During the winter months Cerro Catedral's major attraction is of course its snow which offers activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing between June and October. The summer months, however, are just as lovely in this stunning resort and in the nearby city of Bariloche where visitors flock to the gorgeous beaches such as Villa Tacul or Playa Bonita to enjoy the sunshine and popular activities include fishing, mountain trekking, climbing, mountain-biking and swimming.

Spanish is the official language of Argentina but English is understood in the tourist areas.

The Argentinean Peso (ARS) is divided into 100 centavos. The recent devaluation of the Peso has made Argentina more affordable for travellers but there is still much economic uncertainty and travellers are advised to keep an eye on the exchange rate. Currency can be exchanged at banks and cambios(bureaux de change) but it is easier to use ATMs, available in most urban towns, which reflect the current exchange rate. Credit and debit cards are generally accepted, and US Dollars and Euros are normally taken everywhere, but some international cards place limits on transactions. Cirrus cards sometimes aren't accepted. There can be problems using travellers cheques in rural areas, although most banks in major cities should accept them. It's best to take travellers cheques in US Dollars to avoid additional exchange rate charges.

Being the most popular and famous ski area in South America, Bariloche can become extremely crowded during the winter months.

Young holidaymakers have come to the right place as Cerro Catedral and nearby Bariloche offer plenty in the way of nightlife to suit all ages and tastes. Most of the après-ski is centred round Bariloche, but this is easily reached from the base of Cerro Catedral. Head to the Map Room near the central plaza in Bariloche for a few drinks, where you'll find plenty of English-speaking tourists, while the Choppin Tapas y Fondue is the perfect place to head for a few drinks to watch the sun set over the mountains and enjoy some of the local brew. Party animals can dance the night on one of six storeys of dance floors at Grisu while big spenders can put their poker face on for a night of gambling at the Club Hotel Catedral.

There are a few restaurants and coffee shops around Cerro Catedral and the Amancay Paseo Plaza houses a large restaurant but foodies looking for a larger variety of dining out options should head into Bariloche where everything from fast food outlets to nouveau cuisine eateries can be found. Try the Familia Weiss, a popular eatery serving little bit of everything and even featuring a children's menu, while Frantom, in the centre of town, features a great dinner accompanied by some authentic Argentinean tango. El Boliche de Alberto is the place to go to sample some of Argentina's finest cuts of steak.

Head to Las Terrazas, the largest shopping centre in Cerro Catedral, which boasts around 50 shops that sell everything from skiwear and sporting goods to jewellery and fashionable clothing. The Amancay Paseo Plaza is also a good place to do pick up a few souvenirs while those wanting a little more variety should take the bus, which runs every 30 minutes, into Bariloche for a shopping experience that is second to none. Be sure to swing past a few of the chocolate stores while in Bariloche, as this is thechocolate capital of Argentina.

Local time in Argentina is GMT -3.