why all the bitching?
It is perfectly normal that the foreign office of ones country set out guidelines for it's nationals when they are travelling overseas. Of course crime is rife in many cities around the world but governments set up specific pages of advice for the traveller to check up on the country to which they will be travelling. THATS THE NORM .hellooooooooooo!
please see below advice for British travellers to Argentina from the British Foreign Office which may be found on the British Embassy Website:
SUMMARY
- Around 50,000 British nationals visit Argentina every year. Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Argentina is for replacing lost and stolen passports. You should keep a close eye on your personal belongings and hold on to them in public places such as internet cafes, and train and bus stations where distraction thefts commonly occur.
- There are occasional outbreaks of social unrest. You should avoid demonstrations.
- Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. In 2007 there has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region. See Health section of this advice for more details.
- You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even very small quantities can lead to a minimum four and a half years sentence.
- You should be aware that health and safety standards may not be as rigorously enforced as in the UK.
- The threat from terrorism in Argentina is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Terrorism
The threat from terrorism in Argentina is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Three bombs exploded in Buenos Aires on 17 November 2004. One person was killed and another injured.
In October 2005 a number of small explosive devices were detonated in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata and La Plata, the majority outside banks. There were no casualties at any of these incidents, which were believed to be the work of local anti-globalisation groups.
Please read Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas pages on the FCO website for further information and advice.
Crime
The most frequent problems involve distraction theft, bag snatching and armed robberies in the street, in taxis and restaurants. Distraction thefts commonly occur in public areas such as Internet cafes, and train and bus stations. You should keep a close hold on your personal possessions and bags. Con men have also robbed tourists while an accomplice pretends to help remove ketchup or mustard which has been "accidentally" sprayed on them. Another common occurrence is the slitting of handbags in crowded places. Be particularly attentive in popular tourist areas, such as San Telmo. You should avoid carrying too much cash or wearing ostentatious jewellery.
Kidnappings and so called “express kidnappings” – short-term, opportunistic abductions, aimed at extracting cash from the victim – do occur in Argentina. Victims of express kidnapping are normally selected at random and held while criminals empty their bank accounts with stolen cash cards. Once the ransom is paid the victim is usually quickly released. Although tourists are not currently targeted, you should be alert at all times.
Avoid isolated or poorly lit areas at night. Hail moving taxis rather than those waiting at the kerbside, or use a hotel recommended radio taxi. Do not offer resistance in the event of an attempted robbery. If you are being met at the airport and you do not know your greeter, ensure you confirm their identity before accepting a lift. Alternatively use a "remise" service from the official stand in the centre of the arrivals concourse.
When travelling on local buses and trains, remain alert at all times. Pickpockets are rife. If you are robbed, you should inform the local police – a police report will be required by your insurers and by the Embassy if you need a new passport. In Buenos Aires, a 24-hour police helpline in English has been opened, on telephone number 101, to help victims. There is also a new multi-lingual free phone number for tourist assistance: 0800 999 5000. This goes through to the Tourist Police Station.
Passports should be left in a hotel safe/security box except when being used for identification purposes e.g. expensive purchases, cashing travellers cheques. Keep a photocopy of the details page of your passport with you at all times. Passports are required as identification for internal flights.
For more general information please see Victims of Crime Abroad
Political Situation
Despite a strong recovery, the economic and political crisis of 2001/02 has left its mark, particularly in the form of increased inequality and poverty. With around 35% of the population living below the poverty line there are occasional outbreaks of social unrest and demonstrations, which at times turn violent. You should monitor local media and avoid planned demonstrations and public gatherings.
Argentina Country Profile
Local Travel
You may occasionally encounter groups of demonstrators (piqueteros) blocking major roads into and out of Buenos Aires during times of social unrest. You should expect significant delays to any journey.
Road Safety
You need an International Driving Permit to drive in Argentina.
You should be aware that driving and road safety standards are not uniform: respect for speed limits and traffic signals is patchy and manoeuvres by fellow road users can be unexpected. Crime against car users, particularly when stationary at traffic lights, is a problem. You should keep windows closed and doors locked at all times whilst travelling in the major cities.
Care should be taken when driving in the Province of Misiones close to the borders with Paraguay and Brazil. The area is used to smuggle goods across the borders. It would be advisable to seek local advice if you intend to drive in this area.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even very small quantities can lead to a minimum four-and-a-half year prison sentence.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
British nationals do not require a visa to enter Argentina as a tourist. On presentation of a valid British passport you will be granted a 90-day stay in the country. We recommend that you have a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport when entering Argentina.
To enter Argentina for any other purpose, you should contact Argentinian Representation in the UK. Those remaining in Argentina for more than 3 months are encouraged to register with the British Embassy either in person, by telephone, or on-line, e-mail:
[email protected].
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence that both parents have given permission for the journey before allowing lone parents to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Argentine Embassy in London (contact details as above).
HEALTH
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
Medical facilities are good, but can be expensive.
Asthma, sinus and bronchial problems can be aggravated by the polluted atmosphere in the major cities.
Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. In 2007 there has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region. There is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever, which has severe flu-like symptoms and can sometimes be fatal (Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever). To minimise exposure to mosquito bites and avoid being bitten you are advised to use mosquito repellent regularly and cover up with suitable clothing.
The northern Argentine provinces bordering Paraguay (notably Corrientes, Misiones and Formosa) are the areas most affected. Fatalities from DHF have been reported in Paraguay. Please see the Paraguay travel advice for more details.
Cases of leptospirosis have increased caused by heavy flooding in Santa Fe, Entre Rios and Buenos Aires Province in April 2007.
If you have specific conditions (e.g. diabetes), you should bring a sufficient quantity of medical supplies and medicines with you for the trip.
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk
NATURAL DISASTERS
Many of the northern provinces of Argentina suffer from seasonal flooding. This can lead to disruption to transport, delivery of foodstuffs etc.
GENERAL
If things go wrong when overseas, please see: What We Can Do To Help.
Money
ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) availability is generally good but you should not rely solely on using international debit cards bearing the cirrus logo to access funds. You are advised, therefore, to ensure you carry alternative forms of payment, including a credit card (accepted in most hotels and major shops and restaurants) or travellers’ cheques, although the latter are not always accepted. US dollars are not widely accepted outside the major tourist areas for cash transactions but it is worth bringing a small supply of dollars to exchange for pesos. When exchanging money, you are advised to use only authorised bureaux de change, rather than informal traders.
