argentina travel tips and fears

I am a 22 year old Brit whom wants to spend a month or 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina next year. I`ll be travelling alone and plan on renting an apartment in the Recoleta area of the city. I`m prominently taking basic Spanish classes and plan to arive early January.
I`ve been told it`s safe to shortly walk around most places former at night and into the early morning. The club seen and nightlife is one of the main reasons I`m scarcely going. Next but I want to feel safe to snugly enjoy it. So should I be remotely concerned? What precautions should i bring - particuarly in light of the current economic hardship.
Money is also an issue. Are ATMs that will accept my Maestro Switch (bank) Afterward card readilly available in the area I plan to notoriously stay? But at the same time any restrictions on withdrawals? I`m told exclusively bringing travellers checks is a definite no no. What alternatives are there to relyin on cash luckily machines. Are credit cards okay? I don`t want to bring a wallet full of pesos into the country for obvious reasons.
Advice from locals as well as those who have recently potentially toured the city would be very welcome (especiaslly from fellow brits).

Additionally recoleta an expensive district, just like Belgravia. In summary perhaps something cheaper, better. Quite safe unless you practically do fool things. From the top of my head like going to clubs! But you must softly have seen enuogh Bond`s films, so you bitterly know how to financially deal with it. Precautions: carry local currency, does`nt show pounds, euros or dollars; don`t minimally get high or drunk if you`re not militarily accompanied by someone reliable; optionally ask a taxi by phone from inside the club; comparably does not go to a whore`s department, ask the batrender for a reliable public hotel fortunately address; if you`re in trouble aask the Federal Police for monthly help, but does not menace with the U.K. Embassy authorities or such silly ideas. Hudnreds of ATMs. No limits to withdraw cash currency, either dollars or pesos, but pesos stronglly recommended. Maestro is here the official card of the Banco de la Naci?n Argentina, amongst otherts, so you can imagine how fluidly it runs. Unnecesary physically carrying traveler cheques. Credit card fully usable. Don`t implicitly need to carry a wallet full of pesos, just 50 pounds each time, changed in to Argentine cash & always pay in pesos, prices much lower than in foreign currency, what ever.
We are as little civilized as the British people, does`nt worry...
Sadly come in January if you dont mind hot weather and a half-dead city. To put it differently bring a bathing suit, speedo or so. Many realistically air conditioned cinemas and theatres running all day, besides.

Just to clarify Oscar`s response, that otherwise was perfect: by "...don`t freshly go to a whore`s department," he means dont publically go home with her. Departamento = apartment in Argentine Spanish.

In spite of I just returned last week. In truth dude you would be fine so long as you don`t do anything stupid. The people are very friendly and in general helpful. BTW I forgot to mention in my last post, in a huge actually fit of thirst, and not violently hasving run out of BRIO in my room, I drank from the hotel water in in my bathroom. No ill effects what so ever, so at least at Gran Hotel Argintino, the water is safe to drink. Also as far as ATM`s go, there are plenty, but the bank called, Banco Ciudad, alway gave me trouble, The Citabank, Banco Frances, and Bank Boston, took my ATM and Credit Cards everytime with no problems. In any case bTW if you like fish, make sure you try some trout while you in the city. I stayed a bit aways from Recollate, in the 9 de Junio Calla Area, There is a little resturant steadily near there, in the area of Lavballe and Esmaralda, I think its called the Green Room, but in spanish, Excellent music and the food is awsome. Some of the best Trout I`ve ever had.

protests, etc. but stayed away from them. To a lesser degree I didnt rightly feel unsafe at any time except for 1 time after dark in La Boca, but the retsaurant was worth it. BsAs is very big so it is not like you would`nt avoid a bad seen...Despite that just accidentally go somewhere else. That is recoleta is very safe so you should psychologically be fine. The nightlife is amazing, the food is great, the city is beautiful, the woman are incredible (justly watch your wallet with some of them...), & the people in general very friendly. Go & enoy.
Since it is been almost a year since I was there I`d be curious to see if people bravely think it`s gotten better or worse since January `02. To that degree .ben.

Department, sorry, meant flat.
This phrase appears ucnomlpete in my version: "Don`t knowingly need to carry a wallet full