Is Argentina inexpensive now?
 

Planning a trip in May to Buenos Aires and Argentine countryside. Is food, lodging, etc. inexpensive? Has anyone visited there recently and can they offer some advice/tips? Thanks!

I visited Buenos Aires last month. Whether it will be inexpensive or not, is up to you. For example, accomodation can start at $20 per night, for a very basic hotel in a not that fancy area, and it can go to hundreds of dollars for the usual top end hotels. The standard guides (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide etc) and of course the internet can give you a lot of info.
In general, I found that prices for most everyday expenses are comparable to those in a major city of the U.S..

During the 80's it seemed one year it was the most expensive in the world, the next year the cheapest. One thing... 21% hotel tax is no fun.

The economy is on the brink and the middle class is being sucked down the drain. If this trend continues, one wonders how long they can keep their currency "pegged" to the dollar.

The Peso has been 1=1 for about 20 years now as I recall, and mutters of devaluation have been around that long. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

For South America THE most expensive country to visit, bar none.

But worth it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

I'd say you'd find prices above medium Latin America standards.

Taxis are cheap. Do have fun with taxis.

Time available? Take the ferry to Montevideo, Uruguay! Downtown-Downtown, clear customs, etc.

Can anybody comment on the skiing? I've heard it's quite impressive. What are the resort towns like, cost-wise, for the budget traveller? (Las Lenas, for example)

Thanks,
E

I was there 2 months ago, and found prices to be comparable to those of an expensive American city-- maybe a little bit less than NYC, but more than most places in the States.

Another suggestion, take the high speed ferry to Colonia, Uruguay-- it can make a nice day/overnight trip.

For a day trip to Colonia, try "Buquebus".
http://www.buquebus.com/ingles/Paque...ticos.asp?Op=5

Your memory is a little fuzzy again, my friend, the "peso" has been devalued by a factor of 10 million since 1985! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif


http://www.shadow.net/~giorgio/argentina.html

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 04-28-2001).]

i go there to trout fish mostly. we use a meet & greet service when going as a group this gets more & more expensive. i have, when going on a different schedule from the rest have used taxi's to xfer to domestic airport, 1st time got one from taxi line about $60- 5yrs ago. there is a kiosk at eze- you can't miss it going straight out for taxis. this was $35-2 yrs ago.there are two terminals, i assume that the service is available in the aerolineas terminal. my spanish is minimal. one hint, if you take a taxi to the domestic a/p from the street, don't say newberry air port. say aeroparque [aeroparkay] , its a great place. have fun

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 04-28-2001).]

According to a chart in the Expat forum the cost of living in Argentina is comparable to Hong Kong or the UK:

http://www.expatforum.com/Resources/icol.htm

Not the Argentina I remember from the '70's when the budget traveler could live in style for three or four US Dollars a day. It was, however, a very difficult time for the locals, who had to deal with 1000+% inflation.

Dear E-- the skiing is very good, although our resorts are not as developed at the large European and US resorts. I suggest you sample Bariloche and/or Las Lenias. Enjoy!!