Argentina April 14 to 25. Suggestions?
 

Our older son will be in Buenos Aires for spring semester. We want to visit when younger son is on spring break. We don't have any reservations yet. Maybe 4 to 5 nights in BA and 4 to 5 nights in Punta del Este. Round trip IAD EZE is about $1200. We think we'll rent apartment in BA (Palermo SoHo) and country house near Punta del Este (Jose Ignacio), each through VRBO for about $150/night. Iguazu might be too complicated.

Maybe we could stop for a night in Colonia or Montivideo on the way to or Punta del Este. I like the beach, but will it be too cold? Is traveling back and forth to EZE too complicated? Should I fly in to EZE and out of MVD? Should I work with a travel agent, even though I am miserly (cheap)?

Thanks for suggestions.

I think u should be able to plan everything on your own. The advantage of TA sometimes is they r there on the ground sort of holding your hand thruout your trip. If that's something u feel might be beneficial then u might consider one. We used one our first trip to ARG and really, we could have done it all on our own. She did save us money as at that time u got cheaper airfare if purchased internally and she had some better rates at some hotels. However we got a better rate than her at the IF. and the estancia she recommended we hated! Also ironically we wanted to stay in Palmero area and she said she didn't book there because it wasn't for tourists! This was about 6-7 years ago. We went ahead and booked on our own and loved the Palmeros. Have a great trip... Argentina is fabulous.

When are you coming?

We locals don´t know what your "spring break" dates are. April? May?

Anyway, you'll have a great time visiting your older son in BA.

I'm sorry, I just realized your travel dates are in your post's title.

It's our "Semana Santa" (Easter) week, a terrible time to travel here, much like your Thanksgiving week.

If planning to travel away from BA, you need to reserve ASAP.

About your post in another thread: "Maybe that makes more sense than Punta del Este in April.", I agree.

Have a great time in our country.

Thanks yestravel. Tell your hubby I now have an electric bike so I'll be able to keep up with him when he starts biking the capital crescent next spring. I guess I'll reconsider Iguazu. Not cheap. It's a shame they didn't locate the falls closer to Buenos Aires. AV, we're planning to be in Argentina April 14 to 25.

OK. Back to the drawing board.

an electric bike??? is that a junior motorcycle? Alan's days of riding the trail at least during rush hour are over as of a few weeks from now...

AV what happens that week? Everything closed? Just busy with Argentines traveling?

Hi Santamonica!

Yes, do reconsider Iguazu Falls. All 4 of us loved it! It's spectacular. I think that you'll be glad you did.

Just busy with Argentines traveling, yestravel.

A great week to stay in BA, but not to travel.

thanks, AV - gotcha. I'm counting the weeks/days til we leave & arrive in your country.

Have a great time, santamonica! I will be in Peru during that same time. I loved Palermo soho and that would be my choice as well. I stayed in recoleta last time at a 3 br apt. on vrbo for 750$ for the week. I think an overnight in colonia would be great; I did a day trip there and wished I could have stayed overnight. I would pick a place on the water; it is quiet and lovely with cobblestoned streets.

Here is a thought that might save you some money. Begin your trip in Uruguay first and avoid the Argentina reciprocity fee of $131 per person. You could then take the high speed ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires http://www.buquebus.com/BQBWeb/HomeENG and avoid paying the reciprocity fee by not arriving through EZE. Here is more information: http://argentinastravel.com/4148/arg...-tax-tourists/

I agree with wkwb42a. <u>Do not miss Iguazu Falls!</u>

We used a travel agent in Buenos Aires and Cintia Stella of WOW Argentina certainly earned our business. When you have WOW Argentina arrange your trip, you are buying service. Let me explain what I mean. When we were departing Iguazu Falls, there was some sort of mechanical problem that actually required our plane to return to the airport shortly after takeoff. We were delayed about 3 hours and I was quite concerned about getting back to BA that night, missing the driver (arranged by WOW Argentina) waiting for us in the airport arrivals area, and having our hotel reservation canceled because we were no-shows. I was able to persuade an Aerolineas ticket agent to call Cintia on her cell phone (provided to us for 24/7 emergencies). Cintia reassured me by saying that she was already aware of the delay, knew that we would definitely be departing that evening and had informed our driver and the hotel of our revised schedule. Needless to say, I was much relieved and everything worked out, just as she said it would. I can only imagine how difficult it would have been to try to deal with this mess myself and not speaking any Spanish and approximately 700 miles away from our destination.


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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

You know, it's really expensive to go to Iguazu. Tours from BA for one night start at $625 per person. We don't have time for the bus. So, we're thinking of WAS-EZE-RIO-WAS and staying for 4 or 5 nights at an apartment in Buenos Aires and then 4 or 5 nights at an apartment in Ipanema. I like apartments. Shouldn't the kids see string bikinis and sugarloaf? Would I have to pay both the brazilian and argentine entry fees with this clever new plan? Do you think a nice pousada in Buzios would be better? Or do you think I should just make up my mind and quit bothering people?

Is that price for a package that includes air and hotel to IF? I know air fare internally in Arg is not cheap, but that seems really high. An apt is definitely the way to go wherever u decide.

U've got sons, right? Bikinis I imagine would be mucho appreciated.

Yes, it is not cheap to visit Iguazu Falls and you know your bedget best. But, if you go, two nights is far better than only one. Iguazu Falls is anywhere (depending upon dry or wet season) between 275-350 separate waterfalls. It has to be one of the 7 natural wonders of the world (along with the Great Barrier Reef, Grand Canyon, Machu Picchu, Uluru (Ayres Rock) etc.).

It is my understanding (please double-check this yourself) that reciprocity fees are collected from the international airports, upon arrival only, in Argentina, Brazil and Chile only.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Thanks everybody for suggestions so far. Our son is taking the bus to Iguazu with friends in a couple weeks so we will eschew Iguazu on our visit in april.

Here's our plan: Buenos Aires 15th-19th, Rio 19th-24th. I know, not enough time.

Our son is in Recoleta, near Junin and santa fe. We have a rental apt in san telmo, on defensa near plaza dorrego. We pick up our visa for brazil next week. We fly to BA via sao paulo to AEP so maybe we can avoid the entry fee at EZE.

Any suggestions on places to eat and things to do are welcome. I hope this open-ended question is not too annoying to the better planners among you. I enjoy following fodorite suggestions.

Hi SM! AVrooster has a great thread that links to lots of TR and you'll find some great restaurant recs in them.

we'll be in BA Sunday and looking forward to trying some new places. A couple places that we like are Amici Mei in San Telmo, SocialParaiso in Palmero and Sirop in Recoleta. Rodi Bar is good for casual in Recoleta. Cant think of my fav empanada place at the moment.

Thanks. It's time for us to start some serious trip planning! Hope you have a good visit and I'll check the archives and look for your new report too.

La Cupertino is the empanada place we like.

Don't count on a new TR b4 u go. We've been away going on 5 weeks now...lots to write up!

PUNTA del Este is a very nice beach, APRIL is autumm so it might be a little too cold.
i would not commit myself to so many days, if the weather is fine i would stay if not i might leave, there are many small hotels and i would choose to have freedom to leave if it gets too
cold.
jose ignacio is beautiful, it is an old fishermen tiny town now very trendy, you would need a car to be able to move around.
being of season you should be able to bargain with the small hotels, or inns.