Argentina Travel Guide Overview

Argentina Travel Tips and Advice | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Central and South America Argentina Do's and Don'ts Argentina Travel Guide Overview Tours Where to Go Activities General Info History Weather Travel Tips Dining Shopping Visa & Health View Trips to Argentina Central and South America Overview Browse Argentina Photos Argentina Questions and Answers Read Argentina Journals Find a Argentina Travel Buddy Argentina Travel Tips & Advice Social Conventions The most common form of greeting between friends is kissing cheeks. When invited to somebody’s house it is quite common to take a homemade dish or dessert. Dinner is usually served between 2100-2200. Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Dress is not usually formal, though clothes should be conservative away from the beach. Formal wear is worn for official functions and dinners, particularly in exclusive restaurants. Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and theaters. Tipping Tips are theoretically outlawed but some hotels or restaurants will add 25 per cent service charge, plus a 21 per cent tax charge. In these cases, a minimal tip is still expected. Otherwise, 10 per cent on top of the bill will suffice. The same applies in bars. Taxi drivers tend to expect tips from visitors. International Travel: Air Argentina’s national airline, Aerolíneas Argentinas (AR) (website: www.aerolineas.com.ar ) serves Auckland (New Zealand), London (UK), Madrid (Spain), Mexico City (Mexico), Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Sienna, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Porto Allegre, Río de Janeiro and São Paulo (Brazil), Ciudad del Este and Asuncion (Paraguay), Limá (Peru), Caracas (Venezuela), Punta del Este and Montevideo (Uruguay), Miami and Rome, (Italy), New York (USA), Paris (France), Sydney (Australia) and Zurich (Switzerland) in addition to regional services. Other airlines serving Argentina include Aeroflot , Air Canada , Air France , Alitalia , American Airlines , British Airways , Iberia , KLM , Lan Chile , Lufthansa , Malaysian Airlines , Qantas , South African Airways , Swiss , VARIG and United Airlines . Approximate flight times From Buenos Aires to London is 13 hours, to Los Angeles is 16 hours, to New York is 14 hours 15 minutes, to Singapore is 29 hours 30 minutes and to Sydney is 16 hours. International airports Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) (tel: (11) 5480 6111), is 37km (23 miles) from Buenos Aires. There are bus services to the city operating between 0500-2000 (travel time – 40 minutes). Taxis are also available. Airport facilities include a 24-hour bank, restaurants, tourist information kiosk, bureau de change, duty free shops and car hire ( Avis and Hertz ). There is also a coach connection to Jorge Newbery airport (locally called Aeroparque ) for domestic flight connections. To reach the city by car, drive in the Teniente General Ricchieri freeway. Air passes The Mercosur Airpass: Valid within Argentina, Brazil, Chile (except Easter Island), Paraguay and Uruguay. Participating airlines include Aerolineas Argentinas (AR) (however, flights on this airline cannot be combined with any others, as it has no agreements and its tickets are not accepted by other airlines), Austral (AU) , LAN-Chile (LA) , LAPA (MJ) , Pluna (PU) , Transbrasil Airlines (TR) and VARIG (RG) with the subsidiary airlines of Nordeste (JH) and Rio Sul (SL) . The pass can only be purchased by passengers who live outside South America, who have a return ticket. Only eight flight coupons are allowed with a maximum of four coupons for each country and is valid for seven to a maximum of 30 days. At least two countries must be visited (to a maximum of five) and the flight route cannot be changed. A maximum of two stopovers is allowed per country. The Visit South America Pass: Must be bought outside South America in country of residence and allows unlimited travel to 36 cities in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include Aer Lingus (EI) , American Airlines (AA) , British Airways (BA) , Cathay Pacific (CX) , Finnair (AY) , IBERIA (IB) , LAN-Chile (LA) and Qantas (QF) . A minimum of three flights must be booked, with no maximum; the maximum stay is 60 days, with no minimum, and prices depend on the amount of flight zones covered. For both air passes children under 12 years of age are entitled to a 33 per cent discount and infants (under two years old) only pay 10 per cent of the adult fare. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines. Departure tax Approximately US$18. For flights to Montevideo (Uruguay) and regional flights, the departure tax is US$8. Passengers in transit and children under two years of age are exempt. Visitors are advised to check with their airline or travel agent as the departure tax is subject to frequent changes. There is also an immigration tax of US$10 on all international flights. Sea/River The main ports are Buenos Aires, Quequén and Bahía Blanca. Ferries and hydrofoils link Buenos Aires with Montevideo in Uruguay, and there are ferry connections down the Paraná River from Paraguay. Rail The major direct international route is from Buenos Aires to Asunción in Paraguay. There are also direct rail links with Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. Services are often disrupted and delays can be expected. Road Argentina has a network of approximately 217,762km (136,101 miles) of roads, of which around 156,789km (97,993 miles) are paved. There are well-maintained road routes from Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. Coach: Direct daily services between Buenos Aires, Puerto Alegre, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The following goods may be imported into Argentina without incurring customs duty: (a) Travelers over 18 years of age coming from Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay or Uruguay, or residents returning to Argentina after less than one year’s stay in these countries, may import the following goods to a value of US$100: 200 cigarettes and 25 cigars ; 1l of alcohol ; 2kg of foodstuffs . (b) Travelers over 18 years of age coming from countries other than those listed above, or residents returning to Argentina after less than one year’s stay in countries other than those above, may import the following goods to a value of US$300: 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars ; 2l of alcohol ; 5kg of foodstuffs . Prohibited items Animals and birds from Africa or Asia (except Japan) without prior authorization, parrots and fresh foodstuffs, particularly meat, dairy products and fruit. Explosives, inflammable items, narcotics and pornographic material are also forbidden. Note: All gold must be declared. It is wise to arrange customs clearance for expensive consumer items (cameras, computers, etc) to forestall any problems. Internal Travel: Air Domestic flights from Jorge Newbery (Aeroparque) and Córdoba (COR) (Pajas Blancas) to destinations throughout Argentina are run by Aerolíneas Argentinas (AR) , Austral (AU) (website: www.austral.com.ar ) and LAPA (MJ) . Air travel is the most efficient way to get around, but the services are very busy and can be subject to delay. There is a 30-day ’Visit Argentina Pass’ available, with four to eight coupons for flights within the country, with many accompanying airlines. It is also possible to buy a 60-day air pass. Domestic airports: Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbury (AEP) is located on the bank of the Rio de la Plata, a few minutes away from the main financial and commercial district. There are frequent bus and taxi services to all areas of the city as well as a coach connection to Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini international airport. Airport facilities include a bank/bureau de change, left luggage, car rental and a tourist information kiosk. Departure tax: Between US$7.05 to US$8, and subject to frequent changes. Rail Owing to severe underfunding of State railways and recent privatization, many long haul services have been disrupted, although some suburban lines have been greatly improved. The domestic rail network extends over 43,000km (27,000 miles), which makes it one of the largest in the world. Children under three travel free and children aged three to 11 pay half fare. There are three classes: air conditioned, first class and second class. There are restaurant and sleeping facilities for first-class passengers. Second-class rail travel is good value. There are six main rail routes from Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires–Rosario (where one branch goes to Tucumán and Jujuy via Córdoba and the second branch goes to Tucumán and Jujuy via La Banda), Buenos Aires–Rojas, Buenos Aires–Santa Rosa, Buenos Aires–Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires–Las Flores–Quequén Necochea and Buenos Aires–Bahía Blanca (where a branch goes to San Carlos de Bariloche). Rail travelers are warned that once out of Buenos Aires, information is very hard to come by. Special fares: The Argempass entitles visitors to unlimited first-class train travel, but is only sold in Argentina at railway booking offices. Passes are available for 30 days, 60 days and 90 days. A supplement is charged for sleeping car accommodation. The passes must be used within 30 days of purchase and are valid from the first day of use to the last day at 2400. Other discount tickets include: Group Pass: 10 to 25 per cent discount for a group of 10 to 25 people; Family Pass: 25 per cent discount for a parent and up to two children; Youth Pass: 25 per cent discount for people under 30 years of age; Senior Pass: 25 per cent discount for women aged 55 and over and men aged 60 and over; and Student Pass: 25 per cent discount for students. Road Major privatization programs have resulted in many trunk roads being upgraded, and roads are generally in good condition. Expect tolls on motorways. Rural roads, composed of packed dirt, become impassable after rain. Nonetheless, buses are considered to be a more reliable form of long-distance transport than trains. Traffic drives on the right. Car hire : There are a number of agencies in Buenos Aires (including Avis , Dollar and Hertz ). Drivers must be at least 21 years of age (sometimes up to 25 years of age). Documentation: International Driving Permit is required and this must be stamped at the offices of the Automóvil Club Argentino (website: www.aca.org.ar ). These documents must be carried at all times whilst driving: proof of ownership, proof of insurance and receipt for last tax payment. Urban Buenos Aires is generally well served by public transport. The city’s underground, the Subte , was the first to be constructed in Latin America. Recently privatized, its old glitzy stations (adorned with ceramic tiles portraying scenes of Argentine life) are now being renovated. There are five lines, labelled A to E. Services operate from early morning to late at night on a fixed-fare basis; tokens can be purchased at booking offices. Bus: Services are provided by colectivo buses operating 24 hours a day on an inexpensive flat fare; however, these are often crowded, particularly at rush hour, but are usually prompt. There are extensive bus services in other towns, including trolleybuses in Rosario. The main bus station is in Buenos Aires, at Av. Ramos Mejia 1680, close to Retiro Station. Taxi: Available in most cities and large towns and can either be hailed on the street or found at taxi ranks. They are usually recognizable by their yellow roofs. It is best to use hotel-recommended taxis. Travel times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Buenos Aires to other major cities/towns in Argentina. Air Road Rail Córdoba 1.10 9.00 12.00 Bariloche 2.10 22.00 36.00 Cataratas 1.30 17.00 24.00 Iguazú 1.40 20.00 - Mendoza 1.50 17.00 30.00 Mar del Plata 0.40 4.00 4.00 Rio Gallegos 4.15 36.00 - Rosario 0.50 4.00 4.00 Salta 2.00 15.00 20.00 Ushuaia 3.00 30.00 - Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) advertisement Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

Japan Travel

Japan Vacations & Tourism, Japan Hotels, Japan Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase Japan: Search Travel Travel > Guides > Asia > Japan Email this page Print Japan Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of Japan Top Cities in Japan Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Yokohama Fukuoka Nagasaki Sapporo Hiroshima Okinawa Narita Chiba Kobe Hakone Nara Nikko See all cities in Japan View larger image At Tokyo station, waiting for the bullet train, we watched as everyone bought boxed lunches ( obento in Japanese). So we bought one too. It was inviting: The map on the cover suggested each of the foods inside had been harvested in a different part of Japan -- white radishes from the far west, salmon roe from the far northeast, eel from the south coast. We saw it … Read More Popular Japan Hotels Tokyo The Westin Tokyo ANA Hotel Tokyo Park Hyatt Tokyo Century Hyatt Tokyo Imperial Hotel Osaka Swissotel Nankai, Osaka The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka Hotel New Otani Osaka Miyako Hotel Tennoji Imperial Hotel Osaka Kyoto RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto The Westin Miyako Kyoto International Hotel Kyoto Hotel Granvia Kyoto Hiiragiya Ryokan Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel Nagoya Hilton Nagoya ANA Hotel Grand Court Nagoya Tokyu Inn Nagoya Sakae Nagoya Tokyu Hotel Yokohama Yokohama Royal Park Hotel Rose Hotel Yokohama Sheraton Yokohama Bay Hotel & Towers InterContinental The Grand Yokohama Hotel New Grand Fukuoka Grand Hyatt Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel Sea Hawk Hotel & Resort Hyatt Regency Fukuoka ANA Hotel Hakata Nagasaki Best Western Premier Nagasaki Hotel Holiday Inn Nagasaki Hotel JAL City Nagasaki Hotel New Tanda Nagasaki Washington Hotel Sapporo Sapporo Grand Hotel ANA Hotel Sapporo Washington Hotel I Sheraton Sapporo Hotel Phoenician Plaza Hotel Related Information Popular Attractions in Japan Kiyomizudera Ueno Park Tokyo Tower Osaka Aquarium Odori Park Asakusa Shrine Maruyama Zoo National Museum of Modern Art- Crafts Gallery Shinjuku Gyoen Universal Studios Japan Popular Hotels in Japan The Westin Tokyo ANA Hotel Tokyo Park Hyatt Tokyo Century Hyatt Tokyo Imperial Hotel RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto Hotel Keio Plaza Tokyo Swissotel Nankai, Osaka Grand Hyatt Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel Popular Cities in Japan Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Yokohama Fukuoka Nagasaki Sapporo Hiroshima Okinawa Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap airline tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .

Vacation Rental Home here!

..VRBO is Vacation Rentals by Owner Vacation Homes Rentals by Owner Millions of visitors here each month... List your Vacation Rental Home here! Beautiful USVI - US Virgin Islands Vacation Rentals 46,000 Vacation Rentals - Rental Homes by Owner Search by VRBO# City Search Enter complete or partial city name Text Search Yachts/Cruises Worldwide USA Vacation Rentals Canada Rentals Mexico Rentals Caribbean Rentals Europe Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic England Denmark France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Macedonia Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Scotland Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Africa Morocco Seychelles South Africa Central America Belize Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama South America Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Peru Uruguay Venezuela Asia China Cyprus Hong Kong India Indonesia Israel Japan Malaysia Mauritius Philippines Sri Lanka Thailand Turkey South Pacific Australia Fiji French Polynesia New Zealand Caribbean Yachts & Cruises Anguilla Antigua Aruba Bahamas Barbados Bay Islands Belize Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands BVI Cayman Islands Curacao Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guadeloupe Isla de Margarita Jamaica Martinique Puerto Rico Roatan Saba Saint Martin (St Maarten) St. Barthelemy St. Eustatius St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago Turks & Caicos US Virgin Islands USVI France vacation rentals Aspen vacation rentals Breckenridge vacation rentals Cabo San Lucas vacation rentals USVI US Virgin Islands Vacation Rentals Kauai vaction rentals Maui Vacation rentals California vacation rentals Florida Keys vacation rentals & homes Destin vacation rentals Orlando vacation rentals & condos Lake Tahoe vacation rentals Disney vacation Cabin rentals & Beach rentals Hilton Head rentals Vacation Rentals Hawaii all located on this huge site... Please read the DISCLAIMER before continuing... Join us... | Members Area | Testimonials | Advantages | Want Ads | Links | Blog | Contacts | Adventures of the VRBO Bear... | Ctrl D to Bookmark --- Click here for Hurricane Katrina Housing Offers --- USA Vacation Rentals - Carpe Vacationum "Seize the Vacation" Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Northern CA Lake Tahoe Central CA Southern CA Colorado Cities A-B Cities C-F Cities G-S Cities T-Z Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Destin Area Panama City Beach South Walton Rest of Panhandle Disney / Orlando Florida East Coast Upper Gulf Coast Central Gulf Coast South Gulf Coast Florida Keys Georgia Hawaii Big Island Kauai Lanai Maui Molokai Oahu Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Hilton Head Myrtle Beach Rest of S. Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Save us in your bookmarks ( press Ctrl-D ) . Plan your next dream vacation right here. More Vacation Rentals in popular locations like these: Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals - Breckenridge, Colorado Vacation Rentals - Paris, France Rentals - Puerto Vallarta area, Mexico - Florida Rentals: Clermont , Davenport , Destin , Kissimmee vacation Rentals , Seagrove Beach - Kaanapali, Maui Vacation Rentals Family Reunion or Large Group? Check out these Vacation Rentals Around the World that sleep 14 18 22 26 30+ guests Do you own a Vacation Rental Property? Join the group and advertise your rental to millions of visitors to this site each month. People are talking about us... see what our members have to say. We have many fine privately owned vacation rental homes available. Read about the advantages of private vacation home rental. We're the LARGEST and most FRIENDLY vacation rental site specializing in PRIVATE HOMES and BY OWNER vacation rentals. You will find tens of thousands of BY OWNER vacation rental properties listed here PLUS fine private homes, condos and apartments offered thru rental agencies and management companies. Please read the DISCLAIMER before continuing... Join us... | Members Area | Testimonials | Advantages | Want Ads | Links | Blog | Contacts | Adventures of the VRBO Bear... Ctrl D to Bookmark | visit Hotspot for Vacation Rental Sales Tax Compliance VRBO® is Vacation Rentals by Owner® - The largest and most popular vacation rental site. Specializing in BY OWNER vacation rentals, homes, condos, cabins, villas and apartments. ALSO privately owned properties offered thru rental agencies and management companies. To report any problems with this site, please contact webmaster@vrbo.com URL: http://www.vrbo.com/Default.htm ©1995-2005 by VRBO International LLC - all rights reserved

Argentina Travel Guide, climate:

Argentina Travel Guide - Information and Advice Argentina Travel Guide Information and Advice Argentina Pictures | Argentina Map | South America Map Argentina Travel Guide, climate: This is the eighth largest country in the world so summarizing weather conditions is tricky, but one thing we should point out first, this is mostly not a hot country , with temperatures rarely over 30C [85F] except in the far north. Winter [May-Sept] is driest in most areas, but also coolest, between 7-15C [45-60F] in Buenos Aires, so this time would be best if holidays mean skiing, the north country and/or general sightseeing, but don't think beaches, tank tops or Patagonia. Best: Spring [Sept-Nov] or autumn [March-May] strike a fine balance between warmth and clouds, but still no tank tops. Worst: Jan-Feb. Summertime is hot, humid, expensive and everything's booked up, but this is the best time for beaches and tank tops. Argentina holidays are around January, Easter and July, so transport and accommodation become a problem then. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not incl. flights [bearing in mind that this is a looong flight for most English speaking travel folk]: 2 weeks. 4 days in Buenos Aires, 5 days [flight] in Patagonia for glaciers and mountain hikes, 2 days [flight] to Iguazu Falls, and a few days northwest around Salta for Andean culture [flight], deserts and canyons, or skip that and hydrofoil into Uruguay for a quick look at Colonia, the beaches or Montevideo, the capital. Argentina Festivals Guide: February or March, Wine Harvest Festival, Mendoza, a few days. Parades and various folk events in honour of Mendoza's raisin d'etre , wine. March or April, Easter , unusually for a Latin Catholic culture, no big deal. May 25, Revolution Day , with a military parade in BA. Nov 12 or thereabouts, Tradition Day , with some Gaucho celebrations near BA but especially in San Antonio de Areco. Argentina Activities Guide: Tango: a fantastically complex and sensual dance, enjoyed by Argentinians as much as tourists, it's visible all over BA in clubs, in the street and around Plaza Dorrego at weekends. Try to learn it by all means, but it'll be a long job. See Pictures and more information. Wildlife: most famously visible around the barren cliffs of Peninsula Valdés - seals, elephant seals, killer whales, penguins, guanacos [llamas], but especially southern right whales. Puerto Madryn is the base from which to find a tour or rent a car. Wildlife is also found in Iguazu Park alongside the waterfalls, Ushuaia and in swampy Ibera Nature Reserve [wetlands] for cayman, capybaras, monkeys and birds. Activities below are best mainly in the Patagonian Andes, particularly from Los Glaciers National Park in the southwest to Mendoza in the centre-west. Bariloche, El Calafate and El Chalten are the three best activity centres, though Ushuaia is pretty wild too. Hiking: spectacular hikes, well signposted, long and short, particularly around Bariloche and El Chalten. See pictures and more information. Biking: Mendoza and the Lake District are best but mountain bike hire is widely available throughout Patagonia - in spite of occasionally fierce winds. Rock/Ice Climbing: fantastic challenges, mostly around El Chalten, Ushuaia and Mendoza ; a guide will generally be required. Mt. Aconagua 6,959m, near Mendoza, is the highest. Horse Riding: this is gaucho country so there are plenty of high quality horses and guides out there. The Pampas are the true home of gauchos - particularly in estancias [ranches] near San Antonio de Areco - but being mainly flat are far less scenic than rides in Patagonia. Skiing: good powder and sunshine at good prices; mostly resorts around Malargue, the Lake District or San Martin de los Andes, but also in Ushuaia, way south. Fishing: Sea fishing off Mar del Plata and Necochea or fly fishing [esp. in San Martin de los Andes {Patagonia} or Isla del Cerrito {north}] for trout, salmon, dorado and giant catfish. Kayaking and Whitewater Rafting: Availability is increasing, especially near Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes. Argentina Star Guide: Monuments ** Shopping and souvenirs ***** Walkability **** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money ***** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches *** Wildlife **** Landscape **** Local People *** Architecture ** Safety *** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems few Museums ** Why Travel to Argentina: This huge country contains climates ranging from tropical jungle thru desert and snow-capped Andes to barren Patagonia and the end of the world, containing some of the world's most stunning natural wonders and a wide selection of activities during which to enjoy them. Argentina has a down-at-heel but relatively sophisticated, energetic capital buzzing with people of south European stock, excellent soccer and rugby and fine dining - which you can afford thanks to incredibly low prices. Downside: - local culture is hardly exotic. - city traffic is hectic, noisy and polluting. - city pavements [sidewalks] sport ankle-snapping potholes, dog doo, or often both. - widespread poverty is common, restrained begging too. Unusually , we recommend giving beggars a few centavos[cents], most really are hard up. Argentina travel highlights: ***Buenos Aires. The capital is terrific for urban spacemen but a bit short on wow! sights. See BA pictures and more information. ***Glaciers National Park, in the southwest : near El Calafate , for glacier views, walks and boat rides or El Chalten for stunning mountain hikes [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. See pictures and more information. ***[San Carlos de] Bariloche is sadly overdeveloped but gateway to activities galore in the spectacular surroundings of Argentina's Lake District . The Seven Lakes Scenic Route is recommended. Hiking, riding, climbing, fishing, skiing, eating chocolate or heading for Patagonia or Chile, Bariloche gets you there. ***Mendoza is a pleasant town on the doorstep of some magnificent mountains, home to excellent wines and en route to Santiago, Chile. ***Iguazu National Park northeast for massive waterfalls, wildlife and plants [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. See pictures and more information. ***Peninsula Valdés for wildlife, see left for more info [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. ***Ushuaia , the world's most southerly town [3,580 kms from BA], offers terrific scenery, hiking, fishing, scenic boat trips, marine wildlife, dog-sledding and skiing [in winter] from a pleasant, if over-touristy town. Also boats to the Antarctic . See pictures and more information. **Cordoba , the country's lively second city has friendly people and a better collection of colonial architecture than BA; partly a World Cultural Heritage Site. **Beaches: Mar del Plata is overbuilt and tacky but has picturesque surroundings and monster beaches that go into overdrive December-February. There're fishing and horse riding as well as beach activities; 400kms [250 miles] from the capital. On both sides are prettier, more peaceful or exclusive resorts, such as Pinamar [posh], Miramar [families], Mar de las Pampas [horses] and Mar Azul . **Peninsula Valdés centre-east coast for marine wildlife. See left. **San Juan and La Rioja provinces sport weird rocks, paleontological delights, petroglyphs and condors passing by in Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks [UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site]. *Jujuy province in the far northwest contains adobe towns embraced by multicoloured landscapes around Salta and Quebrada de Humahuaca [UNESCO World Cultural Landscape]. *Uruguay - a one hour boat trip gets you to the pretty, laid back old town of Colonia . Return to BA or head off to Montevideo or the posh beaches of Punta del Este . See pictures and more information. Cuisine Guide: Porteños eat late so getting a table at 8pm-9pm should be no problem. Before that time only cheap eats may be available. Argentinian food basically means meat , huge portions of freshly killed cow grilled to perfection and eaten in digestion-challeging mass, or as a snack sandwich [lomito]. Steaks are superb so BA is perfect for confirmed carnivores, but what else is on offer? Cheap eats tend towards good pizzas, terrible pastas, ham and cheese sandwiches, various quality stuffed pies [empanadas] or fast food, but for those who can spare a few pesos more, Buenos Aires is home to a mass of superb foreign restaurants that deliver all kinds of cuisine - including vegetarian [e.g. Japanese, Thai, Middle-Eastern] - that anyone holding dollars/euros can easily afford. Shopping Guide: Argentina produces very high quality, stylish shoes, bags and clothes - particularly leather - at very low cost, so this is the place to do serious fashion shopping if you have room in your luggage. Jewellery and woolen goods are also excellent. Regular souvenirs of all types can be found around any tourist area. Argentina Tours More tour operators offering travel around Argentina can be found in our listings here: Argentina Tours For more information on Argentina Travel try these links: National Tourist Offices Online Travel Guides Cheap Airline Tickets UK Cheap Airline Tickets US Travel Insurance UK Tour Operators Embassies Currency Climate Language Visas: Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders and most other nationalities can get 90 days permit to stay on arrival at the airport. Electricity: 220v, 2 [slim] round pins and/or three flat angled pins [but a 2 round pin adaptors will be quite sufficient]. Language: Spanish - known as Castellano in Latin America. It's an easy language so learn the basics, they will be useful though locals know some English. Some basic food vocabulary is vital. Safety: Crime is no worse in BA's centre than most of the world's big cities, but don't wear jewellery and stay away from the outer suburbs. Northeast border cities need some care. Health: No huge problems here, though the tropical north [i.e. not BA] can deliver dengue fever via mosquitoes, so keep the buzzers off you. Also be careful of AMS [Altitude Sickness] when hiking above 3,000m. See Travel Health Money Guide: When this research was done in late 2005 Argentina was amazingly cheap, apart from hotels - $10 for a fine dinner with drinks and $4 for a 20 minute taxi ride. ATMs all around, $ cash is king and accepted instead of pesos. Travellers cheques can be a little hard to change and the rate is poor. Traveling Around: Argentina is a massive country and best locations are widely spaced so unless you are ready for seriously long distance bus rides domestic flights will be necessary. These are efficient and reasonably priced but buy an airpass to get the best deals. And if you plan to travel in Argentina you may want to also check: Brazil Travel Guide Peru Travel Guide Ecuador Travel Guide Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

Travel insurance Holidaying abroad,

BBC - Crime Prevention On Holiday - Travel Insurance Home TV Radio Talk Where I Live A-Z Index 28 December 2005 Accessibility help Text only BBC Homepage Home Crimewatch Crime Fighters Case Closed Crime Prevention You & Your Family Your Home Your Car On Holiday The Law Support for You A to Z of Drugs Newsletter Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend! Travel insurance Holidaying abroad, or even in the UK, without basic travel insurance is unwise. But travel insurance doesn't have to break the bank. Many travel operators insist that you have cover before they'll sell you a holiday. They are entitled to do this, but they cannot demand you buy a policy from them, provided the cover you have is comparable. Apart from covering items that may be stolen while you're on holiday, including small amounts of cash, travel insurance offers many other important benefits. Policies usually include cover for medical expenses - useful if you fall ill or if you're unfortunate enough to be attacked and injured. You must disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. Travel policies also tend to include some basic "personal accident" cover, paying a set amount in the event of loss of sight, limbs or injury resulting in permanent disability or death. Another important element is "cancellation cover". If you have to cancel your holiday because of injury, illness or a disaster at home such as a fire, this will pay for any holiday expense you cannot recover. You need to check carefully what is covered and what isn't. Make sure your policy is valid for the whole journey and includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover. Always take a photocopy of your policy, along with a note of any 24-hour emergency numbers. Like all insurance policies there are restrictions. Limits to the amounts that will be paid under different parts of the cover usually apply and you won't be covered for dangerous activities, such as abseiling or scuba diving. Also, a claim could be turned down if you don't look after your belongings properly. For example, if someone steals your things off the beach while you're taking a dip in the sea, the insurance company might decide that you have not taken "reasonable care" and refuse to pay up. Insurance companies are also growing increasingly concerned about fraud, especially with travel insurance. If you claim for anything that has been stolen they'll probably want evidence that you actually owned the item in the first place. Keep photos at home of personal belongings that you've taken with you. Some insurers even ask for receipts! Check to see if you already have cover under your home insurance for personal belongings while travelling abroad or away from home in the UK. It might not mean that you will get a lower premium (try asking though), but it's worth knowing as the cover under your home contents may be better or may have a lower excess. If you have travel and household cover you cannot claim twice! Insurers will normally split the cost of a claim between them. Don't forget the benefits of using your credit card to buy things abroad. Most include automatic insurance cover on items bought with your card for a short period of time, including things you buy overseas. Check with your card company. Finally, if you and/or your family travel often, ask your insurance company about an annual policy. You pay a premium each year and are then covered for all holidays in that period without needing to take out individual policies - although you may be limited to a certain number of trips. Useful Links BBC Watchdog A guide to travel insurance, making sure you get the right policy. printer friendly version The BBC's Crime site (the "Site") is provided for your general information only. The information contained on the Site should not be treated as a substitute for obtaining professional medical or legal advice. All info correct as of 12/02/03. In this section > Accommodation > Backpacking > Before you go > British Consul > Card theft > Car crime > Currency > Customs > Driving abroad > Hire cars > Insurance > Local culture > Local laws > Luggage > Passport > Personal safety > Timeshares > Top five tips Fun and games > Psychology quiz > Chain Gang > Prison Breakout BBC Holiday Try out the Destination Finder About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy