College Travel and Safety Information

Safety:

Buenos Aires Airport transfer:

Buenos Aires is the international gateway to Argentina. Nearly all clients making the journey to our Argentina camp will arrive at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), more commonly known as Ezeiza International Airport. The tricky part? Ezeiza serves mainly international flights, and you’ll be required to make the 45-minute journey to the domestic airport, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) in downtown Buenos Aires. After clearing customs, adult clients will have the option of using the exclusive airport transfer service ($100 round-trip). If you select this option when you book your trip, your flight will be met by an Argentine camp representative who will bring you directly to Aeroparque to make your connection onward to Bariloche. If you choose to make the transfer on your own, you should be prepared to communicate in basic Spanish and be comfortable traveling on your own in a foreign country. Your options include Taxi/Remise (approx. $40-$60 USD one way — be wary of taxi drivers advertising in the terminal, as they usually overcharge), or a scheduled shuttle bus ($20-$25 USD plus bag fees). Public transportation is not recommended. Flight arrival times vary by airline, although most flights from North America arrive between 7-11AM. If this is the case, you may have the opportunity to explore Buenos Aires before your domestic flight. But please be aware of the time, as we are not responsible for missed flights.

Safety in Buenos Aires:

Buenos Aires has a storied and turbulent history. Throughout most of the 20th century, Buenos Aires (also known as BA) was a cosmopolitan city that rivaled most throughout Europe and North America. Ornate buildings and beautiful plazas are everywhere, complemented by an unrivaled nightlife and thriving cultural scene. After weathering severe economic crises in the 1980s and again in 2001, Buenos Aires is once again returning to its former glory. Downtown Buenos Aires and popular neighborhoods like Palermo and Recoleta give the city its European flair, and most tourists feel comfortable walking the streets alone during the day.

Be wary of simply walking out of the domestic (or International) airport on foot to explore the city. As in most cities, the areas surrounding airports are mostly industrial and not well-suited to tourists. If you choose to explore the city during your connecting time between flights, you should consider taking a taxi to the nearby Palermo neighborhood. This wealthy neighborhood is home to many shops, parks and plazas, and is close enough to the airport for a quick cab ride back. Grab a lomito, the traditional Argentine steak sandwich, or sample the fine Malbec wines offered around the city.

Petty crime is a problem, but simply being aware of your surroundings and taking care not to expose large amounts of cash will avoid most problems. Most businesses in BA accept credit cards, but expect to pay a higher price or surcharge for using one. You should also be cautious of providing large bills to taxi operators in Buenos Aires, as you may receive a counterfeit bill as change in return. See the section on Currency and Money below for more information.

Safety in Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche is a very safe city and is very comfortable for tourists to travel throughout. Although there are parts of Bariloche that should be avoided (as in any city), most are located far away from the popular downtown area. The resort area where All-Star operates is very safe and crime-free. However, all clients should be responsible for their gear and equipment, lock their doors when they leave to ride for the day, and not leave things like snowboard bags, laptops, and bright, expensive snowboard jackets unattended as these attract attention and encourage pick-pocketing and other petty crime. As long as you’re smart about your stuff, you’ll be fine. It is highly recommended that clients buy travel insurance before they come down, both for things like theft and also for flight and baggage delays.

Currency and Money:

Argentina uses the Argentine Peso, which is equivalent to about $0.25 USD. Many businesses also take American dollars, but be prepared to receive a poor exchange rate. It’s better to exchange money at a bank, casa de cambio (foreign currency exchanges) or at Tage – the small snack bar located at the base of Cerro Catedral. ATMs are available at the base area and around the downtown area, and clients are advised that most transactions in Argentina are done with cash, so be sure to have some on you at all times for emergencies. Especially in Buenos Aires (but also in Bariloche, to a much lesser degree), be aware of providing large bills (50 or 100-peso notes) to taxi drivers. After handing the bill to your driver, you may notice him “looking for change” — and then telling you he doesn’t have it. He’ll happily hand a counterfeit bill back to you, asking for something smaller. This scam isn’t seen often in Bariloche, but is extremely common in Buenos Aires and other large cities. If you carry small bills for cab rides and everyday purchases, you’ll avoid the majority of issues.

Medical Facilities

There is a clinic at the base of the mountain that is almost immediately next door to our lodging at SoulMax. Services like X rays, evaluations, and other preliminary procedures can be provided, and the clinic has its own doctor on staff. The clinic is actually an extension of the Sanatorio San Carlos, a modern, full-service private hospital located in the city center. Bariloche is also serviced year-round by a private

Medivac helicopter and several modern ambulance/paramedic services. Most procedures require payment at the time of service, which can be reimbursed via your Travel Insurance or international health insurance using the receipts collected at the hospital. Dramatically cheaper than the US, quality X rays and office visits may cost as little as $25 USD.

Transportation

With our new location at the mountain, you’ll find transportation in Bariloche straightforward, easy and largely inexpensive. If you’re making the journey to town, try to find a companion and split the cost of a taxi (usually 60-80 pesos, or $15-20 USD). Taxis are widely available at the mountain and in town, and typically run on a meter. You can also take a remise — essentially, a remise is a privately owned taxi that doesn’t operate on a meter. They’re often of higher quality than taxis, and sometimes less expensive. Just be sure to obtain the fare before you commit. Most drivers are honest, but some will raise the price if you don’t ask beforehand.

The public bus in Bariloche (operated by 3 de Mayo) is extremely safe, effective, crowded and usually on-time. They’re a great way to experience local culture and save some money at the same time. All buses leaving the mountain go to the city center, and any bus marked “Catedral” will deliver you back to the base area, just steps from the SASS campus. Buses to/from Catedral cost 8 pesos ($2.00), and operate at least hourly until around midnight on most days. You can also rent a car through our partner SoulMax travel, just be sure to make an inquiry in advance as cars are sometimes unavailable last-minute. The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 18, and a valid US Driver License and major credit card is required.

The “A Factor”

Ah yes, the A Factor – that wonderful, unexplainable variable of daily life in Argentina that might initially drive schedule-hungry Americans crazy but with time, will relax you and truly get you into the rhythm of life in Argentina. Buses may be late, restaurants may only take cash even after posting a Visa sticker in the window, lifts may not run for any justifiable reason – hey, it’s Argentina! It’s not the US, Canada, or Europe and you should be prepared for something to not work out perfectly during your trip. Just relax, take a deep breath, be tranqui and enjoy the adventure of experiencing another culture with both its ups and downs.