Aunt_A

Just returned from a trip to Argentina. I did a day trip to Tigre, which I found to be one of the highlights of my stay in Buenos Aires. I felt like I was on the Amazon! Anyway, the reason for this post is to warn others not to take the coastal train. There are 2 trains that can be taken to Tigre - one is the regular train from Retiro station that goes direct, although does make other stops. It is very inexpensive and doesn't take too long. The other, the Train to the Coast it's called (if I remember correctly) is the one more touted for tourists as going through picturesque quaint coastal towns. You can get on and off the train at any or all of these stops for the price of the ticket. HOWEVER - if you don't want to make these stops, but prefer to go straight to Tigre, you still pay 3 times what an Argentinian does for the same ticket. It is a major rip off and not worth it. (even if it doesn't amount to much in US dollars - that's not the point) Additionally, you have to change trains from the regular commuter train on the Mitre line, and it is a long walk and then can be a long wait for the tourist train. It took me an extra 45 minutes travelling this way. NOT WORTH IT!! This was the only time in 2&1/2 weeks in Argentina that I felt taken advantage of as a foreigner. When I tried to reason with the clerk she didn't care; as long as I wasn't Argentinian I was a 'tourist'. There also was a sign giving the tourist price as 3 times the regular price, so she was just doing her job.

Perhaps if people know about this in advance and avoid this train, they'll get the message?

Graziella5b

I am sorry but I do not agree. I prefer by far the
costal train, it doesn't take that much time and regarding the ticket, how much money are we talking about? I do not recall exactly by it is so little in US or Euros that it is not worth even mentioning.

Aunt_A

Graziella, I think you're missing the point. It is not a matter of how much or how little the price is when translated into US dollars; the point is discrimination. Foreigners are charged more based purely on a nationalistic reason, and the thought that the additional pesos from tourists will line the country's coffers. The risk in such a policy is the backlash that it effects. The service is the same, the seat is the same, and the ride is the same whether or not you are Argentinian. The price should be the same too. I could accept paying more if you are given more, but you are not.

As a world traveller, I've learned to 'think' in local currencies. I never use US dollars in another country - I use and think in the currency of the place I'm in. Nor do I translate local prices back into US dollar amounts. Thus, the fact that the price doesn't convert to much in US$ is meaningless; the discriminatory aspect glares at you. Truthfully, Argentina is the only country I've been to on 6 continents where I've experienced this reprehensible practice, luckily this instance and ticket prices for Aerolineas Argentinas when purchased from outside the country were the only instances encountered.

As long as there is an alternative to discrimination, I'll vote for the alternative.

drdawggy

A couple of points:

1. Aerolineas charges more for foreigners, in or out of the country. For tickets purchased within Argentina, foreigners are not eligible to purchase discounted or sale fares, only full-fare tickets.....Tickets purchased outside of Argentina cost even more....It is worth noting that Aerolineas is owned by a company in s

drdawggy

(oops...I accidentally posted before I finished)

As I was saying, Aerolineas is owned by a company from Spain, not by Argentinos.I share Aunt A's disdain for this type of discrimination.

2. National parks charge more for foreigners, but since we pay no taxes in the country...I have no problem with this extra charge.

3. If the train to Tigre is tax subsidized, it seems reasonable to pay more as a non-taxpaying foreigner....if not, shame on them....

4. Many hotels have adopted the same practice as Aerolineas....that is, charging more to foreigners...the best way to assure equal treatment is to use a local travel agent to book your room.

Aunt_A

In regard to Aerolineas, I unintendedly wound up on a round trip flight with them. I'd been booked on Southern Winds from BA -Salta - BA. SW canceled the flight to Salta a few days before the flight date. I wasn't even aware of the cancellation until the travel agent I'd used, Mayra Brill, called to tell me about it. She'd already booked me on Aerolineas as the only possible alternative for getting to Salta at that time. I was very grateful to Mayra for being so on the ball; my trip to Salta, and the ride on the Train to the Clouds wouldn't have been able to happen without her action. What really surprised me was the Aerolineas ticket price - only $50 more than the bargain basement fare I'd gotten on SW months before! I remember at that time that the fare on Aerolineas was about 3 times as expensive as SW. The flights were good and food was served. My other SW flights - BA-Iguazu-BA were not as good - very turbulent and ear-popping. No food served even though they had it down as snack flights. I do forgive them, they've got major financial problems.

milla

Aunt A:

you are right. the Argentine who lives in the area, works downtown and uses the train to commute pays $A 2. That is the price given to people who have to commute. In fact it is very difficult to know if this is true.The same price was given to tourists some time ago when they said they would not stop, instead some tourists stopped in all the stations to visit them and took the train again with the $A 2 fare. That is why tourist began to pay now the fare of 6.

The Argentian who stops on the way and finally gets off at Tigre Station pays
$A 4, while the tourists who does the same pays $A 6. Those are the prices you ve got to compare 4 to 6.

This does not happen in Argentina only, it happens in Europe too. It happened to me just because i came from Latin America but that didnt make me feel i was being discriminated at all. Discriminations sounds too hard for the dollars more,in local currency,i had to pay in museums, hotels, excursions, etc.
I am very sorry you felt so bad.

Aunt_A

Thanks, Milla for your explanation. I would expect commuters and frequent users to have discounted fares - it is a good policy. That is a practice you find all over the world. Also, giving discounts to children, seniors, or students is a positive policy. But to charge someone more simply because they are not a native of the country is most definitely discrimination.

I've never encountered such policie anywhere in Europe, or in other places I've travelled to (although I've certainly experienced other unpleasantries in some places) as you indicate you did. I suspect that the difference in fee you experienced was because you did not fit into a group such as those I mention above, rather than because you came from Latin America.

treykule

First of all, there are many countries that discriminate. One of the worst is Cuba where it starts with special pesos for foreginers and goes from there.
You pay to visit the national cementary . You pay to take your camera in..pay pay pay...

Thailand charges about 20x the local price for "farangs" for some sporting events and the like.

I could go on.

Argentina is far from alone in this practice, and in general, it has been a good place for foreigners, though that is changing

Argentina seems to be awaking to the opportunity of raising prices for accomodation and meals.

If anyone really wants to stop this, the first and best practice is to stop lavishly tipping. It is not only considered poor taste in many countries but leads to a perspective of rich foreigners.

And that leads to the kind of gouging that can be seen throughout the world when it comes to the tourist trade.

In the balance, Argentina is still a great country to visit so maybe learn to live with that small bit of discrimination. The train ride is worth the exhorbitant price you paid.

avrooster

This thread had been dormant for three and a half years.

Graziella5b

Frankly I feel all this talk about discrimination regarding the train ticket is a little over the top, as trykule mentiones for real discrimination Cuba is a good example , also the socialist regimes of the European Union, promotions in the name of culture like free visits to museum on Wednesday are for all but for their citizens....
However I feel they have the right to do it, they wish to promote culture but only to citizens of the EU.
I do not have to go to their museums if I do not wish to go.
You do not have to take the Train de la Costa unless you wish to enjoy a voyage that is more a sightseeing tour that mere transportation . Are you going to tell me that City tours are discrimination>? because everybody knows that is you take a tour you pay many many more times that if you catch a local bus. Many times I have done that: took a bus or a train instead of a tour and save a bundle . It is a personal choice.

Graziella5b

I wish to add that many of the discounted tickets in some socialist European countries like Spain are only for local citizens. For instance the Senior discounts are ONLy for their citizens.

ElPelar

Yo, Aunt A- I am in Buenos Aires and just stepped off the Tigre direct train. It was about $AR 1.5, which is about 50 cents US. So what is the big deal here?ŋ You buy the ticket in Retiro station and get on the direct train which goes every 10 minutes. It is not a deluxe train like the coastal one, but it gets you there with the locals and has A/C. There was no rip off here and I did not have to transfer.

I think you may have been the victim of an unintentional mistake and it is wrong to assume that it represents the philosophy of Argentina people. Get a life. Every one is very friendly in general if you approach them with the right attitude. Please donīt carry this chip on your shoulder, since North Americans already have left a bad blotch on the rest of the world. Just remember that you ate lots of very inexpensive meals here in Argentina that more than made up for being overcharged one time for a measly one hour trip to Tigre.

avrooster

I repeat, Aunt_A hasn't posted here for YEARS.