Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time in South America. However, I had never made it as far south as Argentina until recently.
In December, my husband and three of our kids spent six days in and around Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, while en route to Antarctica.
We loved exploring Buenos Aires, which is nicknamed “Paris of the South” because of the classic French-inspired architecture found throughout the city’s wide, tree-lined cobblestone streets, and a café culture that rivals that of Paris.
I especially loved feasting on the rich local cuisine, exploring its robust soccer culture, heading to the countryside just outside the city limits to become a gaucho (cowboy) for the day on a traditional Argentine farm, and exploring nearby canals reminiscent of Venice.
However, my family’s six-day trip could have been better if we had avoided a few mistakes.
Taking advantage of public transportation earlier would’ve been helpful
Before my trip, a friend who was born and raised in Buenos Aires cautioned me against taking the subway there.
She said that the Buenos Aires Underground, or Subte, would be too hot to be tolerable during my summer visit because the stations and several train cars are not air-conditioned. She also warned that there was a high risk of being pickpocketed in busier stations.
At first, I took her advice and relied on Uber to get around the city. However, taking rideshares everywhere quickly became expensive, and we often had to wait a while for cars to pick us up.
About midway through the trip. I decided to give the Subte a try in hopes it’d get us around the city faster.
The stations and many train cars were warm, but not as sweltering as we worried they’d be. I also used the same street smarts on the Subte that I use on the metro at home in Washington, DC, such as keeping my bag in front of me at all times, and I never felt unsafe.
Ultimately, I found Buenos Aires’s subway system, the oldest in South America, to be inexpensive, surprisingly modern, and easy to use.
We would’ve saved a lot of time, money, and aggravation if we had taken a chance on the Subte starting on day one of our trip.
Arriving with cash would’ve saved us some headaches
Before I travel abroad, I always check whether credit cards are widely accepted wherever I’m going. In many countries, I never need cash at all.
Based on a quick online search, I didn’t anticipate any problems using my credit cards on our trip to Buenos Aires.
However, at my family’s first dinner in Buenos Aires — a scrumptious Argentine-style pizza restaurant — I realized I was wrong.
When the bill came, I found out the hard way that many restaurants here don’t accept credit cards. I desperately needed Argentine pesos and had to leave my husband and children at our table and go out in search of an ATM.
Additionally, I had a hard time getting Ubers until a local told me that most drivers prefer to be paid in cash. To increase my chances of getting picked up, I chose the option to pay in cash in the app (an option I don’t remember seeing anywhere else I’ve traveled). It seemed to help, but meant I needed even more Argentine pesos.
To add insult to injury, the ATMs I found charged high fees and limited the amount of cash I could withdraw each day.
Arriving with a wallet full of Argentine pesos would have saved me time, aggravation, and money.
I wish I’d planned better to experience the local late-night culture
According to traditional travel wisdom, it’s almost always a good idea to get up and go out early to beat the heat and visit popular attractions before crowds swell.
Although I don’t always follow that advice myself, I’ve generally found it to hold true in many places I’ve visited. In Buenos Aires, it turns out, getting up early wasn’t always the best move.
When we went out to eat at 8 p.m, the streets in some neighborhoods felt dead. Restaurants were often empty at that time, even on weeknights.
Before arriving, I knew that locals like to eat dinner later in the day and stay up late. However, I didn’t fully realize just how late. I discovered that it’s not unusual for people in Buenos Aires to wait until 10 p.m. or later to have dinner.
I wish I had slept in a day or two so I had the energy to stay out later and fully experience Buenos Aires’ culture and nightlife.
Planning more indoor activities would’ve helped us beat the heat
My family likes to be outdoors, and Buenos Aires has plenty of parks and colorful neighborhoods to explore. However, during our summer visit, several days were very hot, reaching over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
I wish I had planned some indoor activities as a backup plan for the hottest days. For example, my family could’ve explored the Evita Museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts, or the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires.
We also could’ve booked cultural experiences, such as tango performances, that would have allowed us to cool down indoors for a few hours and see a different side of Argentine culture.
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