Job uncertainties stopped for a while my research for our Argentina trip next Nov. Now, it might be just wishful thinking on my side, but I am back in business – research business, that is.

We pretty much know where in Argentina we want to go (BA, Iguazu, El Calafate and Pen.Valdez), so I started looking into flights. Oh my…this is not going to be easy. Out of Newark, we can get the Continental red eye, that gets us to BA around 10:30 am. Unless a miracle happens, and I do not count on it, we will fly coach. From there, there is an Aerolinas flight to Iguazu at around 3pm. But I think that is from a different airport…
So, assuming we land on time, is 4 ½ hrs enough for custom, get our bags, taxi to the other airport, and check-in? Is it too much of a risk?

The reason I would like to try to get to Iguazu the same day is that because we are planning 3 nights (2 full days) in Iguazu, 4 nights in El Calafate and 4 nights in Pen.Valdez – that only leaves 3 nights at the end for BA. If we use one the first day, we will only be left with 1 full day in BA, definitely not eough.
What do you all think? Thanks

ttt

XYZ99,

I arrived in Buenos Aires today at 10:20 am, cleared customs, got money from Banco Nacional, got a taxi from TaxiEzezia, and was at my hotel in Palermo by 11:45. For some reason we were bumped up to elite class, so we were able to disembark quickly, but still in coach you should be able to get off in plenty of time. The line for customs was long for many, but for those from the U.S., we had no line at all today.

uwhuskyfan,
Thanks a lot – what about the Argentina entry fee, is there a line for that? Is that a separate/additional line, or the same as the custom line?
Good to know there is a separate line for US – hope w can make it, otherwise we’ll need to find a hotel for a night there (without any prior reservation).

If your plane from Newark is delayed an hour or more, this will be a very stressful beginning to your holiday. Could you change around your itinerary and start with two or three days in Buenos Aires, and shave a day off your visit to Iguazu?

BTW there isn't a separate line for people from the US, there's a separate line for people who have non-Mercosul passports.

xyz,

The first line you go through is the entry fee for U.S./Can/Australia. That had no line when we arrived, after that you are right in front of the immigration line, we were called to the window with no wait. We flew from Dallas to Mexico City and than connected to B.A. We were off the plane fast and there were probably 100 people not from the U.S in the immigration lines, but no line for us citizens of the U.S., maybe that is our bonus for having to pay an entry fee.

Susan,
<<If your plane from Newark is delayed an hour or more, this will be a very stressful beginning to your holiday>>
This is exactly my concern, and we never ever wing it, so I would be lost if something changed in the plan. But I found another flight (different airline) that gets there at 7:30 am. Even if that is delayed for an hour, or even 2, we can still make the Aerolineas flight. I am hoping that if we book the 3pm flight, and we get there earlier and the earlier flights are not full, we might take an earlier flight to Iguazu.

uw,
I think that because you connected in Mexico City, that’s why there were so few US citizens on your flight. We connect in Miami, so our experience will probably be different.

Thank you both

That sounds much better, I hate winging it also. You may end up with plenty of time but you will start your holiday in a relaxed way.