Buenos Aires Useful Tips
1. Coins & Change. There is generally a shortage of coins and change in the city. Taxi drivers will never have change for a AR$100 bill so make sure you have smaller bills before hopping in the vehicle. You must use coins to use the local bus system, notes are never accepted.
2. Noise. Buenos Aires is a city that never sleeps. The traffic noise rarely ceases either with many public transport bus lines operating 24 hours a day. To ensure you at least get a bit of sleep ask your accommodation provider for a room off the street or on a higher floor.
3. Fresh Fruit & Vegetables. Fruterías are the small fruit and vegetable shops that are found all around the city and are the best place to buy fresh foods. Prices are often not listed so some basic Spanish words and phrases will help in your purchases. You should never pick up and handle the fruit, this is the job of the shop keeper and they will get very upset if you disturb their displays.
4. City Maps. You may able to get your hands on various free Buenos Aires maps at bars and restaurants around the city but they could be designed and laid out in a way that may further confuse you. The better solution is to get yourself a copy of the Guia T. Thanks to the very extensive Buenos Aires bus system its pocket-sized guidebook, the Guia T, has become the best, super handy and most comprehensive little map you can find. Pick one up at any newspaper stands in the city and it will instantly make you look like a local.
5. Classic Argentine Breakfast. It is not in Argentine culture to have eggs for breakfast. In fact, unless you are at a specialty restaurant, you will not be able to find eggs on the breakfast menu anywhere.
A typical Argentine breakfast consists of facturas (pastries) of your choice with coffee or mate. The most popular facturas that you will see offered are called medialunas, which come in 2 types: dulce/de manteca (made with butter) and salada/de grasa (made with vegetable oil).
6. Greetings. The way the Argentines greet each other is one kiss on the right cheek, for both men and women. The only exception would be for men who first meet each other and at a business setting, the 'kiss' would then be replaced by a firm handshake.
7. Piropos. Women, local or foreigner, may find themselves being 'spoken' to with piropos (flirtatious compliments) when walking down the streets. There is no need to be alarmed, they are only harmless compliments paid by the passionate Argentine men. Respond as local ladies do by ignoring them and keep going your way.
Buenos Aires Urban Adventures is comprised of a group of born and bred Porteños (Buenos Aires locals) and, a duo of gringos with a professional tourism background. By combining our wealth of local knowledge and tourism experience we deliver quality, customer focused tours that provide our travellers with unique insights to our home city, Buenos Aires.
more...
26°CFeels like: 28°C
Mostly cloudy. Warm.
Sign up now for our great deals and news
Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture, their economy, and their environment. Please read on for more information on our Responsible Travel policy and how you can be a responsible traveller for your entire journey.
Top 12 Responsible Travel Tips
The following tips are for your overall travel plans, not just for your time spent on an Urban Adventures tour.
- Before leaving home, learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting - the religion and culture, the local rules and values.
- Learn some of the local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple pleasantries will help break the ice. Keep practicing.
- Learn what's appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of "saving face" in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.
- Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place. Use our local travel practices as a guideline.
- Think first. It's best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.
- Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.
- Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.
- Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
- Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic, or development project may be more constructive.
- Leave only footprints...take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say 'no' to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.
- After returning home think how you can support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you've been lucky to visit.
- Smile - The traveller who wishes to have a happy and successful trip should keep as calm, cheerful and friendly as humanly possible. And have fun!
Responsible Travel Code of Conduct
The following are Urban Adventures's key principles for operating responsible tours.
We aim to:
- Use locally owned infrastructure on our tours where possible.
- Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
- Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
- Respect local customs and culture.
- Provide safe tours for Urban Adventure partners, staff, and travellers.
- Educate travellers and our partners about how and why we choose to travel this way.
- Limit the negative impacts to daily lifestyles of local people not involved with Urban Adventures groups.
- Limit the physical impact of trips in all destination communities-particularly sensitive natural and cultural environments.
- Provide support to organisations and local communities visited by Urban Adventures groups.
- Provide fun enjoyable trips to Urban Adventures travellers.
- Provide opportunities for travellers to interact with local people.
- Actively ban partners, staff and passenger participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities or illegal drug use on Urban Adventures tours.
- Actively discourage the participation of Urban Adventures groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.
- Use local partners that adhere to Urban Adventures' Responsible Travel and Local Travel principles and provide the best possible service to Urban Adventures travellers and staff.
- Work to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism.
- Support and encourage fair employment practices.
- Give our travellers the best possible value.
For more information on how to be a responsible traveller, region-specific guidelines, and voluntourism, check out what our friends at Intrepid have to say.
more...
