Can anyone recommend a 4 star hotel in BA, that is quiet but not too far from public transportation such as the subway?

Be wary of the star rating in Buenos Aires. Many hotels that identify themselves as 4 Star are more on the order of two star hotels in the United States. Other 4 star hotels are true 4 star hotels.

True 4 star hotels in Buenos Aires will start at U$100 per night, double and range to U$ 150 or so....Three star hotels pretending to be four star hotels will cost between $50-100.

There are true four star hotels in three zones where there is public transportation--Downtown, Recoleta, and Palermo Viejo. Downtown choices include the Claridge (which sometimes pretends to be a five star hotel), NH Jousten. You can get a quiet room in either of these hotels by getting a room that does not overlook the street.

In Recoleta, I suppose the LoiSuites Recoleta would be a 4 star hotel.

In Palermo Viejo, the Bobo.

A couple of other choices of very nice hotels--The Wilton, the Belair, and Art Hotel in Recoleta.

Thanks for the information! Why do you suppose the star system in BA is so broken? Is it because there is no organization enforcing standards, as there is in many other places?

Hotels determine their own rating, which destroys the credibility of the star system in Argentina.

i recently stayed a few nights at the Regal PAcific in Puerto Madero for 110 a night. supposedly a 5 star hotel, very conveniently located. seems more oriented toward business travellers but still a good location

star systems are different depending on the guide. there are not organizations enforcing standards, anywhere. take a couple of different guides to any large cosmopolitan city - new york, london, paris, sydney, here in buenos aires, and the ratings of hotels will be different depending on the editorial standards of the particular guide. that said, sure there are major hotels that routinely do well in all the guides.

top hotels here? the ones DD recommended are among the better ones. there's also the hotel madero by sofitel and the faena in puerto madero; the four seasons in recoleta that pop to mind at the moment. in terms of transportation, pretty much anywhere there are major hotels you're relatively close to one of the subway lines and/or bus lines. also taxis are inexpensive here to go most anywhere.

Stars aside, Here are the hotels on my approved list. These are places I would stay/have stayed, depending upon how much I am willing/able to spend.

200USD and up
1. Alvear Palace
2. Four Seasons
3. Faena
4. Sofitel

Under 125-200USD
5. Bobo (rates as low as USD90)
6. Sofitel Madero
7. Intercontinental
8. Hilton

125 or less
8 Regal Pacific
9. NH City
10. NH Jousten
11. NH Latino
12. Esplendor
13. Claridge

100 or less

14. Howard Johnsons Florida ( a former Courtyard by Marriott)
15. Bel Air
16. Art Hotel
17. Art Suites
18. Plaza Francia

I can recommend a 4-star in Recoletta called Loi Suites Recoletta. It is about $165 a night for an executive studio.

When we were in BsAs last month, we stayed at the Claridge. My wife and I loved that hotel. The service staff was excellent.

We also ended staying at the Sofitel and it was also great, albeit expensive.

Finally, we booked a room at the NH Jousten, when we arrived there, they said they had electrical problems and shipped us off to the NH Crillon (near San Martin Plaza). That was an awful room and wouldn't recommend it to anybody. But they didn't charge us which was great.

Hope this helps.

Stayed at the Claridge last year and loved it. The nicest staff! Great breakfast buffet!