At this time of the year Buenos Aires is TWO hours ahead of NJ.

We will depart from JFK. It is your responsibility to provide transportation to/from the airport. However, we may arrange to bring some students with us, if we know ahead of time. On the day we return we will provide transportation back to Drew for those who need it. Please let your faculty leaders know about your transportation needs and plans.

You will need to arrive at JFK by 7:00 pm. on Wednesday, January 3

When you arrive at JFK, go to the American Airlines check-in counter. Don’t wait for the rest of the group. Check in. Go through security on your own, and meet the group at the gate. If there is a problem, call Sandra's cell phone (908-642-2224).

Depart: Wed., Jan. 3. Leave JFK at 10:10 PM (flight AA 955)

Arrive: Thurs Jan. 4. Arrive Buenos Aires at 10:20 AM

Return to the US: Wed., Jan. 24. Leave Buenos Aires at 9:40 PM

Arrive at JFK: Thurs., Jan 25. Arrive JFK at 6:01 AM (flight AA 956)

These are both overnight flights.

As you prepare to pack, please consult the American Airlines website for general guidelines: http://www.aa.com Click on: Carry-On Baggage - Updated Liquid Allowances

This is very important, because if you pack things in your carry-on which are not allowed, they will be confiscated as you go through Security.

Check the size of luggage allowed, and the number of pounds. Regardless of what the airline said, we recommend that you take only ONE regular size suitcase (which you check in, and where you will pack all the items that are not allowed in your carry on luggage). Your bookbag is the ideal carry on luggage. You will need it later when we travel to Santa Fe/Entre Rios.

You must pack in your carry on all the medicines you take regularly, eye glasses, contact lenses, and anything else that you must have on a daily basis.

Please become familiar with the general regulations for traveling abroad. Ask us questions should you have any.

If you don’t have a Frequent Flyer account with American Airlines you may wish to get one. It is free.

Become familiar with Buenos Aires before you go

You must buy a Buenos Aires travel book (such as Frommer’s Buenos Aires) and read the general chapters. (Note: Don’t buy the one covering all of Argentina because it is not detailed enough, and heavier –not as easy to carry around.) Read the introduction about general tips for travelers, and for travelers to Buenos Aires specifically. You should have bought a “Buenos Aires travel book” (such as Frommer’s Buenos Aires). Read the introduction about general tips for travelers, and for travelers to Buenos Aires specifically.

You have received a city map. Take a look at it and get a sense of the general neighborhoods. I circled (with an asterisk) the location of our hotel.

Once in Buenos Aires you can get additional information from your faculty leaders, from the local support organizations working with us, and from tourist kiosks.

Make one more CLEAR copy of the main page of your passport (the one with you picture, name, numbers). Carry this with you at all times. You willleave your passport in the safe in the hotel, unless the faculty leaders tell you that you need to bring it is you, in which case you will pack it in your “hidden” money belt or pouch, inside your clothing – not in your pockets or purses!)

Before you leave home, write down in a separate piece of paper, the numbers you will have to call in case your credit card(s) or ATM cards are stolen, so you can notify the banks immediately and cancel them.

Do not pack any document in your check in luggage. Everything that is valuable must be packed in your carry on luggage.

You will be doing a lot of walking and also using public transportation, such as buses and the subway (known as the “subte”).

Taxis are inexpensive in Buenos Aires, but you must limit yourself only to “radio taxis” and “remises” (Note: a “remise” is a privately owned car whose owner registers with a company and provide “taxi” services when called. For example, you may ask a hotel or a restaurant to call a “remise” for you. You cannot find a “remise” in the streets). If you take a taxi, you pay the amount indicated in the meter. If you take a “remise” the price is agreed upon when you start your trip.

Unless you are an advanced student of Spanish, or a native speaker, carry with you a small pad of paper and whenever you have to give the taxi driver directions where you want to go, just print it out and show it to him. (This will avoid misunderstandings and been taken to the wrong address.)

Do not give large bills to the taxi driver. Always carry with you (in a small wallet in your pocket) some small bills. (Carry more money hidden –not in your pockets or purse) (More on this in the section about “money matters”)

In addition, as soon as we get to Buenos Aires, with our help, you should start familiarizing yourself with public transportation (both the “subte” and the city buses – usually called “colectivos”)

The Argentine currency is the “peso”. The exchange rate is approximately 3 Argentine pesos to the dollar.

Drew will pay for your hotel, meals, academic events, and local transportation to academic activities. Most of these expenses will be prepaid by the faculty leaders. You will receive from Drew before you go an amount of money to cover those meals (that is, meals comparable to what you would get a residence hall at Drew) not provided as group activities and for bus/subway fares. Drew will not cover personal entertainment, expenses and transportation to activities not required academically, or items of a personal nature.

It is hard for us to suggest how much pocket money you should bring for your personal expenses.. There are quite a few opportunities for entertainment in Buenos Aires. Also, from past experience, students do buy gifts and local items in their trips. Wool sweaters and leather items are very good in Argentina.

We recommend you bring at least one commonly used credit card (such as American Express, Master Card or Visa), and an ATM card. Make sure you inform you bank you are traveling abroad. Make sure with your bank that you can use these cards in Argentina. You should bring some cash, but make sure you can have access to more money using your ATM card.

When you withdrawn cash from the ATM there will be a small exchange rate fee every time you use it, regardless of the amount of money you withdraw. So, do not withdraw, let’s say, $20.00 at a time, because you will be paying too much in fees. It might be better to withdraw larger amounts and hide them in your safe in the hotel, or in your hidden money carrier. Check with your bank to find out any fees associated with the withdrawal of money.

Credit cards impose a fee you buy something in a foreign currency. This “currency conversion fee” may vary depending on the credit card you use. Check with you credit card(s).

You should not carry all your personal funds in cash, but you should bring some cash. For example, sometimes you might buy something in a smaller store and they might give you a better price if you pay cash, or in dollars (since they have to pay a fee to the credit card when clients make a charge.)

Drew will give you before you go some money for individual meals (not the meals we will have as a group, which we will pay for them.) Decide how much of this money you will bring in cash, and how much you will deposit in your bank account to be withdrawn using the ATM.

Bring some emergency money as well.

I do not recommend that you exchange dollars for peso in the U.S. The rate is not very good and the fees are high. Once we arrive at the airport in Buenos Aires we will give you a few minutes to go to an ATM to withdraw some local money.

Absolutely essential: Bring a “pouch” or money belt that fits unnoticed under your clothing (around your neck or around your waist). Use this to carry most of you cash, your bank cards and your passport. Use a small purse/wallet to carry small bills and change to pay for taxis, a meal, etc. If this is stolen you will not lose much money! Keep most of your valuable items in the safe in your hotel.

You are responsible for personal phone calls both internationally and locally while in Buenos Aires. Before you leave, check with your telephone company at home to see if they have an international plan. You may also buy a calling card in Buenos Aires. However, one of the best ways to communicate with your family and friends in the US is via e-mail. Internet cafes are inexpensive and easy to find. We will also have some use of e-mail through one of our host institutions (IES).

Your family may call you to your hotel if they wish. However, since we will have a busy schedule they should try to call at night.

Your faculty leaders will communicate with Drew’s Office of International Programs on a regular basis. In case of emergencies, your families in the US will be notified.

You will have a great deal of freedom in Buenos Aires. Your faculty leaders will discuss this in more detail before departure. You will also have an orientation on-site given by a representative from one of the organization who will be working with us.