Buenos Aires - Argentina - page 68

70 BY C AR Buenos Aires is not a place wher e you need a car . We don't advise driving

yourself unless you're heading out of the city . If you must rent a car, contact one of the
international rental companies at either airpor t, as well as those listed in the next para-
graph. Most hotels can also arrange car r entals. Typically, rental cars ar e manual, and
automatic cars ar e expensiv e, r unning at about $100 (£70) per day . Note: Most local
motorists disregard traffic rules except for one—no turn on r ed.
Rental cars are available from Hertz, Paraguay 1122 ( & 800/654-3131 in the U.S.,
or 11/4816-8001); Avis, Cerrito 1527 ( & 800/230-4898 in the U.S., or 11/4300-8201);
Dollar, Marcelo T. de Alvear 523 ( & 800/800-6000 in the U.S., or 11/4315-8800); and
Thrifty, Av. Leandro N. Alem 699 ( & 800/847-4389 in the U.S., or 11/4315-0777).
ON FOOT You'll pr obably find y ourself walking mor e than y ou'd planned in this
pedestrian-friendly city. Most of the center is small enough to navigate on foot, and y ou
can connect to adjacent neighborhoods b y catching a taxi or using the subte. Based on
the Spanish colonial plan, the city is a wobbly grid expanding fr om the Plaza de Mayo,
so you are not likely to get too lost. Plazas and parks all over the city supply a wonderful
place to rest, people-watch, and meet the locals. Sidewalks are in terrible repair, however,
throughout the city, so the impor tant thing is to watch y our step at the same time y ou
try to take in all of the local beauty .

VISITOR INFORMATION
The central office of the City Tourism Secretariat, responsible for all visitor information
on Buenos Aires, is located at Calle B alcarce 360 in M onserrat but is not open to the
general public ( & 11/4313-0187 ). Instead, the city uses several kiosks spread in various
neighborhoods, which hav e maps and hotel, r estaurant, and attraction information.
These are found at J.M. Ortiz and Quintana in Recoleta, Puerto Madero, the central bus
terminal, Caminito in La Boca, and Calle F lorida 100, wher e it hits D iagonal Norte.
Most are open M onday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, although some open and
close later. Others are also open on weekends as well, including the one in San Telmo at
Defensa 1250. The center on Caminito in La Boca is open w eekends only, usually Sat-
urday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
The Buenos Aires City Tourism Office runs a hot line for information ( & 11/4313-
0187 ) from 7:30am to 6pm M onday to S aturday, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. The city
also runs free tours (for details, call & 11/4114-5791 Mon-Fri 10am-4pm). The major-
ity of the tours are in Spanish, but a few are also in English.
When you arrive in Buenos Aires at Eizeza, there is also a central tourism station just
outside of Customs run by the Tourism Secretariat of the Nation, with information on
Buenos Aires and the r est of Argentina. I t does not maintain r egular hours, but usually
maps and other brochures are outside the window in the event it is closed.

5

Fast Facts Buenos Aires

American Express The huge American Expr ess building is nex t t o Plaza San
Martín, at Ar enales 707 ( & 11/4312-1661 ). The tra vel agenc y is open M onday
through Friday from 9am to 6pm; the bank is open M onday through Friday from
9am t o 5pm. I n addition t o car d-member ser vices, the bank off ers curr ency
exchange (dollars only), money or ders, check cashing , and r efunds.