Buenos Aires Jewish Tours

Old Nov 18th, 2011, 10:59 AM
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Buenos Aires Jewish Tours

Can someone please recommend a company, or private guide to escort an older couple through Jewish Buenos Aires. English speaking is a must, as is pick up and drop off. Thank you!
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Old Nov 18th, 2011, 12:37 PM
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www.allaboutar.com/tours_jewish.htm
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Old Nov 20th, 2011, 03:22 AM
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Hi there qwovadis. I read this website but it seems to only provide information on Jewish tours, not book them. I will poke around the web some more. Thanks!
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Old Nov 20th, 2011, 04:40 AM
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Hi, Lionlove!

This should help:

http://tinyurl.com/7whhvvp

If you need further info, become a TA member and send a message to

http://www.tripadvisor.com/members-forums/raquel_z

She´ll be happy to answer your questions.

Keep in mind that security is very tight in Jewish temples. You may even need a letter of introduction from your rabbi and/or to make early reservations for a tour. But Raquel will know all about that.

Have a great time in our town.
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Old Nov 20th, 2011, 09:08 AM
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If you go with a tour you will probably not need a letter of introduction; however you will need to provide the tour organizer with your passport number in advance. You will probably need your passport to gain entry at most sites.

You will almost certainly need a letter of introduction if you would like to visit on your own and not a part of an organized tour.
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Old Nov 20th, 2011, 10:28 AM
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Hail to drdawggy, adjutant to Chief DE Marnie! LOL!!!
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Old Nov 20th, 2011, 03:20 PM
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Thank you for your input!
My parents are going to BA for a month in Feb (from Canada)... not sure they will know how to get their papers in order to make the arrangements themselves. Best they do a tour! I will check out the links and do the homework for them!
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Old Nov 21st, 2011, 12:41 AM
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Here is another link for you to check out. I have used this tour agency a number of times to arrange tours of Jewish (and Muslim) sites in Buenos Aires.

http://www.eternautas.com/
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Old Nov 23rd, 2011, 08:37 PM
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I think you have gotten good advice from Av and drdawggy - como siempre (It has been too long since I've been to Bs As and am really long overdue for a visit.)

There are certain sights like the Holocaust Museum and the Temple de Libertad and its attached museum that you can visit on your own. But the hours are limited especially at the Temple.

Because my interests are more cultural rather than religious, I did not tr to attend services. But I hear as AV says that they are strict and may want letters from home congregations.

Like pretty well everywhere in the world Chabad has a presence and are probably more open. You see them around town at Chanuka time with their large menorahs and at Sukkot with their Sukehmobile. If interested - google Chabad Argentina and you will find contact info

I would say that for your parents a tour would make things simpler and they would get to see more. Though I have no personal experience, this one has been mentioned and recommended in various forums
http://www.jewish-tours.com.ar/tours/entours

raquel_z
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Old Dec 5th, 2011, 04:03 AM
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Just returned and did a Jewish tour including the two major temples, with a fabulous young guy named Gabrial, who grew up there, is Jewish and his family lives there. [email protected]
Speaks fluent english and spanish.

Good Luck
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Old Dec 5th, 2011, 07:37 AM
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Thank you so much RSS...I think a private tour (or semi-private) is a good way to go. My parents will email Gabrial and he'll tell them what they need to bring (if anything) prior to leaving Canada. I hope your trip was wonderful.
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Old Dec 5th, 2011, 01:36 PM
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Great Jewish tour, he had done the work ahead of time so we had easy entrance to both temples, and we also saw the two sites where the bombings occurred previously and the Israeli embassy.

Careful in BA, very sketchy, no matter what they say. Lots of street crime. Only use radio cabs, and no jewelry or handbags! Seriously.....!!

Best places were Atacama and Patagonia but we are hikers so it was spectacular and right up our alley.
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Old Dec 6th, 2011, 12:30 PM
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Hi RSS
I emailed Gabrial...but no reply yet. I hope to hear from him. I'm glad you had a great time...I have yet to go to Argentina. For now, I just want my parents to have a great time.
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Old Dec 8th, 2011, 08:27 AM
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Hello...

Madi Lang, owner of BA Cultural Concierge ( www.baculturalconcierge.com ), offers private Jewish Buenos Aires tours.

From her website:
"City Tours -Museums, parks, historical landmarks, tango district, antique rows, non-tourist neighborhoods, Architecture, out-door art, Jewish Buenos Aires tour, trendy fashion districts, markets, street fairs,Cycling and walking paths"

Madi is a wonderful, intelligent, entertaining, and very capable guide. Her native tongue is English (she hails from Maryland), and she's fluent in Spanish.

In addition to being a great private tour guide, Madi can help you out with any of your transportation needs, restaurant recommendations, day-trips, errands, medical emergencies, and so on... She's a great person to know in Buenos Aires. It's like having a friend there.

My Dad and I hired Madi for our four night pre-Antarctica Cruise stay in BA back in January, 2010. She arranged our cruise terminal transfers, one of our airport transfers, guided us on a Recoleta neighborhood orientation tour, a Recoleta Cemetery tour, and a BA city tour. She arranged an estancia visit, a tango show, and a "cafe chat" with a local economist. She even put together a "goodie basket" of local treats for our hotel room. Also, for the day of our ship's arrival back in BA, Madi made reservations for us for an incredible Sunday brunch at the posh Alvear Palace Hotel. Finally, after brunch, she took us on a Sunday afternoon stroll through the San Telmo street fair. Wonderful!

I highly recommend Madi!

Have a nice trip!

Bill
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Old Dec 11th, 2011, 11:55 AM
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Hello, Do you guys know any good hotel in Buenos Aires and what places should i visit while I travel, I will be for 1 week.

Thanks so much for helping me
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Old Dec 11th, 2011, 01:09 PM
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There are many good hotels in several barrios; there are many wonderful sites and places, depending on your interests and tastes.

I have 2 suggestions;

1.Post your questions on a new, separate thread, &

2.Review earlier Posts and Trip Reports and guide Books to get an idea of the places to visit that might suit you best.

Then, please post any, more specific questions you have on this Forum. Looking forward to hearing your interests and questions.
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Old Dec 18th, 2011, 03:12 AM
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RSS. No word from Gabrial! Oh well.

I'll have to try Madi, thanks bhjort!
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Old Dec 19th, 2011, 06:11 PM
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Hi Lionlove!

You're welcome!

Here are some recent reviews of Madi from the Tripadvisor website:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...t.html#REVIEWS

I was in a situation similar to yours a few years ago , when I was arranging the Antarctica cruise
( roundtrip out of BA ) for my Dad and Uncle. Both were in their 80's, both mentally sharp, but
both physically frail. I was very worried about them, but I also wanted them to be able to make the most out of what could be a fantastic journey. After several e-mails back and forth with Madi, I hired her to look after the boys in BA, and felt very comfortable that she would take good care of them.

When my Uncle notified us that he'd be unable to go on the trip, I stepped in for him, but, I left all of the arrangements with Madi in place. So...I can give you a first hand account of how valuable a resource she can be for someone traveling in a foreign land, and being unable to speak the local language.

Madi was on-call for us 24 hours a day. As I mentioned in my previous post, she lead us on several tours and made travel arrangements, etc. But, she was also available, for a very reasonable fee, to accompany us to meals and on our estancia visit. She is wonderful company.

Please read Madi's great articles about Buenos Aires on her website. She clearly loves the city, and is a terrific writer, to boot!

I'll also mention that the hotel we stayed at in BA, The Four Seasons, offered a VIP airport service
which included an agent meeting the traveler(s) at the gate and assisting them with immigration, luggage pick-up, and customs. Four Seasons told me at the time ( it was late 2009 when I was making the trip arrangements ) that they were the only hotel in Buenos Aires to offer the service. It was very pricey - about US$100 per person for arrival services, and the same for departure services. I requested this service for my Dad and Uncle ( mostly because I knew that the elderly gentlemen would really need the assistance with luggage ). When I found out I would be taking my Uncle's place on the trip, I cancelled this VIP service, so I can't comment on its value. I recall reading two positive reports about this service in the Four Seasons BA hotel reviews on Tripadvisor.

Happy Planning!

Bill
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