Money Exchange & Other Hustles on Florida St.

Walking along Florida Street near LaValle on downtown Buenos Aires’ pedestrian mall, it’s inevitable to come across some shady-looking characters yelling out or whispering, ‘cambio, cambio!’ These ‘unofficial’ (read: illegal) money changers, known in Lunfardo as arbolitos, do offer dollar and euro exchange rates that are lower than the banks, but it’s not recommended to [...]

Some Popular Swindles

Firstly, and this goes without saying, if you don’t look like an obvious tourist, you are less likely to be targeted. Sometimes you need to take a quick peek at your Lonely Planet in public, but at least try to avoid the Hawaiian shirt, socks and sandals ensemble.

General Safety Travel Tips

As far as really big cities go, Buenos Aires is not particularly dangerous although if you listen to the many residents of this port city or the excitable tabloid media, you may come to believe it’s something akin to downtown Bagdhad.  The truth is that petty theft is the biggest problem — violent crime is [...]