hup234

Hi we are going to south america for 3 weeks in april. We have a few days in Buenos Aires then to Rio then back for 1 final night in BA before we fly back to oz the following afternoon. I am looking for a decent hotel in the shopping area so we can do some final suitcase stuffing before we catch our flight. Any ideas please? cheers

worldly

Lots of shopping areas in BA, but probably the biggest area is around and along FLORIDA street; Galeries Pacifico is particularly nice. Lots of decent hotels around here - try the Melia Buenos Aires on Reconquista which runs parallel to Florida.

MarnieWDC

You might get your best leads to shopping if you describe what you are seeking, and an approximate price range.

Shopping for leather goods in BsAs is mixed; merchandise can be well made or fairly poorly made - and you cannot necessarily predict from the location. My friend bought an expensive, made-to-order, leather jacket from a very reputable store - Silvio Y Mario - near Florida street; it fell apart when she returned home. Her tailor was able to show her the defective quality in the tailoring.

And Prune, which has enjoyed a very good reputation for bags etc., now has many reports of poor quality seams, buckles etc.

And on the other side, I have bought purses and jewelery at the fairs in Recoleta, San Telmo and small towns that have lasted and remained favored objects (still, some others fell apart - but at least they were not costly, like my friend's jacket or Prune purses).

So what is a person to do ? IMO, get good advice, check the quality CAREFULLY, and do not expect a great bargain in quality leather goods. it is not like Barcelona or Florence.

Have a good time in SA.
~MarnieWDC

Scarlett

I live in Buenos Aires and shop now and then.
Palermo Soho and Recoleta are excellent shopping neighborhoods and enjoyable to be in, aside from having multitudes of wonderful shops, they are safe, pretty and interesting.
Unless you just want to struggle thought crowds and pickpockets, Florida might be good, but personally, you can't make me go there.

Recoleta Feria is Saturday and Sunday, Palermo Feria Sunday ( is best) and the shops that are on the streets are often in the big malls ( Patio Bullrich, Paseo Alcorte, Galarias Pacifico ( I always want to say Lafayette lol) ..

As in all things, you still pay for what you get.
I don't know if cheap good leather is that available .. shoes are a bargain but not as well made/sturdy as elsewhere ..

I would just shop for bags, see if they look good, if you love it, buy it. Have fun.
Instead of Prune, look at Lazaro and Awada .. chau ! :- )

Scarlett

Perdón , Marnie, Hola ! besitos !

MarnieWDC

Hola Scarlett,

These are good suggestions and I have them noted in my 2012 'BsAs TO DO LIST.' After a pat to pup, of course.

~M

Scarlett

Marnie, I will be glad to do more homework for you .. I will shop and keep cards and make lists and hand them over when you return.
I know, it is a great sacrifice but I am happy to do it for you .. really.

yestravel

Now I read that Prune is not so good maybe. I just got my daughter a wallet there. On my first trip to BA, I had gotten a couple bags at Prune and ended up having them repaired back home. but then I kept reading it was good and figured just bad luck for me. so I gave them a try again. Guess we'll see how it holds up.

Scarlett

yestravel, I have Prune bags that are fine still, since our visit here. I just haven't bought anything there in a while and quality here does have a habit of bouncing around..
My Lazaro bags have stood up to all kinds of beatings and look fine and nothing is tearing etc. I have bags from all over town :- ) I am an Equal Opportunity Bag Lady.

Graziella5b

Follow Scarlet advice which is good. In general I would say the rule is to look for local designers avoid international known places , I had to buy a present for some Argentine lady who loves a particular international shop, anyway I bought her a blouse for over $300 dollars that I though it was ok rightly or not I felt they were kind of laughing at me ....well
one of those things....

hup234

great stuff many thanks