Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with argentina

Argentina Flights

nyu2 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:03:50 -0800

Is there any way around the foreigner-pricing for internal flights within Argentina? I'm trying to fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and found that airfare is almost 40% higher if you are not from Argentina. Is there a way to book a flight for the local price - or this price difference included in the taxes and fees?

Has anyone had experience booking w/ a travel agent in Argentina and getting a local fare without hassle once you arrived at the airport?

Buenos Aires 12-Day Honeymoon Itinerary Help

tslugmo — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:08:01 -0800

Booked flight to Buenos Aires for $287! Now I need help planning our 12 day honeymoon in South America. Have advice? At $119 before taxes, roundtrip LAX-EZE, I couldn't pass this one up. We're flying into and out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, but what happens in between is TBD. I've read some other posts here that have given me some basic ideas, but I wanted to see if anybody else wanted to contribute. Some details about us:

+ Arriving 9/30, Departing 10/11
+ We want our honeymoon to be split between Adventurous and Relaxing
+ Adventurous could be: Scuba diving, Horseback Riding, Hiking, Volcanoes, Rafting, even Camping, very open to suggestions
+ Relaxing could be: Lying on a Beach, Being Pampered in a Beautiful Hotel, Sipping Umbrella Drinks, Spa Treatments, Picturesque Pools/Hot Tubs, Breathtaking Unique Hotel Rooms/Locations, Typical Honeymoon Stuff
+ We love exploring and getting to know local people and places. We are averse to large group tours with other Americans.
+ I speak solid Spanish, lived in Spain for 6 months.
+ We couldn't care less about shopping as a vacation activity
+ While we can appreciate museums, we prefer stunning natural attractions
+ We are looking forward to exploring local food and wine (we're carnivorous). Steak, pizza and ice cream are already on our list, specific recommendations always welcome.

We do need to be budget conscious. Can't give a specific budget yet, plus some wedding guests may contribute to our honeymoon. We can probably afford to splurge a little on a few hotel nights to get the Honeymoon experience, but we can't do $300/night the whole trip.

My thinking is to splurge on the "Relaxing" portion of the trip, figuring the adventurous part could be at places like Estancias and other more "roughing it" (less expensive?) accommodations, but I'm open to suggestions.

Besides itinerary suggestions for how to spend 12 days in South America, I'm also looking for specifics about travel within the continent. I've read buses are better than trains, but for flights are there particular places to find deals? In Europe we use RyanAir or EasyJet, which don't come up on Kayak. Is there a similar option in S.A?

Attending a futbol game in Spain was awesome, any advice for attending a game in S.A?

We're thinking Uruguay and Brazil are possibilities. Chile? While we want to see BsAs and Rio de Janeiro, we'd also like to experience life outside the big cities. Is it going to be too cold to lay out on the beach somewhere?

Thanks so much in advance!

How to travel and volunteer for a very first timer?

pixxie — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:49:17 -0800

My current volunteering gig is standing still, how do I search for a new one and be able to travel? I am a 26 year-old female living in Canada throughout much of my life. I have never traveled anywhere except moving from one province to another. In 2007, I obtained my BSci in Chemistry, then I decided to pursue something I truly want which is Nutrition and Physiology. Since last year, I have been volunteering @ this NGO with the hope that I would be “shipped off” somewhere to do humanitarian work. However, this NGO will NOT send any volunteers oversea and being a French (especially) and/or Spanish speaker is a plus for this fairly big organization. At the office, I perform mostly secretarial tasks such as being a webmaster for its website, using Illustrator CS3 to design icons for training modules, etc. In spite of meeting some wonderful people in the office and doing something I enjoy on the side, I get very very bumped out every now and then. Why? Because what I wish to do is to volunteer with regard to global nutrition, not doing clerical tasks that are identical to my job @ school. In addition, it is also a personal reason. I have spent the past 8 years always worrying/stressing about money and student loans (I receive zero contribution from my parents), such that I never get to enjoy much of my summer or life rather. Instead of just moping around, I really want to make some changes NOW. Therefore, I really need some step-by-step advice as to where to start:

1) Is everyone volunteering for NGOs always multilingual? What other organizations can you recommend to me that will emphasize more on my education background (I don’t want to teach English or get some random jobs just for the sake of “seeing the world”, I want to help the underprivileged), rather strictly based on what languages I can speak?

2) Starting in September, I plan on taking some Spanish classes @ the YMCA. In the meantime, I want to get a head-start in the next few weeks before school starts so that I can become more familiar with the language. I honestly don’t expect to grasp a new language overnight, but if I keep this up, do you believe I will have the adequate background to converse semi-fluently by the end of April?

3) Like I mentioned earlier, I am a total noob when it comes to traveling, thus I don’t want to shop around and try to learn everything any person can possibly know about cheap airfares, restaurants, etc. I decided Argentina is where I want to go. With this focus in mind, where can I find the best site (e.g. blogs?) that is not only there to discuss about the country’s hot destinations, but is also informative as to HOW to travel for a clueless person like me?

4) Money is a major issue for me. Trying to support myself throughout the school terms and saving for the trip can be challenging. Hence, I need to set some sort of a goal to get myself motivated. How much money do you think I need to save prior the trip? Is $4000 CDN enough?

4) Is anyone here familiar with Idealist.org or has had participated for this organization? What are some of your thoughts about it? Pros and cons?

Give me some tips for enjoying my vacation in Buenos Aires (specific questions inside)

paperclip — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:20:08 -0800

Give me some tips for enjoying my vacation in Buenos Aires? I've been here three days and it's an awesome city so far, though a bit challenging for someone who doesn't speak much Spanish... I've got a few questions you can help me with if you've been here before, and you can get a warm fuzzy feeling from helping make my only vacation of the year even better! * What exactly is the menu ejecutivo in many cafes, and how do you order from it? In some places it looks like a good deal for a bite (some sort of fixed-price menu deal?), but ordering those items from the menu comes up to more money than on the sign. How might I be doing it wrong?

* Everyone says I should try the medialunas. Ordering this gets you, apparently, either a small croissant-looking pastry or a flat sandwich-type preparation stuffed with cheese, sort of a cross between a panini and a pita bread. How can I be more specific and order the croissants?

* I've bought a few things from the market. Say I go in and pick up some milk, yogurt and a couple oranges and head for the cashier. She'll scan the milk and yogurt but won't ring up the oranges, and won't attempt to explain why. OK, I've lived in Ontario, Quebec, and the U.S.A., vacationed in Europe a few times, but this is my first time in South America - I know I'm doing *something* wrong here again, but I give up, what is it?

* Walking down av. Florida in the evening, people constantly try and hand you little cards. Some sort of ad for strip clubs? I'm not sure what they're for. What's a polite, inoffensive deflection to use? Along the lines of "thanks, not interested". Is it considered impolite to just keep walking without acknowledging them?

* I've seen lots of clothing boutiques - I'd love to do a bit of clothes shopping before I leave. Is there hope or will this prove impossible without knowing a bit more Spanish?

* I saved the most open-ended "soft" cultural question for last. No one makes eye contact on the street - If I'm walking along and give a friendly smile / slight nod to someone the smile is never returned. Am I committing a huge social faux-pas? Is it just a cultural thing to get used to, or is it something about me? If it matters, I'm white, male, French-Canadian, mid-20s; I don't think I'm dressed "touristy", but then again who knows. I don't expect to make many friends without speaking the local language, that's certainly my fault, but I'm not completely antisocial. What's up with this?

I don't want to give the impression I don't like the city - BA is great, I'm just finding a few little things a bit frustrating.

MBA Wanted: Help me get to Spain!

OuttaHere — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:22:49 -0800

How do I fulfill my dream of getting my MBA in Spain? (Argentina is on the menu too). My main goal is to get my MBA, and I am currently a United States Citizen, however I have family in Spain. Morning Mefites,

This is my first question. I am young, have about 2 years of good work experience behind my back, but I am starting to go a little crazy. My wanderlust is taking control and my dream of studying abroad again needs to be fulfilled.

I have lots of family in Spain, my Grandparents were born there and have already spoken with family members who are pretty high up in the government who have told me obtaining a visa should be no problem, even a non-student visa, so I consider myself slightly lucky in that regard. I currently am looking at good International Business Schools in Spain where I can get my MBA. There are several top-notch schools in Barcelona and Madrid that I am looking at. The one problem is that I may not have enough work experience to get accepted (I'm at the complete low point). I think that with a killer GMAT score, my work experience, and my experiences studying in Spain and Argentina previously may help as well.

So what I want from you guys are suggestions, tips or ideas. I am currently in a rut at my job, unhappy, doing the same thing over and over and I realize this is part of life, but I really want to move forward and get my international experience going. How can I, a young 20 something get to my MBA in Spain. The main problem I have right now might be funding, I know I will have to get student loans for my MBA program so any suggestions on how to fund a plan like this would be of great help.

Also, does anyone else have experience getting MBA's abroad, especially in Spain?

Another thing I am looking at is potentially saying HECK with my current job (which I think is great experience) and moving down with my friend in Buenos Aires for a year in Argentina, and maybe trying to find work there that would qualify as experience. However I'm not sure if I could get anything more than an under the table teaching job there. Any suggestions?

This is my first Mefi question, you guys are the best, so any help would be great!

Patagonia Panoramas

netbros — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:02:27 -0800

Please tell me about your experiences in the beautiful mountainous regions of Patagonia, South America. I have always marveled from afar at the exquisite scenery of the Patagonia area in Chile and Argentina. Someday soon, I want to travel there during the South American summer. For those who have spent time in and around Patagonia, please help me with logistical concerns I should consider. I am North American. Where would you suggest as the best town for a home base? What is the best way to get around from sight to sight? Are you better off at the touristy national park areas, or is it all open and available to hikers and campers? What should you not miss? What should you stay away from? Are there any unusual safety issues to consider? What is a fair amount of time to allot for an extended vacation? What questions am I not asking that I should? Thank you in advance for your help.

Al sur.

donpedro — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:57:21 -0800

Requesting travel, transport and itinerary suggestions for southern and western South America. I have a guide book for the continent and ideas about where I want to go, but the distances seem vast and I'm having trouble envisioning how to string together several destinations in multiple countries without spending a fortune. Difficult to tell where overland travel is or is not feasible.

* Time frame: 18 days, including travel down and back from North America. I live near a major international airport that has direct flights to many South American cities.
* Time of year: March (i.e. Southern Hemisphere late summer, early fall).
* Budget: TBD, though certainly not unlimited. I imagine airfare will be the single greatest expense.

Things I'm interested in seeing:
* Usuhaia, Argentina, and nearby parks. Tierra del Fuego.
* Glaciares National Park, Argentina. Specifically, a hike around Cerro Torre. -Or- Torres del Paine in Chile.
* Santiago, Chile.
* Atacama Desert.
* Lake Titicaca and/or La Paz, Bolivia.
* Cuzco/Machu Picchu.

I seriously doubt I could see all that in the given period of time. Does anybody with experience traveling in the region have any good suggestions for how to do as much as possible, without being a total road warrior? Any particularly obvious links between places, such as good short reliable ground transport between Cuzco and Bolivia? Are flights between Santiago and Argentine Patagonia/Usuhaia reasonable? Etc. This is a rather expansive question, I realize, and am very appreciative of any advice you're willing to offer.

About me:
* U.S. citizen.
* Fairly travel-savvy and mobile, does not require luxurious accomodations.
* Fluent in Spanish.
* Has been in South America previously (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay).

Where to get Caña Legui in the US?

sergeant sandwich — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:33:41 -0800

About ten years ago, a colleague of mine from Argentina had me try some liquor called Caña (or Canha) Legui that he'd brought with him to the US. It was really good and I want to find a bottle here. Help? It was a sweet, rum-based liquor, that tasted sort of like cream soda. I haven't been able to find it anywhere in the US, so I thought I'd give AskMe a shot. I've seen it for sale on a couple of e-commerce websites, but they are all based in Europe and the shipping charges to the US are pretty steep. I imagine there are import food-and-drink sellers aimed at South American expats and so on, but I fail at finding them.

I'm in southern California; a local source would be great, but an online service that ships to the US for less than an arm and a leg would work too. Any other suggestions would be helpful!

Buenos Aires? Yes? No?

Lemon of Byzantium — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:38:48 -0800

How should I go about teaching English in Latin America, specifically in Buenos Aires? First of all, I realize other posts have dealt with this to a certain extent, but it would be great to have some good, up to date information. Some of the information I have come across is from a few years ago. I want to know...

1) Where I can find good, up-to-date information regarding teaching English in Buenos Aires? Something like this article from Transitions Abroad would be helpful, but from 2008/2009. I'm aware of Dave's ESL cafe, but I'd like something a little more exhaustive. Why do I want more info? Well...

2) I know that Argentina has been on shaky legs economically in the recent past, and the current economic crisis hasn't helped. Are any of you living and or teaching in Argentina now? Are these jobs scarce, or is there always a market for it?

3) If there are jobs, how do I go about doing it? Should I just dive into it, take a course there, and hand out as many resumes as possible? Is certification necessary?

4) Finally, is Buenos Aires a good place to live and work?

As always, thanks in advance.

Bringing U.S. laptop to Buenos Aires

cookie googleman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:59:11 -0800

What king of laptop adapter/transformer do I need for Buenos Aires? I have a U.S. Apple MacBook Pro with a THREE-pronged grounded cable. As far as I'm aware, I will need both an adapter that will work with my 3-prong grounded U.S. cable and also a converter or transformer to adjust the voltage. Is this correct? Does anyone know where I could purchase these items? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thank you

Don't Stamp for Me Argentina

felix — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:10:39 -0800

Your average every day basic 5 Centavo Argentinian stamp question. What year/provenance is this 5 Centavo Argentinian stamp? What if anything is significant/known about the symbology thereon?

Hola Amigos

cloeburner — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:49:54 -0800

What are some simple music, art and other activities I can do with a group of Spanish speaking kids with ages ranging from 5 to 10. I am volunteering at a small school in the North of Argentina teaching music, art and other stuff 3 days a week. I don´t speak a large amount of Spanish yet and no one at the school speaks English so communicating complex ideas and games is a bit difficult.

Nevertheless, I would love to know some great simple art activities, music activities and just plain activities or games to do with the kids. The school has no money so try to think of things that don´t require dinero.

Salta and Pepas

cloeburner — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:51:15 -0800

We are traveling from Buenos Aires to the north of Argentina and are looking for suggestions of where to stop and rest. My partner and I are headed northward toward Peru from Buenos Aires by bus. I will be going through Chile and she through Bolivia because of some visa entanglement, but we'd like to travel together through Argentina. We have about a week and a half to get to the point where we split (we were thinking Salta, but if there's a more efficient way, thats that.)

Any ideas or suggestions of where to go or what to see along the way. We were thinking of stopping by Cordoba, La Rioja, and Tucuman but nothing is set in stone. We are into biking, nature and experiencing local culture. We are a little underprepared gearwise for Andean winter, so someplace not too arctic would be nice. We've been in the city for a while so we'd like to see some trees and little birds. Also we like cheap delicious vegetarian food.

Telecommuting internationally?

inactivist — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:15:58 -0800

I want to keep my American job but live abroad (in Argentina)-- what does this mean for taxes and visas? I'm a graphic designer who works from home and my company has let me know they'd be OK with me telecommuting from abroad. I'd like to move to Buenos Aires for several months, or longer... I'll see as it goes, and might even move from city to city if I like it as much as I think I will.

What does this mean for taxation? Will I still have to pay the same amount of American taxes that I do now, and will I have to pay any taxes in Argentina?

And does anyone know what kind of visa I would need? I don't need work in Buenos Aires so I don't need a working visa, but I would like the chance to stay longer than the 90 days that tourist visas allow.

Melodious Melodica in the Mystic Mist

cloeburner — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:25:39 -0800

Two questions about Argentina. First, does anyone know any good hot springs [termas] that are not exceedingly far from Buenos Aires. Second, does anyone know any music stores in Buenos Aires where I could acquire a melodica or other instruments for not too many pesos. Stipulations: We would prefer the hot springs are more natural. That is to say, the water isn't pumped from a spring into a bathroom. Secret ones without fences and buildings would be the raddest. But, barring that, just good ones will suffice.

If hot springs do not work out, does anyone know any sweet sweet nature spots in Argentina.

Thanks for the assistance.

Brazil v. Argentina?

evidenceofabsence — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:02:53 -0800

This summer, I'm set to attend a 5-week program in Brazil's Atlantic forest. I'm going to be in Sao Paulo state, but a ways outside the city. I have a week afterward to be a big dumb tourist, and I'm trying to decide whether I should stay in metropolitan Sao Paulo, or fly to Buenos Aires. I've never been to South America before, but I have an acquaintance in either city, which is nice. Pros:

Sao Paulo:
-Don't have to pay extra airfare/figure out a second flight.
-I like big cities.
-It'd be a little weird to fly in and out of Guarulhos, and not see the place.
-It'll be mid-August (i.e. winter), making Buenos Aires kind of chilly.

Buenos Aires:
-I speak Spanish (and don't speak Portuguese).
-It looks a lot cheaper, in terms of hotels, and everything else.
-I've wanted to head there for quite some time.
-And, finally, I'm a little freaked out by the crime rate in Sao Paulo. I like to wander around a place, and having to take curb-to-curb cabs weirds me out a bit.*

Thoughts? If I skip Sao Paulo, am I missing out? What if I skip Buenos Aires? How's Gol, in terms of safety/reliability? Any additional advice, or recommendations, welcome.

*I'm pretty sure I'm being a huge jerk, or a big sissy. (Feel free to tell me so.) I'm from New York, and I pay attention to my surroundings. Thing is, from what traveling I've done, I know it's a lot easier to "pay attention" when you speak the language and know the neighborhoods well. It also helps if your hippocampus has a tiny subway map in its tiny brain pocket.

Get on the Bus

cloeburner — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:22:44 -0800

I have travel plans! I am thinking of giving up on America again and going to Argentina for a couple weeks then travelling by bus through Uruguay and ultimately ending up in Brazil [Recife area] and living on a travelling state-sponsored commune. But I have questions... Do I need a return plane ticket from Argentina for them to let me in? Is there any way I can prove that I will be leaving the country by bus thus negating the need for a return ticket? Is there anything I need to know regarding travel in any of these countries?

Is it possible to stay longer than 90 days in Brazil if I receive a sponsorship or something similar?

Additionally, any tips of things to do or see as I embark on this lengthy journey northwards, probably along the coast? I'm into leftist politics, music, nature, art and weirdness.

Trying not to fry them

Bezuhin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:30:13 -0800

Plug adapter for Argentina and Uruguay? I am going on a trip to Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Iguazu Falls (Argentinean side). I'm going to be staying in business-class hotels (Sheraton Montevideo, Hotel Emperador Buenos Aires, Iguazu Jungle Lodge). I am taking my iPod and the battery charger for my Canon SD870IS (both dual voltage/frequency), and I am researching what type of plug adapter I will need. It looks like most places will either have this two-prong plug, which is similar to the plug used in many countries, or this three-prong plug, which is similar to the plug used in Australia and New Zealand. Just when I think I will be able to get by with a simple universal adapter, I notice this warning regarding the three-prong plug found in AR and UY: In Argentina and Uruguay, the neutral and active wires are reversed from what is used in other countries. Now what? Should I just wait until I get there and buy a plug adapter at the airport? Any first-hand knowledge or general advice would be much appreciated.

How can I stream Netflix to Argentina?

brokekid — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:11:09 -0800

I recently moved to Argentina and was wondering if there was a way to by-pass the Netflix streaming restriction that only permits US viewing and watch movies here? I understand Netflix won't allowing viewing outside of the 50 states, any way I can get around this?

How so I get an Apostille done quickly from another state?

brokekid — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:32:40 -0800

How so I get an Apostille done quickly from a state other than where the event occured? I need an Apostille for both a criminal background check and a birth certificate for a work visa for a job in Argentina. I have a fairly recent birth certificate from Ohio but need the criminal background check.

- Can I get the background check done anywhere in Ohio and do I need to be there to get it?

- Does anything need to be done to the birth certificate before I take it in for the Apostille?

- Is there a quicker, more painless process than physically going to Ohio? (I live in Washington, DC but am on vacation in MN)

I was just told that I need this done and it's due February 1st. Argh. The State Secretary for Ohio website isn't very helpful.

Is Easter a bad time to visit Iguazu Falls?

Bezuhin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:08:46 -0800

Is Easter a bad time to visit Iguazu Falls? My fiancee and I are planning a trip to Buenos Aires/Iguazu Falls/Uruguay from March 19-29, 2008. We had planned to visit Iguazu falls over Easter weekend, but then we started to worry that Easter might not be the best time to visit the falls. We're only planning on spending two nights at Iguazu Falls. Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect in Iguazu Falls or Buenos Aires over Easter? Should we push the Iguazu part of the trip to later in the honeymoon?

I'm thinking of moving to Buenos Aires and would like to hear from anyone who has lived or spent a lot of time there

medpt — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:07:21 -0800

I'm thinking of moving to Buenos Aires. I'd like to hear from anyone who has lived or spent a lot of time there. Like this poster, I've recently entered a position where I can work remotely from anywhere that has reliable electricity and broadband. I want to take advantage of this position by living abroad. (I'm an American currently living in the US.) Buenos Aires appeals to me because:

* it's a big, diverse, cosmopolitan city with lots to do
* it's walkable and has good public transportation
* it's Spanish-speaking; I hope to take lessons and improve my rudimentary Spanish
* I'm paid in American dollars, which will apparently go far there

What do you think? Have you lived in Buenos Aires? Is it awesome? Can you suggest another city that might be a better fit?

gypos?

muymuy — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:51:06 -0800

I'm interested in finding out more about gypsies (the Roma or Romani people) in the country of Argentina: both historical as well as contemporary accounts (in the news/in popular media/literature/culture). As with many repressed groups lying outside "the pale of history", i haven't had too much luck finding information, though it would probably help if i lived in Argentina.
Any help in finding resources is much appreciated - English or Spanish is fine. besitos, tchuessies!

Cockroach/bug situation in Buenos Aires?

Ashley801 — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:23:15 -0800

Does Buenos Aires have a lot of cockroaches? How many/how big? Are they avoidable in your apartment/building? I'm deciding between several cities for study abroad. Having lived in cities with a lot of cockroaches I'd rather not repeat the experience.

Is Buenos Aires more like Seattle, where you will only find cockroaches in squalor, more like NYC where they are unavoidable in any large apartment building but rare in single-family houses, or more like Miami, where many people have them even in a single-family house (and they're huge and fly)?

Also, how large are they? And, what's the bugginess factor like there in general?

Buenos Aires seems to have a temperate climate, so this is unclear to me...

Very Specific Character's Job Title?

np312 — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:53:46 -0800

Help me ascertain the correct job title for a character I’m writing who deals in high stakes international finance. Difficulty level: I have a limited understanding about stocks, bonds, or securities. Hi there—now there are several plot points that can’t be changed that I must work around, so it would be a great help to find a job title/description for this character that fits the following constraints.

The character I’m writing needs to be a high-paid person in finances, the type who might get sent down to Argentina in the months immediately preceding the 2001 Corallito/2002 Bankruptcy in order to broker some sort of high-stakes financial deal involving a US firm (hers) and an Argentine company of some sort.

Here’s the most important part: she’s trying to get these Argentinean businessmen to come on board with her JP Morgan-ish company in some way (invest abroad? Partner up for some reason?) and they are all set to do so –until- the country’s fiscal crisis spirals out of control in the fall of 2001, and she loses the contract/client because of it.

Some job titles that seem to fit are Emerging Markets Bond Trader or Financial Analyst, but I’m still a bit unsure of what those jobs actually entail. So! Any ideas of what this character’s job is and what kind of financial deal is she could be responsible for in this particular situation?

Thank you for all help/ideas!