rex

Hi - - first time poster, second time visitor to this forum (but many years and thousands of posts on the Europe forum)...

...and contemplating a post-Thxgiving trip to Buenos Aires, due in large part to the bargain fares on LAN.

A few questions - - some of which have easy-to-find answers on this forum, or on tripadvisor.com - - but still worth asking...

1. The fare to BA is way lower than "usual", but still higher than many other destinations in Mexico or Central America. Are there places that you have enjoyed just as much as BA? Seeking primarily a city-based / "tourism-rich" (as opposed to watersports, resort or "eco-tourism&quot trip of only 5-7 days.

2. Based on your own experience, or what you've heard from other first-time visitors... is an apartment a good idea for first-time visitors? I have read a good deal, especially on tripadvisor, about the challenges of wading through the explosion of apartments offered on the internet. Seems like there are some good choices - - just need to buiyer beware, and check out longevity and reputation. And there is a posting (or two) here that smack of outright (unethical) advertising... though at least one looks fairly attractive. Any opinion?

3. Many mention the value of using a specific "Argentina-savvy" agent to arrange the trip... but if we are planning to buy this cheap airfare from LAN, are we really going to benefit from that? (hard to build a package when we already know this airfare deal) - - or similarly, others speak highly of one person or another as a local "guide" or resource (one individual on tripadvisor gets particularly high marks, but I don't know at what price)... not something I would ordinarily seek out for Europe - - but is it all that much more worthwhile for BA?

Many thanks in advance for your replies...

Best wishes,

Rex

Giovanna

Hope you receive responses from RVRooster and Dr. Dawggy, both of whom have a wealth of information re BsAs (RVRooster lives there).

There are many, many posts here on Costa Rica. We've never been there but it is a country we'd like to visit.

Hope you find what you're looking for. We fell in love with BsAs and are anxious to return, stay for several days and then travel to Mendoza, Salta, taste some wine and enjoy the beautiful countryside.

SharonG

Rex,
I answered you on the Europe Forum but I'll do it again here and really encourage you to go to BA. You'll get lots of good info on this forum but from a fellow "Europe lover" I have to tell you how much I fell in love with BA and did not expect to at all. I went with little enthusiasm (it was a business trip) and came back a huge fan of the country. Go go go. I was there last November (when Bush was there too!) and felt totally safe and welcomed. The level of service by waitstaff and sales people is something I haven't seen in the US in 30 years. Really very charming. And you must go to a tango show!

avrooster

Hi, Giovanna! Who is this guy RVRooster you are talking about? RV=Recreational vehicle? Never heard of him. LOL!!!!

AVRooster

rex

Thanks Giovanna. Noted your advice on a post last month... when BA wasn't really even on my radar screen (and made a reference to that on my "other" post, on the Europe forum).

rex

Okay, AVR... what (if any) place competes "favorably" with BA?

Montreal_traveller

I just returned from a two-week trip to Argentina with my husband. The only other Latin destinations I can speak to are Costa Rica, where I honeymooned, and San Juan for a day and half, but I guess that doesn't really count.

Argentina in general, and BA, specifically, was so satisfying on so many levels.

BA has rich culture (theatre, dance, art, etc), splendid urban architecture, vibrant street life and a very palpable but ineffable je-ne-sais-quoi that made leaving very difficult.

We were in the city for a total of about 5 and a half days, which were filled mainly with walking for several hours every day through the various barrios. The city is made for walking (although watch out for copious amounts of dog poo).

I regret that we didn't get the opportunity to do some of the day trips that many people do (like to San Antonio de Areco or to Tigre) but even just staying in the city was stimulating to all my senses.

Costa Rica was a relaxing trip with great outdoor scenery and wonderful activities. While the people were friendly, I thought they were very reserved and guarded. Plus the food was only alright.

From Argentina, we came home exhausted but fulfilled. I can't explain but I felt an immediate kinship with the people. They're like me, only a little different. It was easy to eat in BA, easy to get around and I felt at home almost immediately.

And, despite the warnings about safety in the city, we never felt more threatened or in danger than we do at home (well, except for one brief incident, but I'll chalk that up to bad luck).

Personally, I can't wait to get back.

As for a travel agent, you can read my post about Isabel Llobet. She helped us out immensely and the trip wouldn't have been the same without her. I guess you need to figure out what you want from this trip before you decide if you need a local hand to help you out.

avrooster

OK, Rex, I'll answer your questions to the best of my capacity, but you yourself say some of them have "easy-to-find answers" in the travel forums we frequent.

Question 1: I'm a local and I'll tell you to come here. Anyway, I'don't know about the other places, so I'm not really qualified to answer.

Question 2: You say your trip is only 5 or 7 days long. I would say that stay is a little on the short side, for an apartment. BTW, which is the "fairly attractive" posting you mention?

Question 3: This one is easy. If you only plan to stay in BA, using a local travel agent does not make sense. Local TAs are suggested for trips WITHIN Argentina.

Have a great time in whatever country you choose to travel to.

Giovanna

Alberto forgive me! I certainly know better. Haven't had breakfast yet and my fingers seem to be working independent of my brain!

avrooster

In what time zone are you, Giovanna, that you have not had breakfast yet? LOL!!!!

Giovanna

Pacific Daylight. I think I will now sign off and correct that situation. Wish I had some Argentine style cafe con leche. I can make some toast and I do have some dulce de leche that I brought home to put on it.

avrooster

MY morning "café con leche" is made with instant coffee (Nescaf&eacute and partially skimmed milk. Why can't you have it there?

Giovanna

I'm sure I could, but it wouldn't taste as good as it did in BsAS!

drdawggy

Giovanna,

AV is old and many of the taste buds in his mouth have long since died. He probably doesn't realize his Nescafe con skim milk leche just isn't the same. He deserves your pity.

rex

<< BTW, which is the "fairly attractive" posting you mention? >>

It was cited here.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34857356

A lot of work (and a certain of pizzazz) went into the creation of the website, and the photos certainly look like it's an attractive place. It's on Avenida Las Heras in Recoleta.

Ordinarily, (on the Europe forum, at least) I would not condone this rather blatant use of the forum for advertising. Still, if it looks good, well - - the forum is the loser, but the renter can be an inadvertent winner.

I understand that rental for a stay as short as ours makes it less a bargain than actually staying the full week (we are actually going to be there for FOUR nights, arriving at 7 am, and departing at 11 pm) - - but the rate is still just fine with me, even when dividing by four. Looks better than a hotel (at least in some cases).

My question about an apartment is whether orientation to a city (and peculiarities of a culture that is new to me) will make us "miss" the infrastructure that a hotel provides. I would not hesitate to recommend an apartment to an experienced traveler, headed to Rome or Paris. We _did_ choose an apartment rental for our first (only) trip to Prague.

Thanks for your reply.

avrooster

Yes, Rex, I thought you could mean that one. I wonder why fodors.com allows it to stand.

Since you are obviously an experienced traveler, I don't think you will really "miss the infrastructure that a hotel provides".

By reading this forum extensively, as well as TA's, you should get the "orientation to a city (and peculiarities of a culture that is new to me)".

However, I still feel a hotel makes much more sense for a four-night stay.

rex

<< However, I still feel a hotel makes much more sense for a four-night stay >>

I'm guessing that this represents a personal preference - - not particularly specific to Buenos Aires?

rex

For what it's worth, a quick search on "colonial mexico" here on this forum led me to some enthusiastic postings about Michoacan. And good one-stop service is available through Houston on continental, at a fare about the same as the bargain BA fare on LAN.

Now I realize that comparing BA and Michoacan is like comparing Boston and West Virginia.

But both have their merits.

avrooster

Well, I'm not sure about how apartment rentals work elsewhere, but I certainly would not do it here for only four days.

Until you have been in the apartment for at least a day, I guess you don't really know what you paid for.

For instance, that "ad" we were talking about says the apartment features "Unlimited Phone Calls Worlwide". Do you think that is true? LOL!!!

And what about the security deposit, which, of course, is not mentioned anywhere????

mikemo

Just don't plan on flying Aerolineas Argentinas "in country" as their fares have recently risen more than dramatically.
M