Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
New Way
(
4515-0331;
www.new-wayrentacar.com
; Marcelo T de Alvear 773)
Local, friendly
and cheap.
SUBTE (SUBWAY)
mighty hot and crowded during rush hour - and is a haven for pickpockets. It consists of
Líneas (Lines) A, B, C, D, E and H. Four parallel lines run from downtown to the capit-
al's western and northern outskirts, while Línea C runs north-south and connects the two
major train stations of Retiro and Constitución. Línea H runs from Once south to Av
Caseros, with plans to expand it.
One-ride magnetic cards for the Subte cost AR$3.50. To avoid queues buy several
rides at once or get a SUBE card (see boxed text,
Click here
)
.
Trains operate from 5am to around 10:30pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to around
10pm Sunday and holidays. Service is frequent on weekdays; on weekends you'll wait
longer. At some stations platforms are on opposite sides, so be sure of your direction be-
fore passing through the turnstiles.
TAXI & REMISE
Buenos Aires' numerous and relatively inexpensive taxis are conspicuous by their black-
and-yellow paint jobs. They click every 200m (or every minute of waiting time) and cost
20% more after 6pm. Make sure that the meter's set to the current price when you start
your ride. Drivers do not expect a big tip, however, it's customary to let them keep small
change. Taxis that are on the lookout for passengers will have a red light lit on the upper
right corner of their windshield.
Most cab drivers are honest workers making a living, but there are a few bad apples.
Try not to give them a 100 peso note for a small fare; sometimes they're short on change,
but there have been cases where the driver quickly and deftly replaces a larger bill with a
smaller (or fake) one. One solution is to state how much you are giving them and ask if
they have change for it ('¿Tiene usted cambio de un cien?' - 'Do you have any change
for a hundred?').
Be wary of receiving counterfeit bills. If you're suspicious this might happen, note
aloud the last three numbers/letters on a bill as you're giving it to him.
At night the driver will turn on the light
(luz)
so you can carefully check your change
(look for a watermark on bills). They'll do the same with your bills. And make sure you
get the right change.
Pretend to have an idea of where you're going; a few taxis offer the 'scenic' route
(though also be aware there are many one-way streets in BA). A good way to do this is to
