Bariloche, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires in March
Oct 25th, 2016, 12:24 PM
#21
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caseyhen:
Just saw your: "Avrooster: the more I read about Buenos Aires here, the more I want to meet you when we are in your city. You appear to be the main attraction there!"
Of course. E-mail me to albertovgalloATyahoo.com to arrange a GTG. TOP poster and TOP TA DE http://www.fodors.com/community/profile/marniewdc/
will also be in BA during your stay.
It will be easy to talk Marnie and her DH into joining us. She may even take offense if we don't invite them. LOL!
Just saw your: "Avrooster: the more I read about Buenos Aires here, the more I want to meet you when we are in your city. You appear to be the main attraction there!"
Of course. E-mail me to albertovgalloATyahoo.com to arrange a GTG. TOP poster and TOP TA DE http://www.fodors.com/community/profile/marniewdc/
will also be in BA during your stay.
It will be easy to talk Marnie and her DH into joining us. She may even take offense if we don't invite them. LOL!
Oct 26th, 2016, 01:31 AM
#22
@av - it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, but not everyone has learned that skill.
I find it interesting that SC claims to disagree with "much" of what I have posted, since almost all my posts are on the Asia and Europe boards, where she is seldom if ever seen.
I find it interesting that SC claims to disagree with "much" of what I have posted, since almost all my posts are on the Asia and Europe boards, where she is seldom if ever seen.
Oct 26th, 2016, 02:41 AM
#23
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Link to the Teatro Colón: http://www.teatrocolon.org.ar/en/content/guided-tours
Have great time in my country.
Have great time in my country.
Oct 26th, 2016, 03:16 AM
#24
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 9,370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SC - ”I get tired of all the widespread whining online” I think everyone has got a little bored with your widespread whining. Ever thought of trying to be a little less confrontational? Yours is not the only valid opinion in this forum.
Forum definition - A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
Forum definition - A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
Oct 26th, 2016, 08:32 AM
#26
Caseyhen, Hola. Just my 2 pesos on a few things above:
My DH and I like Montevideo very much, not nearly as much as we like BA, but we like it - and PdE as well. So lucky to have friends there. (BTW, AV, I thought their friends might be our mutual friends and I inquired...so no.)
I would never take a chance on crossing a foreign border w/out a Visa where required. Personal choice. I do think it's well worth the $$ to see both sides, but if the inconvenience from where you live is too much - enjoy the Arg. side. We stay in the town, the St. George Hotel and like that. There are other good choices in addition to the splurge of the Sheraton. Transportation is easy.
In Bariloche, the town is cutsie (not cute, cutsie), and the Lao Lao is, for a golfer, well worth the splurge, IMO. There are other nice choices...but a car, while not a necessity, as Thursdaysd noted, it gives so many options for enjoying that area.
I agree that Villa la Angostors and other small towns are good to visit.
Extra time in the NOA, as Crellston (no extra e) mentioned would be very high on my list as well.
AV Rooster is correct, we would be pleased to meet you in BA.
Staying in Palermo or Recoleta would be comfortable and convenient and high on the architectural appreciation scale. The are quite a few hotels - actually easier for a shorter stay than an apt. where you will need to provide all supplies, etc.
Keep on plannen' and enjoy the process. ~M
My DH and I like Montevideo very much, not nearly as much as we like BA, but we like it - and PdE as well. So lucky to have friends there. (BTW, AV, I thought their friends might be our mutual friends and I inquired...so no.)
I would never take a chance on crossing a foreign border w/out a Visa where required. Personal choice. I do think it's well worth the $$ to see both sides, but if the inconvenience from where you live is too much - enjoy the Arg. side. We stay in the town, the St. George Hotel and like that. There are other good choices in addition to the splurge of the Sheraton. Transportation is easy.
In Bariloche, the town is cutsie (not cute, cutsie), and the Lao Lao is, for a golfer, well worth the splurge, IMO. There are other nice choices...but a car, while not a necessity, as Thursdaysd noted, it gives so many options for enjoying that area.
I agree that Villa la Angostors and other small towns are good to visit.
Extra time in the NOA, as Crellston (no extra e) mentioned would be very high on my list as well.
AV Rooster is correct, we would be pleased to meet you in BA.
Staying in Palermo or Recoleta would be comfortable and convenient and high on the architectural appreciation scale. The are quite a few hotels - actually easier for a shorter stay than an apt. where you will need to provide all supplies, etc.
Keep on plannen' and enjoy the process. ~M
Oct 26th, 2016, 10:06 AM
#27
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hate to "blow my own horn", but I must have provided quite a few "golden pearls" (see post of Oct 26, 16 at 10:40am) here over the last +10 years, because I happen to have open invitations to stay at the homes of people I have helped, from Texas to the Twin Cities and from LA to NYC. LOL!!!!
Oct 26th, 2016, 12:25 PM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
avrooster, you're on the money again.
Yesterday, we booked our flights (yay!). This is always the first huge step and I heave a huge sigh of relief when we have at least the broadest parameters of what our trip will look like. Now it's on to the details - hotels, cars, finally a general outline of what we may (or may not, as the spirit moves) do each day.
MarnieWDC, thanks for popping in. I know avrooster and others are strongly anti-MVD, but our friends (no, not the same as yours, but his name does begin with G...a couple originally from NYC, where my husband grew up, with homes in that area as well as in PDE) have graciously invited us and set down those parameters...meet us in Montevideo, where we'll stay for a night, then head back to PDE. I might feel quite differently if we were planning this leg on our own, but somehow it doesn't feel right to tell them we don't agree with their plan. Being with others who are very familiar with the city also eases any concern I may have had.
So we're actually flying into MVD on Sunday 2/19 around noon, but since it will have taken us around 24 hours - or more, between getting to JFK and a very long layover in BA (best we could do, and with this itinerary our other four flights are all exactly what we wanted) - to get there, we decided a day to take it easy would work well for us before meeting our friends first thing the next morning.
Itinerary:
lv JFK 2/18, arrive MVD 2/19
Drive from MVD to PDE 2/21, probably right after breakfast
PDE 2/22 - 2/25
lv PDE 2/25 fly through BA to Bariloches, five nights in or near Bariloches
lv Bariloches 3/2 fly through BA to Iguazu, three nights in Puerto Iguazu
lv Puerto Iguazu 3/5, fly to BA, 8 nights in Buenos Aires
lv BA 3/13 (late at night), nonstop flight to JFK, arriving 3/14 am
This is the longest trip we've taken so far - 24 days all told - but we didn't see much sense in traveling 6000 miles and not doing a bit of exploring.
avrooster and MarnieWDC, we would be delighted to have a GTG (see how I'm learning all the lingo? quick study
) when we're in BA. Our favorite memories of Paris and Bruges and Sligo have been when we either got together with friends or met new people on our travels and became friends in the process. As we firm up our plans, let's definitely stay in touch on that idea.
Update: we are, in fact, planning to make a day trip to NY (why not?) to acquire our Brazilian visas. DH took a little convincing, but reading some of your posts and others I've found here for himself did the trick. Thus the two nights in Iguazu Falls.
Here are the decisions for the day (or next few):
Bariloche:
Where to stay for our five nights in Bariloche. Still wondering if having a rental car in the town would be a problem. And any specific recommendations for where to stay either in or out of town? If we stay out of town and want to drive in for dinner, is parking an issue?
I'll be doing the driving as I drive a manual transmission - anything specific should know?
Puerto Iguazu:
Thanks for the St George Hotel recommendation, Thursdaysd. I think we'll forego the expense of the Sheraton and stay in town for this leg. I was also looking at Casa 24, right across from the bus station (on the inexpensive end, a small flat really) and at the Panoramic Grand. Thinking now it will be the St. George or the Panoramic Grand...any opinions on the PG? I like how close the St. George is to the bus station...
Buenos Aires
Still looking at apartments in Recoleta or Palermo...any specific section of Palermo we should look for?
I think that's enough for now. As of yesterday, I'm officially excited!
Yesterday, we booked our flights (yay!). This is always the first huge step and I heave a huge sigh of relief when we have at least the broadest parameters of what our trip will look like. Now it's on to the details - hotels, cars, finally a general outline of what we may (or may not, as the spirit moves) do each day.
MarnieWDC, thanks for popping in. I know avrooster and others are strongly anti-MVD, but our friends (no, not the same as yours, but his name does begin with G...a couple originally from NYC, where my husband grew up, with homes in that area as well as in PDE) have graciously invited us and set down those parameters...meet us in Montevideo, where we'll stay for a night, then head back to PDE. I might feel quite differently if we were planning this leg on our own, but somehow it doesn't feel right to tell them we don't agree with their plan. Being with others who are very familiar with the city also eases any concern I may have had.
So we're actually flying into MVD on Sunday 2/19 around noon, but since it will have taken us around 24 hours - or more, between getting to JFK and a very long layover in BA (best we could do, and with this itinerary our other four flights are all exactly what we wanted) - to get there, we decided a day to take it easy would work well for us before meeting our friends first thing the next morning.
Itinerary:
lv JFK 2/18, arrive MVD 2/19
Drive from MVD to PDE 2/21, probably right after breakfast
PDE 2/22 - 2/25
lv PDE 2/25 fly through BA to Bariloches, five nights in or near Bariloches
lv Bariloches 3/2 fly through BA to Iguazu, three nights in Puerto Iguazu
lv Puerto Iguazu 3/5, fly to BA, 8 nights in Buenos Aires
lv BA 3/13 (late at night), nonstop flight to JFK, arriving 3/14 am
This is the longest trip we've taken so far - 24 days all told - but we didn't see much sense in traveling 6000 miles and not doing a bit of exploring.
avrooster and MarnieWDC, we would be delighted to have a GTG (see how I'm learning all the lingo? quick study
) when we're in BA. Our favorite memories of Paris and Bruges and Sligo have been when we either got together with friends or met new people on our travels and became friends in the process. As we firm up our plans, let's definitely stay in touch on that idea.Update: we are, in fact, planning to make a day trip to NY (why not?) to acquire our Brazilian visas. DH took a little convincing, but reading some of your posts and others I've found here for himself did the trick
. Thus the two nights in Iguazu Falls.Here are the decisions for the day (or next few):
Bariloche:
Where to stay for our five nights in Bariloche. Still wondering if having a rental car in the town would be a problem. And any specific recommendations for where to stay either in or out of town? If we stay out of town and want to drive in for dinner, is parking an issue?
I'll be doing the driving as I drive a manual transmission - anything specific should know?
Puerto Iguazu:
Thanks for the St George Hotel recommendation, Thursdaysd. I think we'll forego the expense of the Sheraton and stay in town for this leg. I was also looking at Casa 24, right across from the bus station (on the inexpensive end, a small flat really) and at the Panoramic Grand. Thinking now it will be the St. George or the Panoramic Grand...any opinions on the PG? I like how close the St. George is to the bus station...
Buenos Aires
Still looking at apartments in Recoleta or Palermo...any specific section of Palermo we should look for?
I think that's enough for now. As of yesterday, I'm officially excited!
Oct 26th, 2016, 01:22 PM
#30
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I asked for it, so... LOL!!!
"Where to stay for our five nights in Bariloche. And any specific recommendations for where to stay either in or out of town?"
I again strongly advise you to stay OUT of town. I suggest the Llao-Llao, but there are many options, including quite nice cabins. If interested in the Llao-Llao, e-mail me and I'll tell you who you should contact for the best quote, an upgrade, that kind of thing. I know them pretty well. Accomodations should be widely available, the holiday season being over.
"Still wondering if having a rental car in the town would be a problem. If we stay out of town and want to drive in for dinner, is parking an issue? I'll be doing the driving as I drive a manual transmission - anything specific should know?"
As said before, the locals on holiday should be gone, so parking SHOULD not be much of a problem. Be VERY careful with car rentals in Argentina. I believe I already suggested renting from Hertz's Hernán Esojo.
"Buenos Aires. Still looking at apartments in Recoleta or Palermo...any specific section of Palermo we should look for?"
The expert on Palermo is Marnie. She stays every year in an apartment in this large area.
Have a great time in my country.
"Where to stay for our five nights in Bariloche. And any specific recommendations for where to stay either in or out of town?"
I again strongly advise you to stay OUT of town. I suggest the Llao-Llao, but there are many options, including quite nice cabins. If interested in the Llao-Llao, e-mail me and I'll tell you who you should contact for the best quote, an upgrade, that kind of thing. I know them pretty well. Accomodations should be widely available, the holiday season being over.
"Still wondering if having a rental car in the town would be a problem. If we stay out of town and want to drive in for dinner, is parking an issue? I'll be doing the driving as I drive a manual transmission - anything specific should know?"
As said before, the locals on holiday should be gone, so parking SHOULD not be much of a problem. Be VERY careful with car rentals in Argentina. I believe I already suggested renting from Hertz's Hernán Esojo.
"Buenos Aires. Still looking at apartments in Recoleta or Palermo...any specific section of Palermo we should look for?"
The expert on Palermo is Marnie. She stays every year in an apartment in this large area.
Have a great time in my country.
Oct 26th, 2016, 02:33 PM
#31
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bad news. I understand you have also booked your local flights, right?
Well, from Feb 25 until Feb. 28 is a VERY bad time to go to Bariloche, because it is a 4-day Carnival weekend and it will be crowded.
If at all possible, change your flights to go to Bariloche AFTER that date. All the crowds will be gone.
Well, from Feb 25 until Feb. 28 is a VERY bad time to go to Bariloche, because it is a 4-day Carnival weekend and it will be crowded.
If at all possible, change your flights to go to Bariloche AFTER that date. All the crowds will be gone.
Oct 27th, 2016, 04:03 AM
#34
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This link could be of interest: http://tinyurl.com/zj6hkwb
Oct 27th, 2016, 06:18 AM
#35
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, but what the link does not mention is that you would likely be without your passport for about a week in Buenos Aires.
And that in Puerto Iguazu, you would likely be given a 90 day visa, instead of a 10 year multi-entry visa, for the same fee. If you are sure you never intend to visit Brazil other than a few hours in the park on this trip, perhaps this is not of concern.
Occasionally, an "aggressively pro-Brazilian" poster has some pertinent information to post about a destination that the aggressively pro-Argentina posters here have overlooked.
-----------------------
"three nights in Puerto Iguazu
lv Puerto Iguazu 3/5"
"Thus the two nights in Iguazu Falls."
?????????????????????????????????????
both in same post of 10-26
-----------------------
"almost all my posts are on the Asia and Europe boards, where she is seldom if ever seen"
thursdaysd--Most of my extensive experience in Asian destinations was in the late 70s and early 80s when I was living in Japan, so did not feel my info would be useful to you in planning your trip there more recently. That does not mean that I do not read the posts on those forums.
"I hate to "blow my own horn", but I must have provided quite a few "golden pearls" here over the last +10 years, because I happen to have open invitations to stay at the homes of people I have helped, from Texas to the Twin Cities and from LA to NYC."
@avrooster: BFD. Most of us who frequently post good info on travel forums have had the same response in PMs.
And that in Puerto Iguazu, you would likely be given a 90 day visa, instead of a 10 year multi-entry visa, for the same fee. If you are sure you never intend to visit Brazil other than a few hours in the park on this trip, perhaps this is not of concern.
Occasionally, an "aggressively pro-Brazilian" poster has some pertinent information to post about a destination that the aggressively pro-Argentina posters here have overlooked.
-----------------------
"three nights in Puerto Iguazu
lv Puerto Iguazu 3/5"
"Thus the two nights in Iguazu Falls."
?????????????????????????????????????
both in same post of 10-26
-----------------------
"almost all my posts are on the Asia and Europe boards, where she is seldom if ever seen"
thursdaysd--Most of my extensive experience in Asian destinations was in the late 70s and early 80s when I was living in Japan, so did not feel my info would be useful to you in planning your trip there more recently. That does not mean that I do not read the posts on those forums.
"I hate to "blow my own horn", but I must have provided quite a few "golden pearls" here over the last +10 years, because I happen to have open invitations to stay at the homes of people I have helped, from Texas to the Twin Cities and from LA to NYC."
@avrooster: BFD. Most of us who frequently post good info on travel forums have had the same response in PMs.
Oct 27th, 2016, 09:59 AM
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the tip on the festival. Our dates are no longer flexible but that's okay with us. While we're in the region we plan to spend a night in San Martin, so we can work around the festival a bit.
Here's a question only those who have been there can answer: during festival will it be normal-crowded, or will it be insane? I'm remembering one memorable day in Bamberg, Germany, when we had no idea we'd picked the one night to stay there that was in the middle of the biggest beer festival in Europe. It was fun during the day but INSANE as evening came and beyond insane all night.
We might actually enjoy spending Sunday walking around town if the festival has some components that are fun (and I imagine the people watching could be interesting). But if it's truly prohibitive, then we can head to San Martin right away, stay outside of Bariloche for the rest of our time, and maybe spend Wednesday (post-festival) in town. Thoughts?
Here's a question only those who have been there can answer: during festival will it be normal-crowded, or will it be insane? I'm remembering one memorable day in Bamberg, Germany, when we had no idea we'd picked the one night to stay there that was in the middle of the biggest beer festival in Europe. It was fun during the day but INSANE as evening came and beyond insane all night.
We might actually enjoy spending Sunday walking around town if the festival has some components that are fun (and I imagine the people watching could be interesting). But if it's truly prohibitive, then we can head to San Martin right away, stay outside of Bariloche for the rest of our time, and maybe spend Wednesday (post-festival) in town. Thoughts?
Feb 9th, 2017, 11:20 AM
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi all,
A much delayed response...we're now on the home stretch (leaving next Saturday) and are thinking the collective wisdom here could certainly help us with the last few questions we have...
Car rental in Bariloche - we are using Hertz and are about to reserve, but here's a curious question: I was about to select the intermediate sized Chevrolet Corsa, which is reasonably priced. However, there's a smaller (compact) car--curiously also a Chevy Corsa--though it's cheaper, I was about to reserve the slightly larger 4-door. But here's my question: if the primary use is to drive the Route of the Seven Lakes and Circuito Chico, would there be a benefit to having a smaller car? Having driven all over Ireland and been grateful to have a small car, this came to mind. However, I also want to feel safe...Thoughts?
Also - do all cars typically come with a GPS that can be programmed to English? Hertz says there's a separate $15 charge for this but I'm wondering if that's for the GPS you can take out of the car. Don't think we really need that.
We're planning to reserve the Puerto Blest sailing trip through Turisur. Any last minute advice or suggestions for other companies? I'm assuming we can add the Lago Frias trip that day if we decide on it? Would we be safe in waiting to reserve this when we arrive in Bariloche (2-3 days before the trip) or do we really need to do this now?
I'm obsessing over data/phone use. I have a GSM unlocked iphone 6S (Verizon) and have been told we can just pick up a sim card when we're there. We could select one of the international plans through Verizon but they either offer very little data (100mb for the month) or a charge of $10 kicks in on any day you use phone or data (even if it's inadvertent, like someone texts you, or you think you're on wifi but you're not). We know we will mostly use the internet when we're on wifi but want to be set for those times when we're driving or not near wifi and may have to check something. Any advice? Leaning toward purchasing a SIM and if that doesn't pan out, contacting verizon to add a plan while we're there.
And we did, in the end, take a trip to NYC and have secured our Brazilian visas. Looking forward to the Iguazu Falls leg of our trip even more now!
We'll find our way just find in the end on all of this, I'm sure...still, sometimes it's been the "insider" advice that has made our trips spectacular. Thanks to you all.
A much delayed response...we're now on the home stretch (leaving next Saturday) and are thinking the collective wisdom here could certainly help us with the last few questions we have...
Car rental in Bariloche - we are using Hertz and are about to reserve, but here's a curious question: I was about to select the intermediate sized Chevrolet Corsa, which is reasonably priced. However, there's a smaller (compact) car--curiously also a Chevy Corsa--though it's cheaper, I was about to reserve the slightly larger 4-door. But here's my question: if the primary use is to drive the Route of the Seven Lakes and Circuito Chico, would there be a benefit to having a smaller car? Having driven all over Ireland and been grateful to have a small car, this came to mind. However, I also want to feel safe...Thoughts?
Also - do all cars typically come with a GPS that can be programmed to English? Hertz says there's a separate $15 charge for this but I'm wondering if that's for the GPS you can take out of the car. Don't think we really need that.
We're planning to reserve the Puerto Blest sailing trip through Turisur. Any last minute advice or suggestions for other companies? I'm assuming we can add the Lago Frias trip that day if we decide on it? Would we be safe in waiting to reserve this when we arrive in Bariloche (2-3 days before the trip) or do we really need to do this now?
I'm obsessing over data/phone use. I have a GSM unlocked iphone 6S (Verizon) and have been told we can just pick up a sim card when we're there. We could select one of the international plans through Verizon but they either offer very little data (100mb for the month) or a charge of $10 kicks in on any day you use phone or data (even if it's inadvertent, like someone texts you, or you think you're on wifi but you're not). We know we will mostly use the internet when we're on wifi but want to be set for those times when we're driving or not near wifi and may have to check something. Any advice? Leaning toward purchasing a SIM and if that doesn't pan out, contacting verizon to add a plan while we're there.
And we did, in the end, take a trip to NYC and have secured our Brazilian visas. Looking forward to the Iguazu Falls leg of our trip even more now!
We'll find our way just find in the end on all of this, I'm sure...still, sometimes it's been the "insider" advice that has made our trips spectacular. Thanks to you all.
Feb 9th, 2017, 01:21 PM
#39
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We just did this drive in December. There is no reason to have a larger car for the seven lakes. I downloaded the maps.me app and it was great. I wouldn't think a GPS is necessary. I also brought a good map along with me in case of any technologic failure.
Feb 9th, 2017, 05:05 PM
#40
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"And we did, in the end, take a trip to NYC and have secured our Brazilian visas. Looking forward to the Iguazu Falls leg of our trip even more now!"
Wise decision. You will undoubtedly enjoy the views and photo ops from the Brazilian side, as well as the Bird Park.
Wise decision. You will undoubtedly enjoy the views and photo ops from the Brazilian side, as well as the Bird Park.
