Useful data of Buenos Aires.

1. Weather
2. Currency
3. Temporary Housing
4. Tourist Seasons
5. Transportation fares
7. Hours
8. Meals fares
11. Language
12. Customs
13. Electric power
14. To obtain information on the city

1. Weather

The climate of Buenos Aires is mild all year round. The mean annual temperature is 18º C (64.4º F), making extremely hot and cold days very infrequent. Thus, visitors can enjoy walking around the city in any season.
July is the coldest month. Although frosts are rare, a woollen coat, a jacket or an overcoat and a scarf will be required when going out. In winter, cold is moderate during the day, but temperature considerably drops at night.
In summer, the weather is hot and humid. Mornings are warm and during midday and the first hours of the afternoon, the temperature rises. At night, temperature goes down slightly, so people may wear light clothes; coats are not needed.
Rains are more frequent in autumn and spring (from March to June and from September to December, respectively). They are mild or last a short time, thus activities are not hampered and people usually go out with an umbrella or a raincoat.
In the sunny days of autumn and spring, mornings are slightly cold; the temperature rises at midday and drops again at night.

2. Currency

The Argentine currency is the peso ($). There are
$ 100, $ 50, $ 20, $ 10, $ 5 and $ 2 notes, and 1, 0.50, 0.25, 0.10 and 0.05 cent coins.
The U.S. dollar is the most common foreign currency. Banks and casas de cambio (currency exchange offices), where you must present your passport, exchange foreign currency. Shops accept credit cards and dollars.
1 dollar = 3 pesos

3.Accommodation

Finding housing in Buenos Aires is not hard. There are a lot of options: Hostels, Bed and Breakfasts, Guest Houses, Homestays and flatshares. At our apartment share we offer temporary housing and rooms for rent for long-medium stays in Buenos AIres
www.pisocompartido.com.ar
www.gardenhouseba.com.ar - Hostel in San Telmo

4. Tourist seasons

You may visit Buenos Aires all the year round. January (summer) is the most tranquil month since many residents are on vacation, but the cultural offer is still abundant and varied.
If you stay for several days, you may combine city tours with visits to places around the city such as the Delta (of the Paraná river), estancias (ranch houses), or Martín García island.
HOLIDAYS Banks, businesses and some shops close on holidays, but most cinemas and theaters are open.
Generally, companies offering city tours and excursions do not suspend their services.
If a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday or between Tuesday and Friday, it is generally transferred to the next or previous Monday.

5. Transportation fares

Bus: $ 0.75 (minimum fare) and $ 0.80, within city limits
Subway: $ 0.70 (flat fare)
Taxi: basic fare of $ 1.28 + 0.16 each 200 meters (220 yards). Average trip lasting 8 minutes: $ 4 to $ 5.
Trains: $ 0.50 (minimum fare)
Remise (limo service) (from Ezeiza airport to the Obelisk, down town): $ 46
Minibus (from Ezeiza airport to the Obelisk): $ 19
Car rental per day: $ 90 to $ 200
1 litre of gasoline (0.2 gallons): $ 1.84

Ths fares could change with the city.

7. Hours

HOURS 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.

SHOPS

Shops in Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario and La Plata are open Monday through Fridays, from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm; however, shops located in important avenues are open on Saturday afternoon. In shopping centers, hours usually extend until 10 pm, including Saturdays and Sundays.

BANKS

Banks in the main cities as Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Rosario open at 10 am and close at 3 pm (some banks extend their closing time to 4 pm). Cash extractions and other transactions may be made in ATMs, 24 hours a day.

MEALS

The hours in which porteños have their four meals are variable, since this is accommodated according to their activities.
Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 in the morning. In coffee houses and confiterías (patisseries), it is possible to find special offers for the typical coffee and milk with medialunas (croissants), both for breakfast and merienda (tea) time.

8. Meals

Pizza (8 servings): $ 5 to $ 20
Pasta: $ 5 to $ 20
Parrillada (barbecue) for two persons: from $ 15
Empanadas (small meat pies): from $ 1 (per unit)
Ice creams: from $ 2; 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) between $ 8 and $ 20
Tenedor libre (all-you-can-eat restaurants): from $ 12 (per person)
Breakfast at a confitería (patisserie): from $ 3.50

11. Language

The official language is Spanish. Something to note is the use of vos (you) instead of the Spanish tú for informal treatment, and the use of che to address a person.
Currently, Buenos Aires receives tourists from varied nationalities that come for different purposes. Some come to shop, others to enjoy the night life and some others to taste the porteños bohemian lifestyle. Also, there are those who engage in an educational tour and want to study the Spanish language.
Several entities, academies, institutions and universities (among them the language Laboratory at the University of Buenos Aires) teach Spanish to foreign people, from beginner to advanced levels, or provide specialization on a specific field.
The porteños easily understand persons who speak Italian and Portuguese. Most people involved in tourist activities speak English.

12. Customs

Buenos Aires has always been an open-door city. Its inhabitants are called porteños, which makes reference to the fact that the city is a port. The inhabitant of the province of Buenos Aires is called bonaerense.
Porteños are warm and hospitable: they usually invite tourists for lunch or dinner at their homes and prepare typical food.
The characteristic infusion is the mate. It is prepared by pouring warm water into a gourd, also called mate that contains yerba mate.
Some people add sugar, but most prefer "un amargo" (a mate without sugar)

13. 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.

14. To obtain information on the city

There are three National Tourist Information Centers, depending from the National Secretariat of Tourism:
1. Av. Santa Fe 883, ground floor.
Tel.: 4312 2232 / 5550 // 0800 555 0016.

2. Jorge Newbery airport, Costanera Norte
Tel.: 4771 0104

3. Ministro Pistarini International Airport, International terminal, Ezeiza, Province of Buenos Aires.
Tel.: 4480 0224

If, during your visit, suffer some kind of abuse or discrimination, communicate whit the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302 7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Source: Government of the City of Buenos Aires, www.bue.gov.ar
Buenos Aires Housing
Accommodation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lodging in Homestay, Buenos Aires.