Argentina ???

[modhatter]

I have read a lot about Panama and it's various incentives to expates.  I am also starting to research Argentina, but find getting information on Argentina is not so readily available.  I was wondering if any of you have traveled to Argentina, who could share their experience with us.  I am very interested in finding an "affordable" area that is not so d.... hot.

Most people, especially the young, seem to love Buenos Aires, but I believe it gets quite hot there (not sure on weather)  I am interested in the following:

Climate
Cost of Living
Infastructure and cleanliness
Acceptance of foreigners
Expate communities (until language problem is mastered)
Difficulty in obtaining a resident Visa in Argentina.
Any forumns on Argentina

Anyone out there have any knowledge?  Would appreciate your impressions during your visit there.

 

[GTM]

Yahoo groups have forums on Argentina.

I never been there although I understand the cost of living is relatively inexpensive due to the depreciation of the Peso vs the Dollar.
Government may be a bit unstable so I would not put much money in the banks.

I would think Buenos Aires has as much to offer as most big cities, has a European  diversification and first world activities.
Climate varies.

Probably a great ER choice

 

[modhatter]

Yes, I agree you have to check it out first. I am just in the early stages of deciding where I might want to go to check it out. From what I have read, they had a severe devaluation in 2002, and real estate prices dropped by two thirds, though it is increasing yearly now at about 12% I read.

I know a lot of the young folks like Buenos Aires. I guess it has a lot to offer for young people. I'm not sure about the number of retired folks there. If I go, I'll report what I saw and take lots of pictues.

 

[ronin]

In driving around the city at night with my friends, we always went 50-60 mph on the surface streets and never stopped at red lights for fear of highjacking/kidnapping. Of course that's pretty much the way they drive during daylight as well!

 

[sapphos]

This is mainly about Buenos Aires,
Climate - temperate...chilly in winter so you'll need jackets, warm in summer. most days are sunny and the weather is fabulous
Cost of Living - very affordable. a trip to the supermarket and a cart full of groceries expect about 40.00 US My husband and I live on about 150 a month for food from store, 168 US for our excellent health care insurance with no dedecs or copays, 50 US for cable/DSL, for utilities figure about 160 US
Infastructure and cleanliness excellent healthcare, schools, cleanliness depends upon area
Acceptance of foreigners - very willing to accept foreigners but watch out now because many people want to take advantage of extranjeros lots of art, museums, great transportation
Expate communities (until language problem is mastered) yes lots of expats young and retured
Difficulty in obtaining a resident Visa in Argentina. there are great possibilities for retirement visas I will make a post about it

 

[modhatter]

Laura,

Tell them about the home delivery available there.

 

[donheff]

I read an article about Buenos Aires in the Washington Post a few weeks ago. They described it as very affordable, LA style weather much of the year, European style open air cafes abound. Dinner starts at 10:00 PM, dancing at 2:00 AM, so you better be a night owl. The HBO series "Epitafios" was filmed there -- it looks like a nice city. I hope to try a vacation there sometime.

 

[sapphos]

Yes, you can get everything delivered including medicines from the pharmacy. Ice cream (some of the best I've ever tasted) can be delivered from online website.

By the way, the Washington Post article was on the money on some things, but don't think that there are tons of 250.00 US rents available - while they exist you have to jump through hoops to get them. However, that said, there are still some fabulous places available at excellent prices. My husband and I DID pick up our lives and move here this past March. We are paying only 1600.00 a month for a huge house and huge yard that accomodates our dogs and cats quite nicely. We are in an expat neighborhood where embassies are and some rents can go up to 4000 per month - but what you get for 4000 is out of this world. For much much less though you can find some great apartments and houses.

Where we see even more savings is in our health insurance - for two people and complete coverage including travel - 168 per month - I was paying almost 500 a month in US for just me. We just got back from the grocery store and for a cart full of groceries spent 43.00 US - and that included a 5 pound organic chicken which I would have paid almost 10.00 alone back in the US for.

By the way, if you are already on retirement benefits and can prove it...you can apply for a pensioners visa. Last time I checked you needed to be getting 700 US or now it might be a bit more. The requirements to get the visa are not particularly difficult.

There are already retirees here, it's not just for the young people or the aspiring artists.

But, I always tell people who hear how we're living...you SHOULD come and check it for yourself, don't just rest upon other people's opinions.

 

[sapphos]

nope to the south not yet. during one of our preparation trips we were in Mendoza part of the trip and found it to be really nice and very laid back, lots of outdoor activities to do. But hopefully we'll get to Patagonia next February or so during the summer here.

 

[jphripjah]

Here's the WP article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/21/AR2006042100585.html

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I have never been there, but I have it in my plans.

Paul Terhorst and his wife now have a house in Argentina:
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/5315/

Here is a good source of information:
http://www.guillebaires.com.ar/

You can make contact with The English Group:
http://www.geocities.com/grupo_de_ingles/

Search this site for articles on living in Argentina. Take with a grain of salt, but fun to read:
http://www.escapeartist.com.

I bought their e-book. It looks OK:
http://www.lifeinargentina.com/

The following thread has been going for several years:
“Places worthwhile visiting in Argentina”
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=173&tid=512&webtag=ab-gosoamerica
The poster is an enthusiastic private, one-man promoter of his country, fluent in English. Tons of photos with commentary about the whole country (and several others). His favourite town is Mendoza, but he lives today in Mar del Plata, “The cheapest place to live in Argentina”, he says. It is a beach town. The description reminds me of Seaside on the Oregon coast, including the weather, except that Mar Del has about 600,000 full-time residents, not 6,000.

I knew a young fellow who owned an espresso restaurant back home whose family was from Guatemala. He went to Salta, Argentina, on a mission, came back and told me, “Salta is even cheaper that Guatemala!”

ATTENTION: "Go To The Library!" I found a lot of good books on the country in the library (even in Ft Mac!). "The Traveller's Argentina Companion" is especially good, but so are Lonely Planet, Footprint and others.

The Loney Planet Thorntree is a good place to read about Argentina, too. Print oujt the articles you like. They get flushed after a month or so, based on storage space.

I am not attracted to BA. Too much crime for me (but who knows?).

Good luck!

If you go down there, give us a report when you get back!

Ed The Gypsy