Travel experiences for Argentina and Buenos Aires

I am curious as to the safetiness of the country and its biggest city for tourism and individual travel. There is so much to be inspired about the country but how safe is travel there? The memories of the 2001 ecconomic problems are still recent events.

What is the metro system like in the city and transport across the country? Efficient, trustworty etc?

Any comments appreciated.

I was there in Jan/Feb 2001, just before the economic collapse. Their peso was on-par with the greenback. Just after l left, the country collapsed. And the AUD was only getting around 55-60 cents to the USD. Just my luck.

I caught a train most places or got a lift with my cousins (relo's who migrated there after WW2). I wouldn't hitchhike, your more than likely to get mugged/shot/stabbed. I caught a bus up to Iguazu Falls and I didn't have any problems. Even paying almost double price (AUD was weak), l still found transport to be much, much cheaper than here in Australia.

People are great, although there is a fair amount of poverty, so keep your wallet close to at all times and never take huge sums of money with you.

Food is very good, beef/steak is on par with ours, maybe better.

Women, they don't need any introduction, they are stunning.

They are fanatical about football (like the rest of South America).

Visit La Boca, a suburb with coloured villas (Tip, Don't wear a River Plate football jersey, you'll get mugged/stabbed/abused)

Iguazu Falls makes Niagara look like a sprinkler (Upon seeing Iguazu, the United States' First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!")

If you have any travel questions feel free to check out Aussie Travellers Forum

Is probably the safest country in Latin America along with Chile. Just use common sense and take normal travel security measures, like not leaving one person to mind 4 back packs in a plaza, doh! BA is pretty much a western city and the public transport is very good. Excellent long range busses, pay the little extra for the best class. Lots of great restaurants and bars to discover in BA. Must do a Tango show and eat a few steaks. Should try to include Mendoza, Bariloche, Patagonia and Iguazu Falls if you have the time.

Thanks for the responses. BA and Mendoza seem interesting as does the wine and meat culture. Not sure when I would go but been drinking Chilean wine recently and would like to go to both places.