Given the amount of time you are going to be in Argentina, I think three days at Iguazu Falls is too much.

There is plenty to keep you busy in Buenos for five days, and you don't necessarily need to take a day trip.

Restaurants in Buenos Aires are in general very reasonably priced. What type of places are you interested in--authentic, trendy, upscale, casual?

There are several Prune stores (Patio Bullrich and Galerias Pacifico both have one) which have leather purses and shoes that especially appeal to younger women and are less expensive than some other stores. What exactly are you looking for in the way of leather?

I am looking for purses and shoes and a jacket. Not interested in younger items. This is our second trip to BA so I am interested in day trips(1or2). Also interested in purchasing original art work--not Boca stuff.

Wow, you are almost here!

Day trip= Tigre.
.http://www.enjoy-argentina.org/baires-surroundings-tigre.php

Colonia Uruguay
http://www.allaboutar.com/ard_colo.htm

Good leather is more expensive than a lot of the leather sold in the "malls"..I have not really done this shopping yet. Handbags and shoes are usually nice soft leather and not as expensive as in the States..
If you want some really nice bags and shoes..Patio Bullrich, all along Ave Alvear and Ave Posadas are where you can find top quality but these are not as inexpensive as the places on Florida St etc.
Everywhere you go you will see leather being sold, not hard to find ( just ask my husband lol)

Art work..San Telmo has antiques, Recoleta has galleries .. we do a lot of auctions..that is where great bargains can be found.
Luchetti on Sarmiento and Noan on Guido both have viewings and auctions on week nights..it could be fun for you !

Sooo many good restaurants..what is outstanding to you? what is reasonable..food is quite "reasonable" here..even an expensive restaurant will be much less than NY or Chicago.

I like Oviedo, Cluny, SottoVoce, and a bunch of neighborhood locals places..you need to give more details..

Sox:

Listen to Scarlett! She knows her shopping and restaurants.

The restaurants are fantastic! Here are some in Palermo Soho: Cluny, Bar Uriarte, Social Paraiso, LaCabrera and Mott. (These places have outside dining, too.) SottoVoce in Recoleta is excellent.

I found very nice leather (bought a messenger bag) at Qara at Gurruchaga 1548 in Palmermo Soho. Just wander the streets there and in Recoleta (Posadas, Alvear and surrounding streets) and you will find everything you want and more.

I just came back. You will love it... I envy you.

These were our favorite restaurants:
1. Guido's Bar--Republica de la India 2843--phone 4802-2391--Guido is great, food was great--no menu, he just fixes whatever he is in the mood to fix--leave room for dessert--we loved it.
2. Sucre--Sucre 676--phone 4782-9082--very trendy, well-known chef, good beautiful-people watching. There was fish, pork, all kinds of things on the menu. The same people own Bar Uriarte--Uriarte 1572--4834-6004. We went there, too. It's also good, but I liked Sucre a little more.
3. La Brigada--Estados Unidos 465--4361-5557--Argentine sports-bar-type parilla (typical Argentine restaurant).
4. Filo--San Martin 975--4311-0312--downtown, near shopping area (near Casa Lopez and Welcome and Frenkel's--just off Calle Florida and close to Galerias Pacifico)--this is a pizzeria with great salads--lot of fun. We ate here 3 or 4 times. It was very convenient to shopping and our hotel.

We didn't like Oviedo or El Mirasol all that much, but many people we know loved both.

Gallerias Pacifico http://www.galeriaspacifico.com.ar/ and Patio Bullrich--Libertador 750 have nice stores, including many that with nice leather goods. My favorite stores for leather were Casa Lopez (this is a chain) which had really pretty leather coats and purses. Frenkel's at Florida 1075 is also really, really nice, as is Welcome at Calle Marcelo T de Alvear 500 and San Martin. I got a beautiful jacket at Frenkel's and a briefcase and portfolio at Welcome. All very good quality, but not inexpensive, unfortunately.

Aside from being mugged, my only disappointment in Argentina was the trip to Tigre. We were in Argentina for 2 1/2 weeks, mostly in BsAs, and were looking for something different to do. Tigre wasn't awful or anything, just not very interesting, in my opinion.

I never found the kind of art work you're describing--and I looked! Hope you'll have better luck than I did.

LOL sshhhh Weekender..someone will think all I do is eat and shop


There is also a La Brigada in Recoleta that some people like better than the always crowded and noisy San Telmo location..

We were at Patio Bullrich today... I think I heard more Americans speaking than Spanish too lol.
And I still saw women carrying huge LV bags and wearing very expensive important looking watches.
My husband and I nudge each other and give knowing looks lol...a robbery waiting to happen.

I think Tigre is good for a person when they just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is also a town called San Isidro a train stop or two..not sure..before Tigre.. There is a market right by the station every Sunday..bargains to be found and a nice little break from the city also..You can have lunch in a nice place by the water in Tigre and take a boat out and see the wildlife etc.
I would avoid the tourist trappish charter boats that take a pack of people around then herd them all over to an awful little restaurant/home .

Thanks for all suggestions for restaurants and shops. I think the main reason for returning to BA is San Telmo. I think I dropped enough pesos to keep the economy going for a year. I do not like Florida St and found Casa Lopez on Florida St too expensive.
How difficult is it to do a day trip into Uruguay? We have no car and speak little to no Spanish. Any other suggestions for a day trip? Suggestions for things to do Bariloche is most welcome.
Weekender: From Chicago?? Same here. Still looking for ice storm!!

Sox:

Yes, I live in Chicago. Such lovely weather we are having. Not so much. I envy you going to Buenos Aires! Weather should be perfect there. Let us know how your trip goes.

Hi Sox, to go to Uruguay it is simple, you can choose between a pre arranged trip and do it yourself. I am always for the do it your self thing, I have in my blood but in the package case you will have to hear from others.
If you choose Colonia, you only have to take the Buquebus, that takes one hour, not the other one which is cheaper but takes much longer, once in Colonia it is a short drive to the downtown colonial part of the city. There you have everything and can walk around, have lunch where you prefer do some shopping (lots of artesanos), always asking for some kind of reduction. I guess the pre arranged thing might even be a little cheaper, but then you have to have lunch where they take you...etc.
May be Buquebus has some reduction in one day tickets. Another option is to stay in one of the nice quaint small hotels, or if you wish to play golf you can choose for instance the Sheraton. They will probably pick you up at the port. There are other hotels with spas, and the one I have tried in Carmelo, some half hour away from Colonia by car, is indeed excellent but expensive. I am talking of the Four Seasons in Carmelo.There you have everything golf, casino, horse riding, tennis, and the loveliest pool I have seen in a long time.
The other option is Montevideo, which is like two hours + by bus from Colonia. You can get a ticket
boat+bus and then once there you can do what you wish or take a package. If you need more information please let me know. If I can I shall answer your questions as other fedorites who might have tried the tours personally. I have not.

Thanks for the detailed information. Do I need a visa for Uruguay and if so, can I pay (which is all that anyone wants) at the border?

Someone will correct me if I am wrong ( that is for sure lol but I think you use your Passport to go on the ferry to Colonia and that gets you back on the ferry to return to Argentina.

Graziella is a fabulous source of info and I am sorry we missed getting together again this time!!

Do you have the Ferry website? Very nice and comfortable..and fast

It is an easy day away if you just visit Colonia..you will be back in BA by late afternoon/early evening.

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101101127.html

This can help you picture the day in Colonia

Thanks Scarlett. Do you miss the roses in Portland?

Is it a good idea to book the ferry to Colonia for January 5 now?

Our US TA wants $78US to book ferry to Colonia. This is round trip, I guess. Is this reasonable? I cannot figure their fare on line as it is in pesos.