WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We’re about to embark on a cruise to South America, beginning with a three-night stay in Buenos Aires. We are receiving conflicting advice as to which currency we should take. Would you advise taking either US dollars or sterling to pay with or exchange for the peso, or just use ATMs and credit cards?

CHRISTINE HARTWELL after dark. If you prefer to take cash, then I’d definitely recommend using US dollars, as sterling is not widely accepted in banks any more. To buy pesos, the Banco de la Nación has always given a fair rate; take your passport when you go to any bank or bureau de change. Don’t use dollars instead of pesos in shops or when dining. You’ll get a poor deal and some places refuse to accept foreign currency. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Buenos Aires and other main cities. In smaller towns, and maybe some small ports, it might be trickier, especially in coffee shops, small bars and restaurants.

Change your pesos back to dollars before leaving.

Inflation often runs high in Argentina but the peso-dollar rate is quite steady at the time of writing. You should get

35-37 pesos for every dollar at the bank. Note that if you are leaving Buenos Aires later via the airport, you can claim VAT (known as IVA) back on many purchases, including leather goods. Check with your cruise operator if you can do this at the port when you embark.

been trained to try to solve the issue themselves, rather than pass the buck. There will also be new technology to help with complaints handling and retraining for staff in that department.

On the issue of major delays and cancellations (through bad weather, for example), which has caused chaos in the past, BA will also be making its decisions earlier, to give more passengers the option to cancel or rebook before they make a wasted journey to the airport.

Let’s hope that, by the end of the year, our next survey will show some improvements. In the meantime, happy 100th birthday, BA.