Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
29
cameras.
Note:
The C$750 exemption can
only be used once a year and only after an
absence of 7 days.
Citizens of the U.K.
who ar e
return-
ing fr om a non-E.U. countr y
have a
Customs allo wance of 200 cigar ettes; 50
cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; 2
liters of still table wine; 1 liter of spirits or
strong liqueurs (o ver 22% v olume); 2
liters of for tified wine, spar kling wine, or
other liqueurs; 60 cubic centimeters (mL)
of perfume; 250 cubic centimeters (mL) of
toilet water; and £145 wor th of all other
goods, including gifts and souv enirs. Peo-
ple 16 and under cannot have the tobacco
or alcohol allo wance. F or mor e informa-
tion, contact HM C ustoms & E xcise at
&
0845/010-9000
(fr om outside the
U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their
website at www.hmce.gov.uk.
The duty-fr ee allo wance in
Australia
is
A$400 or, for those 17 and under , A$200.
Citizens can bring in 250 cigar ettes or 250
grams of loose tobacco, and 1,125 milliliters
of alcohol. If you're returning with valuables
you alr eady o wn, such as for eign-made
cameras, y ou should file form B263. A
helpful brochure available from Australian
consulates or C ustoms offices is
Know
Before You Go.
For mor e information, call
the
Australian Customs Service
(
&
1300/
363-263;
www.customs.gov.au).
The duty-free allowance for
New Zea-
land
is NZ$700. Citizens 18 and over can
bring in 200 cigar ettes, 50 cigars, or 250
grams of tobacco (or a mixture of all three
if their combined w eight doesn 't ex ceed
250g); plus 4.5 liters of wine and beer , or
1.125 liters of liquor . N ew Z ealand cur-
rency does not carr y impor t or expor t
restrictions. Fill out a certificate of export,
listing the v aluables you are taking out of
the country; that way, you can bring them
back without paying duty. Most questions
are answered in a fr ee pamphlet av ailable
at New Z ealand consulates and C ustoms
offices:
New Z ealand C ustoms G uide for
Travellers, Notice no. 4.
For more informa-
tion, contact
New Zealand Customs,
The
Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box
2218, W ellington (
&
04/473-6099
or
0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).
3
3
WHEN TO GO
The seasons in Argentina are the reverse of
those in the N orthern Hemisphere. B ue-
nos Air es is ideal in fall (M ar-May) and
spring (Sept-Nov), when temperatures are
mild. The beaches and r esort to wns ar e
packed with v acationing Argentines in
summer (D ec-Mar), while B uenos Air es
becomes some what deser ted of locals,
which is not a bad thing r egarding traffic.
Plan a trip to P atagonia and the southern
Andes in summer , when days ar e longer
and warmer . Winter ( June-Aug) is the
best time to visit I guazú and the N orth-
west, when the rains and heat hav
CLIMATE
Except for a small tr opical
area in nor thern Argentina, the countr y
lies in the Temperate Zone, characterized
by cool, dr y w eather in the south and
warmer, humid air in the center . Accord-
ingly, J anuary and F ebruary ar e quite
hot—often in the high 90s to mor e than
100°F (35°C-40°C)—while winter
(approximately July-Oct) can be chilly.
HOLIDAYS
Public holidays are January 1
(New Year's Day), Good Friday, March 24
(Truth and J ustice D ay) M ay 1 (Labor
Day), M ay 25 (F irst Argentine G overn-
ment), June 10 (National Sovereignty Day),
June 20 (F lag Day), July 9 (I ndependence
Day), August 17 (Anniversary of the Death
of General San Martín), October 12 (D ía
e sub-
sided; but spring (A
ug-Oct) is also
pleasant, as temperatures are mild and the
crowds have cleared out.
