Trip Report - BA & Ig Falls
 

Have just returned from 2 weeks in Argentina - most of it spent in BA. A few highlights that may help others prepare for their trips.
ACCOMODATIONS in BsAs: Malabia House in Palmero Viejo is small B&B with very helpful, youthful staff - rates about $90USD per night booked directly via Internet. Great neighborhood with lots of boutiques, bars and restaurants. Nice place to stay, but PV is a bit far removed, though taxis are cheap as everyone points out. Traffic is awful.
Loisutes Recoleta also nice, large hotel, huge breakfast buffet - stayed in both a standard room and junior suite. rates about $145USD booked thru Cintia at Wow Argentina. Great location with helpful staff.
RESTAURANTS: too many great ones to list, the meat was excellent wherever we had it, but for us we had to insist on it being rare since it appeared that the argentine way is more medium to well done. a few standouts included:
La Cabana Las Lilas - toursity and expensive for BA, but very good.
Il Matterello (Calle Martin Rodiguez 517 in La Boca) -- great family Italian place. Inexpensive
Piegori - also Italian -- huge portions and a bit pricey, but very good - I'd say best Italian outside of Italy ($50 USD for 2 including wine desserts)
Filo (San Martin 975) great pizza and pasta, nice lunch place
Oviedo - good lamb, beef and seafood.
LaCupertina (Cabera 5300 Palmero Veijo) -- wonderful empandas and pastries - cheap
Social Paraiso - Honduras 5182 in Palmero Veijo - good food
Sirop in Recoleta -- charming restaurant - very good french-influenced food.
TANGO SHOWS -- we tried 3 different ones
esquina homero manzi ($35 USD per person including cab that picks you up and returns you to hotel) booked for us by Malabia House. Probably the most "authentic" show we saw. We were the only Notre Americanos in the place. the owners came over and thanked us (in Spanish) profusely for coming -- hugs and kisses!
Cafe Tortoni about $2 USD to get in and then a "recommended minimum"-- fun and inexpensive.
El Veijo Almacen -- about $35 USD per person - send van to pick up. Most vegas-like show, best dancers, but enjoyable.

Estancia -- we enjoyed our stay at LaBamba - Patrice is a delight. Booked over the Internet

Iguazu Falls -- incredible falls. VERY hot this time of the year. Stayed at the Sheraton which was worth it for the convenience of being in the park. Rooms are typical Sheraton, nothing special. Food in dining room was ok.

TRAVEL AGENT -- we used Cintia at Wowargentina based on the many references to her on this site. She was wonderful -- everything she did with us was handled very professionally. I highly recommend her.

Hope this information is helpful to all the lucky folks on their way to Argentina. Its a wonderful country and hope to return again soon.

Dona, I loved your report. Thanks for posting it.
Although I have no immediate plan to visit Argentina, I love to read about it.
It's definately on my 'list'.
Did you feel safe? and did you have any language problems?
I'm terrible at languages.
I'd love to read any more info you may have, and glad you had such a good time.

When you visited the falls, did you also go to the Brazilian side? Did you have visa? We are going to Argentina and the Falls in February. I know it is going to be hot, but how hot was it?

Hi -- yes, I felt safe. However, I am from a big city and am used to taking the normal big city precautions. Language was not an issue. I don't speak Spanish, but my husband speaks some. The dialect is a bit different then Spanish in other places, so he had some trouble understanding it. The one place I truly wished I understood it was at the Tango shows -- I missed the story line, jokes and innuendos, but the shows were enjoyable nonetheless.
Re the Falls - we did not end up going to the Brazilian side. Had planned to, but passed on it due to time restraints. You don't need a Visa to go to the Brazilian side. The taxi drivers will take you over. Everyone that we talked to who did go over said it was fabulous. I don't know what the temp was at the Falls, I'd say in the mid-90's with very high humidity. It was ok in the shade, but in the direct sun was not so comfortable. We went out as soon as the Park opened (I think at 8 am) and it was fine in the am. Afternoons were pretty brutual. In BA, the temp was not so bad -- mid 80's, lovely in the am and evenings, but again rather hot in the afternoon when not in the shade. We were told we were lucky with the weather in BA, low humidity and no mosquitoes in the city.

Thank you for responding to my query. Getting a Brazilian visa is such a hassle. I am happy to know that people continue to be able to cross the border with a taxi.

I am not happy about how hot the weather will be in February, but it was the only time we could go this year. I'll plan to tour early in the AM as you suggested.