The last time I was in Buenos Aires. I noticed that many travel agents in the city were promoting trip packages (air and hotel) that were much cheaper than I could procure them in the States. For example, there was an air and hotel package to Mendoza with 3 nights stay at the Park Hyatt for $500 U.S. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with purchasing these packages upon arrival in Buenos Aires. I'm looking for packages to Mendoza, Iquazu Falls and possibly Salta.

We used www.wowargentina.com for our flights from BA to Iguazu Falls and for our three nights at the Sheraton. We had falls view room and it was worth it. THey also arranged our "Great Adventure" boat trip into the falls. We were thoroughly enthralled by the falls and wished we had stayed longer than 3 nights. While we were there at the Sheraton, the flight scheduled changed two or three times. We were glad that we used wowargentina as they kept us fully informed of the changes. In fact, when we arrived for our departure flight, there was yet another change. Our driver made sure that everything was set for us to leave.
You didn't ask, but the Sheraton is next to the park which made it easy for us to walk about the falls.
Oh, on the falls boat trip be prepared to get wet---very very wet.

mnglobetrotter: I have reason to believe those packages may have been for local residents only, so don't count on being able to find one for you.

Have a great time in our country.

Bookmarking thanks

Does anyone know if WOW! Argentina does international airfare too? I'm finding that air is the biggest cost factor so far with flights to BA being $1300 and up, however some pkg deals are getting better rates than what I could do even if I booked a land pkg and air separately. I hesitate to go with that travel agent only because it is $100 fee and I have no guarantee if the rates will be any better than the packages I am finding online and I worry about the international airfare I'd have to buy separately. Any advice out there on this one?
Thanks!

Why don't you just e-mail Cintia Stella <[email protected]>
at WOW!Argentina? She'll answer you promptly...and in English.

bmcc
I have been very happy with www.argentinaescapes.com and all the help they have been to me so far. I've changed budgets and locations a few times and they rolled with it and gave me a great value. International flights from where?

We'll be in Buenos Aires in early December and would like to go to El Calafate. Does anyone know if the agencies offer discount packages there as well?

Todd, glad to hear you're using AE, we've used them for our first two and now our third trip (in March '09), they are great to work with!

Hey Joe18

Click this:http://www.argentinaescapes.com.ar/travels/ver/1

This is just an idea of what they can do. They will help you design your own getaway though, depending on budget and time frames. Tell Pilar I sent you.

We also have used Argentina Escapes in the past and now again for our January to March 2009 visit to Peru and Argentina.

Mercedes there has been very helpful and accommodating to changes and specific requests.

Other friends we have recommended her to have also be very pleased.

However, we used Mercedes for all of our South American arrangements [flights, tours, hotel and transfers] but a local agent for our flight down and back.

It worked well for us. Hope this is of help.

Woodie

Can someone who has used either of these Argentinian travel services tell me what you did through them and what it cost per person?

Thanks.

kenav:

My wife and I traveled from Canada to Punta Arenas, Southern Chile and return from Buenos Aires all flights were arranged from home with a local travel agent.

Once we were in Southern Chile and including all of our travel up to our arrival in Buenos Aires, we used Mercedes at Argentina Escapes.

After doing my own home work and deciding on what we wanted to see and where we wanted to stop, I wrote to Mercedes and gave her our plan.

I wanted to see the penguin at Isla Magdelena, Puta Arenas and from there we went north to Puerto Natales, took a cargo ferry to Puerto Montt. We then went north again to Chiloe and on to Santiago. From Santiago we took an excursion to Valpariso and the neighboring resort town then back to Santiago. From Punta Areans to Santiago we had many stops along this way.

After Santiago we went to Mendoza Argentina, San Juan Argentina and finally to Buenos Aires.

Our trip took close to two months, leaving home about mid January and returning around mid March.

Mercedes arranged all our land, ferry and air travel for all of our South American time. She also arranged all our accommodation, tours and some special traditional meals.

I no longer remember all the places we visited between Punta Arenas and Buenos Aires but I was 98% satisfied with her service and am using her once more for our next trip this winter. She is now arranging travel from Quito, Ecuador to Lima, to Cusco, to Machu Picchu, back to Lima for further travel to Buenos Aires. Tours, accommodation, air and land transfers are included. We are traveling with our daughter and her partner all worked out by Mercedes.

I could look up all the places we stopped at on our first trip but it would not be much use since you have to decide on what interests you, not me.

I will say that I originally thought I would stop over in Puerto Montt but on her suggestion we went to a resort town about 20 km away. After experiencing that trip and seeing Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas [where we did stay] I can say that her advice was excellent. I had the benefit of her knowledge and experience. After all, that is the reason we used her. As well, I feel that she got us a better rate in many places than we gringos could get on our own. She knew where and how to deal.

The 2% bad part of the trip was in Mendoza where the local agent [contracted with Mercedes] did a terrible job with tours and accommodation. They are BACO Tours and if they are still in business I would stay away from them.

However, you must understand that no travel agent can work on such trips without depending on local help. I do not hold Mercedes responsible for the actions of Baco Tours.

I hope this is a help to you.

The price of your travel depends on current market, where you want to go, what tours you will be taking and for how long you want to go as well as the class of travel you choose.

What we paid is not relevant except to say that I was very satisfied.

I suggest you check out what you want and then write for an approximate quote.

I was concerned about prepaying all of this trip, not knowing the company. I had a good experience and will do the same for our next trip.

Woodie

As for my wife and me, we haven't yet left for our adventure. I started dealing with 5 different companies back in May for our week in Argentina after our cruise this December. I got down to only 2 companies at the end. I based that on good recomendations and the description of the accomodations and tours in relation to the price. I have been dealing with Pilar and not Mercedes. 2 months ago I got laid off completely unexpectedly and had to cut my budget for that week down by $1,000. Pilar was outstanding in working with me to keep as much as possible and, even though I had to cut out Iguazu in order to make the budget, I am still very much looking forward to what we have in store for us. I told her what I wanted and she told me what it would cost. She must have given me a couple of dozen price quotes before we booked. We leave for our cruise in 2 weeks and then we arrive in BA. I can give you a better report after that on how it was pulled off.

My wife and I just got back from an 11-day trip we put together using Argentina Escapes. We had a great time. Pilar put together an itinerary that included a trip to an estancia and an excursion through Iguazu Falls, as well as an 8-day stay in Buenos Aires.

Pilar also scheduled a BA city tour with Angie. She was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun to be around; if you want someone to guide you through the city, I highly recommend her; she can be reached at [email protected].

I booked everything on my own and it was very easy. We found LAN airlines to be prompt and service oriented. Very pleasant. And accomodations were so easy to book. If you know your schedule it is very easy to book on your own.

I found that Argentina Escapes got better prices for our hotel and travel inside Argentina than we could on our own, or that AAA could through my AAA membership. And their advice helped a lot on scheduling excursions and tours.