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Let's see something about the city and the language so we can take money and think about shopping. We should watch the clock and have an idea of ordinary rates to be familiar with the city.
Buenos Aires has nearly 3.000.000 inhabitants and the suburbs (Gran Buenos aires or Greater B.A. belt) add approximately 10.000.000 souls and it is a huge city. So, as in any big city you will have excellent and bad things (well, we better go to the excellent...). The city has three areas clearly different in standard of life, income, education and social position and they are placed from north to the south (From higher to lower). As the city belongs to a giant flat land (The Pampas), a large part of the south of the city is almost at sea level and is predisposed to flood when the southeast wind blows against the River Plate (which measures 137 x 181 miles [220 x 290 km] and moves 32000 m3/second [8,500,000 gallons/second]. In this location (south) is placed the extraordinary neighborhood of "La Boca".
The upper area of the city (Downtown and the north riviera of the River Plate) is where the majority of tourist activities are located and it is probably the place where you will be most of the time. As you will probably know, when it is winter in the north hemisphere, here it is summer, and this is truly important if you want to run away from freezing temperatures. So if you live in Chicago or New York, think to come here when you want to feel the sun on your skin...
Spanish is said to be spoken in B.A. but it is only used by porteños (natives of the city) when they speak to a foreigner because they chat between them using "lunfardo" which is a slang coming from many languages. Anyway, most people in BA are able to answer you and help you in English and if you do not speak english, they are friendly enough to help you with the hands (We have italians inheritance, so, by the way, italians here are locals)
What about the money?. Well, we have great news for you!!!!. SINCE 1/JAN/2002 THERE WAS A DEVALUATION, SO THE VALUE OF YOUR DOLLARS HAS INCREASED A LOT. CHECK ON LINE THE DOLLAR VALUE..
One dollar is no more one peso. In fact, now 1 dollar is almost 3 pesos and your buying capacity is huge. Porteños use dollars and pesos in the same way so you can pay with your dollars (be sure to obtain the maximal change for your money!!!!!), and almost all of shops also accept major credit card. It is most difficult to cash traveler's checks but hotels and international banks usually do it. up
In reference to shopping, BA was an expensive city to buy things (No more since 1/JAN/2002 devaluation) that maybe you can get in your country, but if you have good information, you can buy some things that you cannot even think to buy in your country (e.g. antiquities, leather objects). So, be smart and make great shopping (we will help you out). Besides, at the airport, you can recover the 21% VAT paid if you have purchased local products for an amount greater than $70 (per invoice) in the shops which are members of this scheme. up
B.A. time is GMT -03:00 (Three hours less than London)
Some ordinary rates are (in pesos: remember the devaluation): up
Bus fare: $ 0.80
Metro ticket: $ 0.70
Car rental, daily: $ 45 - 135
Liter of gasoline: $ 0,90 - 1,15
Accommodation 5* hotel - double room: $ 100 - 510
Accommodation 4* hotel - double room: $ 60 - 350
Accommodation 3* hotel - double room: $ 40 - 185
Accommodation 2* hotel - double room: $ 35 - 85
Accommodation 1* hotel - double room: $ 30 - 60
Campsites - per person: $ 5 - 10
Breakfast in a cafeteria: $ 5.00
Meal in a cafeteria: $ 8 - 15
Mendoza wine bottle in shop: $ 3 - 25
A coffee in Recoleta: $ 2 - 3,50
Entrance ticket to a museum: $ 1 - 10
Entrance ticket to a River-Boca football match: $ 10 - 100
Colón theatre entrance: $ 10 - 140
Newspaper: $ 1.20 - 2.50