Argentina, Uruguay & Chile
Sep 1st, 2015, 10:07 AM
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Argentina, Uruguay & Chile
Hello from Arizona! I am in the process of planning a surprise trip for the wife to South America, neither of us have ever been. We land in Buenos Aires, have 12 days. The main purpose of the trip is a few days in Mendoza, fly there from Buenos Aires. This is in January by the way, so summer season down there. I figured 2 or 3 days in Buenos Aires, then was thinking of doing a ferry to Monteviedo for the night. Thoughts on Monteviedo by ferry? Worth it or too much of a hassle? Then from Mendoza heading to Santiago, Chile for a couple of days and hit Vina del Mar as well for a day or so. Thoughts on this? Want to make this trip memorable, worthwhile and not be too crazy so 4 stops tops. Thanks all!
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Sep 1st, 2015, 11:35 AM
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Hi, JP and welcome to rhe Fodor's Argentina forum!
Hopefully, you have come to the right place for advice.
1) If I were you, I would NOT post my e-mail address, ever. No need for that. You'll get your answers here.
2) As you know, it's summer holiday season down here, so flights will be crowded and that kind of thing.
3) Buenos Aires will be pretty warm.
4) You seem to have your mind set on going to Mendoza, where it will also be very warm, so that's fine, as long as you are aware of that.
5) I don't think it makes any sense at all to go to Mentevideo.
6) If you are flying back from Chile, as seems to be the case, Santiago and Viña del Mar should be fine.
So, I suggest your 4 stops should be BA, Mendoza, Santiago and Viña del Mar.
Have a wonderful time in South America with your DW, JP.
Hopefully, you have come to the right place for advice.
1) If I were you, I would NOT post my e-mail address, ever. No need for that. You'll get your answers here.
2) As you know, it's summer holiday season down here, so flights will be crowded and that kind of thing.
3) Buenos Aires will be pretty warm.
4) You seem to have your mind set on going to Mendoza, where it will also be very warm, so that's fine, as long as you are aware of that.
5) I don't think it makes any sense at all to go to Mentevideo.
6) If you are flying back from Chile, as seems to be the case, Santiago and Viña del Mar should be fine.
So, I suggest your 4 stops should be BA, Mendoza, Santiago and Viña del Mar.
Have a wonderful time in South America with your DW, JP.
Sep 1st, 2015, 11:42 AM
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Perfect, do you think 4 days in BA makes sense? Plenty to see correct?
Yes I realize it will be warm, but coming from the desert of Arizona we will be ok. We really are looking forward to Mendoza and also some wineries in Chile.
We will actually be driving from Mendoza to Santiago then back again to fly back to Buenos Aires roundtrip. That make sense?
Thank you!
John Paul
Yes I realize it will be warm, but coming from the desert of Arizona we will be ok. We really are looking forward to Mendoza and also some wineries in Chile.
We will actually be driving from Mendoza to Santiago then back again to fly back to Buenos Aires roundtrip. That make sense?
Thank you!
John Paul
Sep 1st, 2015, 12:14 PM
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About your:
"We will actually be driving from Mendoza to Santiago then back again to fly back to Buenos Aires roundtrip. That make sense?"
Not to me, JP. The distances are huge and Argentine drivers are lunatics. Take my word for it, JP, I'm one of them.
"We will actually be driving from Mendoza to Santiago then back again to fly back to Buenos Aires roundtrip. That make sense?"
Not to me, JP. The distances are huge and Argentine drivers are lunatics. Take my word for it, JP, I'm one of them.
Sep 1st, 2015, 01:48 PM
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"Argentine drivers are lunatics. Take my word for it, JP, I'm one of them." I can attest to that having been in a car when avrooster is driving ��
I preferred Valparaiso to Vina but both are nice. I agree with avrooster re Montevideo, it would take too long.
I preferred Valparaiso to Vina but both are nice. I agree with avrooster re Montevideo, it would take too long.
Sep 1st, 2015, 01:54 PM
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Sep 2nd, 2015, 02:51 AM
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"Longer than it seems" is relative. Lots of holiday traffic at that time of the year.
I assume you plan to rent a car. Do you know there are almost no cars with automatic gears for rent in Argentina?
Have you told whatever car rental company you plan to use that you are going to cross an international border?
I suggest going from BA first to Mendoza and then on to Santiago and back to BA by plane or bus. Tourists say our long distance buses are very good, particularly if you choose the fully reclining seat (cama) option.
Have a wonderful time in South America with your DW, JP.
I assume you plan to rent a car. Do you know there are almost no cars with automatic gears for rent in Argentina?
Have you told whatever car rental company you plan to use that you are going to cross an international border?
I suggest going from BA first to Mendoza and then on to Santiago and back to BA by plane or bus. Tourists say our long distance buses are very good, particularly if you choose the fully reclining seat (cama) option.
Have a wonderful time in South America with your DW, JP.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 05:43 AM
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I've taken the but from Mendoza to Santiago and it's one really fun ride. Cheaper than renting with a lot less hassle. Plus you can concentrate on the scenery rather than the road. Upper deck first row seats on a daytime crossing are strongly recommended (cama or not doesn't matter).
Sep 2nd, 2015, 06:31 AM
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Consider taking a bus between Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Santiago. We used Andesmar from Santiago to Mendoza and enjoyed spectacular scenery going over the Andes and very reasonable rates. Then from Mendoza, we took an overnight Andesmar bus to BA. The buses are far superior to the ones we have in the US and one can actually get a good night's sleep (unlike a red eye flight). I actually slept 7 hours straight and would have slept more if I had not stayed up late watching a movie on the TV in front of me. Of course we also saved the cost of one night in a hotel doing it this way.
Research this further on Tripadvisor's Santiago and Mendoza forums as there is a lot written about this bus service there.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Research this further on Tripadvisor's Santiago and Mendoza forums as there is a lot written about this bus service there.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Sep 2nd, 2015, 10:35 AM
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From BA to Mendoza plan is to fly, flights aren't bad at all on Argentina Airlines. Looks like I will switch my plan to bus from Mendoza to Santiago then. Just figured that would take a lot longer.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 10:37 AM
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Nevermind looks like KLM has a great flight one way from Santiago back to BA at a great price. So bus from Mendoza to Santiago to enjoy the scenery, just wish then we could stop at the tourist stops along the way.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 11:28 AM
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I'm sorry, for some reason or other (age, maybe? LOL!) I misunderstood and thought you wanted to drive from BA to Mendoza and then on to Chile and back to BA.
If LAN has flights from BA to Mendoza which suit your schedule, choose them instead of Aerolíneas Argentinas which is quite unreliable.
Have a wonderful time in South America with your DW, JP.
If LAN has flights from BA to Mendoza which suit your schedule, choose them instead of Aerolíneas Argentinas which is quite unreliable.
Have a wonderful time in South America with your DW, JP.
Sep 3rd, 2015, 05:25 AM
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"From BA to Mendoza plan is to fly, flights aren't bad at all on Argentina Airlines. Looks like I will switch my plan to bus from Mendoza to Santiago then. Just figured that would take a lot longer."
It's your call, but it takes about 7 hours (including about 1 hour for border crossing). You will also miss all that wonderful scenery going over the Andes by ground.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
It's your call, but it takes about 7 hours (including about 1 hour for border crossing). You will also miss all that wonderful scenery going over the Andes by ground.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
