Argentina Situation in July 2025

Hello everyone! July 5, 2025: Argentina Update As I do every month, here’s an overview of the situation in Argentina—useful if you’re planning to visit in the coming weeks! Vibe, economy, general situation, tips for tourists, and more... Latest news for anyone thinking of visiting Argentina this year: - Mixed outlook - Current economic and social situation in Argentina - Our friend Cristina - What’s new for tourists?

What’s new? The parallel exchange rate and the official BNA rate are almost the same—just 2% higher for the parallel rate, which won’t really change your trip! Pay as much as possible in cash—discounts are still common at bars, restaurants, and even hotels. Even if it’s not advertised, always ask! You can still withdraw cash via Western Union, as before. Paying with a Visa or other card is still possible, and the CCL rate is even above the parallel rate today, meaning +3% compared to the official rate. However, you won’t get discounts when paying by card.

As always, **do not** withdraw money from ATMs—the fees in Argentina are still outrageous. Also, don’t forget that winter break in Argentina starts today, Friday, July 4, in 10 provinces for two weeks, until Sunday, July 20. On Friday, July 11, it begins in 9 more provinces until Sunday, July 27, and finally, in the last 4 provinces (including Buenos Aires and the city of Buenos Aires—the most populated), it runs from Friday, July 18, until Sunday, August 3. In short: 3 zones, each with two weeks off, stretching over 4 weeks total.

In previous years, I’d have warned you: “Be careful if you’re traveling, as buses, flights, and often accommodations are at high occupancy.” But this year, poorer and middle-class Argentines aren’t traveling because “No hay plata,” and those who can afford it are heading to Brazil, Chile, or even Miami for cheaper parties and shopping—Brazil can be twice as affordable! So, in Argentina, the top destinations for these staggered winter breaks are Bariloche (first place), followed by Ushuaia, San Martín de los Andes, and Villa La Angostura. Mendoza comes in fifth, then El Calafate, and finally Salta and Córdoba. As you can see, wealthy Argentines travel in winter to see snow—it’s chic to be cold and go skiing! Bariloche is the most expensive, while Córdoba is the cheapest. Same services, for example, a flight plus 7 days plus a hotel in the same category: Bariloche is 2.5 to 3 times pricier than Córdoba or even the sierras of Córdoba. Yet, there’s plenty of availability. Most people don’t have the money (and you might say Patagonian winter destinations aren’t exactly middle-class friendly either), but with fewer Brazilians or Chileans taking advantage of “cheap” Argentina, space is freed up. Brazilians alone used to make up 50% of Argentina’s international tourism—so there are suddenly fewer people on flights and in hotels! For these destinations, hoteliers are hoping for (at best) a 70% occupancy rate, though 50% would already make them happy. Why? 1- Lack of foreign tourists, 2- The middle class preferring to visit the old aunt in Posadas (to show family loyalty and spend as little as possible),

3- The wealthy opting for Bariloche, Punta Cana, Búzios, or Miami, which drastically lowers domestic occupancy rates and increases the outflow of USD abroad. +66% of Argentine tourists traveled abroad in the first five months of 2025. Six million Argentines vacationed abroad between January 1 and May 1, 2025.

To read the full article, check it out here: https://www.petitherge.com/2025/07/05-juillet-2025-situation-de-l-argentine.html

Thanks for the update! 🙂

There’s something I don’t get.

Why not just slash prices drastically if supply is way higher than demand?

When deciding on a destination, travelers check the rates listed online. If it’s over budget, they’ll go somewhere else without thinking, *‘I’ll negotiate once I’m there.’*

Plus, negotiating is uncertain—it’s not really a French thing, and it’s kinda annoying...

How much do you negotiate: 10%, half price, 75%?

hi,

Why not just slash prices drastically if supply far exceeds demand?

it’s not that simple because in Argentina there’s a lot of inflation, so hotel owners, travel agencies, and airlines are forced to build up capital, equity, and cash reserves to prepare for any potential monetary crisis. According to Wikipedia, inflation is at 43%, which Hergé doesn’t mention.

Hi Mathews,

Prices on sites like Booking are usually in dollars, so inflation doesn’t affect them.

Why have 3 guests paying $150 per night when maybe 10 rooms could be sold at $75?

When I went to Chile last year, I gave up on Argentina because of flight prices (and their duration) but also because of the cost of everything else (car rental, accommodation). It’s really hard to know what to expect!

I had the impression that the country was very expensive despite its long-term crisis.

I went there during the crisis in the early 2000s when the peso-dollar peg collapsed. Prices back then were in line with the locals’ standard of living—meaning low, very low...

Now, it seems like a double whammy for Argentinians.

hi again,

Prices on sites like Booking are generally in dollars, so inflation doesn’t affect them.

yes, I agree that would be ideal. But from a practical standpoint, if you want to convert pesos to US dollars, it’s 1,200 pesos to one dollar (unless I’m mistaken—check xe.com), which is huge because 1,200 pesos to a dollar really makes the phrase "money printer goes brrr" hit home 😉 Then, since the local currency is the peso, the economy needs foreign exchange reserves. It’s important for foreign travelers and investors to inject foreign currency into the local economy.

Why have 3 guests at $150 a night when maybe 10 rooms could be sold at $75?

fair point, but isn’t every decent hotel forced to maintain a high occupancy rate? Because to keep a hotel running, there are production costs, right? (cleaning, housekeeping staff, etc.)

Okay, but isn’t every decent hotel required to have a high occupancy rate? Because to keep a hotel running, there are production costs, right? (cleaning, housekeeping staff, etc...)

I didn’t quite get this paragraph.

That’s what I wrote, I think.

Lowering prices due to lack of demand increases occupancy and, in the end, revenue.

In my example, 3x150 equals $450, while 10x75 equals $750.

The main fixed costs seem almost identical whether 3 rooms or 10 are occupied.

A bit more electricity and water.

In this type of country, staff still seem to be employed monthly and not outsourced like in France in many establishments (where the hotel orders the number of employees needed for the next day based on the rooms to clean). So whether it’s full or empty, it’s the same.

And isn’t the main fixed cost the repayment of loans or rent as long as the hotel owner isn’t fully the proprietor?

Okay, got it. But once hotel owners hike prices too much, the risk is ending up with fewer guests

I was talking about drastically reducing them, not increasing them! !😉

Okay, but if a hotel owner lowers their nightly rates too much, they make less revenue and have slim profit margins, so things are complicated. Because even if you're running a business in Argentina, there are staff costs, taxes, etc.—you wrote that yourself

No, because it won’t have any customers.

Like in my example with numbers.

An empty hotel doesn’t make any money...

Plus, the first ones to show a realistic price will get the customers.

No, because there are no more customers. Like in my example with numbers. An empty hotel doesn’t make any money...

Having customers isn’t automatic. It’s like starting any business. How many super fancy hotels are empty because they don’t attract customers? That’s just like the people on TV telling us we need to work more, that French employees don’t work enough. Yeah, sure, but you still need more customers, more revenue, right? You’ve gotta make cash—hire more staff if needed...

All I know is that if prices are too expensive, no one comes...

As explained in the first post of this thread, that’s the case. (Too expensive for Argentina’s middle class, too expensive for Brazilians and wealthy Argentinians compared to the same thing elsewhere..., too expensive for people like me who are researching a potential trip)

After Covid, there was almost no one in Iceland in 2020 and 2021 (strict entry requirements). Lodging providers lowered their prices to attract customers. Well, since then, they’ve made up for it...

too expensive for people who are researching a potential trip like me

Ask your employer for a raise. But you might end up paying more taxes, so it’s a bit of a vicious cycle 😉

It's the value for money that puts me off, not the price.

I can pay 200 € for a room.

I don’t want to pay 200 € for a room if it’s not worth it.

So even if I get a raise...

don’t get your hopes up—traveling is getting more and more expensive 🙁 Travel isn’t cheap. I’m up for getting an Interrail pass to cross Europe, and it costs over 600 € for a month.