Help me reality-check my Easter vacation in Argentina
 

My wife and I are going to be in Argentina next April, bracketing the Easter holiday. We're wanting to go to Mendoza, Igauzu, and BsA. Our tentative agenda is pasted below.

7-Apr Tuesday Chicago
8-Apr Wednesday Mendoza (arrive 8am EZE, depart 12:20pm AEP)
9-Apr Thursday Mendoza (Wine Tour)
10-Apr Friday Mendoza (Good Friday - wander)
11-Apr Saturday Iguazu ((MDZ-AEP) 9:55 - 11:29 (AEP-IGR) 13:00 - 14:45 Moonlight walk if full moon)
12-Apr Sunday Iguazu (Easter Sunday)
13-Apr Monday BA
14-Apr Tuesday BA
15-Apr Wednesday BA
16-Apr Thursday BA
17-Apr Friday BA
18-Apr Saturday BA
19-Apr Sunday Chicago

* Are there things that might be impacted by the Easter holiday? We would enjoy going to Easter mass, but flight availability has dictated what I have, as I would like to transit from MDZ to IGR on the same day, and the last IGR flights on LAN are early afternoon.
* We'll be flying our domestic legs on LAN. How big is the risk of missing my flight to IGR with a 90 minute connection?
* Any issues getting from EZE to AEP, including clearing customs, with a 4 hour window?


Thanks!

Well wizzy, your itinerary essentially seems good.

April 8 will be exhausting, but I imagine you are aware of that. With some Mendoza wine, you should get over it, pronto.

During Holy Week, all tourism destinations will be crowded in Argentina, but I also imagine you are aware of that.

I don't quite understand why you cannot go to Easter mass in Iguazú?

LAN is a good choice. What do THEY say about your local connections flying with them?

With over four hours time, you SHOULD be OK with that April 8 connection.

You and your wife will have a great time in our country.

Thanks for your thoughts. I've already got one snag in my plans. The Sheraton at Iguazu is sold out during my planned stay, so I may need to move Mendoza/Iguazu to the end of the trip. That will make for a long April 18, but should make the arrival day easier.

Regarding mass at Iguazu, I was thinking that we wouldn't want to leave the national park, and don't expect to find a church inside the park.

Well. wizzy, it was likely that the Sheraton could be sold out for the Easter weekend.

Be aware that the Easter weekend is a nightmare for travel, much like the American Labor Day or Thanksgiving weekends.

Therefore, it might be better to spend Holy Week in BA. Besides, that way you'll be able to go to Easter mass.

When the time comes, I can suggest which church you can go to.

Wizzy-- if you don't mind me asking, how much was your flight to BA from Chicago? Which airline? When did you book? We're thinking of a trip either this fall or spring, but the airfare... ouch.

Jen -

I travel too much for work, so was able to use miles for the trip. We're flying American through DFW on the way down, and MIA on the way back. Unfortunately American discontinued the non-stop ORD-EZE flight as of this fall.

Good luck with your search!

OK, we finalized our itinerary:

7-Apr Tuesday Chicago
8-Apr Wednesday BA
9-Apr Thursday BA
10-Apr Friday BA
11-Apr Saturday BA
12-Apr Sunday BA
13-Apr Monday Mendoza
14-Apr Tuesday Mendoza
15-Apr Wednesday Mendoza
16-Apr Thursday Iguazu
17-Apr Friday Iguazu
18-Apr Saturday BA (flight home)
19-Apr Sunday Chicago

Flights are booked, including internal LAN flights. We can't wait!

Rooster - I'll check back as the trip approaches for a church recommendation. We'll be staying at the Park Tower (on points) in BsA.

I guess the Park Tower is the Sheraton. The concierge should be able to direct you a nearby church.

There are several choices, including our city's Cathedral, which is not THAT near the Sheraton, but also within walking distance, or 5 minutes away by cab.

Be particularly alert if walking through our business district on a holiday.

How did you book your internal LAN flights. We are going in March, and when I go on their website it says I can't book a return for more than 6 months out.

jgg - LAN lets you book award flights more than 6 months out. I transferred some Starwood points into LAN and was able to book it online. 20,000 km per person for BsA->Mendoza->Igauzu->BSA. Starwood transfers in at 1:2 so it's a great deal relative to other airline redemptions. To book the 3-legged trip, I booked the AEP-MDZ and AEP-IGR round trips on line (with MDZ-AEP-IGR on the same day) and called in to have an agent combine them. I then completed the redemption online paying no telephone surcharge.

Rooster - thanks for the guidance about the cathedral. Why the warning about walking through the business district on a holiday? Is it very deserted, so crime increases? The Park Tower is the Sheraton.

That's right. Nothing violent, maybe the mustard or bird poop trick. Do you know what I am talking about?

Is that the "stain and steal" where they grab your stuff while you're distracted from the stain?

Exactly.

If it happens, yell, walk away or whatever, but, whatever you do, don't let anyone get near you to "help".