MozCampLATAM2012/Logistics

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Traveling to Buenos Aires

Entry Fee

U.S., Canadian, and Australian citizen tourist and business travelers arriving in Argentina at either Ezeiza or Jorge Newbery airports must pay an entry fee. It can be paid in dollars, by credit card, or with traveler's checks, and is valid for ten years and multiple entries."

The entry fees are as follows: (i) Australian nationals: US $100 (ii) Canadian nationals: US $75 (iii) US Nationals: US $140

Helpful link with more information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1130.html

  • You will be provided a receipt for this cost. Please hold-on to this receipt so that you can be reimbursed*

Passport/VISA Requirements

More info here.

MozCamp Buenos Aires Facts

  • The hotel for MozCamp attendees is the NH-City Tower located downtown, just one block from our main square: Plaza de Mayo.
  • The main venue for MozCamp is Paseo La Plaza, located 12 blocks from NH-City Hotel
  • The welcome dinner will take place in Orsai Bar
  • The Saturday night event will take place in L’Atelier De Celine

Map and Point of Interest

The official MozCamp LATAM map is here: http://mzl.la/mozmapba

It includes 4 key locations of MozCamp:

  • A - Nh-City Hotel (Bolívar 160, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • B - Paseo La Plaza (Av. Corrientes 1660, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • C - Orsai Bar (Humberto Primo 471, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • D – L’Atelier De Celine (Carlos Calvo 242, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Map/directions

All flights will arrive to Ezeiza Airport (http://www.aa2000.com.ar). Every attendee will have a transport service scheduled to the NHCity Hotel. Ezeiza Airport - NH-City Hotel Map (http://g.co/maps/znqyy)

  • Getting around Buenos Aires (Public transport information) Argentina has a wide (and cheap) public transportation service. The Subway service has 6 lines that connect almost every point of Buenos Aires City. Link to subway service in Buenos Aires (http://www.metrovias.com.ar)
  • Contact Information for event vendor

MozCamp Latam 2012’s main vendor is “State Of The Art Entertainment //Event Planning Solutions”. For any inquire before, during or after MozCamp do not hesitate in getting in touch with Vicky Fellay, our main contact for MozCamp Attendees (vicky@sebastianlevy.com)

Arriving in Buenos Aires

Airport

All flights will arrive to Ezeiza Airport (http://www.aa2000.com.ar)

All paid staff will be required to take a taxi from the airport to the hotel or take advantage of the shuttle schedule we will be running for volunteers.

Volunteers

Depending on date of arrival, volunteers will be shuttled from the airport to the hotel:

Ezeiza Airport - NH-City Hotel Map (http://g.co/maps/znqyy)

The shuttles will be available on Thursday, April 19th (if you are sponsored to attend the Hack Day) and Friday, April 20th.

If you are NOT arriving on either of these days - you will be responsible for your own transportation from the airport to the hotel.

Shuttle Schedule

Please see the shuttle schedule here: https://etherpad.mozilla.org/mozcamplatam-shuttles

Thursday, April 19th

  • Departing from EZE and arriving at the NH City & Tower

7:00 AM / 10:30 AM / 2:00 PM / 6:00 PM / 9:00 PM / 1:00 AM

Friday, April 20th

  • Departing from EZE and arriving at the NH City & Tower

5:30 AM / 9:45 AM / 11:00 AM / 1:30 PM / 3:40 PM / 4:45 PM / 5:45 PM / 12:00 AM (midnight)

Sunday, April 22nd

  • Departing from the NH and arriving at EZE Airport

Monday, April 23rd

8:00AM

-Departing from the NH

16:30PM

-Departing from the NH

-Departing from Hotel BAUEN

17:30PM

-Departing from the NH

18:30PM

-Departing from the Hotel BAUEN

Taxi Companies

Tel: +54 54 11 5480 0066 (Ezeiza)

Tel: +54 54 11 5305 2610 (Buenos Aires)

Taxis are based right outside of the arrivals area. Official black and yellow Buenos Aires EZE taxi cabs should be used at all times. Reliable companies in operation here include include Transfer-Express Taxis and Manuel Tienda León Taxis.

The airport taxi meters in Buenos Aires start at a basic fare, but additional charges are usually made for luggage, late-night driving and travel on public holidays in Buenos Aires, so it can prove useful to ask the taxi driver about these before leaving. Taxis will carry a maximum of four passengers and some EZE Ministro Pistarini International Airport taxis are happy to accept credit cards.

It is recommended that you select a taxi that can be pre-paid for if possible. The cost of traveling from EZE to downtown Buenos Aires should be less than 100 pesos.

Public Transportation

Getting around Buenos Aires (Public transport information) Argentina has a wide (and cheap) public transportation service. The Subway service has 6 lines that connect almost every point of Buenos Aires City. Link to subway service in Buenos Aires (http://www.metrovias.com.ar)

Hotel (Thursday-Sunday)

MozCamp attendees will be staying at the NH City & Tower Hotel in Buenos Aires

Website: http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/argentina/buenos-aires/nh-city--and--tower.html

Address: Bolivar, 160. C1066AAD Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Tel: +54.11.41216464 | Fax: +54.11.41216450

Email: nhcity@nh-hotels.com

All hotel reservations will be made by our event vendor. Do NOT call the hotel to book your own rooms unless you are arriving before the days for which you are sponsored or staying after.

Wifi

Network: pax

Password: 6424

Hotel for Community Work Day (Monday night)

Community Work Day attendees will be staying at the Hotel B.A.U.E.N.

Website: http://www.bauenhotel.com.ar/

Address: Av. Callao 360, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Republica Argentina

Email: info@bauenhotel.com.ar

Telefone: (54 11)4373-9009

WiFi

plaza 1

p/w: laplaza123

plaza 2

p/w: laplaza234

plaza 3

p/w: laplaza345

Bar Maquvielo

Network: Congreso POP

p/w: plaza 345

Hotel Sponsorship

Depending on your level of participation at MozCamp, your stay at the hotel will be sponsored according to the following scenarios:

1. SPONSORED to Attending Hack Day and MozCamp: Thursday, April 19th - Sunday, April 22nd (Departing on Monday, April 23rd) - Please find the list of those sponsored to attend the Hack Day under Friday's schedule.

2. Attending MozCamp and the Community Work Day: Friday, April 20th - Monday, April 23rd (Departing on Monday night - the 23rd - or Tuesday, April 24th)

3. Attending Hack Day, MozCamp, and the Community Work Day: Thursday, April 19th - Monday, April 23rd (Departing Monday night - the 23rd - or Tuesday, April 24th)

IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BEFORE OR LEAVING AFTER THESE DATES - you will be responsible for your own hotel stay and transportation to/from the hotel

Conference Venue

Location: Paseo La Plaza

Website: http://www.paseolaplaza.com.ar/

Address: Av. Corrientes 1660

Telephone: (54 11) 63 20 53 00

WiFi

Power Outlets

Having forgotten my power adapter for my last trip, I thought I'd look up the power information. Lesson learned...It is always better to have power adapters before traveling, but they are easily findable.

Argentina has two kinds of plugs in use, a European type-C plug and an Australian type-I plug, the later being more common, both running at 220V/50Hz. Be sure your electronics can handle the voltage, you can usually find the voltage on the power adapter. Most mobile devices, laptops, etc. are fine, but DO VERIFY.

If you are flying through Chile (e.g. Air Canada has a layover in Santiago for flights to/from Argentina) you might also want a type-L adapter, Chile uses type-C and type-L, also at 220V/50Hz.

You can find power outlet information for all countries at electricaloutlet.org.

If you'll have to charge more than one device, you might find use in something like a mini plug/usb power strip and a universal kit. I have neither of these and cannot speak to quality.

Mobile Phones

If you own a non-blocked mobile phone you can buy a SIM Card in BA to use the phone on local costs. A SIM Card costs approximately 15 pesos (3,5USD) and you can buy it in every “Quiosco”. In front of NH-City Hotel are 3 quioscos in wich you can get a SIM Card.

Where to buy SIM cards for your phone

The bottom line is, if you want data access get a Movistar SIM and you get get 1GB data for 48 hours for roughly $2.50USD.

If you own a non-blocked mobile phone you can buy a SIM Card in BA to use the phone on local costs. A SIM Card costs approximately 15 pesos and you can buy it in every “Quiosco”. In front of NH-City Hotel there are 3 quioscos in wich you can get a SIM Card.

Money and Tipping

The official currency is the Argentine Peso ($). Credit and debit cards are accepted by the vast majority of hotels, shops and tourism establishments. In small restaurants, taxis and on public transport, however, only cash is accepted. There are ATM cash machines and bureaux de change (“casas de cambio”) all over the cities and larger towns.

In Buenos Aires some ATMs dispense US Dollars as well as pesos. You will find an ATM in every Bank (just across NH-City Hotel there’s Buenos Aires financial district). You should only use those in secure, well-lit locations.

The exchange rate is approximately 4.3 pesos to the U.S dollar. U.S dollars are sometimes accepted in Buenos Aires and can be used to pay taxis, restaurants, etc. Credit cards can be used but you should get some pesos for refreshments, public transportation, museums, etc. Traveller checks can be difficult to cash! AMEX (Arenales Str. # 707) offers the best rates.

It is customary to leave a 10% tip in restaurants, bars with table service, hotels, hairdressers, spas, and for tour guides. In cinemas and theatres you generally give a few coins to the steward who shows you to your seat. At service stations, people tend to leave the attendant a couple of pesos for cleaning their windscreen or checking the oil.

Information about Argentina and Buenos Aires

Gastronomy

In Buenos Aires you can enjoy food from different regions and several typical specialties. The city has specific areas where you can choose from a wide range of restaurants.

  • Costanera Norte and Puerto Madero districts are renowned because of their parrilladas (barbecues).
  • Avenida de Mayo surroundings is the place to taste Spanish food.
  • The most traditional pizzas can be found in Corrientes street.
  • Plaza Cortázar, Palermo Hollywood, Recoleta and Las Cañitas neighborhoods offer gourmet specialties: elaborated, refined and exotic dishes.

A note on ordering beef (for North Americans/Europeans): By default the chef will cook your meat "well done." If you prefer any other variation read this string on how to order here. Note that you do this at your own risk: most chefs are not great at cooking a steak rare or medium.

Three classic cuts are bife de lomo (filet mignon), bife de chorizo (sirloin or porterhouse), and ojo de bife (ribeye)

More Reading: Mark Bittman's (New York Times) account of food in BsAs

Art and Culture

Argentine masters as well as worldwide exhibitors of different vanguards are always present within the art circuit in Buenos Aires city.

At the city, you always can enjoy exhibitions of paintings, photographs, sculptures, digital art and installations. You can also find art works in public spaces, those that may go from classic sculptures to murals of tango motives for example in Caminito (La Boca) and along Jean Jeaurés alley (Abasto). The city offers traditional tours and secret places. The Colón Theatre and small experimental theaters. Old book stores and new cultural centers. More than one hundred museums. Handicraft fairs and historic cafés. Tango, milonga. Parks. Bars to enjoy the first and last drink of the night.

Museums

Buenos Aires offers their people and the tourists important museums of national and international art as well as football museums, shoes museums, puppets museums, costumes museums, among others.

One of the newest museums founded in the city is Malba: Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires. This museum exhibits artworks made by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Tarsilia do Amaral, Wilfredo Lam and the main Argentine artists.

The Evita Museum possesses testimonies of this emblematic figure of the Argentine history. Her full name was María Eva Duarte.

The Spanish art, mainly of centuries 16º and 17º, is gathered at the Larreta Museum. The Larreta Museum is located in an old country house in Belgrano neighborhood with an Andalusian style garden of 7,000 square meters.

Shopping

Buenos Aires has several shopping circuits, each offering different articles: antiques in San Telmo, books in Corrientes Avenue, leather items in Retiro neighborhood, and souvenirs in La Boca. The avant-garde in objects, clothes and decorative elements is in Palermo Viejo neighborhood.

The city offers extended shopping hours. The main shopping malls –where you may buy the most renowned national and international articles– are open until 10 pm.

In Las Cañitas, Palermo Viejo, Palermo Hollywood, Barrio Norte and San Telmo, you may also shop until late at night: many shops close near midnight. These are circuits to buy clothes, shoes, accessories and gifts. There are also beauty parlors and art galleries. Quioscos or kioscos are very special shops. There is practically one per block (and even more). They sell sweets, cigarettes and a great variety of articles you may need.

Map and Points of Interest

of MozCamp:

A - Nh-City Hotel (Bolívar 160, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

B - Paseo La Plaza (Av. Corrientes 1660, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

C - Orsai Bar (Humberto Primo 471, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

D – L’Atelier De Celine (Carlos Calvo 242, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Staying Safe in LatAm

Argentina is one of the safest countries in Latin America. In Buenos Aires and the larger cities you have to watch out for petty theft and take basic precautions such as not wearing expensive looking jewellery or watches; always keeping bags - well attached and closed shut - where you can see them; and wearing cameras on a strap, preferably out of sight. There are areas of Buenos Aires to be avoided, as in any big city, but on the whole, you will feel safe. The rest of the country is very safe.

Language

The official language of Argentina is Spanish. In Buenos Aires you will hear “lunfardo”, a local slang. English is widely spoken and to a lesser extent, Portuguese, French, German and Italian. Needless to say, you will get a lot more out of your trip if you learn some basic Spanish.

Some Spanish phrases for your stay

  • Hello: Hola
  • Goodbye: Adiós
  • How are you?: Cómo estás?
  • I'm good: Estoy bien
  • What is your name?: Cómo te llamas?
  • My name is...: Mi nombre es...
  • Please: Por favor
  • Thank you: Gracias
  • You're welcome: De nada
  • Yes: Sí
  • No: No
  • Of course: Por supuesto
  • Excuse me: Discúlpame
  • Open: Abierto
  • Closed: Cerrado
  • How much?: Cuánto vale?
  • May I have the bill?: Me trae la cuenta?
  • Where's the food?: Dónde está la comida?
  • Where's the restroom?: Dónde está el baño? (the ñ is pronounced kinda like the gn in lasagna)
  • I'm a Mozillian!: Soy un Mozillian! / Soy un Mozillero!
  • Awesome!: Genial!
  • Hey, Manuel!: Che, Manuel! (Specially effective on Argentinians. Change name as appropriate)

In an emergency

Argentina has a public health system. So every public hospital will take care of any medical issue that can appear during the trip.

The phone number for emergencies is 103.

Leaving Buenos Aires

Depending on their date of departure, paid staff can either return to the airport via a taxi or take part in the shuttles scheduled to depart on Sunday evening (April 22nd) and on Monday (April 23rd).

Volunteers

If leaving on Sunday (April 22nd) or on Monday (April 23rd) from the NH City & Tower, volunteers will have the opportunity to take a designated shuttle to the airport.

If leaving on any other day, individuals will be responsible for their own transportation returning to the airport.

If you're attending the Community Work Day and leaving on Tuesday (April 24th), volunteers will be self-organizing and responsible for securing their own taxi to the airport. Please see below for recommended options to the airport from the Hotel B.A.U.E.N.

Here are some recommended options for Mozillians who need to organize their own transport to the airport:

Shuttles cost AR$60 per person, they run all day and night and take between 40 and 60 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets are reservable online.

Shuttle cost AR$70 per person. Check the website for the schedule and to know where you can catch it.

A taxi will cost about AR$160 so if you want to save money, the best thing is to share it with 3 other people that way you pay AR$40 per person.

  • Google Map directions to the airport

If you are going from the NH hotel to the airport through other means, click here for detailed Google Map directions.

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