Starting now,

My Birthday,
November... my sister-in-law works for UA airlines, and every birthday we go, her husband does not fly and my husband, her brother has passed. So now we want to do South America for 17 days starting on Oct. 25 ish remember stand-by, and we need advice..want to see it all of course and only do the back packs because of stand-by..we were thinking Argentina and Brazil ,,,we need cheap hotels and what to see where to eat and where to dance...Can we rent a car and drive safely to each of these countries??? cheap is the word hotels in BA and Rio and where ever??? Thanks thanks MB and Donna

If bacpacking,

www.saexplorers.org/clubhouses good info

good argentina info...

Visa required for Brazil you might have a problem there

www.hostelbookers.com for cheap hostels www.agoda.com hotels

Might consider Peru the Gringo Trail to MP instead...

Have fun and Happy Journey,

www.saexplorers.org/clubhouses/buenosaires

sorry for the missing link above

also in Quito Lima Cusco

great backpacker resources...

might also think about Galapagos if time

no visa required...

Happy Birthday!

You need a visa to visit Brazil. If you don't already have that process underway by now, Brazil is probably out of the question.

I take it Brazil and Argentina are the only options, because those are the only two countries in South America where United flies. Unless your sister is eligible for standby on Continental since the merger? But I'm guessing not. Looks like Argentina is your best bet.