KellyMinKC

Hi all! We're in the early stages of planning a trip to Buenos Aires for spring break, traveling with our children who will be 7 and 9 at the time. From what I've read, the Recoleta area is really nice and quiet and I've inquired with BA habitat about a few apartments, but it seems as if there is no subway access in Recoleta?

We've travelled quite a bit with our children and have had the most success when the metro stop is only a few minutes' walk from our apartment. I can't imagine having to walk 15 minutes with them back to the apartment at the end of long day.

Am I missing something? Am I better off in the Palermo area?

Thanks in advance.

Southam

Recoleta is a big area and parts are not too far from the subway. It blends into Barrio Norte on some apartment search sites which will be a little closer to the tube. However the underground routes are quite limited and of little use for some attractions. Buses go everywhere but the organization is chaotic (save all your coins for the fares.) You may have to study how to use taxis for when your stamina is running low.

crellston

No, I don't think you are missing anything, IMO Palermo is a better bet.

We stayed in an apartment for a month in Palermo ( a big place!) close to the Subte Limpne D on Avenida Santa Fe and found it to be a perfect location for getting around. It's true that the Subte is not extensive in BA but is very useful for getting quickly around. Buses are great, as are taxis but the traffic means that it takes forever to get anywhere. For most places we found it easier to get teh Subte and walk. The bus to La Boca took about an hour from where we were.

We could walk to Recolleta from our apt in about 30 mins. A slightly more upmarjpket feel than Palermo but there seemed to be much more going on in the various Palermo barrios.

We used BYTArgentina for our apartment. The only real problem we had was that the advertised rooftop pool was not open when we were there in December.

A link to our blog entry covering BA

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...2320/tpod.html

MarnieWDC

Hello Kelly,

We have rented 2 and 3 bedroom apts. in Recoleta and Palermo Botanico - several times in each barrio. Because we go in the summer, we tend to shy away from the Subte which, as Crellston indicated above, is of only minimal use - and hot and not that safe in summer.

We take buses and taxis, which are surprisingly resonably priced. When we stayed in Recoleta, there were sites near by to see; there are parks to visit in both Recoleta and Palermo...I would lean towards an apt. near a park and discount the Subte - it's not like Paris, London or WDC.

In Palermo Botanico you are near several parks, including the Zoological Park...and the Evita Museum and so many other wonderful places to explore....OK, I am now a super fan of Palermo Botanico, but Recoleta is also a fantastic area to stay.

Please let us know where you find the best apt. for your family, and if you have any more questions.

KellyMinKC

Thanks everyone--that gives me a better perspective. Also, the apartment agency told us to try back in November for a March rental, so I have time to figure this out.

Crellston, lovely and helpful blog! Thanks for the link.

Have any of you traveled to BA with kids? Did you visit Iguaza Falls? Trying to figure out whether to do that midtrip while we still have the apartment, or waiting until we are finished with apartment and then just going home after the domestic flight back from the falls to EZE. We are more used to train travel in Europe--domestic flights will be new for us!

MarnieWDC

Just one word of caution re domestic travel: be sure to allow one day between your return to BsAs and the day of your international departure flight. There are so many delays and cancellations that having a bit of lee way prevents the anxiety or problems of a missed flight. Keeping the apt. and going to/from Iguazzu is not a bad idea either...that's what we opted to do, and it was a good decision. I have heard that kids 7 and 9 enjoy Iguazu - I will try to find a TR about that.

Scarlett

Hi
I lived in Recoleta for the past 6 years and I often wished I had had children growing up there . The area is beautiful, museums, Embassies and wonderful huge parks .. it is a perfect family neighborhood. And very easy to get anywhere in the city by taxi .. or walk. I walked to Marnies apartment :- ) from mine near the Belle Artes Museum in Recolata.

Iguazu can be an expensive trip but for some, well worth it.
You can go with less expense but this is the way some people do it .. fly there, stay at the Sheraton. This is the only hotel IN the park. You can even get a room with a view of the falls, more expensive than the other rooms without a view.
You can take walks in the park, you can go on tours etc one or two nights would suffice but it is pricey doing it that way ..

Also, Marnie stayed in a Gaucho town on one visit that sounded so great .. the kids would like that too if they like horses and cowboys :- )

It is very European in its way, the people in BA appreciate good manners, music and have great senses of humor.
They enjoy their museums and parks and you will see by the architecture, how the French and British influenced the city.

Keep reading .. the more you know, the better the trip will be.

KellyMinKC

Thanks Marnie and Scarlett! If I can convince my husband to stay at the Sheraton while we are still paying for the BA apartment, we will do it. I like the idea of a couple of days in BA, a mid-week trip to Iguazu, and then back for a couple of days in BA. But the tip about giving some leeway between domestic and int'l flights is a good one anyway.

Also, everyone seems to do a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay. Have you all done this? Is it worth it, or is it just to sort of mark another country off the list?

Now I just need to start learning Spanish!!

KellyMinKC

Marnie--

what about the Gaucho town Scarlett mentioned? Any other day trips that really stand out? And is 1 night in iguaza enough or is 2 better? I guess that may depend on our flight times, too.

pepel

I have used airb&b to rent apartments....

MarnieWDC

Kelly: I think 2 days in Iguazu is better, especially if you plan to take the boat ride or visit the Brazilian side. Let your DH know that it is possible to stay in the town of Iguazu, in a nice hotel, and take taxis to the park, for much less than the Sheraton. If, however, you were to plan to stay for 1 night only, then I would want to stay in the Park, at the Sheraton.

We have done Colonia and enjoyed it - but without kids. If they don't like walking, then it could be a pain; there are electric carts (segways) for rent, but I don't know if they are kid friendly.

We loved San Antonio de Areco - we stayed two nights with a full day at an Estancia, near by (El Ombu). Here is the link to my TR...Side Trip to SAN ANTONIO de ARECO & Estancia EL Ombu
http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...t-4th-week.cfm

Two important points:
1.The town shuts down for siesta in a serious way - need to account for that, especially with kids...good time for a park or a prepared picnic or a nap.
2. Friends of ours went to El Ombu (using the El Ombu transport from BsAs, which was fine) and it rained - so they spent the entire day in the lounge....could have stayed home ! So, it is important to check the weather forcast before making a reservation - when you reserve, you cannot cancel.

There are also other Estancias near Buenos Aires for a day trip - and I do think this would be a real treat for all of you, especially the kids. Search here and on TA for estancias and maybe pick one that suits - either for a day or overnight.

KellyMinKC

You guys have been so helpful. I'm going to start working on visas for Brazil so we have the option of visiting that side of the falls. One more question for now--do I need to get the domestic flights in advance like I would over here? Or is that something where we show up at the airport and just do it? This is the only portion where I am wondering whether I need the help of a travel agent?