren't used to it. It is therefore safer to stick with bottled water. When travelling outside the larger settlements then you should avoid drinking the tap water at all. You'll be able to buy bottled water easily in shops, hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Generally speaking, there is no established tipping culture in Argentina. Exceptions include restaurant staff - if a service charge is not included in your bill then a small gratuity will be much appreciated if the service has been good. Other service providers such as hotel porters and hair dressers may expect a small tip, but this is not compulsory and should be given at your own discretion.

Usually, women travelling alone in big cities such as Buenos Aires tend not to have many problems. The occasional catcall or stare is about as much as you will get in these more progressive areas as they are used to seeing tourists and have much more modern attitudes towards women. Women might attract more attention in rural villages that aren’t used to seeing foreigners. Women should take care when on their own late at night and always take a taxi rather than walk around when it is dark. Machismo attitudes are still very much alive here and once the alcohol starts flowing catcalls can turn in to grabbing.

The following goods may be brought into Argentina by travellers over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• USD $300 in personal or new goods if arriving by air, plus an additional USD $300 of goods purchased in duty-free shops upon arrival
• USD $150 in personal or new goods if arriving by land or waterway, plus an additional USD $150 of goods purchased in duty-free shops upon arrival

Travellers under 16 may import half these amounts.

You should declare upon arrival items that might not be considered part of normal luggage (such as expensive camera equipment or musical instruments) and show the declaration on departure. A licence is required for firearms and ammunition for hunting purposes. You must declare gold.

The following are banned from being imported into Argentina:
Firearms (unless under licence from the National Arms Registry), explosives, flammables, narcotics, and goods considered a risk to health or safety.

The currency of Argentina is the Peso. US Dollars are also accepted in some hotels and for many tourist related services. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates.

Although most major currencies can be exchanged in Argentina, the US Dollar gets the best exchange rate and is the easiest to change locally. Exchange facilities are available at airports, banks and bureaux de changes (cambios) in all larger towns and cities. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.

Most major credit and debit cards are accepted in Argentina and ATMs can be found in larger towns and cities, although be aware that the maximum amount that can be withdrawn is often low. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. In some small towns, you may find you’ll need to use cash so combination of cash and cards is best.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.

One of the best things about Argentina is that it really caters for all budgets. Hotel rooms can cost from around USD $300 per night for a top range 5 star hotel to just USD $40 for a budget 3 star accommodation. Hostels are also widely available and normally have beds for around USD $15 per night. All-you-can-eat restaurants that serve parillas (grilled and barbecued meat) come in at roughly USD $10-20, whereas a three course meal at a fancier restaurant will set you back about USD $40. Public transport is pretty cheap here with an hour long journey costing USD $6 and taxis are reasonable and shouldn’t be more than USD $5 per 10 minutes.

The standard voltage in Argentina is 220V. Primary sockets require a type I or Type C plug. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.

Yes. In big cities WiFi will be freely available in most restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. Getting connected in more rural or isolated parts of the country could be a bit more challenging but generally travellers will always be able to find a connection somewhere, even if it means going to an internet cafe.