Rita-- this is a tricky one to answer. I say this because it depends on a number of things, including the ATM machine that you happen to use, and your daily limit that is imposed by your home bank. As an example, when I use my US based ATM card, I am able to get the equivalent of US$1000 or AR$3000 from machines that belong to the Red Link system. The more popular Banelco machines only give me AR$1000. In my experience, you will have to try your luck with your ATM card at a few different machines.

Considering you will need cash upon arrival, I would suggest you bring US$1500 cash and head directly to the Banco de La Nacion Argentina in Ezeiza airport. By all means, please avoid the money changers in the baggage claim area, as they are crooks crooks crooks... (no fake notes but they will take you to the cleaners with their exchange rate).

UA Check In Couter at EZE
 

I got there a little after it opened but confirmed it with the counter folks that the UA check in counter opens at 6:30pm.

Also, there was an additional security check at the area right before you get on the plane. This included going through all your bags, being "wanded" and having someone check your shoes. Didn't take very long, but the plane wasn't all that full.

Gaucho100K:

Very good advise ^ And yes, it is indeed a little tricky.
I talked yesterday with my bank regarding this:
-see that you have a high daily limit at you bank at home ....
-still, how much you will get, depends on the limits of the ATM (bank/network)
-next, it can harm, if you use one and the same card several times (at the same network or another one). The card might get blocked after a couple of days ... the transactions are not booked in real-time...you get the cash, but may have triggered to block the card.
The best way are a couple of cards from 2 or 3 banks.

The tip to bring dollar notes is fine, however, the exchange rate might be not the best (Interbank versus cash rate)

If you need that much money right off the bat, I'd contact the estancia and see if they'll accept US Dollars. I'd be shocked if they wouldn't. Then just travel with the cash.

Thanks, rkt10 and Gaucho100K!

The above is also excellent advice, although you need to make sure they accept USD at a competitive rate, which currently should be about 3.10 pesos to the Dolar.

Gaucho, any idea what rate I should expect to get at a bank?

Rita

the same Rita. maybe 1 or 2 cents less, that is, per 1 USD you should get around 3,10 Pesos...or 3,08...
As Gaucho said, some shops, restaurants and other stores give you a better rate for your USD when you purchase there. Example: Christian Dior for clothes used to give 3,20 pesos per dollar some weeks ago.

I just spoke with the estancia and they give (as of today) 3.10 so I'm fine taking my cash.

Now I just have to get a few more ATM cards in case I run into problems with my one (standard, no VISA or MC logo). I don't want to take cash advances against my AMEX or regular AA MasterCard.

R.

Rita/PT:

Michael Koh's website that you found http://www.apartmentsba.com/ has an excellent account of the real estate purchase process in Argentina. I bought a property several years ago, and I wished I'd had the benefit of such background information at the time. It seems that anybody can be a real estate agent in Argentina, so don't expect them to know what the appropriate laws are that you need to follow.

The BA Expats site http://www.baexpats.com/ that you also found has some updated information about new restrictions on real estate transactions for foreigners that are in effect, or coming into effect this January I believe. Search for "AFIP", which is the tax authority. There are yearly property taxes that foreigners are required to pay but that you will not receive a bill for. You will have to have a local accountant prepare them for you and pay them at the local AFIP office.

John

Must I pay airport tax on one-day visit?
 

Good morning!

Apologies if this has been asked before... this thread is monstrous and search doesn't seem to be working for me today.

A friend and I will be visiting BsAs this Sunday during a long (nine-hour) stopover on our return to the USA from SCL. I would very much like to head into town for the day to visit Cabana las Lilas for lunch and do some walking around. Will I still have to pay the standard international departure tax upon my departure, even though I'm *technically* just connecting?

And does anyone know whether I'll have to claim my checked baggage (from the SCL flight) and store before checking in again with AA? The inbound flight arrives around 11am; outbound is at 9:40pm.

Thanks much!

In my experience, the answer is yes - you will have to pay the departure tax.

Since this at-airport departure tax collection went into play, I've yet to be able to avoid it even on day trips which had me going landside at EZE.

If at SCL your bags are tagged from SCL-EZE-US you shouldn't have to collect them at EZE (but you will have to collect them at the first port of entry into the US). If you are flying LA from SCL-EZE and AA from EZE-US and it's on one ticket, most likely LA won't give you any grief with through checking the luggage. (If you are flying on two separate tickets, then that may be more of an issue were the check-in agent at SCL choose to make it an issue.) Also, make sure to have your bags locked prior to checking them at SCL and consider the plastic wrap thing around your luggage on top of that.

GU, is this advice purely because Clipper is hoping to leave them at the airport while he goes into town, or some inherent potential of being robbed when flying from SCL to EZE?

The reason I ask is that I"m going to have to fly to SCL to get to EZE this December (the DL flights are pretty full for this pass-rider). I'll have to claim my bags at SCL and resubmit them for a LAN or Aerolinias flight to EZE.

Thanks.
Rita

There is no particular route-related or airport-related heightened risk of theft, but a bag around the tarmac or tarmac-side facilities for several hours at an airport increases the chances that the bag may get unwanted "special attention". Having it locked and wrapped in plastic is a deterrent from it being meddled with.

That is, it's just routine caution because of leaving them at the airport for several hours.