I am planning a ski trip to Portillo, Chile for August 19-26. I then am thinking about flying to BA and exploring that city for a few days. However, if I only have a week (I am a VERY speedy tourist) can I also fit in a 2-3 day to Iguazu Falls? I feel I should go since who knows when I'll be in Argentina again like this (I was there this past summer but for skiing).

I priced out the Sheraton online which was about $275 USD per night. It seems like that is the best bet due to location.
Here are some other questions:

1. Do I need a TA for flights, tours, and transportation? Or can I do this online, and if so, which airlines offer cheaper flights from Santiago to BA?

2. How would I get from the Iguazu airport to the hotel and back?

3. Which are the best tours to take?

Money is not a huge option-if it's a one-time trip then I don't mind spending a bit more but not too much. I've read the posts about Cintia who seems to cater more to high-end clients (and I want some options, not to pay $100 and have to take what she gives me) and Veronica who seems more up my alley.

Please help! I know NADA about BA and Iguazu so any input is greatly appreciated!
Abby

Abby
1.-The location of the Sheraton is worth that money, not so much the hotel. It seems too much though.
2.-A.A sometimes offers good promotions. This year it was cheaper to bus the Andes and arrive in Mendoza and from there take the plane u$s 100
mendoza buenos aires. Staying in Mendoza is a good idea if you have time to spare.
3.- as soon as you land there are several buses that will take you to the sheraton or to puerto Iguazu.
4.- the falls are the main attraction but if you have time, think about busing the way to the south and visit the Esteros de Ibera. An unforgettable experience for the ones who have never been so close to the nature in the wetlands. Though i think your time is limited, l night in iguazu and 2 at the esteros, is not bad.

Good luck

I just wnat to make sure I understand you correctly... you have a week to ski in Portillo and then another week for BA/Iguazu, right? All are great locations that you will enjoy... but if you are saying you only have 1 week for all 3 then you really don't have enough time.

In Iguazu, if you want to spend less money and stay in town, check out Hotel St George. Also, the only tour you need to do at the falls is the speedboat under the falls. The rest of the tours aren't really worth the money (trust me, I did them all). Just bring walking shoes and hike all the trails you can. Also, get over to the Brazilian side if you can (give yourself at least half a day there).

BA is a great city too. You will have a wonderful trip!

I will have one week in Portillo to ski and probably a week if not a little bit more in BA/Iguazu (just got miles to use). What I think I will do is fly from NYC to BA, then BA to Santiago for my ski trip, then Santiago-NYC. But while in BA I don't want to travel alone. I've done it all around the world but my Spanish is very limited (well, none) and I want to make sure I cover all ground.

I figure 3-4 days in BA is good and then the falls. If I fly from BA to the falls then there are buses that will take me to a hotel? If I stay in a hotel in town then how do I get to the falls? I am skeptical since I will be by myself. I would rather do tours so I know I'm with others and seeing what I should be seeing.

Can anyone please recommend tours and/or what kind of benefits there are to staying in the town rather than at the Sheraton? Also, which TAs are best who will be willing to work with me rather than make me do what they say I do? Thanks!

if you decide not to pay so much for the Sheraton, you can stay in Puerto iguazu.

All the hotels provide a transfer that will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel.

Depending on the flights, you take you can also stay one night. Take the 7 55 one day and come back at 17 hs the following. you will see it all.

Somebody mentioned the St. George as a good option. There are many there for all budgets. The great majority have a pool in the backwards and that is great.

Iguazu is not for more than 2 days.
good luck

Is there anywhere else I should be looking to visit if I have a week +/- 2 days in Buenos Aires besides Iguazu? It just looked really cool but is it like going to Niagara Falls or some other tourist trap?

Does it sound ridiculous to fly from NYC-BA, spend a few days touring around BA, then flying from BA to Iguazu, then back to BA (I will have skis and luggage so I don't know where else to store them but a hotel) and then to Chile a day later to meet my friends for the Portillo trip?

For a few hours tonight I've also entertained the idea of going to Easter Island. However, it's just impossible to get to without paying a fortune. Do you think it's worth it, or is EI also another touristy kind of place?

I feel that b/c I'm going to Chile and can use miles I should do something else. Now I might just bag it and go to this retreat in Brazil I've had friends go to! Spa and relaxation after all the planning!

Hi Abby43, I cannot translate an Spanish saying that goes like this EL QUE MUCHO ABARCA POCO APRIETA
meaning if you a reach for too much you will end up with very little, frankly I believe you have not checked properly the distances.
Also paying $275 for the Sheraton, on line or not, in my opinion is a waist of money. In Rome do as the romans do, and in Buenos Aires reserve your hotel through a good travel agency and you will save money and be better served.. By the way Iguazu is no tourist trap.

Sorry I MEANT A WASTE of money......

275 for the Sheraton seems like what the other people are paying. Even if you reserve it through the travel agent you might end up paying the same price. you can try WowArgentina.com and see if they can offer you Sheraton at a lower price. Even if they cannot get you the discount, still Sheraton is the best hotel in Iguazu because it is all about the location. You will be literally inside the park and if you stay in town, you would have to take an expensive cab ride into the park.

I went to Iguazu in April '03 and loved it! I flew from BA at midday - beautiful view of falls from plane!Downtown hotel (can't remember name but it was fine and under $100 -prob would be more now as econ is better) provided transfer. I spent the rest of the day walking around the town. Not a lot to see but cool walk to where 3 countries converge with beautiful sunset. Next day I took the public bus to the falls which was easy and yet felt adventurous and obviously cheap. Then I spent the full day at the falls on my own. No need for guide. It was fantastic! I covered everything (on Arg side) in one day. I met my hired guides the next day to go to other areas in Argentina (Mocana and Ibera) so I only spent one day at falls. I think 2 days is best b/c then on the 2nd day you would go to Brazilian side (mixed info as to whether Americans need visas if they are only going into Brazil here - I'll let others debate that). I would def not get a guide for Argentina side - but you will need at least a driver for Brazil side. While in the park, I went into the Sheraton which seemed very cool in the park although a bit sterile and had less local flavor than my hotel. Not sure if it worth 2-3x the price to stay in park or not. Maybe if your room had view of falls(!) then it would be worth it. [To give you an idea of where I'm coming from I go high end sometimes and low end sometimes (dependent on a lot of factors and usually I'm looking for value).

I'm going back to Argentina on Dec 30 myself so on here trying to do last minute plans! Have fun!

We are making our first trip to South America in connection with a cruise from B.A. to Valparaiso. We will be in B.A. 5 days before the cruise and plan to fly to Iguazu and stay 2 nights. How long does it take to get from the airport to hotel (we plan on staying at the Cataratas) then how long to get to the falls by bus? In other words if we leave B.A. at 10:00am, when will we be at the falls? When we return, how long should we allow to get to the airport and how early should we be there for a 10:00 am flight? Also, we don't want to drag all of our luggage there. Any suggestions of a means to store the luggage? We are staying at the Howard Johnson on Calle Florida the first night in B.A. Do you think it would be possible to store luggage there for multiple days? Do the airports rent storage lockers?