Safety

Relatively speaking, Buenos Aires is one of the safest cities in South America, and Argentina as a whole is an easy and safe place to travel, but that doesn't mean you need to drop your

There is a big problem with fake notes in Argentina. The best way to tell if your money is not a fake is to look for the following 3 things; the green numbers showing the value of the note (on the left hand top corner) should shine, or shimmer; if you hold the note up to the sky you should see a watermark; lastly there should be a continuous line from the top of the note to the bottom about ¾ of the way along (also when held up to the light) The most fake common notes a $100 pesos, $20 pesos and $10 pesos. Some taxi drivers reportedly circulate fakes late at night with drunk passengers, or you may be given them back in change in markets and fairs. Check the notes thoroughly, before walking away. Try to break large notes in hostels/hotels or supermarkets to avoid being given a fake in change.

In most towns the train and bus stations should be avoided late at night and early in the morning. If you arrive at that time, try to arrange for your hotel or hostel to pick you up. If you can, in Buenos Aires and when you are travelling, visit the bus station to buy your tickets the day before so you can find out where the platform is and where you need to go. Also watch your belongings being stowed in the boot of the bus, and keep the ticket you'll be given since you'll need it to claim your luggage on arrival.

Some general tips are: don't walk along the street with your map or your guidebook. Check where you are going beforehand and duck into shops to have a quick look at your map. In cafés make sure you have you handbag on your lap or your backpack strap around your ankles. Try not to wear clothes that stand out, and certainly don't wear expensive rings, watches or jewellery that shines. Remember that the people around you don't know that you bought that watch for US$10 second hand, to them it looks expensive.

And finally, just remember the golden rules: store your money and credit cards in small amounts in different places in your luggage, scan and email yourself copies of your passport, visas and insurance forms, and keep an eye on the news or newspapers to be aware of what is happening in the country that you are travelling in.

If you are the victim of a sexual assault, you are advised in the first instance to contact a doctor (this can be your home doctor if you prefer). You will need tests to determine whether you have contracted any sexually transmitted diseases; you may also need advice on post-coital contraception. You should also contact your embassy, where consular staff are very willing to help in cases of assault. dailystrength.org, and www.rapecrisis.org.uk.

n use. One is that someone will discreetly spill a liquid on you, then a 'helpful stranger' with draw your attention to it, and offer to help you clean it off, meanwhile someone else has raided your pockets or run off with your bags. If someone does point out something on your clothes, keep walking until you see a coffee shop and clean up there. The second scam is that someone will drive past you on a motorbike, rip your bag off your shoulders, and drive away off into the sunset. The best thing to do to prevent this is to wear your bag over your head and one shoulder, and also have your bag on the opposite side of your body to the street. If travelling with a laptop, don't use a computer bag. Buy a satchel or handbag big enough to carry it in.

Always take Radio Taxis. Ask your hostel or hotel for a reputable company and call them whenever you need a taxi. They generally only take around 10 mins to come. Always lock the doors in the taxi as taxi doors have reportedly been opened at