Airlines

[QUOTE=Aqualung;429696]You from experience know of the dangers with unmarked roadworks on Argentine roads. A high riding van can overcome many obstacles that can destroy a car.[/QUOTE]I should have taken your advice years ago about the bus. As most North Americans I was thinking Greyhound NOT the argentine bus experience. Even after my first excitement renting a car, I in fact continued to rent cars for at least 3 years more when I travelled north to fish. It was only after making many friends in corrienties that THEY convinced me to try the bus. Never looked back since! In spite of the fact that the bus fares have gone through the roof the past two years I now travel like an argentine. Your point about traveling by bus is spot on! If I hadn't been so hard headed I would have gotten with the program much earlier. Never to old to teach this dog some new tricks. Hope your health is hanging in there dude! Monger on aqualung. Toymann.

Ps. Assuming the good die young, you and I just might live forever. LMAO. Toymann

There is limited train service to Rosario. One a day or some days twice a day from Retiro. First class and up is OK. Sleeper cars too. On board dining etc. Very reasonable prices. I did Cordoba last year for 150 pesos round trip. A few hours more then a bus (4 hours longer to Cordoba if I recall) but then the bus schedules are always optimistic anyway.

Thanks to all for the info. I would be looking at International flights only. I've flown with Aerolineas to Colombia and a few times to Brazil (always booked online with expedia etc) and if I can pay in pesos the flights are cheap like borscht.

[QUOTE=Aqualung;429694]It's not exactly Pesos to Dollars but yo are right in that there is a huge difference. Foreigners pay the price at the top of the scale while Argentines can get any offer that is on the go.[/QUOTE]Not exactly accurate. It's not FOREIGNERS who get ripped, but NON-RESIDENTS.

As a resident I pay the same as the Argentines. And it's generally cheaper to fly than take the bus. Eg. I'm off to Iguazu in a couple of weeks, AR$1050 return with LAN. It's currently AR$1650 return on the bus (for the lay-flat bed option).

[QUOTE=DavieW;429709]It's currently AR$1650 return on the bus (for the lay-flat bed option).[/QUOTE]Jeebus! I just realized the enormity of that bus fare. I remember 5 years ago getting outraged when the fare from Iguazu to BsAs first went over AR$100!

At the time it was about AR$600 to fly (I wasn't a resident then).

[QUOTE=Toymann;429693]The toda la camA (executive) argentine bus service is tough to beat. Way more comfortable than that lousy town car, movies, meals, wine, champagne, gringo bingo, hot stewardess, etc. Most buses are overnight thus who cares if it takes an extra hour or so. Plus, what's your price to Rosario? Corrienties is twice as far and is currently around 600 pesos one way. I am guessing that one way Rosario is around 300 pesos. Your thoughts my expensive gringo pricing friend. Monger on Fred. Toymann[/QUOTE]If you are EZE you will have to transfer to the shady Retiro bus station in the city, then wait for the bus to head out, then bus is speed limited to 90km, with possible stops on the way. With a private car service like ours, you are on the way, and there usually in much less than 4 hours. Time is money. For a fare quote, please contact me directly. We can go 130km, almost 50% faster.

[QUOTE=Member #3320; 429695]Fred,

How much do you charge for a 1 way ride from Palermo to a Roasario hotel?[/QUOTE]Please contact me directly for a fare quote.

[QUOTE=Aqualung; 429696]Absolutely no way a private car is going to beat the coche cama ejecutiva except maybe in time (and not much there either). The biggest advantage with a car is that you are not restricted to the bus schedules and can make the journey when you want or need to and, of course, pay a small fortune for that advantage.

Even then a van is better and safer. A Mercedes Sprinter can be hired cheaper than multiple cars and can carry up to 8 or 12 passengers depending on the luggage. You from experience know of the dangers with unmarked roadworks on Argentine roads. A high riding van can overcome many obstacles that can destroy a car.

And when you are facing an oncoming 18 wheeler in the wrong lane I'the rather be in a Ejecutivo Bus or at least a big van than in a Crown Vic and I don't even want to start on how a VIP car stands out like a sore thumb on dark roads in the middle of nowhere when the lads are roaming the highways looking for a target to hijack. So security and safety are also questionable selling points.[/QUOTE]Never have had any security issues in 4 years. The route to Rosario is all highway, no vans will be coming the other way, and Mercedes Sprinter Vans are limted to 90KM / hr. Town Car can legally do 130km, making us an excellent choice for the executive traveller. (Time is money)

I was at the airport last night and I was wondering if anyone else has noticed the followiing:

A lack of people flying (the airport was almost empty)

Increased police presence (or maybe I did not notice so many before because there was more people)

More police in flak vests!

[QUOTE=Gandolf50; 429740]I was at the airport last night and I was wondering if anyone else has noticed the followiing:

A lack of people flying (the airport was almost empty)

Increased police presence (or maybe I did not notice so many before because there was more people)

More police in flak vests![/QUOTE]I am a professional chauffeur here, so I'm at EZE all the time. Without a doubt there is less foot traffic, and more dollar and euro sniffing dogs.

I noticed the same thing when I left in early November. Not nearly the crowd I am use to seeing checking in and going through customs. Now there were lots of folks lined up at American and United but not much anywhere else.

Fred, since when did they waste the time training dogs to sniff currency? Is that even possible? Drugs and explosives have unique scents but money is handled by many people and placed in many places on the body, remember that twenty you gave to the topless dancer? So what's up with this comment?

I think the money sniffing dogs is all B. S. Some one said they can smell the ink. But for how long? Plus as Mr Doppleganger pointed out, with so many people handling the bills? I think they are there so they can get a reaction out of people. They look for people who are scared of the dogs. I was also surprised at the amount of police wearing vests. Not normal here.

The money-sniffing dogs are not the concern; the PSA (Policia Seguridad Aeroportario) and the Prefecto Naval have been using money-sensing handheld scanners at both the AEP, EZE and Buquebus terminals.

[QUOTE=SnakeOilSales;429766]The money-sniffing dogs are not the concern; the PSA (Policia Seguridad Aeroportario) and the Prefecto Naval have been using money-sensing handheld scanners at both the AEP, EZE and Buquebus terminals.[/QUOTE]Again, how would something like that work? In the US they put metal strips in the dollars for a while so that they could detect large wads, but something went wrong and they canned that. I really doubt they have anything here that senses money. (or anywhere for that matter) I just think they watch peoples faces when the dogs or "detectors" are close by. Scared or nervouse people are pulled aside for a search.

[QUOTE=SnakeOilSales;429766]The money-sniffing dogs are not the concern; the PSA (Policia Seguridad Aeroportario) and the Prefecto Naval have been using money-sensing handheld scanners at both the AEP, EZE and Buquebus terminals.[/QUOTE]I know I am just one traveler but I always come through EZE with damn close but just under 10k. My corrienties buddies told me long ago that the dog sniffing plata story was just that, a story! Just curious in your speculation. Monger on dude. Toymann