What tour company did you use for Argentina?
#21
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If you're interested in booking individual day tours, you may want to look into a biking tour of Buenos Aires. When my friend was visiting, she took two tours through Urban Biking (www.urbanbiking.com) and had a great time.
#24
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I just came back yesterday from a two week trip to Argentina that was put together by Cintia Stella at WOW Argentina. (I will post a complete trip report within the next few days.) I highly recommend Wow. Cintia was really amazing -- she made last minute adjustments to our schedule after flights were cancelled or delayed, which I learned was fairly common for internal flights. She contacted me when we were traveling outside of BA to let us know that flights had been delayed, just so we would plan appropriately. Every excursion she planned for us was perfect in all of the places we went to -- BA, Bariloche, El Calafate, and Iguazu -- and the tour companies she booked us with for each excursion could not have been better. She was like our guardian angel while we were in Argentina. I actually think she should charge more than $100 for planning the trip because her input was invaluable.
#25
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I hope those 'first and only' posts weren't directed towards me. I just joined Fodor's the other day but have been a long and faithful contributor to VT and LP for many years now - just thought I'd spread my wings out a bit and come here.
My first post was just a recommendation of a tour that I've heard great reviews about. I've been living in Argentina for 4 years now and have a lot of info to offer, so you will see me floating around every now and then.
My first post was just a recommendation of a tour that I've heard great reviews about. I've been living in Argentina for 4 years now and have a lot of info to offer, so you will see me floating around every now and then.
#26
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I apologize to melinbsas.
She only has a few posts so far, but her most recent ones seem to indicate that my first impression (see above my post of 11/24/2008, 08:28 am) was wrong.
Welcome to the Fodor's Argentina forum, melinbsas!
She only has a few posts so far, but her most recent ones seem to indicate that my first impression (see above my post of 11/24/2008, 08:28 am) was wrong.
Welcome to the Fodor's Argentina forum, melinbsas!
#29
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Another vote here for Isabel. We are also a 50-ish couple with interests very similar to kywood1955. We were in Argentina for 2 1/2 weeks in October, with a similar itinerary.
Isabel provided a great, custom trip, listening carefully to our desires (and even sorting things out to compromise when my wife and I disagreed). In the beginning, I developed only a broad idea of where I wanted to go. Then I got overwhelmed in the details...and sidetracked by work. Isabel helped put together all the tiny details.
As we travelled around the country, she was constantly checking up on us. Without here, we would have missed a connecting flight thru BA (from Iguazu-BA-to Salta) and been stuck overnight at some modest hotel in BA. But she figured out there would be a problem, called Aerolineas and twisted some arms to make sure they held the plane.
She was sensitive to our level of budget (not modest budget, but also not the Avelar Palace @ US$600/night).
I could go on and on with reasons why she is wonderful. She gets an A+
[email protected]
Isabel provided a great, custom trip, listening carefully to our desires (and even sorting things out to compromise when my wife and I disagreed). In the beginning, I developed only a broad idea of where I wanted to go. Then I got overwhelmed in the details...and sidetracked by work. Isabel helped put together all the tiny details.
As we travelled around the country, she was constantly checking up on us. Without here, we would have missed a connecting flight thru BA (from Iguazu-BA-to Salta) and been stuck overnight at some modest hotel in BA. But she figured out there would be a problem, called Aerolineas and twisted some arms to make sure they held the plane.
She was sensitive to our level of budget (not modest budget, but also not the Avelar Palace @ US$600/night).
I could go on and on with reasons why she is wonderful. She gets an A+
[email protected]
#30
Join Date: May 2004
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I e-mailed buenosairesstay, nearly three days ago, about possible tours of BA and haven't gotten a response. They advertise that they answer within 24 hours. I leave in less than 2 weeks and just need some prices on how much city tours cost. I need to plan a budget.
I've also e-mailed buenosaireshistorico , but haven't gotten a response as of yet. Hopefully, I'll here something by the end of the weekend. Again, I need prices.
Does anyone know of a good map, of BA, to buy here in the U.S. before I leave? I like to have maps before I leave home and go over streets and areas. I'm good at memorizing map info. I remember when I arrived into Kuala Lumpur and was asking hotel staff about a shop location and they told me the street and I asked what streets the shop location might be between as I started naming possible intersections. They just said, "Oh, we see you've been here many times". I laughed as I'd just arrived that morning and it was my first time there. I had memorized a lot of the map before having left home. Then I don't have to pull out a map on the street.
Does BA not have a Discovery Bus system like a lot of the big cities of the world? One where you pay about $25. and then jump on and off at various tourist sites?
BA is starting to sound like Sao Paulo where one calls a tour company and they send a car and guide to drive one around which in SP cost a LOT of money which is why I just ended up walking around my neighborhood basically. I was only in SP for a day on my way back home from many days in Bahia. And it would have been nice if I could have had a tour of the city. My hotel, a very famous one, didn't even have a tour office. They gave me the numbers to the private tour companies that were all way above my budget. Happy Travels!
I've also e-mailed buenosaireshistorico , but haven't gotten a response as of yet. Hopefully, I'll here something by the end of the weekend. Again, I need prices.
Does anyone know of a good map, of BA, to buy here in the U.S. before I leave? I like to have maps before I leave home and go over streets and areas. I'm good at memorizing map info. I remember when I arrived into Kuala Lumpur and was asking hotel staff about a shop location and they told me the street and I asked what streets the shop location might be between as I started naming possible intersections. They just said, "Oh, we see you've been here many times". I laughed as I'd just arrived that morning and it was my first time there. I had memorized a lot of the map before having left home. Then I don't have to pull out a map on the street.
Does BA not have a Discovery Bus system like a lot of the big cities of the world? One where you pay about $25. and then jump on and off at various tourist sites?
BA is starting to sound like Sao Paulo where one calls a tour company and they send a car and guide to drive one around which in SP cost a LOT of money which is why I just ended up walking around my neighborhood basically. I was only in SP for a day on my way back home from many days in Bahia. And it would have been nice if I could have had a tour of the city. My hotel, a very famous one, didn't even have a tour office. They gave me the numbers to the private tour companies that were all way above my budget. Happy Travels!
#31
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I also sent Isabell an email a few days ago and haven't heard back, which is not like her at all, she is either out of the office or didn't get it, I am going to send it again, maybe you should too.
#32
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OK, Guenmai, let's see what I can do for you.
I'm not much of fan of that website you mention, because I feel they do some phony advertising here. You have an example in the "Local tour operator - Patagonia / Bariloche" thread.
That said, not answering e-mails right away is normal here, so it should not be held against them. On the other hand, they should not promise to reply in 24 hours.
One idea for budget tours is to contact the local cicerones. Research them on TA. I got several pages of comments.
For not so budget tours, I again suggest researching and contacting Isabel, the local travel agent I usually recommend.
About the map of BA, I suggest googling "mapa de Buenos Aires". Other forum members may know of maps you can buy in the US.
I don't think we have anything like the Discovery Bus.
Have a great time in our country.
I'm not much of fan of that website you mention, because I feel they do some phony advertising here. You have an example in the "Local tour operator - Patagonia / Bariloche" thread.
That said, not answering e-mails right away is normal here, so it should not be held against them. On the other hand, they should not promise to reply in 24 hours.
One idea for budget tours is to contact the local cicerones. Research them on TA. I got several pages of comments.
For not so budget tours, I again suggest researching and contacting Isabel, the local travel agent I usually recommend.
About the map of BA, I suggest googling "mapa de Buenos Aires". Other forum members may know of maps you can buy in the US.
I don't think we have anything like the Discovery Bus.
Have a great time in our country.
#34
Join Date: May 2004
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Avrooster: Thanks alot. I'll do that on TA. I noticed that my hotel has car service, so I'll see how much they charge and I might just do what I usually do in these situations, like when I was in both Ghana, West Africa and Kuala Lumpur where I just made a list of where I wanted to go, hired a driver, and then went. In KL, I just hired the driver who was always waiting outside of my hotel and negotiated a price for less than half of what I would have been charged had I gone through the hotel. The hotel uses the same driver at inflated rates. It all turned out great. He was an excellent driver. I need a stress free vacation. Smiles.
I did print out a page, some months ago, on car services in BA, and it seems to run about $20. an hour to hire a driver. Maybe I'll check into one of those car services and just hope for the best which is what I usually do in cities where it's not safe to just flag any taxi on the street.
The idea of having to call for a remis whenever I want to go from one place to another seems a bit stressful especially if my cell phone doesn't work or my Spanish isn't good enough to explain where I am and need to be picked up and where I need to go next. I'll figure it out eventually though. Smiles. Happy Travels!
I did print out a page, some months ago, on car services in BA, and it seems to run about $20. an hour to hire a driver. Maybe I'll check into one of those car services and just hope for the best which is what I usually do in cities where it's not safe to just flag any taxi on the street.
The idea of having to call for a remis whenever I want to go from one place to another seems a bit stressful especially if my cell phone doesn't work or my Spanish isn't good enough to explain where I am and need to be picked up and where I need to go next. I'll figure it out eventually though. Smiles. Happy Travels!
#35
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Obviously, your "The hotel uses the same driver at inflated rates." is also true here.
About your: "it seems to run about $20. an hour to hire a driver.", I believe it could be more now.
For a female solo traveler who is in BA for the first time and doesn't know much Spanish, I usually suggest having taxi cabs called (particularly at night), versus hailing them on the street.
That said, the odds of your having a problem of any kind are pretty low, as most of our cabbies are great, hard-working guys. I assume you know you should always have bills no larger than 20 pesos to pay them and that kind of thing.
If you click on my screen name and scroll down (quite a bit) to my "The REAL Buenos Aires" thread, you will find my e-mail in about the tenth post, JIC you want it.
About your: "it seems to run about $20. an hour to hire a driver.", I believe it could be more now.
For a female solo traveler who is in BA for the first time and doesn't know much Spanish, I usually suggest having taxi cabs called (particularly at night), versus hailing them on the street.
That said, the odds of your having a problem of any kind are pretty low, as most of our cabbies are great, hard-working guys. I assume you know you should always have bills no larger than 20 pesos to pay them and that kind of thing.
If you click on my screen name and scroll down (quite a bit) to my "The REAL Buenos Aires" thread, you will find my e-mail in about the tenth post, JIC you want it.
#36
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Thanks Avrooster...and yes, drivers usually cost more if booked through a hotel which is why if I get a good taxi driver I ask him if I can hire him as a private driver. I've found some really good driver's that way. I'm quite good at bargaining. I even bargain hard here at home. Many of my friends ask me to come along shopping with them as I seem to be able to get high quality at a reduced price. Smiles. That's how I got my Kuala Lumpur driver. So, I'll just play it by ear. However, I will e-mail Isabel now and see what she says about maybe a couple of city tours. I'm keeping all of my options open. Thanks again. Happy Travels!
#39
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Isabel...I didn't know that it was a problem. I haven't had any problems with e-mail coming through.
I e-mailed 4 companies in BA, a few days ago, and Eternautas e-mailed me back right away with a tour plan and I just received another e-mail from them this morning with a completed plan to my specifications. I just finished answering them.
I don't think there's anything that I can do to my system. I don't know why your e-mail didn't come through. I'll e-mail you my e-mail address again. Maybe there was a mistyping. I will be making a decision with Eternautas within a few days though, so you'll need to try to get your proposal to me soon. Now, I'll end and send you my e-mail address again. Thanks for your attention. Happy Travels!
I e-mailed 4 companies in BA, a few days ago, and Eternautas e-mailed me back right away with a tour plan and I just received another e-mail from them this morning with a completed plan to my specifications. I just finished answering them.
I don't think there's anything that I can do to my system. I don't know why your e-mail didn't come through. I'll e-mail you my e-mail address again. Maybe there was a mistyping. I will be making a decision with Eternautas within a few days though, so you'll need to try to get your proposal to me soon. Now, I'll end and send you my e-mail address again. Thanks for your attention. Happy Travels!
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