Buenos Aires - what's it like? safe?!

[beaniebaby25]

i've been invited to go to Buenos Aires in the new year and wondered how safe it was? I've been to thailand before and tunisia but thats about it as far as far-flung places go

is it safe? And what's it like? What are the living costs like etc? will be on a tight budget...

thanks
xx

bumping for you

thanks puzzle... anyone?

I loved Buenos Aires and when we went it was cheap - given the crash of the Argentinan peso and the £/$ exchange rate. I don't think it would be so cheap now given the way that the £ has moved.

oh hi!!
my best friend currently lives in buenos aires! though i cant claim to know hundreds about it, and ive never been to visit (my excuse being 3 kids under 4 and no dosh).

anyway, we are both scottish and her italian husband got a job out there 4 years ago.
it is a giant, fuck off, big city (have i emphasized that enough?!) the city centre has 8 lanes of traffic ON EACH SIDE!!!

it is really, Really, REALLY NOISY.

she has not had a problem with safety, though i have read travel stuff re gangs.

the extremes of wealth and poverty are horrendous.

i'd get her to advise but they are currently over here for xmas and have went to islay for new year and so are out of radio (ie, phone) contact.

all her family have been to visit her and seem to have had fun.

go for it! its only a holiday after all. imagine the flight would be the dearest thing.

I haven't been to Buenos Aries but have visited South America (Chile,Peru,Colombia)

Colombia a little dodgy

I think as long as you are sensible,and don't go wandering around any notorious areas late at night you will be fine.

The countries I visited were all VERY different,but the way of life very RELAXED.Don't expect anything to happen particularly fast,the cult of Manana is very much ingrained,but it is good to slow down sometimes and smell the roses

A smattering of Portuguese phrases may be useful

I took mainly travellers cheques and dollars for currency.

Flight long.

I found the South American people of all nationalities to be helpful,especially if you ade an effort to be interested in the country/language,and felt safe,certainly safer than late night in a major city here

It depends on where you are going. Some parts are quite safe, others genuinely very dangerous.

Most people who visit like it, it has a relatively 'european' feel to it, although of course there is a lot of poverty in some areas. It is a big, noisy city with all the usual problems associated with that with the addition of an awful public transport system.

It's not that cheap to buy things and so on, but things like restaurant meals and taxis are very much cheaper than here.

If you get a chance to travel more widely there are some truly special places nearby.

Portuguese??? Spanish I mean!!!

(DB HAS JUST BEEN IN bRAZIL!)

Parents went to Argentina and loved it

(Dad went to see Boca Juniors play and says the area around the stadium is a bit dodgy)

Actually you'd be surprised at how many people in BA have a pretty good command of english.

I was there backpacking about 3yrs ago and thought it was great. You can live cheaply if you want to, we bought food at supermarkets etc, wine is very cheap. Steaks are very good value - we paid equiv (then) of £15 for a meal in a restaurant, huge plate of meat, salads, bottle of wine, after dinner aperitif etc. There is so much culture, the tango shows are great. We stayed in a hostel, went out at night etc and didnt find it dangerous? We did end up lost in the 'dodgy' area of La Boca after taking the bus down there and it stopping a little further away than we thought it was, but an old man befriended us and we were fine wandering around. Friends of mine were there about 2mths ago and loved it as well.

wow thanks everyone, 8 lanes of traffic! amazing. i think i'll go for it. cheapest flights ive found so far are around £700... so could be costly. but hey, only young once