CURRENCY, PRICES, TIPPING
© Ministry of Tourism of Argentina |
Currency
The monetary unit is the Peso ($). The current exchange rate is 15 Peso = 1 United States Dollars (USD) but this changes daily so we suggest you check the rate in advance [a good resource is www.oanda.com/lang/es/currency/converter/]. As of March 2016 foreign currencies can be freely exchanged for Pesos at banks and foreign currency exchange bureaus. US Dollars is the most easier currency to exchange and USD are accepted at most major supermarkets and shopping centers, at some shops in tourist or trendy areas and by taxi drivers, possibly after some negotiating. Euros and Brazilian Reais may be accepted too, but use of other currencies should be avoided. Cash money can be withdrawn from ATMs (with a daily cap) and credit cards are widely accepted in the city and generally accepted when traveling in the country.
Prices
The economy in Argentina is hard to predict. The country has suffered from a deep and sustained period of inflation in the last couple of years, with prices increasing +30% every year. This has made prices highly variable in time and across the different neighbourhoods. As a reference, an ‘executive lunch’ (main course plus a drink and dessert) can cost $5-15 USD, and a nice dinner at a trendy restaurant can cost anywhere from 15 to 50 USD per person (including wine and dessert).
Tipping
It is customary to tip 10% in restaurants, bars, hotels and delivery of food at home. Taxi drivers are not usually tipped but there is an extra charges per piece of luggage.
Eating out
Famous all around the world, you can enjoy a good ‘asado’ at almost any of the ubiquituous ‘parrilla’ restaurant nearby. Don’t just ask for good red meat cuts: try the ‘chorizo’ and ‘morcilla’ sausages and be brave enough to try ‘mollejas’ and ‘chinchulines’. Argentinians love to eat and their European ancestry is on display on the local delicacies. Pizza and ‘empanadas’ represent good quality fast food. Most restaurants should serve really nice pasta, ‘milanesas’ (thin slices of breaded beef or chicken) and other plates typically made at home. Though it is somehow relegated in the argentine taste you can find nice fish and seafood dishes in traditional Spanish and Asian restaurants..
A good online resource for checking reviews and opinions on restaurants is Guia Oleo (http://www.guiaoleo.com.ar/).