I´m 22 years old, I live at Buenos Aires with my family, I study law at the University of Buenos Aires and quited my job as a receptionis to travel for six months.

👉 - I CAN'T HOST ANYONE UNTIL FEBRUARY 2016 -
Right now i'm traveling with a friend through Europe for five months and India for one month. I will return home in february so I can't host anyone until then!
However, I did some research and wrote about some things I think are important to know before going to Buenos Aires. I hope they will help you, if there is any specific thing you would like to know, don't hesitate in asking me! Good luck and enjoy Buenos Aires!

👉 TIPS

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
You should get a SUBE card as soon as possible. It can be bought at some offices of Correo Argentino and in some kioskos. With it, you pay all public transports. They are all payed separately, we dont have any ticket which allows you to use more than one of them. If you dont have it, buses can only be paid with coins inside the bus, but the price is twice the normal one. In the subway and train you can still buy tickets with cash at the same price, but SUBE is much more convinient. (www.sube.gob.ar)
Once you have it, you charge money in it in all subway stations and some kioskos.
Besides, showing the SUBE at some places you obtain discounts. You can check them at: http://www.subeneficio.gob.ar

- Local buses (colectivo / "bondi"): most places could be reached by bus, but when there is a lot of traffic it could take much more time than subway. Each route is differentiated by its colour and a number on the front of the bus. There is a bus approximately every ten minutes throughout the day, but the bus service is reduced after midnight.
You pay the ticket inside. You have to tell the driver the stop where you're getting down to charge you. At least one block before your stop you should ring the bell in the middle or last door, if not the diver might dont stop.

Long Distance Buses (micros or omnibuses)
More than 100 companies offer long distance services across Argentina, and to neighbouring countries.

Most coaches offer passengers a choice of services: for example, partially or fully (flat-bed) reclining seats, dinner on board, hostess service, and express travel. The main bus station is in Retiro, which is near three main railway stations.
Tickets can be obtained at the Retiro bus station, at travel agencies, or online from Platforma 10 and Retiro.

- Subway (subte): you pay before getting in, and you can change lines without paying again. The maps of it are very easy to understand.

- Train (tren): in most places, you have to place the SUBE when you get in and when you leave, so it will charge you accordingly to how long you travel.

- Metrobus: is a network of dedicated separated lanes and stations for normal buses that serve the city as a Bus Rapid Transit system, it mixes a few bi-articulated buses with conventional buses. The price of the ticket is the same.

- Bicycles (ecobici): there is a system of public bicycles which are free and can be used by tourists also. You have sign up for EcoBici online or in person (http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ecobici/sistema-ecobici/turistas)

- Taxis: City taxis are privately owned and are available 24 hours a day. They are black with yellow roofs, and their licence number is painted inside a yellow circle on the front doors.
Some owners work as part of a fleet, where each cab communicates by radio with headquarters. They are called Radio Taxis and they show the name of the fleet (when you stop one in the street you should always try to take a Radio Taxi, they are safer). Cabs which are available for service have a red light which is lit up in the front window with the word Libre (available) in white.
Radio Taxis can also be requested by phone. Simply call one of the Radio Taxi companies, but they will charge you an extra fee. You can download an app called EasyTaxi which allows you to call a Radio Taxi avoiding the extra fee.
The fare is shown in Argentinian pesos and combines a fixed start up fee plus an amount for the distance travelled (both shown on the digital taxi meter). In some cases, there is an extra charge for luggage and/or crossing the Av. General Paz to go into the suburbs of Great Buenos Aires.

ComoViajo or Mapa Interactivo Buenos Aires websites have maps and shows the most efficient transport combinations to a given destination (buses, trains and subways).

CURRENCY ECHANGE
After the end of 2011 when the government imposed restrictions on the amount of dollars Argentine citizens could buy for savings or travel, the black market for dollars picked up steam, creating a parallel exchange rate which is always more expensive (this alternative exchange rate is called the “blue rate”). This was not good news for us, but for tourists with dollars or euros, it means you can buy more pesos for the same amount of dollars or euros.
So, obviously you should always try to get blue rate.

1. Don't Change your money at the airport. The exchange houses give rates that are less that the official rate. If you need some pesos when you arrive to the airport, an ATM will give you the official exchange rate, minus whatever fees.

2. Bring physical dollars or euros to exchange. It is not possible to withdraw physical dollars from ATMs in Argentina.

3. Underground exchange houses offer the best rate, but be careful.
In order to get the blue rate, you need to go to an underground “cueva” exchange house to change your dollars to pesos. These places operate in a legal grey area. Although technically illegal, they are allowed to operate. In the downtown of Buenos Aires along the walking streets of Lavalle and Florida, you will find literally hundreds of people shouting “cambio, cambio” (change, change). You should try to avoid to exchange with one of these guys, as if you don’t speak Spanish and look like an easy tourist to take advantage of, they could try to scam you in some way. Me or any local could tell you a person we can trust for you to change money at a good rate and without risks.

STAY SAFE
First of all, im not one of those people who like to say Buenos Aires it's dangerous. Although robberies do occur, Buenos Aires is a relatively safe city but it is always good to be prepared. Like in all big cities, keep your head up, be aware of your surroundings, walk with confidence and you will be fine. As locals, we are very used to do certain things that makes you avoid going through the bad moment of being robbed.

- PICKPOCKETS: when you are in crowded areas such as markets and on trains and buses, be on your guard. Keep one hand on your wallet/money and the other covering the zipper of your bag. If you wear a backpack or messenger bag, bring it around to the front of your body when you’re on the bus or subte. Don’t carry your wallet in the back pocket of pants or bags. It’s much better to use the front pockets of pants or jeans, inner pockets of jackets, etc.

- THE RIDE-BY: It works like this: the victim is walking along on a reasonably quiet sidewalk. They’re either talking on their cell phone or swinging a handbag. Suddenly the perp rides up from behind on a bicycle or moto, snatches the goodies, and rides off. The thieves who use motos are known locally as ‘motochorros’ and bicycles ‘bici-chorros.’ Note that if a moto is used the ride-by is often a two-man job: one to steer and one to grab the stuff.
So, when walking and carrying a handbag, wear it across your body so that it’s impossible to wrench off your arm. Walk nearer to the building than the road-side of the sidewalk, and keep handbags and phones on the building side of your body.

AT CAFES/PUBS/RESTAURANTS:
-If you have a handbag with you at a café, keep it in your lap while you’re sitting down.
-If you have a bag that’s too large for your lap, or if you have to put your handbag on the ground, put your leg through a straps so that the strap it’s resting somewhere above your knee, or use the clips that some places have under the tables.
-If you want to use your laptop at a café, sit inside (never outside) and choose a quiet corner where it would be hard for someone to snatch it and run off.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Buenos Aires is divided into barrios, which means neighborhoods. Each one of them is very different, so you should know a little bit about each of them to choose which ones to visit of you have little time.

RECOLETA: firmly established as the most cultured neighborhood in Buenos Aires, most of the city's finest hotels are located on its broad avenues, near fashionable boutiques and restaurants. The city's most exclusive neighborhood, La Recoleta wears a distinctly European face. Tree-lined avenues lead past fashionable restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and galleries, many housed in French-style buildings. This is a neighborhood of plazas and parks, a place where tourists and wealthy Argentines spend their leisure time outside. Weekends bring street performances, art exhibits, craft fairs, and sport events. Advantages of staying in Recoleta: It offers the ritziest residences, most upscale neighborhood and best services, along with being well-located near downtown and some popular tourist sights.

Palermo: In my opinion, is the best place for tourists to stay. It's the largest and greenest Buenos Aires neighborhood, it subdivides into several smaller but distinct units: Palermo Chico, Palermo Viejo, which further splits into Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood. With nearly 350 acres of parks, wooded areas, and lakes, designed by French landscape architect Charles Thays in 1874, Palermo provides a peaceful escape from the rush of downtown. Families flock here on weekends to picnic, suntan, bicycle, in-line skate, and jog. The polo field, where the most important polo matches in the world are held, and racetrack make this area the city's nerve center for equestrian activities.

LAS CAÑITAS: is considered to be one of the safest and peaceful neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, due to the present of a military training base. Las Cañitas is the most fashionable gastronomic zone in Buenos Aires, it has more restaurants than any other ‘’barrio” in town. During your stroll in Las Cañitas you will find exclusive boutiques, leather goods, health and beauty spas, wine and liquors galleries and antique stores. There is also a shopping centre: “El solar de la Abadía”. Also in Las Cañitas you will find the polo field where the Argentine Open Polo Championship takes place during the months of November and December. This is the most important polo tournament of the world.

PUERTO MADERO: is one of the newest Buenos Aires neighborhoods and has become the trendiest place in town. The project refurbished formerly abandoned brick warehouses in the old port area into upscale residential apartments, restaurants, offices, and loft apartments located by picturesque canals. Porteños spend weekend afternoons strolling along the docks, riding bikes on the wide pathways, and lingering over coffee and pastries at riverfront cafes. The area attracts businessmen looking for a sunny lunch at midday and a fashionable, wealthy crowd at night. It is lined with elegant restaurants serving Argentine steaks and fresh seafood specialties, and there is a popular multi-screen cinema complex, the Argentine Catholic University campus and a private art museum.

RETIRO AND PLAZA SAN MARTIN: is one of the various historical neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. This plaza is located at the base of the famous Florida Street, the most important pedestrian street of Buenos Aires. The European and rich architecture of this Buenos Aires neighborhood gives Plaza San Martín a distinguished style. The fabulous palaces built in its vicinity mostly belonged to aristocratic families. The most beautiful and important mansions lining the Plaza house at present: the Military Circle that includes the Arms Museum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Park Commission, among others.

SAN TELMO: The bohemian San Telmo is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. This entire vicinity is considered as a National Historic Monument. San Telmo keeps the authentic old Buenos Aires: the cobblestone narrow streets, high trees, and a particular kind of public candle lights, called (faroles), still in use, make an atmosphere of special reminiscence. The meeting point is Plaza Dorrego, where a kind of “flea market” takes place every weekend. There are stores offering art pieces, antiques, furniture of previous centuries, American silver handcrafts and all kind of souvenirs. In San Telmo you will find excellent tango performers in the open air, especially during the weekends. Tango-themed bars are all over in San Telmo, in addition to the restaurants and cafes. Most of them go back from the 1800´s and they have maintained their original facades and internal decoration.

BELGRANO: is one of Buenos Aires’s most densely populated neighborhoods. The Belgrano neighborhood has many different subdivisions. Belgrano C , Belgrano R (where I live) a residential area where old mansions and skycrapers line together in the shady cobblestone streets, and the lowlands called Bajo Belgrano nearby the Rio de la Plata, where many football clubs, tennis, and recreation areas are located.

LA BOCA: The neighborhood of the Buenos Aires port. It has always been the door and first home for all immigrants floods. It maintains its special profile and is mainly visited by tourists on Sundays when you may enjoy tango dancers and singers exhibitions. If you are a tango fan, you can also take open lessons.

DOWNTOWN: located at the south of the metropolis. The Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada (the government seat), as well as major distinctive national buildings, are located in this Buenos Aires neighborhood. In downtown Buenos Aires you will enjoy walking in Florida Street, the biggest and most important pedestrian street in twon, full of stores of leather goods, clothes, record and books, restaurants and the exclusive shopping mall: Galeria Pacifico. On Florida Street you will find the Kavanagh building, the first skyscraper in Buenos Aires. Also in this neighborhood are the Colon Theather, considered one of the most important opera houses in the world, and the Obelisk, which is symbol of Buenos Aires and Argentina's most famous monument.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think Couchsurfing it´s an excellent tool to meet and know people, and the city where they live in, in a very different and special way. I love to travel, but not to be a tourist!
Although I live with my parents, I would be glad to be a host.

Interests

I like my career, but I would love to use it to help other people. I'm convinced that people who were lucky enough to be borned in a loving family, with all their basic needs covered, and living with so much confort, have the responsability of trying to make others reality a little bit better.

I'm interested in learning everything that helps me achieve that. I think this doesn't implies only studying, but also travelling, meeting people, talk with them, know their culture and way of living, and learn from them.

I love spending time with my family, friends and boyfriend. I like to have some drinks with them, spend a full night chatting or go to a bar.

• arts
• culture
• books
• architecture
• beauty
• spas
• tango
• seafood
• wine
• coffee
• picnic
• running
• walking
• drinking
• clubbing
• pub crawls
• flying
• shopping
• clothing
• news
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• opera
• equestrian
• backpacking
• scuba diving
• sports
• soccer
• tennis
• cartography
• law
• parks
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Bob Marley; The Beatles; SOJA; National Music

Movies & Books: I enjoy watching movies and reading very much, I wish I had more time for both. It's very difficult to chose favourite ones!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Quit my job and my studies for six months to travel the world with a friend.

Teach, Learn, Share

“To travel is to leave home
is to leave the friends
is to try to fly.
Flying meeting new branches
walking roads
is to try to change.

To travel is dress as madmen
is to say “I don’t mind”
is to want to come back.
To return valuing the little
enjoying a drink
is the desire to start.

To travel is to feel poet
write a letter
is to want to hug.
Hug when you reach the door
missing the calm
is to allow being kissed.

To travel is to become worldy
is to meet another people
is to start again.
Starting offering your hand
learning from the stronger
is to feel loneliness.

To travel is to leave home
is to dress like a madman
saying everything and nothing with a
postcard.
Is to sleep in another bed
feel that the time is short
to travel is to come back.!"

Gabriel García Marquez

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina