111op

Hi, I'll be there for a week in October. My questions are probably very similar to what people tend to ask.

1. Where should I stay? Palermo sounds hip and interesting, but I've noticed that the subway stops are sparse in that area. So I'm thinking Microcentro? Bear in mind that I'm interested in some nightlife too, so I don't want to be stuck in area at night where it will be a chore to get out.

2. Taxis/Safety. I've the feeling that I need to use taxis a lot, especially at night. Are they safe? I assume so. I don't speak any Spanish. My only other experience with S. America is in Sao Paulo, but I was only there for two nights, I think. I did hail cabs on the street when I was there.

Are there any areas that are unsafe that I should be aware of?

3. Iguazu Falls. I assume that I need to buy my tickets now. What's considered reasonable? Should I consider joining a tour group? I think that I'd prefer to do this alone if possible.

I'm sure that I'll have more questions as I plan. Thanks!

avrooster

1) "Microcentro" is our Wall Street, therefore mostly offices, which means it's dead at night and during the weekends. I wouldn't even consider staying in that area.

I'm not sure what you are looking for, but I have a hunch Palermo is right for you.

2) There is a LOT of info about taxis in the Argentina forums, some of it penned by yours truly. If you wish to play it safe, you should CALL (not hail) radio taxis, particularly at night. Be sure to have plenty of bills smaller than 50 or 100 pesos.

Unsafe areas? I think you'll feel it right away. Some years ago, I was in a comparatively remote area of Chicago and decided to walk back to my hotel. After a few blocks, I said to myself: What am I doing here? I hopped into a cab. LOL!!

3) For tickets to Iguazú go to http://www.lan.com/country_selector.html and/or research Isabel (the local travel agent I usually recommend) by writing her name in this (and other) forum's search feature.

111op

Thanks. I don't know either. But I looked at a map and it looks like the subway stations are very spaced out in Palermo. So I'm worried that that's more trouble that it's worth.

Are there areas near Microcentro worth considering? Maybe San Telmo?

I'll do a search for taxis, thanks. Well, I think the idea is to know which neighborhoods to avoid before I actually end up in them.

avrooster

San Telmo could be what you want. Again, some research will yield a lot of info about it, but it will be mostly about the Sunday fair, which you should not miss. It's quite touristy, but a lot of fun (for me). http://www.feriadesantelmo.com/

111op

Thanks. I did a rough search here and so far it looks like Palermo or Recoleta are the most frequently recommended. I'll look at my guidebook and map again and see what I think is best.

I'm interested in trying these two-hour hotels mentioned by Time Out Argentina. (Just kidding! Or maybe not. ) I'm wondering what they do to/if they clean ... er... their toys?

111op

Oops. Sorry, that was Time Out Buenos Aires I was referring to.

avrooster

Yes, certainly Palermo and Recoleta are the areas most frequently recommended for tourists.

About the per-hour hotels, besides the fact that we call them "hoteles alojamiento", I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject.

Perhaps the Time Out editors would be a good source of info?

Bea01

Hi
Any hotel in Recoleta or Palermo will be perfect for you. Don't worry about the subway, you'll end up taking taxis everywhere, especially late at night. If you don't speak any Spanish, write down the names of the cross streets you want to go. From your hotel you can ask the concierge to call a taxi for you, and you will be ok hailing a cab in the street. If you dind't have any problem in San Pablo you will be fine in BA too.
As for unsafe areas, maybe La Boca at night, and the areas near the rail tracks in Palermo Hollywood are the ones to avoid.
For Iguazu, you can buy your tickets at lan.com. If you want to do it all by your own the best place to stay is the Sheraton, that is the only hotel inside the National Park from where you can just walk to the falls. If you stay at any of the others hotel in Iguazu, you will need a guide or at least hire transportation to the park.

111op

Thanks. The cheapest rate on Sheraton is around $360 per night. Not sure if that includes taxes. I just got that from the website. Is that the norm? It seems really pricey. Also does that affect a visit to the Brazil side? (I do have a visa for Brazil.)

Sorry if the questions are so vague. I've been doing some reading, but I just haven't looked into the falls yet.

Also would 3 days 2 nights work for this? Not sure when flights would arrive, etc.

avrooster

Yes, the Sheraton can just about name its price, because it is the only hotel located within the park.

Three days and two nights would be the minimum advisable, IMO, particularly if you plan to visit the Brazilian side.

There are many flights to Iguazú. Of course, if you take an early flight in and a late flight out, that would stretch your stay.

However, that may mean flying with Aerolíneas. However, first see what's available with http://www.lan.com/country_selector.html

The travel agent I usually recommend has just told me that Aerolíneas has improved a little, lately.

beccapax

I think staying in the Center is a great idea. It may be a little louder during the day time but at night it is quiet and safe to walk around. Especialyl with the subte you can reach any part of the city. However, in Palermo the 3 main subtes, Palermo, Plaza Italia and Scalabrini Ortiz are each about 8 blocks from everyone you wanna go in Palermo. A friend of mine was just staying in the center here and it was a fantastic location although she spent most of her time at my place in Palermo: http://www.buenosairesstay.com/basta...mp;carpeta=ing
She was using a few different companies to find an apartment and she says she chose BA Stay because the agents spoke English and she didnt feel like she was gonna get swindled. All the agencies are lovely, just some are easier to deal with than others.
I hope you have a great time in BA!!! Feel free to contact me with any questions about BA

avrooster

Until what time does the subway run, beccapax?

111op

I found an online interactive map of Buenos Aires in case people find it useful. The orientation is different from the maps in Time Out BA though.

http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar/sig/index.phtm

Maps.google.com doesn't have Buenos Aires just yet.

111op

Hotel taxes in Buenos Aires.... I think they are 21%.

I'm checking booking.com and I've made a booking on Don Telmo, and when I click through to the confirmation, I'm told that the city taxes are not applicable and that VAT is included.

On the other hand, on the same booking website, I've checked some other hotels and the info states clearly that city taxes or VAT are not included.

I probably need to ask booking.com and/or contact the hotel to figure out what the rate actually is.

Is there anyone who would like to hazard a guess as to whether the booking.com rate for Don Telmo is really all inclusive?

Thanks!

avrooster

The first link doesn't work, at least for me, 111op.

111op

Sorry I missed an l at the end. Try this instead:

http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar/sig/index.phtml

I'm finding this to be quite useful.

In the meantime I've contacted Isabel for a quote on a 3-day 2-night package to Iguazu Falls. I'm too lazy to do this myself, I think. The LAN airfares seem pretty high. While guidebooks are quoting $250 r/t, some of the cheaper flights seem to be sold out already.

111op

What do people think of Don Telmo's location by the way? Is it safe at night?

http://www.dontelmo.com/ubicacion_ingles.html

I think that I'll stay in Palermo when I return from Iguazu Falls. I still need to look into that.

111op

Becca, thanks for the apt. website. The apts there seem so cheap. $300 for one week? Maybe I should think about renting for a week then. I can leave it vacant for a few days and it'd still be much cheaper than a hotel.

avrooster

I meant

http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar/sig/index.phtm

About your other question, I'd say that if the confirmation says our VAT is included, it is.

Why don't you call Don Telmo, to confirm?
54-11-4115-3702

This online reservation thing is not too advanced, here in Argentina.

And, yes, $ 300 per week for a small apartment is perfectly possible.

111op

Hi av, yes I understood your point. I meant in the link I originally gave, I left out the "l" at the end.

If you add the "l" or use the corrected link, the website works. It will display a map much like maps.google.com or mapquest.com that I find very useful.

Booking.com is actually a third party booking site (not the hotel site). I do plan to call the hotel. It's just that I haven't gotten around to it and I figured someone here may know. I do want to compare with the hotel rack rates.

Regarding the apt. website from Becca, I've realized that it's not as cheap as it seems. First there's a $45 admin fee, and then there's a $15 fee for checkin during weekends (and probably check out too). This will apply in my case. I guess for a full one-week stay with no trips, this is still much cheaper. But for a 5-night stay, a $300 apt. need not be much cheaper than a budget hotel.