From the airport: Licensed remises (minicabs) or taxis from the airport to the city centre cost £6-£8; allow 30 minutes off-peak, twice that in traffic.

Stay in style under £100: In a restored historic building, with an excellent Spanish restaurant, NH Jousten’s boutique style gives a modern twist to the business district. Rooms start at £75 (0054 11 4321 6750, www.nh-hoteles.com).

. . . or splash out: The Four Seasons offers discreet glamour with business facilities and five-star comfort, including pool, gym and spa. High-rollers take a suite in the adjacent belle époque mansion. Doubles from £218 (4808 2100, www.fourseasons.com/buenosaires).

Cutting edge eating: The Olsen leads the pack in Palermo Hollywood, the dining barrio, with an imaginative Scandinavian-inspired menu, plus more than 80 vodkas at the bar. A meal with wine costs about £11 a head (4776 7677).

. . . and a local classic: El Obrero, in the heart of working-class La Boca is an institution: an authentic local eatery, that attracts Argentine and visiting celebrities. Seafood and pasta add variety to the hearty cuts of beef. Average price for a meal is £5 (4362 9912).

Don’t miss: Recoleta Cemetery, a mini-city of the dead, where Evita and other heroes and villains lie. Also, Malba (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires) is the newest showcase for one of the most important private collections of Latin American art. If staying for the weekend, don’t miss Sunday’s antiques street market in San Telmo.

Insider tips: Take only radio-taxis. Take some dollars; banking rules could make cash hard to come by. Be punctual but expect to be kept waiting for appointments.

Contacts: British Embassy commercial section (4808 2283).

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