Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
36
LOST-LUGGAGE INSUR ANCE
On
domestic flights, checked baggage is co v-
ered up to $2,500 per ticketed passenger .
On international flights (including U.S.
portions of international trips), baggage
coverage is limited to approximately $9.07
per pound, up to appr oximately $635 per
checked bag. I f y ou plan to check items
more valuable than the standar d liability,
see if y our v aluables ar e co vered b y y our
homeowner's policy, get baggage insurance
as par t of y our compr ehensive trav el-
insurance package, or buy Travel Guard's
“BagTrak” pr oduct. D on't buy insurance
at the airport, as it's usually overpriced. Be
sure to take any v aluables or irr eplaceable
items with y ou in y our carr y-on luggage,
as many v
aluables (including books,
money, and electr onics) aren't covered by
airline policies.
If your luggage is lost, immediately file
a lost-luggage claim at the airpor t, detail-
ing the luggage contents. F or most air-
lines, you must r eport delayed, damaged,
or lost baggage within 4 hours of arriv al.
The airlines ar e r equired to deliv er lug-
gage, once found, directly to your house or
destination free of charge.
7
HEALTH & SAFETY
STAYING HEALTHY
Argentina requires no vaccinations to enter
the country, except for passengers coming
from countries wher e cholera and y ellow
fever are endemic.
Some people who hav e allergies can be
affected by the
pollution
in Buenos Aires's
crowded M icroCentro, wher e cars and
buses remain mired in traffic jams, belching
out pollution. The beautiful spring blos-
soms also bring with them
pollen,
and even
people not usually affected by plants might
be thrown off seasonally and b y species of
plants differ ent fr om those in N orth Am-
erica and Europe. It's a good idea to pack a
decongestant with you, or asthma medicine
if you require it. With the ne w anti-smok-
ing laws, you will not find indoor smoke to
be the hazard it once was.
Because motor vehicle crashes are a lead-
ing cause of injur y among trav elers, walk
and drive defensively. Do not expect buses
and taxis to stop for y ou when crossing the
street. Always use a seat belt, which has now
become the law in B uenos Air es, ev en in
taxis.
Most visitors find that Argentine food
drink in B uenos Air es. You should av oid
street food and drinks ser ved out of canis-
ters b y r oving salespeople at the ubiqui-
tous festivals all o ver the city. Vegetarians
should take note that food that seems
vegetarian often is not. With all those
cows slaughter ed for meat, ther e's plenty
of co w fat finding its way as cooking oil
for br ead and biscuits. R ead ingr edients
carefully and ask if in doubt.
Buenos Aires's streets and sidewalks can
be disgustingly unsanitary. While there is a
pooper-scooper law on the topics, dog
owners seem to take delight in letting their
pets relieve themselves in the middle of the
sidewalk. The rule of thumb also seems to
be the better the neighborhood, the mor e
poop there is, making Recoleta an obstacle
course. Watch your step!
DRUGS & PRESCRIPTIONS
M any drugs
requiring a pr escription in the U
3
nited
States do not necessarily need one in
Argentina. Hence, if you lose or run out of
a medicine, it might not be necessar y to
schedule a doctor 's appointment to get
your pr escription. The same goes if y ou
become ill and ar e sur e y ou kno w what
you need. M any of the pharmacies in the
MicroCentro hav e staff members who
and water ar e generally easy on the stom-
ach. Water and ice are considered safe to
