Actually right now is high season for tourists but I have noticed a big slowdown with tourists. I don't see as many around now. It's probably related to prices here being much more expensive vs. last year. BA isn't known now for being a bargain and prices are very high. I would think that would have something to do with it. Usually November is very busy.
I have noticed the same thing @Oatmeal. I use it all the time but I also have had many open orders. Like Betsy mentioned, usually right now is very busy in the Spring. I have friends that come down this time of year each year but they are skipping BA this year. Cost was a factor. If Argentina gets too expensive there are going to be fewer tourists.
I think maybe the strikes with the airlines had something to do with it the past few weeks. I had some friends that didn't want to commit to trips here because they read about airline strikes and potential to get stuck here Maybe people were in the same boat.
I have noticed this trend too. I have also seen some official statistics that say tourism has slowed down. Argentina is expensive now. Crazy how much prices have jumped up. 70,000 pesos for a Milenesa at El Preferido de Palermo. Crazy. 35,000 pesos for a steak sandwich in Recoleta.
Not sure if you saw the great news today @Oatmeal but they are going to allow a tariff exemption on goods from abroad. They will still charge IVA but a lot less import taxes starting next month.
Funny you mentioned strikes. I was looking at flights to Caracas. There were gaps where no flights we available. For the available flights, I would have to fly to Madrid then back to Caracas. This might be because of my destination but flight options sucks.
thanks this is good to know but IVA still 27%
Prices have gone bonkers TBH.
Friend flew down last week and me and him have been bitching about the price changes. He messaged me the other day showing the prices of a restaurant he went to last time he was here and the price was double. He travels quite a bit and now second guessing if he should go to Asia or Europe agian.
How do you reconcile this if you are a local earning local salary? Its insane the price increase. Is it really $35.000 for a steak sandwich, because the exchange are is more or less 1 = 1000.
Are there no other flights to Caracas? Wow, I wouldn't want to go to Venezuela right now. Sounds like you have family there? That seems like the only reason to go there.
IVA is 21%thanks this is good to know but IVA still 27%
Everyone is complaining about the prices. Somehow some people reason to themselves that prices should be this high. That is nuts! Salaries are not high to be charging the same as the States or Europe. All my friends that have been here recently all complain. They like BA but not at these prices. Meals here should not be the same as US or more than in Italy but they are. You can go to Europe or even Asia for less than you would spend here. Also flights here are also expensive.
You can't. But it was very expensive in prior periods when the government artificially had the currency at $1 USD = 1 peso. I was not here during those days but people I know tell me that it is now more expensive. I don't know if that is true or not.My friend sent me a photo of the menu and it was indeed expensive for a steak sandwich at La Rambla in Recoleta.
My friends joke that I should be happy that I'm moving back to NYC in a few weeks. They joke that it will be cheaper in the USA vs. Buenos Aires. You know maybe they will be right if things keep up.
You are laughing but some people tell me that it could get worse here. I really hope not. If you look at the prices here some of them are already more expensive than back home.
Many people can NOT reconcile this and aren't coming here for vacation anymore. I have some friends that own some apartments in BA and they do enjoy Buenos Aires but aren't going to come and spend $35 bucks for a steak sandwich. Many are choosing to just go to Europe. I like BA as much as anyone else but at these prices it is too expensive. Both for locals and for tourists. There is a big imbalance of the value of the peso. It shouldn't be this high. Usually when there is a big imbalance like this there is a subsequent consequence.
@Oatmeal I thought prices were very very cheap last year. Even if they went up 200% in most of these places it is still less than what I am paying here in California. I guess that is the only bright side of paying extremely high prices living in So. Cal. No matter where I go everything seems cheap compared to what I am paying!
