Vaccinations for South America

ColmOT [MSFT]

Hi All, I'm going to Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina in 6 weeks time, and I'm wondering if anyone knows what vaccinations I need to get for those destinations.

I don't anticipate any jungle trecking or anything like that.

ToxicPaddy

I would advise you to get the asap as most need to be got usually up to 8 weeks
before you go..

Have a look at a few of these:

Tropical Medical Bureau

Irish Health

Tox

comet

You need to get Tetanus/Diphteria, Typhoid, Yellow Fever and Hep A for definite, your looking at spending upto €200 including your consultation fee. Your doctor will know what to give you....

slieveb

Visited the same three countries a few years back, ColmOT. I assume you have your itenerary figured out but if you need any specific info on anything, just ask.

ColmOT [MSFT]

Hi slieveb, I do have 1 question....
I'm going to be staying a few nights in Buenos Aires, and I can't find any websites that give info about the city - i.e. the safe and not so safe areas of the city. I don't think I want to book a hotel in a dodgy area of the city.

Do you have any ideas what are the better areas of B.A., or any general advice?

Thanks a million.

slieveb

Colm,

Buenos Aires is really huge and if you are only there for a few days(as I was), then I doubt you will get to see too many dodgy areas. My impression was that the dodgy parts seem to be on the outskirts.

I assume you have a guidebook of some sorts, so anywhere in or around the following areas is fine: Centro, Microcentro, Retiro, Recoleta, San Telmo..basically the centre and surrounding areas. The only dodgy area I came across near the centre was La Boca. The streets nearest the waterfront are OK, behind that it goes downhill pretty quickly. We stayed in a hotel called the Marbella, on or around Avenida de Mayo.

As regards safety in general, it has a reputation for being one of S. Americas safest cities: ironically enough it was the only place where we had anything stolen (two bags snatched in the central bus station). It was partially our own fault...the place feels alot more prosperous than other S. American cities so we were lured into a false sense of security. Moral of the story: watch your bags, but otherwise it was fine.

One other thing: people told me before I went that the locals were snobbish. It's true that they don't like to be viewed as just another tinpot Latin American country and it seems to really get up their noses if tourists arrive dressed for the Andes or the beaches in Rio. I found that by simply wearing a clean shirt and trousers alot of hostility evaporated. Oh and it certainly is one place where it helps to have a bit of Spanish...one of the girls with us couldn't even master "gracias" and was on the receiving end of a fair few glares.

Hope you enjoy your trip....

ColmOT [MSFT]

Cheers slieveb, that's tonnes of info!

Thanks a million for your advice. I'll start to book my hotels now!!