Hi again, after doing some more research we are leaning toward staying in BA proper for the majority of the trip and making some day trips to the beach - is this possible? and how about taking the ferry to Uruguay? We only have 1 week so we want to reduce travel time to the extent possible.

Another question from OP here.

I have seen on the TA forum several people stating to hire a car from the airport and specifically not to take a cab from cab rank, can I ask why? I'm assuming that there are livery/gypsy cabs hanging at the airport looking to pick up fares (same as at the NYC airports and easily avoidable) and people are saying to hire a car to avoid them, but surely a cab from the cab rank is fine? No?

I'd ask over there but I'm not currently registered and I assume my handle is taken and I already have a history of posting here and don't want to start over at the moment being the "suspicious first-timer."

Thanks!

Hi CB,

Just like in NY, there's lots of scammers at the airport.

If you don't want to arrange ahead of time for a car service, then after clearing customs, there's places to arrange for a car/cab inside the terminal, which I highly recommend. A lot of the drivers don't speak English and after an overnight flight, it's nice to know they've been told where to take you :)

The reason is that BA city cabs are or were not allowed to pick up fares at the airport. Now, they have a booth OUTSIDE the hall for incoming flights, but I would NOT trust them.

I suggest you take only what we call "remises" or the local cabs from www.taxiezeiza.com.ar

At the local airport, make sure NOT to take cabs from the taxi line.

Have a great time in our country.

Thanks Owlwoman. I'm a car service junkie with Delancey on my speed dial, it just always seems easier to stand in rank when arriving in after a long flight in foreign lands so I don't have to wait around for a car. I usually call car service at home right when I clear customs from cell so I don't wait. I hate to use int'l minutes though if I don't have to.

I posted before I read your reply avroster - thanks for the info.

Can I ask why cabs are not allowed to pick up airport fares?

You don't really have to wait, you go to the booth, tell them where you want to go and pay, they then have a driver ready for you.

We took cabs from the local airport (in town) a couple of times, once we had a real doozy, but that was after we were familiar with the city and knew what we were doing.

Until recently, BA city cabs WERE not (in theory) allowed to pick up fares at the international airport.

In principle, the reason probably is that when BA cabs drive someone out of city limits they are allowed to charge extra for it, because they are NOT allowed to pick up fares out of city limits, when they drive back into town.

Apparently someone has decided to make an exception in the case of our international airport.

If you insist on taking one of these cabs, so be it, but, should you have a problem of any kind, you can count on my loudly telling you "I TOLD YOU SO!". LOL!!!

There are many posts about cabs in this forum, many of them by yours truly. You should be easily able to find them.

Have a great time in our town.

I don't want to skirt the rules, lolz. I'll use car service booth. Paying in advance sounds more convenient than thinking about tip and change anyhow!

Exactly! Reserving in advance and paying with your credit card at the booth are probably the main advantages of using the car service firms.

Taxi Ezeiza could be a bit cheaper, but they don´t take credit cards.

However, you shouldn´t get into town without at least a few pesos. Many threads about THAT, too.

I hadn't seen those, I usually just head to the ATM for $$, are they unreliable at the airport?

The ATMs should be OK and the exchange rate decent, but the amount of money you can withdraw is limited and there is a charge per withdrawal which can add up, depending on the ATM you use.

There are many threads about THAT, too.

Cherrybomb: Banco de la National is the best place to change dollars for pesos at the airport. It is located after the customs area.

Make sure to avoid the crooks at Global Exchange, conveniently located in the luggage pickup area, as well as in other areas.

I'm totally baffled at the thought of using a currency exchange place, honestly. I'm an ATM kinda person, a bank ATM, not random ATM.

Oh, here is a stupid ?

If we go to a parilla, do I have to get meat? The husband eats meat and looks forward to a big old meat plate, which is great, but I want fish or something that is not meat, will I have issues?

Most good parrillas have other choices, besides steak.

Thanks.

Hi loc5000 this is what I would do, stay in Buenos Aires for city life, for beaches get accross the River Plate to Monevideo, this is what most PORTEÑOS or locals do. Uruguay has lovely beaches one after the other from Montevideo all the way East to the frontier with Brazil. The best one to visit is Punta del Este, it is located 130 kilometers East of Montevideo. Lovely swimming and it is a lively resort town and at the same time has nearby smaller satelite towns, like Jose Ignacio, with a more casual elegant flavor.Hotels abound in Punta del este, offering different rates, a car is a must if you really wish to enjoy it as locals do, driving around at your own tempo and looking each day for the best beach to go swimming.
Forget the Argentinean beachs like Mar del Plata which are crowded and too far from Buenos Aires.
The water West of Montevideo is more like a river water, it is clean but looks kind of darkish.However there are some spots in Colonia and Carmelo where you can go swimming but they have nothing to do with beautiful beachs East of MONtevideo. good luck

I am trying to reserve a car from the airport on arrival from Ezeiza. I did a google search and came up with clearing customs/picking up luggage takes 30 min and it takes 90 min-2 hrs. That is a huge difference in time.

Any advice on when to reserve the car? I am slated to land at 9:45am.

Thanks.