Guenmai: I also poured through tons of apartments, so many to choose from. Originally, I had one picked out with Argentinaba, it was very nice, in the Recoletta area with a pool, just what we wanted. I had contacted Isabel, recommended here, and she had said that she would go look at the apartments if I needed that, but, she also had a lead on a nice apartment. It was exactly as we wanted, it was recommended by her, which was a plus for me that she had been there and seen it and really liked it. When I reserved I only had to do so with a cc to hold it, non of the other fees, which was great. Here is her contact info:
[email protected]

oops, that's apartmentsba, not argentinaba!

Thanks, Susanna. That company is one of the ones that I looked into a while back. I'll check it out again though. Thanks for the info. Happy Travels!

As I understand Susanna's post, she has NOT rented from apartmentsba, but, instead, from another firm recommended by Isabel. Susanna seems to suggest you contact Isabel for further info.

Thanks Mr. Rooster, you are absolutely right! I had an apartment picked out with apartmentsba as well as one with Isabel. I chose hers because it was even nicer than the other one, it was first hand knowledge, and it was a better price.

Isn't Isabel just great, Susanna?

SISISI!!!

OK. Thanks. I'll look further into the Argentine apartment rental situation after the new year. Right now, I'm concentrated on getting back to my rented apartment in Bangkok, which I leave for in a few weeks. I just got news that the international airport has been shut down due to protesters. If it's not one thing, it's another. Smiles. Happy Travels!

Robrick, I checked the website for the Canadian embassy in BA. Argentinians pay 200 pesos for a single entry visa to Canada. That works out to about $74 Canadaian. Multiple entry visas are 400 pesos.

I just got off the phone with expedia and booked L.A.-N.Y.-Buenos Aires, round trip for a base price of $559. and a total price of $857.80. I leave in about two and a half weeks.

I'd been checking fares for a few days now since I had to cancel my Bangkok trip due to the airport being closed. So, I had very little time to plan another vacation.

I had several destinations, on my list, but when that flight price popped up, I jumped on it. The only problem is that I already have a frequent flyer award ticket to go to Buenos Aires at the end of the summer, the original plan. Who knows, maybe I'll like it so much until I'll return!

It's good, with this very small amount of time to rebook a trip, that I found a country that I don't need a visa to get into.

Now, let me go to bed. It's after 4AM, here in L.A. area. I couldn't fall asleep last night, due to accidentally taking a nap during the afternoon which is the only reason why I'm still wide awake. Happy Travels!

Great!

It sounds like you got a really good fare.

It should be quite warm here in mid Dec., but you already know that.

I don't know how long you'll be staying, but you should know most locals take their yearly vacations between early Jan. and late Feb.

I'm quite confident you'll be back here with that frequent flyer ticket.

Well, let us know how we can help.

Thanks Avrooster.

I need to know how to dial Buenos Aires from the States. I have elderly parents who might need to call me. I figure the first numbers to dial would be 0011...country code (?)...then maybe a (1) before dialing the actual number? I've dialed overseas a lot and this is how it usually works.

The other thing is I plan to take my unlocked Bangkok cell phone which plugs fine into American wall sockets, but will it plug into an Argentine wall socket when I need to recharge it? If not, what adapter plug will I need to buy?

Also, how much is the exit fee, at the airport, when I'm ready to leave BA? I always like to put that money aside, so that I have it in exact change and handy. I posted that question, this morning, on another thread, but haven't checked it yet. The question might have already been answered.

As for transportation from the airport to the hotel, I'll book the transportation service that you mentioned. I can't remember the name of it, off the top of my head, but I have all the Argentina info filed away in my "Argentina" file box. The name "Leon" comes into my mind for some reason. I'll have to take out all of that info and start reading it right away since my travel plans have changed so abruptly. I feel like I'm cramming for an exam now.

And I'll also exchange money, at the airport exchange place that you recommended.

Thanks for all of your previous help, up to this point, and for your future help too. Smiles. I'm SO excited.

Plus, it'll be warm...like L.A. in the summer just with high humidity I suspect. The body will have to adjust. It sounds like Bangkok weather in March/April/May and I survived that once.
It sounds better than the extreme opposite though. Paris was sounding freezing cold and possible snow and heavy rain were moving in according to a fodorite who's presently there and said that it's COLD. She recently started a thread asking what things there were to do inside while there. That's when I went on expedia and started looking into BA since Singapore airfares were also pricing out so high. Singapore is lovely. I've been there many times over a decade.

Since I had to reschedule this trip SO quickly, I didn't bother going through with the apartment rental plan and went on to Plan B. I'll be both at the Hollywood Suites and Lofts in Hollywood Palermo and at the Melia Recoleta Plaza Hotel in, of course, Recoleta. I'll be in BA a total of 8 days. Happy Travels!

These two hotels were two, of several, on my original list way back before I had decided to go the apartment rental route. But, I'd saved the hotel list and these two hotels popped up on Expedia. They both got high ratings on expedia and tripadvsor, so I'll hope for the best. I'm not that picky, but cleanliness , safe location, and a lively area are the main things that are high on my list. Happy Travels!

Hi guenmai,
If you don't mind me answering in the meantime?

The exit fee is $18..

Calling BA from the outside..
54-11- then the phone number

Manuel Tiendo Leone.. I think is the name.
We used VIP which we liked because it is a private car, no bus and other passengers to deal with. It is also right outside the door at the airport. Actually, the first Remiss booth on the left as you go out the door.

It has been horribly hot, they say hotter than it has been in over 50 years but yesterday we had a huge storm with flooded streets and plenty of wind and lightening and today is at least 20 degrees cooler..ahhh.. hopefully when you arrive it will be back to normal warm summer with cooler nights ..

Have a good trip ! Enjoy BA

Scarlett..thanks a million for the info. So, do I not need to make a reservation with your transportation service or can I just do it on the spot? I really prefer a private car service. That's what I use in Bangkok when I arrive, exhausted, after my 17.5 hour non-stop flights. Smiles.

How much do you think it will be to get from the airport to the Hollywood Suites and Lofts in Palermo Hollywood? Since I will arrive with no pesos, I'll need to exchange money at the airport. Thanks again. Happy Travels!

Hi, Guenmai!

I had already answered the question about the exit fee in another thread.

To dial BA, whatever gets you into international (00?)and then 5411 and the number. For instance, the Meliá would be 54-11-5353-4000

Adaptors are easily available, even if your hotel is unable to furnish one, which they should.

For transportation from the airport into town for a female solo traveler who comes here for the first time and may not know much Spanish (?), I always suggest
http://www.tiendaleon.com.ar/home/home.asp where you can reserve online and pay with your credit card. I don't think you really need to reserve, if you prefer not to do so. As the website says, it will cost you 130 pesos (about 40 US dollars) to get into town.

All the other transportation booths are OK. Just be sure to avoid any transportation which cannot be PREPAID in an official-looking booth. The others may be cheaper than Tienda León.

Change in the airport at the Banco de la Nación, on your right as you exit customs or at Piano. Be sure to avoid the crooks at the conveniently located Global Exchange.

Any further questions?

I'll try to answer them first. LOL!!

You'll have a great time in our town.

Oh, de nada, Guenmai
The first time we used VIP , our hotel got them for us, the second time, we just came out of the airport.. we also call a driver but I won't put his name on the boards.. but you can do it either way.
I know, flying from Portland Or, through Houston to BA was 15 hours plus.. but it is amazing how energised you feel when you arrive in town
We used them over a year ago but I think the price runs around $35 USD... someone else might have a better answer to that .. a more recent trip perhaps..
Glad to help ..

Thanks a million, folks. And yes, Avrooster, as for my Spanish, well... I speak L.A. Spanglish, which is our own version of Spanish. Smiles. So, it'll probably be pretty useless in BA. I'm going to go to the bookstore today to see if I can find a book on Argentine Spanish. I hear the pronunciation is quite different. Thanks again for the info. I'm jotting it all down in my journal. Happy Travels!

Not so different Guenmai. You 'll be fine.
The basic Por favor, gracias, Buen dia and so forth are pretty useful. Buena suerte.
One point of advice everyday Argentinean informal dialogue seems to included a lot of cursing and insults, it has become part of the folklore. This is used mainly by upper class people....may be is the same in LA?
If the HBO series Entourage are correct it seems is the same thing.... Buena suerte nuevamente.

Thanks Grazielle, but my Spanish isn't advanced enough to even recognize the cursing. Smiles.
I just went to Barnes and Nobles and bought the Traveler's Spanish Dictionary and the Pocket Idiot's Guide to Spanish phrases. That should help to refresh my memory some. Happy Travels!

Hi, Graziella!

About your:

"Argentinean informal dialogue seems to included a lot of cursing and insults, it has become part of the folklore. This is used mainly by upper class people"

Apparently you are saying that Argentine "non upper class" people talk in a comparatively more educated fashion. I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on this one. LOL!!!