So it is finally time to wrap up my time in Argentina. Almost four months in this country, the longest I’ve been in any one place for quite a long time. It’s been fun but I am more than ready to move on!
But not before I recap the past few months…
Total Days in Argentina: 99
Amount Spent: (I’m only counting the first and last week to give a better view on travel versus LIVING in Argentina. So this is for 2 weeks, one in Buenos Aires and one traveling the country) $862
Amount Per Day: $61.50 a day. This seems pretty accurate to me. Argentina is NOT a value destination by any stretch, particularly in Buenos Aires.
Places Visited: Buenos Aires, Rosario, Cordoba, Mendoza
Favorite Places: Rosario (where I should have lived) and Mendoza
Least Favorite Place: Cordoba. I was so uninspired I didn’t write a word.
Most Memorable Moments: Wine tasting in Mendoza, catching a major protest in downtown BA, hosting dinner parties in our lovely top floor apartment.
Biggest Misconception: That Argentina is a budget destination- prices are on par with Europe these days! In Buenos Aires we were hard pressed to get a (non self-catered meal) for less than $7 a person and even crappy dorm rooms in hostels are $15+.
Best Meal: Too many to choose! Many steak dinners at La Cabrera and the asian fare at closed door Cocina Sunae.
Worst Meal: Nothing was bad per se, but my goodness did I ever get tired of eating the same things over and over and over. Variety is not the spice of life in Argentina.
Most Annoying Thing: The crazy inflated price of groceries and the constant craving for fresh veggies.
Most Visited Attraction: I ended up at La Recoleta Cemetery three times! I know I said I love cemeteries but this was entirely unintential I swear.
Best Wildlife Shot: Look at those parrots from Temaikan zoo. They totally want to rip my face off.
Best Advice: Don’t just visit Buenos Aires, get out and explore the rest of the country! Also don’t come in Jan/Feb unless you like the sensation of being roasted alive.
Biggest Regret: Not making it to Patagonia. Sigh. Hopefully it will be in the budget next time….
Would I Come Back? Definitely, although I’ve had my fill for a little while at least.
Touche. Sound arguments. Keep up the good effort.
Yes, prices here are increasing, but people knows that things will change. The same situation happens here every 10 years. And this government will leave in a short period and maybe someone (but nobody knows who) turn to the other side. If someone dicede yo move (I have my own soya farm and couldn’t be better), I suggest to deal with immigration mess with support form a specialist…don’t try by yourself. I’ve tryied and lost 2 months dealing with paperwork. After that period without results, I’ve contracted a specialized lawyer (I think his name is Paulo or something similar) and for a small cost they gave my residence in few days. If Am I remember well, the company is emigratetoargentina.com , and I nannot provide emails or phones, I couldn’t find them. Best places: Iguazu, Mendoza, Villa La Angostura, Perito Moreno, Usuhaia and Salta!!!
I just would like to ask people in this forum why you visit a place for for “budget”?? what made you think that argentina should be a bargain?? it has culture, complex and interesting, long term historical lessons, literature, etc. Im not talking about inflation and the very day economy im talking about “bargain” desire that some travellers seem to have.
I live in Australia and this place is so expensive for what it delivers. Yet nobody seem to realize that, except australians overseas.
Developing countries shouldnt be a bargain nor should overseas visitors go there just for that.
Dig deeper….please.
I also live in Israel and it was similar to Argentina in many levels. Tthere is variety in their capacity…
Learn to open your mind a bit more.
I come across english speaking travellers all the time and it never stops surprising me their limited knowledge of the world and how to read other societies…
sorry, its my honest share.
Well I would guess people are concerned about budget b/c they have a limited amount of money. I’m in western europe right now and it is very expensive, but that is okay because I planned for it. I would never say not to visit Argentina b/c it is expensive, but it’s certainly important to know before you go.
Argentina used to have the best beef in the world, but since the Kirchners have been in power, the beef industry has been completely destroyed. Nobody should eat the poor quality and polluted beef, it’s not fit for human consumption. Argentine beef loaded with hormones, drugs and chemicals that have been outlawed in the USA and Europe and they have been known to ship rotten beef for export after it’s been washed with bleach and ammonia, injected with formaldehyde and red food coloring.
Argentine lemons are sprayed with toxic, dangerous cancer and nerve damage causing chemicals and injected with artificial yellow coloring. The soil in Argentina is so depleted of minerals in that lemons grow white on trees and have no flavor.
Industrial products – tools, automobiles, machinery & appliances from Argentina are the worst, poorest quality in the world. Even the chinese won’t buy them. No industrial standard, the lowest quality raw materials, no testing is done before they are shipped. This has caused serious injuries by unsafe products, many people have been electrocuted by Argentine washing machines & hot water heaters that leave the factory with short circuits.
All countries should completely avoid ALL Argentine products permanently.
Very scary news about Argentina signing a military cooperation agreement with Venezuela, they are looking to start a war.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/105945/argentina-venezuela-to-sign-military-agreement
And the new “militant” movement that Kirchners are starting that make “La Cámpora” look like a group of kids in nursery school? It’s called “Vatayon”, a Kirchner backed group that goes into prisons of Argentina to recruit supporters for their political movement!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/vatayonmilitante
please go and do politics somewhere else… here isn’t the right place… and the beef in Argentina is still the best. Have u ever tried beef somewhere else? In some places the best meat you could ever have i the one from mcdonalds… that said, politics are for politicians, not for tourists.
Argentina is a disaster country and soon the government will default again and steal the citizens money. The crime in Argentina is out of control, the robbery, rapes and murders are some of the highest in the world, especially for women. There is a terrible amount of violence and murder of women and the criminals never get caught and the few that do get off without any penalty because the judges are all corrupt and get paid off:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/government-worker/argentina-tourists-m/argentina-tourists-murdered-l-33f51.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/argentina-deaths-vio/government-services/buenos-aires-other-0d0ad.htm
Chilean detected…
I like this round up. I lived in Buenos Aires next year and I will never return. As a vegetarian and spice lover – Argentina and me don’t mesh. But the sheer beauty of the rest of the country – Amazing.
Mike and I often remarked how tough it would be for a vegetarian in this country- the salads are so blah!
“Variety is not the spice of life in Argentina.” I couldn’t agree more! I never ate so much beef in my life. The street tango made it all worthwhile though ;).
Hello Steph, great post!
Not agree with you. I’m from buenos aires, Argentina, i’m 30 years old… but i hate it! I hate my country, sorry family..but… i hate the city, is too dirty, the people aren’t polite, the prices, the economy..
I’d like to live in other country, i don’t kow, but not in Argentina
Chilean detected….
I totally agree about missing fresh veggies. It was hard to get vegetables that were prepared well. We had a salad once or twice, but they were just okay and pretyt much consisted of iceberg lettuce and tomato. I also agree that there just isn’t varied food there even though we still ate quite well. Patagonia was wonderful, and I’ll be writing about my experience there soon.
Argentinean Salad= lettuce, tomatoes and onions. No wonder nobody is interested in it!
With Rease and Stephanie in Argentina, I’ve heard BA was expensive. Still some great places to visit. Too bad you didn’t get to Patagonia. And even though I do like meat, BA might even be a bit much for me!
Come to Chilean Patagonia – cross off a new country AND see the south! Question: what made you feel that way about Córdoba? I haven’t been, but I know a lot of people who really like both the city and the surrounding countryside, so I’m curious to hear another point of view.