Staying Safe in Buenos Aires
Mar 31st, 2015, 10:58 PM
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Staying Safe in Buenos Aires
I'm heading to Argentina in a little while. The primary reason is to do day hiking in Patagonia, but we'll also be spending several days in Buenos Aires. The city sounds fantastic, but I've also read a lot of cautionary tales. My wife and I have traveled a fair amount outside the US and live in a big city ourselves, but this will be the first time in a country where muggings seem to be a problem and want to stay safe.
Here's our plans, anything else we can do or any areas to avoid?
- Obviously we won't be bringing any jewelry or fancy clothes with us. I plan to dress down a little bit and have my $20 Timex and my 6 year old camera.
- Plan to keep my wallet in my front pocket
- By nature, I'm highly distrustful of anyone who approaches when traveling
- Staying in Puerto Madero and plan to spend most of our time in center city, San Martin, Recoleta and Palermo.
- Typically don't stay out late and plan to take radio cabs to and from the hotel to restaurants for dinner
Here's our plans, anything else we can do or any areas to avoid?
- Obviously we won't be bringing any jewelry or fancy clothes with us. I plan to dress down a little bit and have my $20 Timex and my 6 year old camera.
- Plan to keep my wallet in my front pocket
- By nature, I'm highly distrustful of anyone who approaches when traveling
- Staying in Puerto Madero and plan to spend most of our time in center city, San Martin, Recoleta and Palermo.
- Typically don't stay out late and plan to take radio cabs to and from the hotel to restaurants for dinner
Apr 1st, 2015, 03:12 AM
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It sure sounds as if you have most bases covered and you should be fine, mdm3f. I have posted extensively on the main subject of your question.
It sounds as if you'll be staying at the Hilton. Puerto Madero, a quite safe area, but far from most of the places you'll want to visit.
My advice, as briefly as possible: 1) if ANYTHING strange happens near you, assume it is a trick intended to get you off guard and do the opposite; 2) bring cash dollars and sell them at the "blue" rate, to get almost 30% off anything which can be paid with a CC, including your hotel stay (MANY threads on the subject); 3) do NOT board cabs waiting in line outside touristy spots; 4) at our airports, only use transportation which can be prepaid INSIDE the terminal; 5) radio cabs are only safer if CALLED, not hailed in the street; 6) get off any cab which does NOT have the driver's ID hanging from the front seat; 7) I can't think of why you'd want to spend time in "city center" or Plaza San Martín. The Recoleta and North up to Palermo are the areas where you should spend most of your time in BA; 8) staying out late is no problem at all, but be sure to have a radio taxi CALLED, to get you back to your hotel.
My main safety rule is "don't make yourself a target". Since you are around your mid-thirties and seem to know what you are doing, it is almost certain you won't have any safety problems.
Have a great time in my country with your DW, mdm3f.
It sounds as if you'll be staying at the Hilton. Puerto Madero, a quite safe area, but far from most of the places you'll want to visit.
My advice, as briefly as possible: 1) if ANYTHING strange happens near you, assume it is a trick intended to get you off guard and do the opposite; 2) bring cash dollars and sell them at the "blue" rate, to get almost 30% off anything which can be paid with a CC, including your hotel stay (MANY threads on the subject); 3) do NOT board cabs waiting in line outside touristy spots; 4) at our airports, only use transportation which can be prepaid INSIDE the terminal; 5) radio cabs are only safer if CALLED, not hailed in the street; 6) get off any cab which does NOT have the driver's ID hanging from the front seat; 7) I can't think of why you'd want to spend time in "city center" or Plaza San Martín. The Recoleta and North up to Palermo are the areas where you should spend most of your time in BA; 8) staying out late is no problem at all, but be sure to have a radio taxi CALLED, to get you back to your hotel.
My main safety rule is "don't make yourself a target". Since you are around your mid-thirties and seem to know what you are doing, it is almost certain you won't have any safety problems.
Have a great time in my country with your DW, mdm3f.
Apr 1st, 2015, 07:36 AM
#3
I'm a solo female traveler and survived BsAs! However, I took advice from this board about where to stay (Palermo, not San Telmo) and I use a money belt. As in Europe, I was more concerned about pickpockets and scams than I was about muggers.
I was hit with the "dirty water" trick on the metro (actually yellow goo), but since there was nothing in my pockets and I kept a death grip on my day bag (carried in front of me) it was just an aggravation. Other Fodorites were hit with the same scam on one of the main streets in the same time frame, and I met a woman who had been pickpocketed, and lost her neck wallet, outside the Recoleta cemetery.
I STRONGLY urge you not to rely on a wallet in your front pocket, at least not for anything more than one day's cash. A skilled pickpocket will not find that a particular challenge. Both of you need money belts - and do NOT access them in public. I use this, with the pouch at the back: http://www.backpacktravelstore.com/L...p/grlkwmbb.htm
I was hit with the "dirty water" trick on the metro (actually yellow goo), but since there was nothing in my pockets and I kept a death grip on my day bag (carried in front of me) it was just an aggravation. Other Fodorites were hit with the same scam on one of the main streets in the same time frame, and I met a woman who had been pickpocketed, and lost her neck wallet, outside the Recoleta cemetery.
I STRONGLY urge you not to rely on a wallet in your front pocket, at least not for anything more than one day's cash. A skilled pickpocket will not find that a particular challenge. Both of you need money belts - and do NOT access them in public. I use this, with the pouch at the back: http://www.backpacktravelstore.com/L...p/grlkwmbb.htm
Apr 1st, 2015, 10:25 AM
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Is a lovely city, just stay away of ONCE. Is a bad place to go. Stay on Palermo, Recoleta, downtown, even San Telmo on Sundays is pretty safe since there`s a big fair full of tourists. Try the draft beer as soon as you get there!
Apr 3rd, 2015, 09:29 AM
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As a longtime traveler to Brazil, in which tourists have a similar opportunistic crime (pickpocketing and snatch-and-run)problem, I have a couple of comments that might be applicable.
avrooster is quite correct about not making yourself a target. This means to me not calling unnecessary attention to yourself or your valuable possessions, including speaking English at volume. That does not mean dressing like a vagabond; whatever you wear, you stand out as a foreign tourist anyway, even by your walk and grooming.
Keep the camera out of sight as much as possible, and keep in in your control (ie not at arms length where the kid on the bike who you never saw can grab it as he pedals by at high speed). A U$20 watch has value to some. Leave at home anything you would not, for financial or sentimental reasons, hesitate one split second to give up if confronted. Insure whatever of value you do bring.
As far as carrying money, cards, etc, I find the kind of hidden pouch linked above to be much too hot and sweaty to wear in Brazil. Perhaps not such a problem in Argentina. I prefer a (handmade) pocket, exactly the size of a passport, with a velcro fastening across the top, that can be sewn or pinned into the inside waistband of clothing. It allows you to turn away briefly and discreetly to access cards and larger bills without much attention.
I also use a very small (outside) waist pack, common in Brazil (again I don't know the custom in Argentina), which I can keep my hand on, for a small digital camera, sunglasses, and small items in the main pouch, with enough small bills/change in the front zippered pocket for the bus/taxi, etc, and a few larger bills and maybe one card in the zippered one against my body. A woman could wear a larger bag with a sturdy (uncuttable) strap worn diagonally across the body, and a hand on the bag itself slightly to the front. The Brazilian men I know wouldn't put or leave a wallet in any pants pocket, only in the hand.
Anyway, you will probably be fine. Bear in mind that people have incentive to post when they have had a problem, but the majority who have a happy, uneventful (crime-wise)vacation are never heard from.
Enjoy your trip.
avrooster is quite correct about not making yourself a target. This means to me not calling unnecessary attention to yourself or your valuable possessions, including speaking English at volume. That does not mean dressing like a vagabond; whatever you wear, you stand out as a foreign tourist anyway, even by your walk and grooming.
Keep the camera out of sight as much as possible, and keep in in your control (ie not at arms length where the kid on the bike who you never saw can grab it as he pedals by at high speed). A U$20 watch has value to some. Leave at home anything you would not, for financial or sentimental reasons, hesitate one split second to give up if confronted. Insure whatever of value you do bring.
As far as carrying money, cards, etc, I find the kind of hidden pouch linked above to be much too hot and sweaty to wear in Brazil. Perhaps not such a problem in Argentina. I prefer a (handmade) pocket, exactly the size of a passport, with a velcro fastening across the top, that can be sewn or pinned into the inside waistband of clothing. It allows you to turn away briefly and discreetly to access cards and larger bills without much attention.
I also use a very small (outside) waist pack, common in Brazil (again I don't know the custom in Argentina), which I can keep my hand on, for a small digital camera, sunglasses, and small items in the main pouch, with enough small bills/change in the front zippered pocket for the bus/taxi, etc, and a few larger bills and maybe one card in the zippered one against my body. A woman could wear a larger bag with a sturdy (uncuttable) strap worn diagonally across the body, and a hand on the bag itself slightly to the front. The Brazilian men I know wouldn't put or leave a wallet in any pants pocket, only in the hand.
Anyway, you will probably be fine. Bear in mind that people have incentive to post when they have had a problem, but the majority who have a happy, uneventful (crime-wise)vacation are never heard from.
Enjoy your trip.
Apr 3rd, 2015, 10:53 AM
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About the above:
"Bear in mind that people have incentive to post when they have had a problem, but the majority who have a happy, uneventful (crime-wise)vacation are never heard from."
Exactly. They are a minor percentage, but they are the ones you hear about, so it sounds as if it happens to everyone.
I have been living in BA for the last 74 years (my age) and I have NEVER had a problem. Obviously, I'm a local and therefore know what I'm doing.
Have a great time in my country.
"Bear in mind that people have incentive to post when they have had a problem, but the majority who have a happy, uneventful (crime-wise)vacation are never heard from."
Exactly. They are a minor percentage, but they are the ones you hear about, so it sounds as if it happens to everyone.
I have been living in BA for the last 74 years (my age) and I have NEVER had a problem. Obviously, I'm a local and therefore know what I'm doing.
Have a great time in my country.
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