Money

The unit of currency is the Argentine peso (Arg $), divided into 100 centavos. Peso notes in circulation are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Coins in circulation are 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and 1 peso. Most major towns have exchange places (

), and exchange rates are quoted in major newspapers daily. Also see www.xe.com, for up-to-date rates. There is a severe shortage of coins in Argentina, and you will find that hardly anyone can break large notes. Use them in supermarkets, restaurants and hotels, and take out odd amounts from the bank like $190 pesos instead of $200 pesos.

You can find comfortable accommodation

with a private bathroom and breakfast for around US$50 for 2 people, while a good dinner in the average restaurant will be around US$10-15 per person. Prices are much cheaper away from the main touristy areas: El Calafate, Ushuaia and Buenos Aires can be particularly pricey. For travellers on a budget, hostels usually cost between US$10-13 per person in a shared dorm. Cheap breakfasts can be found in any ordinary café for around US$3, and there are cheap set meals for lunchtime at many restaurants, costing around US$6, US$8 in Buenos Aires. Camping costs vary widely, but expect to pay no more than US$3-5 per tent - usually less. Long-distance bus travel on major routes is very cheap, and it's well worth splashing out an extra 20% for

service on overnight journeys.

By far the easiest way to get cash while you're in Argentina is to use a credit card at an ATM (

). These can be found in every town or city (with the notable exception of El Chaltén in the south) and most accept all major cards, with Visa and MasterCard being the most widely accepted in small places. The rate of exchange is that which applies at the moment the money is withdrawn and commission is usually around 2-3%, but check with your credit card company before leaving home. Note that Argentine ATMs give you your cash and receipt before the card is returned: don't walk away without the card, as many travellers are reported to have done. Credit cards are now accepted almost everywhere as payment but you will need to show your passport together with the card. It's a good idea to carry cash to pay in cheaper shops, restaurants and hotels, and some places will give a discount for cash. There is usually a limit when taking money out of the ATM, and it varies depending on which bank you use. In general it seems to be $320 pesos (about USD$100) per transaction and $1200 pesos (about US$380) per day. MasterCard emergency number is T0800-555 0507 and Visa is T0800-32222.