8/2/2019 Argentina 7 Directory Preview

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8/2/2019 Argentina 7 Directory Preview

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Book your stay at lonelyplanet.com/hotels D I R E C T O R Y A c c o m m o d a t i o n s

dose of internet research. For information onthe rising cost of travel in Argentina, see theboxed text (p19).

That said, in Buenos Aires you can landexcellent accommodations for under AR$200,and throughout the country AR$130 will buyyou a comfortable double room. Hostels inBuenos Aires charge AR$25 to AR$35 per bedand from around AR$90 for a private double.Rates are lower outside the capital: figure onabout AR$22 for a dorm bed and AR$60 fora private double.

Accommodations prices in this book,to the best of our knowledge, all includetax and are general high-season rates (al-though not peak seasons like Christmas orEaster). Budget and midrange hotels almostalways include taxes when quoting theirprices. If youre inquiring on your own intoa top-end hotel, however, be sure to ask:pricier hotels often quote fares before tax a whopping 21%! High season is gener-ally July and August (except in Patagonia),Semana Santa (Easter week) and Januaryand February (when Argentines take theirsummer breaks). Outside these times, pricescan drop anywhere from 20% to 40% fromthe rates quoted in this book.

Camping & RefugiosCamping can be one of the most splendidways to experience Argentina, particularlythe Lake District and Patagonia, where thereare many good campgrounds. Nearly everyArgentine city or town has fairly central mu-nicipal campgrounds, where you can pitcha tent for around AR$20 per night. Theseare hit-and-miss sometimes delightfully

woodsy, sometimes crowded and ugly. Freecampgrounds are often excellent, especiallyin the Lake District, although they lackfacilities.

Private campgrounds usually have goodfacilities: hot showers, toilets, laundry, a bar-becue for grilling, a restaurant or confitera(cafe), a small grocery store and sometimeseven a swimming pool. Personal possessionsare generally secure, since attendants keep awatchful eye on the grounds, but dont leaveanything lying around unnecessarily.

For comfort, invest in a good tent beforecoming to South America, where campingequipment is costlier and often inferior, evenin Argentina. A three-season sleeping bagshould be adequate for almost any weather.A good petrol- or kerosene-burning stoveis also a good idea, since white gas (calledbencina in Spanish) is expensive and avail-able only at chemical-supply shops, hardwarestores and some camping stores in largercities. Bring mosquito repellent, since manycampgrounds are near rivers or lakes; thestuff is essential if youre camping in hot-ter places in north-central and northeastArgentina.

Backpacking and backcountry camping op-

portunities abound in and around the nationalparks, especially those in the Lakes Districtand the south. Some parks have refugios (basicshelters for hikers in the high country), whichhave some sort of cooking facilities and arefilled with saggy but welcome bunks. Manyrefugios are free, but some do charge. Theytend to fill up quickly in high season, so doyour local research and arrive early to scorea bed if necessary.

PRACTICALITIES

Argentina uses the metric system for weights and measures.

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 cycles, and there are two types of electric plugs: either with

two rounded prongs or with three angled flat prongs. Adapters from one to the other areavailable.

Buenos Aires two leading daily newspapers, available throughout Argentina, are Clarn (www

.clarin.com, in Spanish) and La Nacin (www.lanacion.com.ar, in Spanish). English-language

dailies include the Buenos Aires Herald (www.buenosairesherald.com; available at newsstands

in most large cities) and the Argentimes (www.theargentimes.com; look for it at various tourist

destinations). Also see Media, p93.

In Buenos Aires, tune into FM 92.7 for 24-hour tango or FM 98.3 for Argentine rock.

In Argentine addresses, the word localrefers to a suite or office. If an address has s/n short

for sin numero (without number) the address has no street number.

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