Ride-Share Apps in Argentina
Aug 27, 23, 10:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Posts: 2,202
Ride-Share Apps in Argentina
I'm visiting Argentina (Buenos Aires, Calafate, Chalten) for the first time next March. I was planning to use either Cabify, Didi, BA Taxi or Uber, and I have a few logistical questions:
1) Is there a particular ride-share app that works better than others? I've been reading on several message boards that some Uber drivers, for example, will refuse a ride if passenger is paying with a credit card instead of cash. (I would much rather use my CC (no fx fee) than carry bricks of pesos on me.)
2) At EZE airport, is there a designated area to meet up the driver?
3) In the Patagonia region of Calafate and Chalten, what ride-share apps worked for you?
Thanks all!
1) Is there a particular ride-share app that works better than others? I've been reading on several message boards that some Uber drivers, for example, will refuse a ride if passenger is paying with a credit card instead of cash. (I would much rather use my CC (no fx fee) than carry bricks of pesos on me.)
2) At EZE airport, is there a designated area to meet up the driver?
3) In the Patagonia region of Calafate and Chalten, what ride-share apps worked for you?
Thanks all!
Aug 27, 23, 11:33 am
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Full time Nomad
Posts: 832
We spent a month in Patagonia ( after a month in BA) this Jan/Feb. We had been to BA before, and only use buses or subway, or taxi's. We loaded Cabify, never used it.
Patagonia... We bussed to El Califate, then another flew to Baricloche, and bus to El Chalten. Once you are in the towns, we walked everywhere, EL Chalten IS TINY!!!!! Califate not much bigger. Bariloche, since we had Subte cards, se used the bus system there, but could have walked everywhere we wanted. But we also used taxi's anywhere else, like taxi ride to town from airport. We rented a car in Bariloche for 2 days, and drove up to the lakes region.
Any questions, just ask.
Patagonia... We bussed to El Califate, then another flew to Baricloche, and bus to El Chalten. Once you are in the towns, we walked everywhere, EL Chalten IS TINY!!!!! Califate not much bigger. Bariloche, since we had Subte cards, se used the bus system there, but could have walked everywhere we wanted. But we also used taxi's anywhere else, like taxi ride to town from airport. We rented a car in Bariloche for 2 days, and drove up to the lakes region.
Any questions, just ask.
Last edited by stan1162; Aug 27, 23 at 7:15 pm
Aug 27, 23, 12:23 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,202
We spent a month in Patagonia ( after a month in BA) this Jan/Feb. We had been to BA before, and only use buses or subway, or taxi's. We loaded Cabify, never used it.
Patagonia... We bussed to El Califate, then another flew to Baricloche, and bus to El Chalten. Once you are in the towns, we walked everywhere, EL Chalten IS TINY!!!!! Caliphate not much bigger. Bariloche, since we had Subte cards, se used the bus system there, but could have walked everywhere we wanted. But we also used taxi's anywhere else, like taxi ride to town from airport. We rented a car in Bariloche for 2 days, and drove up to the lakes region.
Any questions, just ask.
Patagonia... We bussed to El Califate, then another flew to Baricloche, and bus to El Chalten. Once you are in the towns, we walked everywhere, EL Chalten IS TINY!!!!! Caliphate not much bigger. Bariloche, since we had Subte cards, se used the bus system there, but could have walked everywhere we wanted. But we also used taxi's anywhere else, like taxi ride to town from airport. We rented a car in Bariloche for 2 days, and drove up to the lakes region.
Any questions, just ask.
When you were in Calafate and Chalten, were credit cards widely accepted? Because VS/MC use the MEP rates now, I'd rather just use plastic instead of carrying stacks of cash with me.
Aug 27, 23, 1:39 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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Posts: 37,750
Cabify is what I'll use when ordering a car, and the "executive" is usually just nominally more than the regular cars. I pay cash, which also seems to get drivers more likely to pick you up.
Aug 27, 23, 4:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Somewhere between EZE , MAD and GLA
Programs: IB , BA , AA , LATAM
Posts: 831
Picking up an Uber or a Cabify at EZE is not easy - there is no particular area for pick-ups and black cabs occasionally are still taking picket action against Ubers.
I would recommend you take Taxi EZEIZA from the airport to your hotel - you can pay by C/C.
Afterward, I prefer to use Cabify over Uber as I find the cars tend to be better quality.
Once you get pesos the cash option is much appreciated by the drivers .
I would recommend you take Taxi EZEIZA from the airport to your hotel - you can pay by C/C.
Afterward, I prefer to use Cabify over Uber as I find the cars tend to be better quality.
Once you get pesos the cash option is much appreciated by the drivers .
Aug 27, 23, 7:11 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Full time Nomad
Posts: 832
Oy!
Great to know! Thanks for the prompt replies. I was mostly going to use subway or buses in BA, but for longer distances (like to/from EZE and AEP airports), I was thinking about taking a ride-share -- just because I'd be hauling luggage with me and also because my flights either leave super early in the morning or arrive late at night.
When you were in Calafate and Chalten, were credit cards widely accepted? Because VS/MC use the MEP rates now, I'd rather just use plastic instead of carrying stacks of cash with me.
When you were in Calafate and Chalten, were credit cards widely accepted? Because VS/MC use the MEP rates now, I'd rather just use plastic instead of carrying stacks of cash with me.
We were just talking about this during dinner tonight. We are going back Jan 2024. With the blue dollar 600 ish, 3X what it was when we were there, bringing Pesos, we will need a separate suitcase. El Calafate had ONE Western Union, we never used it, we brought enough Pesos with us, but we heard IF it opened, if quite often sold out of $$ before 10 am. More places in El Calafate took cards, but not everybody. EL Chalten not many took cards, BUT many took USD and posted their exchange rate on a paper outside. The place we stayed Estancia Bonanza ( One our favorite places on earth!!!) I prepaid in USD before we arrived. It was pricey, so that helped.
Taxi at AEP, there is a taxi line that is LONG!!! All outside, twisty, we just took the bus!!
I think our plan is to bring USD and use Pesos. Bringing 1, 5 and 10 dollar bills, everybody will take USD. IF we have leftover USD, so much better than having useless ARS leftover.
Thats our plan, as of today. Book and pay at hotel in BA what you can beforehand.
Last edited by stan1162; Aug 27, 23 at 7:21 pm
Aug 28, 23, 8:26 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,202
We were just talking about this during dinner tonight. We are going back Jan 2024. With the blue dollar 600 ish, 3X what it was when we were there, bringing Pesos, we will need a separate suitcase. El Calafate had ONE Western Union, we never used it, we brought enough Pesos with us, but we heard IF it opened, if quite often sold out of $$ before 10 am. More places in El Calafate took cards, but not everybody. EL Chalten not many took cards, BUT many took USD and posted their exchange rate on a paper outside. The place we stayed Estancia Bonanza ( One our favorite places on earth!!!) I prepaid in USD before we arrived. It was pricey, so that helped.
Taxi at AEP, there is a taxi line that is LONG!!! All outside, twisty, we just took the bus!!
I think our plan is to bring USD and use Pesos. Bringing 1, 5 and 10 dollar bills, everybody will take USD. IF we have leftover USD, so much better than having useless ARS leftover.
Thats our plan, as of today. Book and pay at hotel in BA what you can beforehand.
Taxi at AEP, there is a taxi line that is LONG!!! All outside, twisty, we just took the bus!!
I think our plan is to bring USD and use Pesos. Bringing 1, 5 and 10 dollar bills, everybody will take USD. IF we have leftover USD, so much better than having useless ARS leftover.
Thats our plan, as of today. Book and pay at hotel in BA what you can beforehand.
I'm just hoping, though, that drivers will accept credit cards via the app, especially since I won't have any ARS on me when I arrive at EZE from the US. I've read somewhere that I could use the ATM at Banco Nacional at the airport -- but just enough to cover an unexpected expense on the way to my hotel. My hope is to bring about $300 USD (for a 10 day trip) as a back up.
In terms of USD, my understanding is that money exchangers give more for crisp $100 USD bills with the "Big Benjamin." Anything lower than that will receive a lower exchange rate. That said, if I'm looking just to pay with USD at a restaurant in El Chalten, is it better just to bring a crisp $20 USD bill? Or to bring smaller bills -- like $1, $5, and $10's? Does it matter whether the bills are in mint condition?
Aug 29, 23, 10:43 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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Posts: 37,750
I did a bit of digging and noticed that Cabify (which is legal in AR) has a website dedicated to clarifying where pickups at airports happen. For EZE, for example, here are the instructions: https://help.cabify.com/hc/en-us/art...tional-Airport
I'm just hoping, though, that drivers will accept credit cards via the app, especially since I won't have any ARS on me when I arrive at EZE from the US. I've read somewhere that I could use the ATM at Banco Nacional at the airport -- but just enough to cover an unexpected expense on the way to my hotel. My hope is to bring about $300 USD (for a 10 day trip) as a back up.
In terms of USD, my understanding is that money exchangers give more for crisp $100 USD bills with the "Big Benjamin." Anything lower than that will receive a lower exchange rate. That said, if I'm looking just to pay with USD at a restaurant in El Chalten, is it better just to bring a crisp $20 USD bill? Or to bring smaller bills -- like $1, $5, and $10's? Does it matter whether the bills are in mint condition?
I'm just hoping, though, that drivers will accept credit cards via the app, especially since I won't have any ARS on me when I arrive at EZE from the US. I've read somewhere that I could use the ATM at Banco Nacional at the airport -- but just enough to cover an unexpected expense on the way to my hotel. My hope is to bring about $300 USD (for a 10 day trip) as a back up.
In terms of USD, my understanding is that money exchangers give more for crisp $100 USD bills with the "Big Benjamin." Anything lower than that will receive a lower exchange rate. That said, if I'm looking just to pay with USD at a restaurant in El Chalten, is it better just to bring a crisp $20 USD bill? Or to bring smaller bills -- like $1, $5, and $10's? Does it matter whether the bills are in mint condition?
I will suggest that you should never assume that a business will accept your USD, and if it does, never assume that you'll get a "blue" or similar rate. Odds are that you can and will, but never assume.
And always have the latest and greatest issue of the US$100 notes. Crispy, unmarked, and not an older series note.
