Okay, it's come down to dividing up 17 nights at the end of this year (including Christmas). We are booked into a great place in BA for 7 nights when we get there and thought about 2 nights on the way back. But, I read from Fodors posters that 5 nights is good in BA (but what do you think?). We also want to go to Iguazu Falls, Mendoza (where we thought we'd do the sleeper Sendas bus each way) and places that we don't even know about yet (that's where you come in!).

There are 6 of us, travel tested friends. We are in our 50's, but pretty hip and like good wine, music, museums, great food and staring out the bus/car window at all the beauty there is to see in the world.

How would you suggest we divide the 17 nights? Thanks so much!!!!!

U could spend weeks in BA and still not see it all. Some people do day trips to Colonia and/or the Tigre Delta. U could also do a day or overnight trip to an estancia and visit San Antonia de Arco. Giving BA 5 days is cutting it short esp given you've got 17 days. I'd give BA at least a week.

Have u read about the NW? It's beautiful and has some really good wines and lots of music. Best emapnadas of anywhere I have ever had them.

What's "NW?" I will also respond to this thread a little later after I begin to recapitulate the "so-called" musts while in Argentina/Buenos Aires, etc.

Northwest Argentina -- Salta, Tilcara, Purmaraca. Cafayate etc

I agree with yestravel. 5 nights is just a taste. We were here for 2 weeks on our first visit and we had plans for going outside of the city , we never left BA...
I think the idea of a day trip to the Delta, a day trip to Colonia and a day or night in San Antonio de Areco is a great idea..

The city is huge, it takes time to see each barrio, it takes time to get around, meals are late, long and leisurely and there is just so much to see and do ... I would concentrate on the city with day trips and Iquazu if you really want to fly somewhere for an overnight ..

Hi Scarlett, I replied to you earlier in the Travel Book thread. I need your wisdom. We are booked for one week at the Mine Hotel. VERY happy about that. But the day we leave for the rest of the trip (10 more nights) is the birthday of one of the gang. In a perfect world I would get the Sendas bus to Mendoza that night, but that wouldn't be fair to the birthday boy. He's been to Iguazu and I did look into it at $280.00RT.

Because there are 6 of us and because it's around the holidays, I want to be ON IT with reservations. I figure maybe Montevideo, Colonia, Mendoza still for 3 nights, maybe elsewhere. For sure the last two nights in BA, with us probably sharing one room for our luggage on the last day since the flight doesn't leave until almost midnight. How do most US travelers deal with that?

I keep tossing all these dates in my head...trying to divide up these 9 or so days. Should we be in BA for New Years Eve? Do you have a generic E-mail address I can write you at, or are you on TA, where I can send you a message? Thanks Scarlett

you really can't go wrong! I'd say find a flight to mendoza, just to save a whole lot of tima and energy. after that you can hop down to bariloche (my favorite city in argentina) or maybe salta or cordoba. both are really beautiful places to see, though i still recommend bariloche/el bolson/san martin de los andes area. its beautiful, great wine (and chocolate) and a really fun place to explore, both outside and inside. good luck and happy travels!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum..._District.html

seeksocean, send me a PM on TA :- )

Messifan. Where did you stay in Bariloche?

seeksocean- you've got mail.

Eddwarm, NW is the upper left corner in the map of Argentina. It includes five provinces but two of them are the most visited of the five. Salta and Jujuy, where the most beautiful and amnazing sceneries are concentrated. You see vineyardss, wonderful rock formations, colorful mountains, archaeological sites, interesting museums, colonial buildings, great weather, delicious food, excellent wines,wildlife, nightlife... warm people and folk music...
Nw is a huge area where the stunning landscape you will be surprised!
Flintstones

By the way... you need at least four ful days for this area...
Flintstones

You did not mention your budget -- but if you can afford it, I would definitely suggest Cavas Wine Lodge in Mendoza. It is the best of the wine estate hotels with 14 stand alone rooms set in 35 acres of vineyards. Each room has a roof deck with a plunge pool and fireplace and the colonial style main building is set around a terrace courtyard with stunning views of the Andes. The restaurant at the hotel is superb, but the hotel also has complete packages that include vineyard and restaurant visits around Mendoza.
Jill
www.SouthAmericanEscapes.com/blog

Thanks Jill, Our budget is the best places we can stay for the best rate we can get. Hotels in a perfect world for $100-$150 a night, including tax. We are not immune to the present economic situation, and we have the benefit of several months to plan and that should help us make the most of what we have. Your hotel suggestion sounds really nice and I'll check it out.

Anymore suggestions would be gratefully excepted.

We are strongly considering taking the Sendas Salon Suite bus overnight to Mendoza at least one way. That would really help our budget and it sounds really pretty comfortable. I am hoping to find at least one person on this forum who has actually taken it. Thanks again and keep it coming!

Hey All! I need Colonia and Montevideo hotel suggestions. What beaches are best near there? Where should we be for New Years Eve? Thanks!

Looked at the Cavas Wine Lodge. Looks fabulous, but sadly way over our budget. I am leaning towards Casa Glebinias. I'll be looking into wine tours. It seems like renting a car would mean two cars and driving after drinking wine doesn't make sense. So, we'll take all suggestions for nice tours that would involve our whole flock! Thanks!

where are you staying in B.A.?

The Mine hotel for the first week. It looks great, has a pool (we'll be there in December) and is #2 out of a million hotels on Tripadvisor.

thanks, I have requested there too, its hard to pick a hotel as all the small hotels look so wonderful....I am following the suggestions you are getting but we are only there for 10 days with 3 teenagers who will just want to sit in the sun!

When are you going? Maybe we can help each other with research. Scarlett has been amazing with advice and humor. Just click on the names of the folks who seem to have the most advice and follow the forums they frequent.

Also, I go to Tripadvisor a lot as well. It's a little better in some ways to communicate, because you can send a private message. I am seeksocean on TA.