Argentina: Advice from an Argentinean
 

I just came into this site to look for a contact for a friend of mine who is coming to Argentina for the first time and saw many emails of confused tourists and decided to write a few comments;
1. Travel AGencies vs Doing it Alone; I have travelled extensively in-out of ARgentina and in Argentina I think you are better off with a travel agency. They can get you a better deal and better discounts that if you do it on your own. Additionally, if there is a problem (like the recent pilot strike) the hotels may reimburse the money to the travel agency but most likely, not to you.
Until recently Argentina was a tourist destination for a select few, now it is more massive but the infrastructure and the hotels and tourist industry is in their teens (many people are jumping into the tourist wagon without much qualification). You will be better off with the people that know where to send you as new hotels open every week.
I know 2 good agencies that I have recommended to many of my friends and I have used; Furlong Fox and Argentina Escapes.

2. If in BA... note that from Xmas until February the city is ´boiling´ and tends to be empty. In my opinion, best times to visit are March, April, Sep, Oct and Nov. June-July can be good but cold.
December can be good if you are a Polo fan.
For Hotels, try to stay in Barrio Norte- Recoleta. It is handy and you can walk around.

3. Shopping: not everything is as good as it looks, specially in trendy shops of Palermo Hollywood. Established shops like Casa Lopez may charge similar prices to those that you will pay in Europe or in America, so look around and negotiate. Some shop owners tend to think they can charge whatever they want to Gringos. Enquire about the outlets. Many of the nice shops in the shoppings have outlets where ARgentines go themselves, the outlets are not far away from downtown Buenos Aires and charge outlet prices.

Salta is fantastic and so beautiful. So is Jujuy, try to go there and visit Purmamarca and Cachi Adentro. They are unique. And if you can travel for Easter you will catch up some of the traditional festivities (and eat some of the best empanadas with Vino)

Cataratas; you can go there almost all year round.

I will be travelling to Calafate soon ' I will post some comments afterwards. Hope these comments help some of you that are considering visiting ARgentina.

Thank you for taking the time to post. I will look forward to your report on Calafate. I am headed that way in Nov. Buen viaje.

Hi my boyufriend and I are coming on January 23 - to Feb 8 Wish I had read about the heat a little earlier, but we are in winter in California ( Sacramento area) and will want ot get out of the rain, fog and cold. We are not shoppers, particularily, and probably not beach goers either, what would you suggest for the 16-17 days?

miss saigon,
thanks for taking the time to write your suggestions. we all appreciate it. What do you know about the ferry to Uruguay? Does it go directly to MonteVideo or Punta Del Este?
thanks so much

I agree wholeheartedly about using a travel agent. We just got back from a United Vacation, who uses Lihue Travel in Argentin. Lihue was great! We were supposed to fly to Iguauzu Falls on Aerolinas Argentinas and couldn't because of the strike. They got our tickets re-imbursed, new tickets to our next destination (Rio), and most important, they got us back into our hotel. There were over 50,000 stranded travelers in BsAs and we felt very fortunate.

We had a great time in BsAS and can't wait to go back. We really enjoyed our meals at Lomo and Piegari (both the steakhouse and the Italian place.) The people were extremely friendly and we never felt unsafe. We stayed at the Sofitel on Arroyo and it was one of the best hotels where we have ever stayed.

To the question of what to do in January, there are many many options. you can go to the South. villa la angostura, bariloche, Calafate and Usuhaia in the south. They are both great (Although Calafate is quite expensive). I loved Usuhaia. There are plenty of things to do there, at the end of the continent. I took excursions with Canal Fun and they were indeed alot of fun.
Also, visit Mendoza. You can do wine tours and probably feel abit at home... Mendoza is also the best place to eat outside of Buenos Aires.
Go to an Estancia near BA or go to the Delta and stay there overnight.
Obviously you can go to Iguacu - it may be hot but it is also magnificent.

The ferry to Uruguay goes to Montevideo or to Colonia, you can then take a bus or rent a car. The roads are good and you will certainly need a car in Punta.