Travel Tips
Taxes
Argentina has a $29 departure tax for international flights and an $8 departure tax for domestic flights. These are included in your ticket price when you fly from some airports, including Buenos Aires’. Otherwise you can pay by credit card or in cash at booths in airports (pesos, dollars, and euros are accepted). Hotel rooms carry a 21% tax. Cheaper hotels and hostels tend to include this in their quoted rates; more expensive hotels add it to your bill.
Argentina has 21% V.A.T. (known as IVA) on most consumer goods and services. The tax is usually included in the price of goods and noted on your receipt. You can get nearly all the IVA back on locally manufactured goods if you spend more than 70 pesos at stores displaying a Global Blue duty-free sign. You'll be given a Global Blue refund check for the amount you’re entitled to; then, after getting it stamped by a customs official at the airport, you can cash it at the clearly signed tax refund booths. Allow an extra hour to complete the process.
Tax refunds
Global Blue. 11/5238–1970; www.globalblue.com.