Buenos Aires Argentina
Travel Pro Paradise Rating: 9.1
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina is an incredible travel destination for so many reason. Rich in culture, dance, food, sophisticated and classy; there is no where on earth like this city which always moves to it's own beat! The country in general is a meat lover and wine drinkers paradise. It's a place where taking a siesta and having a chat with your neighbor are some of the most important events of the day.
Buenos Aires is a fairly large city with a population of about 3 million people. Spanish is spoken here, and having the skill to speak it will be a huge advantage. Compared to the rest of Latin America this city has a very European vibe, then again over 85% of Argentinians are descendants from Europe, mostly Spain and Italy. Now let's get right into the details of what makes this place a great travel destination!
Affordability - 7
In the past year the Argentinian Peso has lost value against all other major world currencies, which is not good for the population but as a traveler it makes everything more affordable. Getting by on a twenty dollar bill per day is very possible here however you will have to make some sacrifices. Bringing your budget up to 30 to 40 dollars a day will makes things very comfortable. Your biggest expense will of course be accommodation and food; which we'll talk about next.
Accommodation- 8
On the low end you can get a bed in a dorm for as little as six dollars and cook your own meals for next to nothing. Hotels are not cheap and if you find anything under forty dollars you may not want to stay there anyway. If you are feeling social, hostels are popular and it will be an easy and fun way to connect with other travelers.
If you are looking for something more private I would recommend Airbnb. I was able to score a great place in Downtown Buenos Aires in an old historic apartment building for 25 dollars a night. It was my own little apartment and it was perfect. To split this with a fellow traveler you are now really making "cents" with your budget. The quality of this place was fantastic and here is the video I created so you can really see the value.
Food - 10
If you have not other reason to come to Argentina, then simply come for the food! Home of the Gaucho, which means Cowboy in Spanish, this country does steak, beef, pork, meat, and cheese like non other. Simply put, I ate a lot of top quality rib-eye steak while I was here; and that is because it was the best I've ever had in my life and it was very inexpensive too!
Now eating out is not necessarily cheap in Argentina, especially at any kind of sit down restaurant, and you should expect to pay about seven to fifteen dollars per meal. Yes compared to New York City this is a bargain, but as a long term world traveler these are mid-range prices at best.
All the restaurants in the city have two things going on. They all have menu of endless cuts of meat that they grill for you; then each restaurant specializes in a different cuisine like French or Italian.
If you are just looking to quickly grab a bite to eat while out, Kentucky Pizza chain is everywhere and it's good. It will only set you back a couple dollars, there are also hot dog stands and sandwich places speckled throughout the city that won't cost much either.
In final if you enjoy cooking and saving money then I highly recommend you rent your own Aribnb apartment and cook from home. Shopping at the local butchers and produce markets is not only a lot of fun, it comes at about 10% the price of what the restaurants charge. Get the finest cuts of meat to prepare yourself and you'll be eating like a king for very little while indulging in fine Argentinian wines for just a few dollars a bottle.
Culture- 10
Argentinians are friendly, pleasant, family orientated, classy people, who value good food, good friends, and good conversation above seemingly everything else. They love to dance and in the neighborhood of San Telmo is where the Tango originated. This is a culture where closing up shop in the middle of the day to have a glass of wine and a two hour lunch is the norm!
The rhythm of life is slow here even for a huge city. Be prepared to be turned away as a customer if you come at the wrong time or simply find a shop closed in the middle of the afternoon simply because taking a long lunch and a siesta is more important. There for people do their shopping before and after lunch. Many butcher shop's busiest hours are around 6 pm and don't even open until 4pm! And yes, there are family owned butcher shops on what seems like every corner.
Dinner often goes on for hours and often doesn't even start until ten or eleven. Great food, wine, friends, and family is celebrated on a nightly basis in this city. The Argentinians really know how to live; and we can't forget to mention they love their football. In fact they love it so much they made a religion out of it with Lionell Messi as their football god; and I'm being totally serious!
Safety- 9
For a Major Latin American City, Buenos Aires was the cleanest and safest I've ever visited. Leaning towards a sophisticated European Culture rather than a Latino Street Gang Culture has everything to do with it. The people are non-aggressive, polite, helpful, and I felt safe at all times. That being said like every major city there are some neighborhoods less safe than others and normal precaution and common sense is always advised.
Activities- 10
The city of Buenos Aires has everything a major city should have and the prices are very reasonable to do anything you'd like. One of the most interesting places to visit is free to the public, The Recoleta Cemetery. This place is as much of a sightseeing destination as it is an actual cemetery.
At this cemetery you can see famous dignitaries, ex presidents, basically the entire elite class and their wildly impressive statues and mausoleums. One of the most important people buried here who always draws a crowd is the famous Evita, if you recall Madonna's "Don't cry for me Argentina".
Simply picking a neighborhood and walking around is a great way to spend the afternoon. Going to the weekend market in San Telmo is a lot of fun or just walking around the downtown area and doing a little window shopping. With plenty of museums, theaters, parks, markets, and events there is plenty to do and see here; and if dancing is your thing you will really love the city of Buenos Aires.
Social Atmosphere - 9
There are a lot people visiting this city and you surely don't have to be alone. As a solo traveler looking to make friends your best bet by far is staying at a hostel. What you'll lose in privacy you will gain socially and your budget will thank you for it as well.
There is a very lively night life and this is a great way to also meet fellow travelers especially in the Palermo area where most of them stay. The locals are very friendly and if your Spanish is good it will really open doors for you. Be warned they speak with a funny accent compared to most of Latin America so it may be a struggle; however many locals have a decent grasp on the English Language and that helps balance things out.
Transportation- 9
Flying is often how you will arrive, unless you are coming from neighboring Uruguay, then you'll be taking a ferry for about fifty dollars. Argentina is a long way a way from the western world, but flights from both New York City and Barcelona Spain can be found in the $400 dollar range one way. Flying in from neighboring countries like Chile or Peru can be as little as a hundred dollars or less.
Once here walking around is my preferable way of transportation, however if you are looking to get around faster then you should take the subway. They have an excellent subway system and it bypasses the traffic jams and congestion that is sometime very bad during both morning and evening rush hour. There is also an excellent bus system that can be researched easily on line for specific routs. Taxis are a good option as well and are very reasonably priced.
Infrastructure- 10
Buenos Aires is a very modern city yet looks more like an old historic European city. Everything here is in good working condition, well maintained streets, and the internet is fast. Drinking water from the tap I would not recommend, but then again I've gotten in a habit of not trusting the tap water anywhere I go. Fully functioning hospitals with the most modern equipment should be expected as well.
Weather- 9
Summer is winter and winter is summer when you are this far below the equator, so that is the first thing you will want to make note of. However we are not yet in the south pole so the winters here (June, July, August) are extremely mild with average highs around 62F/ 16C and in January the highs get up to about 84F/29C. Overall the weather is very pleasant year round with no significant rainy season.
Overall Travel Pro Paradise Rating- 9.1
In conclusion Buenos Aires scores high on the Paradise Scale and it is a fine destination to visit for so many reasons. If you are a long term traveler and looking to find a base camp or if you are looking for a romantic week vacation with your loved one, Buenos Aires will not disappoint. As a major city in South America come to Buenos Aires for a little taste of Europe, incredible steak, a night out dancing, and maybe the time of your life!
With over 12 years of travel experience I answer travel and international lifestyle questions. Leave a question in the comments and I may make a Steemit post just for you!
Photo Credit: World Travel Pro!
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