Brazil Travel & Tourism News
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – For many, Buenos Aires seems like the most European city in the southern hemisphere, much like Paris, Madrid and Rome. The city’s extraordinary cultural life, beautiful architecture and superb dining, as well as world-class entertainment, make the Argentine capital a favorite destination for Brazilians who want to experience a foreign city, with culture and especially, to enjoy a bargain.
Buenos Aires Makes Cheap Vacation
Buenos Aires is the third most visited city in Latin America and, for now at least, the most affordable. Just about 2,000 kilometers from Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires is less than a three-hour flight from either city.
Low cost tour packages, including airfare and lodging, are now available for less than $527 for three days – perfect for a long weekend. The official exchange rate has never been stronger, whether one is bringing dollars or reais, making dining, entertainment and shopping more affordable than ever.
Right now, one real will buy 2.35 Argentine pesos and one dollar will buy 4.76 pesos at the official exchange rate. However, if the visitor brings cash and makes discrete inquiries at his hotel, or strolls along Corrientes, he will have no problem finding pesos at better rates: 4.5 pesos per real or eight 8 per dollar.
When one arrives at the international airport, and goes through passport control, one will receive a leaflet, which shows what currently circulating Argentine currency looks like including how to spot counterfeit bills. The leaflet also advises the traveler to remember the last two digits of a bill’s serial number before handing it to anybody – especially taxi drivers. This is to protect the traveler against having the bill switched out for a bogus bill – something of an art form in Buenos Aires.
In addition to fine-dining and entertainment, travelers arriving from Brazil might enjoy gambling the riverboat casino in Puerto Madero. Slots, roulette, poker and other games are all available. Another casino, about an hour drive from the capital, sits along the Rio de la Plata in Tigre.
Grass fed Argentine beef, Argentine wines and Cuban cigars are all very affordable in the capital and ad to vacation enjoyment. Tango shows, shopping for antiques and leather goods is also a bargain.
Three days or a week in the Argentine capital makes for an affordable and enjoyable trip.
