I am leaving next week for a solo trip to BA and find that I am more nervous than usual - guess it's my inexperience in Latin America and the fact that I don't speak any Spanish. I am staying at Otra Orilla in Palmero and plan on staying in the city for the whole time with a side trip to Urguay.

My question is how safe is BA really? I have always lived in major cities so am pretty street savvy. I hear you should always phone for taxis but how do I do that if I don't speak Spanish? Any advice would be appreciated.

Also - I was planning on using the ATM to get cash (using credit card for the hotel). I have been reading reports about people having trouble with ATMs in Argentina. Is this still the case? Do I need to bring more cash as a back up than I noramlly would going to a place such as Europe?

Finally - since I'll be eating alone any recommendations for restaurants that are single diner friendly? Do people in Buenos Aires eat at the bar in a restaurant? Will I be looked at as odd going to nice places solo?

thanks for any and all answers - for some reason a trip to South America seems much more daunting than all my solo trips to Europe.

La Otra Orilla is a very friendly place. You will soon make friends with the owner and other guests.

If you are street savy you should have no problem in BA. Crime is lower in Palermo than in many US cities.

Taxis....well, first, if you are in the hotel...ask someone to phone a radio taxi for you. Second, ask someone in the hotel to help you write down your address and the address of your destination to give to the driver. Third, ask someone in the hotel to help you memorize a basic line or two of "taxi Spanish."

When you first arrive at EZE airport....the remis (private car rentals with a driver) and taxi stands (I take a taxi from Taxi EZE --the free standing white/blue taxi stand in the middle of the reception hall after you exit customs) people speak English..the driver probably will not but the workers in the booth who book you will....I think the fee is now about 60 pesos from the airport to Palermo.

yes, plan to bring a bit more cash than normal. Stop at the Banco de la Nacion (to your right as you pick up your bags from Customs Inspection...before you ever leave the customs area....). Bring a pouch of some sort to stash your dough beneath your clothes...

ATMs will probably be fine...but you never know....

Have a great time!

Oh, about restaurants...do not worry about being solo. I travel solo to BA a lot and a table for one is not a problem....and, yes, many restaurants have food service at the bar.

One other tip, american dollars are readily taken by everyone (stores, taxis, etc), we bring about $100 - $200 in small bills - $1s and $5s, great for cab rides, tips, etc. They generally exchange 3 pesos to the dollar. Having some small American money came in handy more than once.

Thanks for all the great replys..I don't know why South America makes me more nervous than Europe.

Not including hotel what is the average cost in dollars per day do you think? I like to eat out but probably won't do much shopping

* Listen to everything dr dawggy tells you *

I feel very safe whenever I am out alone or with my husband..I often take the dog to the park in the afternoons alone and no one bothers me or makes me feel vulnerable..
I was nervous when we came to visit here the first time, from all the stories of robberies..You DO have to be aware but if you are coming from DC, you know how to be Street Smart.
People eat alone everywhere here .. most bring a book and read and sit wherever they wish and are treated very nicely..women too.
I have found that in all my travels, with not enough Spanish to get me by most days, I have not had any bad experiences with people being kind and helpful. They are very warm hearted and good humored ..
I still only take taxis with the radio taxi light on the roof. Know your cross streets..that is all you have to give them and if your spanish makes you nervous, write the street names down on a little piece of paper..
When we were here visiting, we used ATM machines every day, never had a problem.
We use NetBank now and they don't charge for using ATMs..hope this helps

I'm female and spent a month travelling argentina, uruguay, chile (2 days) and equador alone last year.

BA feels like a European city. I never had any problems eating alone or walking around alone.

People were really friendly, some spoke English but I did buy a phrase book and it came in useful.

I carried a leaflet from my hotel and used that to tell taxi drivers where i wanted to go.

I spent the first few days in the Art hotel - the staff spoke good English and basically said everywhere is safe but to get a taxi to the tango shows and get the venue to book your taxi back.

I only used the black and yellow taxis with a meter.

I had no problems getting cash out of ATMs and could use debit / credit cards everywhere. Some of the ATM's gave you an option to use English but not all.

I LOVED the place.

I also loved Uruguay - if you have time go to Salto and sit in the hot spring water but that's off topic.

Felt very safe in BA last Aug/Sept., but did exercise normal big city cautions. The ATMs worked well for pesos within the city using either Interlink/Plus or Cirrus/Pulse. I usually carry both cards just for convenience so not to have to search out the correct ATM. The airport ATMs dispense either pesos or dollars. When using ATMs request odd amounts to get small bills for use in cabs. Do notify bank and credit card companies you will be using cards in Argentina to avoid being refused service.
Hotels and most restaurants will call taxis for you, but carrying a hotel card is helpful if the cab driver doesn't understand your destination. It is like any European city, but with friendlier people, wonderful food and wine, and all at a wonderful bargain. There is a lot of English spoken in BA--especially in tourist areas. You will love BA!

To call radio taxi, which you should instead of flagging them in the street, the hotel, restaurants ,shops can call for one, should you do it your self, look for a LOCUTORIO, there are many, ask for a CABINA, that is a BOOTH, and call one of the wellknown taxi companies there are MANY, like FreeTaxi 4943-2003,AS Radio Taxi 4551-9999, Pidalo,Alo Taxi ,Premium and others giving the adress of the LOCUTORIO where you are. They ask for a phone number so have for instance the number of your hotel handy. They will ask for a name so give them a simple, easy name. and you are on.

Don't be afraid. BA is wonderful. I thought I was in Europe. I had the same concerns about South America (mostly out of ignorance on my part) and it was really a fantastic trip. People are very kind and as a solo female I never felt that I was in danger. I just took normal precautions that I take everywhere. Go and have a great time.