Pls critique itinerary and provide suggestions
 

I am about to finalize 2 weeks November trip to Argentina. I have the international flight reservation on hold for a few days, so your suggestions/alterations/critique is more than welcome....Since it’s a holiday, we’d like a not too rushed an itinerary; with enough time in each location (be in BA on Sunday for the fabulous markets); and optimal movement between locations. Having said that, do i need to extend to other location? Do I have the correct order? Did I miss Argentina-unique place? Your collective wisdom/suggestions/critique is needed!

Here it is:
day 1 (11/14) - arrive BA (noonish-1/2 day free)
day 2-5 (11/15-11/18) - BA (4 days)
day 6 (11/19) - fly to El Calafate (1/2 day free)
day 7-8 (11/20-21) - El Calafate (2 days)
day 9 (11/22) - fly to Peninsula Valdez (1/2 day free)
day 10-11 (11/23-24) – 2 full days at Peninsula
day 12 (11/25) - fly to Iguazu (travel the day)
day 13-14 (11/26-11/27) – Iguazu (2 full days)
day 15 (11/28) - fly to BA (or should i fly to BA the night before?) and then depart home late evening

Thanks in advance for all your help!!!

I'd say don't fly out of Iguazú later than noon or so and try to fly LAN at least on the Iguazú/BA part, because they are normally more reliable than Aerolíneas, but don't yet cover all your destinations.

If you get to BA with too much time to spare, hire a car from

http://www.tiendaleon.com.ar/Home/li...sp?Id_Unidad=9

have lunch at Rodizio, near the local airport and get to the international airport with plenty of time to buy "alfajores", etc.

http://www.rodizio.com.ar/sucursales_costanera.htm

You'll have a great time in our country.

Avrooster, thanks! if i fly out of Iguazu later in pm, i would have spend almost 3 days there - is it too much? May be i should add extra day at El Calafate or Peninsula?

Most people say 2 days in Iguazú are OK, but it may depend on where you are staying and whether or not you also want to see the Brazilian side, so I'd suggest a little more research on the subject, in order to decide what would be right for you.

Do you arrange for all the local flights, lodging, outings, on your own?

Please note I said NOT to fly out of Iguazú later in PM, on the day you fly home. I've on the same local flight with people who were obviously going to miss their international flight.

In the last paragraph above, I obviously meant: "I've BEEN on the same local flight...."

avrooster,

I haven't decided if I will do all my travel arrangement by myself or get a travel agent to do it. I like travelling on my own, but may be having a travel agency doing all the local reservations(and may be getting a better deals) is not a bad idea. Do you have a recommendation?

I usually suggest using an independent travel agent called Isabel

[email protected]

Don't take my word for it, dy123, research her services using this forum's search feature as well the one on tripadvisor.com's Argentina forum where you have also been posting.

Thanks! I did see Isabel's name posted in various threads.

BTW, dy123, about that question about LAN flights you posted on TA, the answer is the following: LAN doesn't YET fly to the places you mention, while Aerolíneas does.

You can e-mail Isabel asking her about it, or you can get into Aerolíneas Argentinas' website and find out their schedule.

http://www.aerolineas.com.ar/home.asp

Hi, Avrooster - thanks! It appears that the weather may be a factor in November. In your opinion, should I swap the South for the NW and the wine region?

I've never been down there, so I don't really know, but it should NOT be terribly cold in November. Of course, the best time to go is a bit later, during our summer. I suggest a little more research on the subject, but, in principle, I don't feel you should swap, unless you strongly dislike cold weather.

IMO, the best time for the NW is our winter and I'd go to the wine region in our spring or fall.

Not a problem with cold weather - we are from the North East (NY). It seems that you are a very knowledgeable about Argentina - are you a travel agent, by any chance?

No, I'm NOT a travel agent, but I happen to have lived here for only 67 years and counting...LOL!!!

If you need a local travel agent, you already know who I recommend.

My independent occupation is financial and requires that I spend most of my time in front of the computer. That's the reason why I have time to do all this.

Great, so I will pick your brains every so often - hope you don't mind!

No problem, dy123, but in that other place where you have been posting (where I was banned for telling it like it is), there are many more brains to pick! LOL!!!

Avrooster,

But nothing, I am sure, like a 67 year-young local Argentinian. If you're from BA, what's your favorite spots/places to eat/other....I am sure, by now, its a cut and paste job for you....

I'm from BA, but I have lived in the Northern suburbs for the last 33 years, so I don't go much to BA restaurants.

Let's pick the greatest brain of all: drdawggy's!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._District.html

For Italian, definitely, Sotto Voce, but there must be many others.

Spanish: Oviedo

Steak: La Brigada, La Cabrera, many others. Avoid the overpriced and touristy "Cabaña Las Lilas" and "La Cabaña".

Am I supposed to have any brains left to pick? LOL!!! Keep'em coming!

dy123, about that question you asked on the "other place", may I ask you why you get to BA at noon, if most international flights land in the early morning?

Besides that, it seems there is a direct flight to El Calafate at 3.40 PM, from the local airport. So, if your international flight is on time, you should be OK. R/T cost: a little less than 300 dollars, which I find cheap.

BTW, dy123, all you have to do is check out http://www.aerolineas.com.ar/home.asp
as I did, to find out all this.

Have a great time in our country.