Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Telephone
Two companies, Telecom and Telefónica, run the country's telephone services.
To use street phones, you'll need to pay with regular coins or tarjetas telefónicas (mag-
netic phone cards available at many kiosks). You'll only be able to speak for a limited time
before you get cut off, so carry enough credit.
Toll-free numbers begin with 0800; these calls can only be made within Argentina.
Numbers that start with 0810 are charged on at a local rate only, no matter where (in
Argentina) you are calling from.
The cheapest way to make an international call is to use an online service (such as
Skype or Google Voice) or use a phone card. International calls can be made at locutorios
but they tend to be more expensive this way. When dialing abroad, dial
00, followed by
the code of the country you're calling, then the area code and number.
Directory Assistance (
110)
Fire (
100)
Medical Emergency (
107)
Police (
101, in some larger cities
911)
Tourist Police in Buenos Aires (
0800-999-5000, 011-4346-5748)
Cell Phones
It's best to bring your own unlocked tri- or quad-band GSM cell phone to Argentina, then
buy an inexpensive SIM chip (you'll get a local number) and credits ( carga virtual) as
needed. Both SIM chips and credits can be bought at many kiosks or locutorios; look for
the ' recarga facil' signs. Many Argentines use this system with their cell phones. Phone
unlocking services are available; ask around.
You can also buy cell phones that use SIM chips which will usually include some credits
for your first batch of calls. Be careful renting phones as they're not usually a better deal
than outright buying a cell phone.
If you plan to travel with an iPhone or other G3 smart phone, prepare yourself - you
may need to purchase an international plan to avoid being hit by a huge bill for roaming
costs. On the other hand, it's possible to call internationally for free or very cheaply, using
a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system such as Skype. This is a constantly changing
field, so do some research before you travel.
Cell phone numbers in Argentina are preceded by '15.' If you're calling a cell phone
number from a landline, you'll have to dial 15 first. But if you're calling a cell phone from
another cell phone, you don't need to dial 15.
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