Argentina - information

AIC INTERIM MEETING 2010 INTERNATIONAL COLOR ASSOCIATION COLOR AND FOOD: FROM THE FARM TO THE TABLE 12–15 October 2010 .

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Useful information for travellers • Exchange

The Argentine currency is the peso. The rate of exchange varies from 3.95 to 4.03 pesos per US dollar and from 5.20 to 5.40 per Euro.

There are bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos, and coins of 1 peso and 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents.

Traveler checks are also accepted in many stores and restaurants.

• Official language

Spanish is the official language. However, if you speak English or Portuguese, you won’t have any problems in getting around.

• Banking

Regular banking hours are from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 15:00.

Automatic Tellers Machines(ATM) Automatic tellers are numerous around the city. Most of them are in the principal commercial banks of Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata and are available 24 hours. You can withdraw money in cash from the banks cashiers just in Argentinean pesos.

Credit cards main offices in Buenos Aires AmEx: Diners: Mastercard: Visa:

Arenales 707. Tel: 4312-1661 (24hs) Monday to Friday from 9 to 17 hs Tel: 4708-2900. Only by phone 24 hs a day Perú 151. Tel: 4348-7070 (24 hs) Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 18 hs Av. Corrientes 1437 - 3º. Tel: 4379-3400. Monday to Friday from 9 to 17 hs

• Business and shopping times

Mon/Fri: Business (9:00 to 18:00).

Stores (9:00 to 20:00). Saturdays (9:00 to 14:00) Shopping centers are open every day from 10:00 to 22:00

• Security

Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata are big cities, so if keep in mind the following recommendations, you will enjoy your stay without problems: • Keep your passport, air tickets and cash in your hotel.

• Do not walk on lonely streets or parks at night and be careful with your belongings on public spaces.

• Try to always call radio taxis on night time.

• Emergency phone numbers Police: 101 // Tourist Police Station: 0800-999-5000, or 4346-5748 General emergency: 911

• Transportation City of Buenos Aires buses There are more than 180 lines going through the city and providing connection with all districts. The service is available at regular intervals. Sometimes, streets may be blocked in the downtown area due to traffic jams.

Hours: Bus service is available all day long but its frequency decreases after 12:00 in the nigth.

Fare: AR $ 1.10 to AR $ 1.25 depending on distances. You need to have at least 2 or 3 AR $ in coins; the fare is paid to a machine in the bus; bus drivers don’t handle money or change. http://www.loscolectivos.com.ar

Mar del Plata buses In Mar del Plata, you will need a card to pay the bus fare. These are a few places where you can buy the cards: Av. Colon 1554, Av. Independencia 3446, Av.

Independencia 4466, Av. Luro 6701, Av. Colon 3350, La Rioja 1445, Talcahuano 346, Falucho 2099, Av. Constitucion 4386, Av. J.P.Ramos 1766, Av. J.B. Justo 750, Av.Luro 3302, Rivadavia 2602, Av. Jara 3550, Belgrano 4144, Rivadavia 2248, Saavedra 2602, Av. Libertad 5750, Tetamanti 1772, Mario Bravo & Vergara, Buenos Aires & San Martin, Av. J. B. Justo & San Juan, Av. Constitución 6639.

City of Buenos Aires subway This is the fastest and easiest way to reach your destination. The five subway lines are connected with the main avenues, railway and bus stations, and converge upon downtown, to the main tourist and hotel area.

Maps showing the subway lines in different colors may be obtained at the ticket offices located in every station. Information boards showing each line routes and transfer stations between lines are available in all stations. These connections that allow passengers to use more than one line are called “combination”.

The service runs Mondays through Saturdays, from 5:00 to 22:00, and Sundays and holidays from 8:00 to 22:00.

Fare: AR $ 1.10 per trip. It is possible to buy cards for a single trip, 2, 5 or 10 trips (the fare is just multiplied, no discounts are made, but you avoid queuing every time). http://www.metrovias.com.ar/V2/Home-En.asp?lang=EN

Taxis in Buenos Aires city and Mar del Plata They can be requested by phone or you may call them on the street. Radiotaxis (provided with radio systems) are considered safer. There are a great number of taxis in the city –getting a taxi near the tourist areas is easy at any time of day or night.

Usually, you will wait for no longer than a few minutes.

Taxis can be easily recognized by their colors –black and yellow. In addition, a red light on the taximeter indicates that they are available.

• Tips

It is usual to give a 10% of the total at restaurants; but it depends on the kind of service you receive.

• Buenos Aires city and Mar del Plata weather

In October, the city of Buenos Aires has average temperatures between mild and warm, from 10 °C up to 22 °C (50 °F up to 72 °F).

Mar del Plata’s weather is colder because of the sea, in this time of the year it goes from 8 °C to 16 °C (46 °F to 61 °F), with a lightly breeze during the afternoon.

• Electricity

220 volts at 50 cycles. Many hotels provide adaptations for laptops and battery chargers. But it is recommended to bring your own adaptations to avoid inconvenients of any kind.

• Communications

There are excellent telephone, fax, e-mail and telegraph services, and the DDI (International Direct Dialing) may be accessed everywhere in Argentina. The country's code is 54, which must be followed by the city code (Buenos Aires is 11, Mar del Plata is 223) and the phone number. If you call to a local phone, just dial the number. If you call from one city to another in Argentina, just dial 0 + the city code + the phone number. Public telephones operate on coins or on phone cards that can be purchased at convenience stores.

• Mobile phone

Consult your local company to ensure that your line will work in Argentina, with the 3band system. You can also rent mobile phones per day or per week.

• Internet

Wi-Fi internet connections are available in airports, restaurants, coffee stores and hotels in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, and everywhere. Most hotels, restaurants and bars provide free access to Wi-Fi.