Giovanna

Have been working with a TA in BA for about a week, working out a two night trip to Iguazu. Made arrangements for our flight to and from BA and the hotel there myself.

Appreciate all your suggestions, but I think we have things worked out now, and without any money upfront. I can appreciate a TA wanting something in advance for the reasons stated in the last post, but $100 seemed a little high to me, as I noted in one of my previous posts on this thread.

Thanks again. Looking forward to our first visit to South America, and in particular to Buenos Aires, a city we've wanted to see for some time.

anneg

I know that Giovanna has already made her travel arrangement, but I would like anyone looking for a travel agent in Buenos Aires to know about our great experience with Veronica Spina of Alojargentina ([email protected]). She arranged for our flights to Iguazu Falls (cheaper than I could on the internet), booked our hotel (NH Jousten - which we liked very much) and our stay at an estancia (El Ombu, which is wonderful), without charging an up front fee. She is not only very helpful and professional, she also pretty much saved our trip. My purse was stolen in a busy cafe the day before our flight to Iguazu. Fortunately, it contained a letter from her with her phone number. When the thief was done taking the cash, he left the purse in the men's room of the Bonafide Cafe on Tucuman, leaving all cards and other document behind. An employee of the cafe called Veronica, who immediately went to pick it up and fax us the good news at the Sheraton in Iguazu. Obviously, this contributed immeasurably to our enjoyment of the rest of our vacation. To us Veronica is the greatest (and I am not the only one, since I got her name off this site, together with all sorts of other useful information).

Giovanna

anneg: Veronica is the agent I am working with, and we are very pleased with her handling of our arrangements!

She certainly went far beyond the usual function of a TA retrieving your purse. I'm impressed! Hope my purse isn't stolen, but it's nice to know she can be counted on in a pinch.

gnrbernstein

I'm using argentina escapes. It isn't all finalized so I won't say anything just yet other than they are doing quite a bit for us and haven't asked for ANY money at all.

That said, based on other posters and also guide books, it seems that you really need to use a travel agent in BA or wait until you get there because the "international" fees that are charges are outrageous. I've never ever used a travel agent before but felt I had little choice for this country - especially when it comes to airline tickets. This trip is completely custom, the agency is just making all the arrangements for us so I feel comfortable with it. Just the waiting is hard.

When it's all said and done, I'll give a yea or nea report.

~gnr~

lloyd520

I used Mercedes and Maria at argentina escapes.com last March to set up an extensive trip around Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Santiago,Chile. They did an outstanding job for way less than I had planned. They are definately worth checking out. They also did not charge anything up front. Lloyd

owlwoman

We too used Mercedes for our trip last year and are using her agency again for our trip this year. They did an outstanding job for us and we are totally looking forward to our return next year.

gnrbernstein

Question - How do you typically pay a travel agent in Buenos Aires for hotels and transfers that they set up? Do you pay the agency with credit card, by bank transfer or do you pay for the services when you get there (i.e. the reservation is simply made for you)? Does it vary or is the arrangement typically the same for all agents?

~gnr~

gerena

I am using Mayra Brill of Argentina Travel Services and she has been excellent. I do not use travel agents, but thought in this case I should and I am very pleased. She saved me a bundle on air, etc. I paid for the air through my credit card. For the Sheraton at Iguazzu, I used Paypal which was very easy to set up. I also had her book a hotel in Buenos Aires and it too was through Paypal. I had done research and given her a list of hotels I was considering. She wrote back indicating which ones were in bad neighborhoods, etc., etc. Since that time she has answered my questions with no problems. E-mail dialog has been excellent.

IgorVodov

We used WOW Argentina and paid them in full via credit card. No problems whatsoever.

Chiquitito

Gerena: What is Mayra Brill's email address? Thanks, Chiquitito

drdawggy

[email protected]

Giovanna

Turns out there are two Veronicas who are travel agents. I had noted above I was using the same Veronica as Anneg, but that was not the case. We worked with Veronica at ArgentinaGo and were very satisfied with her assistance. She booked our two nights at Puerto Iguazu, plane and hotel, and both worked out well.