Here are a few things you may find useful if visiting Argentina.

Capital: Buenos Aires
Population: Over 40.000.000
President: Cristina Kirchner (2007-2011)

Rates in Argentina

Most important airports

Getting to Argentina

All airlines flying to Argentina arrive mainly at Ezeiza (“Ministro Pistarini”) International Airport, which is 37 Km away from the City of Buenos Aires. The trip takes approximately 45 minutes.

Please note that when leaving the country, a US$ 18 tax must be paid. It can be paid with pesos, dollars and credit cards.

Domestic flights and flights to Uruguay depart from Jorge Newbery Airport / Aeroparque.
Airport taxes: U$S 8.

Time 
The time zone corresponds to GMT-3 and currently no change is made in the summer months.

Activity in Buenos Aires starts in the first hours of the day and extends until late at night. This city has lost the habit of siesta – a nap after midday -, which is still the custom in the interior of the country (Mendoza – Bariloche – San Martin de los Andes)
 
Shops 
Shops are open from Monday till Friday, from 9 am to 8 pm. On Saturdays they are open from 9 am to 1 pm.
Shops located on important avenues or streets are usually open on Saturdays afternoons as well. In shopping centers or malls, working hours usually extend until 10 pm, including Saturdays and Sundays.

International or National Phone calls from Buenos Aires

You will be able to find and use public phones in Buenos Aires. They work with coins (5, 10, 25, 50-cent and 1-peso coins).

In addition to public phones, there are many communicational centers (locutorios and telecentros) offering telephone, fax and internet services.

For international calls, dial: 00 + country code + area code + local number.

If Calling to Argentina

The country code for Argentina is 54, and the area code for Buenos Aires is 11.
For example, to call to 4555-5555 from outside the country, you should dial: 54-11-4555-5555.

Currency

The Argentine currency is the peso ($). There are:

The U.S. dollar is the most common foreign currency. You can exchange foreign currency in banks and currency exchange offices, where you must present your passport.

Take into account that shops accept credit cards and dollars.

The main banking area is located in the so-called “city”. This area is in the first five blocks (numbered 100 to 500) of San Martín, Reconquista, 25 de Mayo, Sarmiento, Perón and Mitre streets.

• Most shops will accept either US dollars or credit cards when paying, but it is convenient to exchange them for pesos in currency exchange offices or banks.

Banks

Banks open at 10 am and close at 3 pm. Cash extractions and other transactions may be done in ATMs, 24 hours a day.

Electric power

Electric power in Argentina is 220 volt, 50-cycle alternating current.

Power outlets have 2 cylindrical holes or 2 flat holes with ground connection. It is convenient to bring an adaptor for these outlets to use your electric devices without problems. 

Toll-free Tourist Assistance Line

0800 999 2838 

To obtain information on the city

The Entity of Tourism of Buenos Aires comprises Centros de Información Turística (CIT – Tourist Information Centers) located in different districts. These centers provide any kind of printed material (maps, guide-books, brochures) and useful information to move around the city. 

For your Information if using the following airlines:

* Lan Chile only allows 20 kg per person. This INCLUDES the golf bag. So, one person is allowed to take up to 2 bags plus 1 golf bag and these all have to weight 20 KG.
Each extra KG costs USD 4 approximately.

* Aerolineas Argentinas allows 15 KG per person and it does not include the golf bag. Meaning that one person is allowed to take 2 bags of maximum 15 KG plus a golf bag.

Verify the size of you carry-on luggage since it should not be bigger than the size of the compartment of the airplane you are about to board to avoid any problem in trying to locate it during the flight. Weight: 5 kg in Domestic flights and 10 kg in International flights
Measurements: 115 cm perimeter (sum of all its sides)

Please verify the conditions of your baggage. In the event of any damage or deterioration, you will have to file a claim before the airline at the stand assigned to that specific end. Remember to do this check before you leave the sector. You should also file a claim if any suitcase is missing or has not arrived.

Presentation time:

* Aeroparque Jorge Newbery: (Flights to Montevideo and Punta del Este) 1hour before departure time. 
 
* Ezeiza: (All destinations) 3 hours before departure time.

- Aerolineas Argentinas: (54-11) 4480 5859
- Air France: (54-11) 4480 0535
- American Airlines: (54 11) 4480 9088
- Iberia: (54 11) 5480-5363
- United: (54 11) 5480 0728
- Varig: (54 11) 5480 8008

Distances

* From Buenos Aires:
To Bariloche, it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes by plane.
To Calafate, it takes 3 hours and 15 minutes by plane.
To San Martin de los Andes, it takes 3 hours and 35 minutes by plane.
To Salta, it takes 2 hours and 15 minutes by plane.
To Iguazu, it takes 1 hour and 45 minutes by plane.
To Mendoza, it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes by plane.
To Cordoba, it takes 1 hour and 20 minutes by plane.
To Punta del Este – Uruguay, it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes by plane.
To Rio de Janeiro – Brasil, it takes 3 hours by plane.
To Chile, it takes 2 hours by plane.

* From a hotel in Buenos Aires’s City:
To Olivos GC, it takes 45 min.
To San Andres GC, it takes 45 min.
To Jockey Club GC, it takes 45 min.
To Pilar GC, it takes 55 min.
To San Eliseo GC, it takes 45 min