Crime in Buenos Aires

Lol ! Jac! I understand . I know it might seem silly to some but apps have changed the way I travel for as long as Ive had a smart phone.. Hubs and I are in our late 20's and totally dependent on them for better or worse. I don't even know that I know how to write notes by hand anymore haha.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, I forgot to say (see what I mean!), my favorite way of getting around Buenos Aires is to talk to people! I find that when lost, or simply looking for a good place to eat, I just stop someone (especially someone...mature!) and ask! Che! What a concept!

JAC

Jac: Well, in my case technology isn't generational as much as it is situational. Smartphones are just one more tool to make traveling much simpler, even if they are a bit addictive. Think of them like the free maps you used to get with a fill up at any gas station in the U.S. in the 60s. Totally not necessary, definitely not worth the trouble at times, but you don't have to struggle to get them re-folded correctly!

But asking someone works well, too. Porteños are some of the most friendly and helpful city people in the world.

Jac: Well, in my case technology isn't generational as much as it is situational. Smartphones are just one more tool to make traveling much simpler, even if they are a bit addictive. Think of them like the free maps you used to get with a fill up at any gas station in the U.S. in the 60s. Totally not necessary, definitely not worth the trouble at times, but you don't have to struggle to get them re-folded correctly!

But asking someone works well, too. Porteños are some of the most friendly and helpful city people in the world.

Mr. T,

Great point! (I always had trouble with maps!) Maybe it's time for this old dog to learn some new tricks!

JAC

I will give you fhat Jac -- if we do find it difficult to source something on any of the apps our next approach is certainly to ask a local (well noted on the mature porteño!).. I'm much more keen on speaking with locals, my husband on the other hand doesn't believe in asking for directions :-0 (so frustrating sometimes. Lol!)

Well, I've been there, Karla! I didn't know what I was missing until my wife convinced me! hahaha (Just for an idea....my wife, who always spoke softly, did carry a big stick!)

JAC

A man who won't ask for directions? That's hard-wired into the XY chromosome. An iPhone is a lot less frustrating :)

I think this thread is definitely an early nominee for

1) Most Bizarre Thread of 2015

2) Most Alarmist Thread of 2015

Were our faithful correspondents to be believed then Buenos Aires should resemble the wild west, if not Western Iraq, with murder, robbery and rapine at every turn. Oddly enough, I've never observed this on multiple visits to the city and I'm feeling oddly let down. Not infrequently one sees similarly alarmist threads about Rio, SP or Salvador which simply don't reflect the experiences of 99% of tourists and don't reflect reality for most residents either.

@the OP I'd be inclined to take all of this (hopefully) well meaning guff with a large pinch of salt. At least one of the respondents specialises in cryptic but alarmist gibberish of this sort and says similarly bizarre things about every city on the continent.

You come from Lima? Then no doubt you will be familiar with how to conduct yourself in public and what usual common sense precautions to take. Buenos Aires is no different and a lot less dangerous than quite a few cities on the continent I could nominate. Actually, it's really not noticeably more or less safe than much of Lima. You can be mugged anywhere on the planet. As for dressing like locals, why bother? In practical terms that means adopting poor fashion sense and bad haircuts. the game will be given away the instant either of you opens your mouth anyway.

Last time I was in Bs As I stayed in a hotel that was packed with Brazilians. I kept running into more across town. Nobody had made any concious effort to dress like a local. Admittedly dressing like an argentino would be an affront to national dignity as well as very infradig.

Exercise the normal common sense you would in your home town and enjoy yourselves.

Wow. i'm shocked at the lack of perspective on this thread. You guys are making it sound like BA is a death sentence. Yet, virtually every other country in South America is deemed more dangerous.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-violent-cities-in-the-world-2014-11?op=1

On a list of the most violent cities on Earth, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil and Venezuela dominate the list. Of note, no Argentinian city is listed in the top 50. That guy who was robbed on the GoPro (fake gun) would have been shot in Caracas, not chased down the street.

I'm not saying BA is "safe" but nowhere is. If you maintain the same common sense you would in Lima, you'll likely be fine.