10 tips for those who are going to travel to Argentina:
- Do not expect to be fully understood, even if you have learned the local dialect of Spanish. It's called castellano. Argentinean Spanish is a bit like Italian, and it also includes English words. You will not be understood in English everywhere.
- Be sure to try the green mate. It is sipped through a silver straw made of dried gourd and passed around the circle. Preparing to drink the drink is considered a real ritual, and if you are invited to participate in it, it is a sign of friendship and favorable disposition to you.
- All business meetings are held exclusively on neutral territory.
- Never put your feet up on a table or chair. This is considered extremely disrespectful.
- Tipping is accepted here. You will have to leave about 5-10% tip, and in expensive restaurants it is most often included in the bill.
- The country has an anti-tobacco law and smoking in public places is prohibited, while in restaurants, bars and nightclubs smoking is allowed only in special rooms isolated from non-smoking customers, the area of which should not be less than 100 meters.
- Argentina, with its size and colorful population, can hardly be called a safe country. Therefore, it is not recommended to leave the tourist centers alone (especially in the evening) and to visit some residential areas. In large cities, the division into rich and poor neighborhoods is observed very clearly. Do not get into cars that do not have official cab signs. Do not carry large amounts of money or jewelry, and do not display expensive photo or video equipment. Make a habit of making copies of valuable documents, leave your main documents in the hotel safe.
- In large cities you can safely use credit cards, but in small villages and towns of the country it is better to bring cash. And in small "portions", distributing it for convenience and safety.
- It is better to boil the water you drink from the tap, or drink bottled water. Experts advise vaccination against tetanus and hepatitis. Yellow fever outbreaks are occasionally recorded in the northeastern regions. In rural areas, cholera, typhoid fever and tropical fever have been reported, but rarely. The risk of malaria is low and is only possible in Salta, Jujuy, Misiones and Corrientes. There are cases of rabies, hepatitis and intestinal parasites.
- The ocean off the coast of Argentina can have quite strong currents, watch what the warning signs say on shore. Check for lifeguards. It is best not to swim on unimproved beaches outside the resorts.
