Buenos Aires Travel Advice (with a baby)
 

We're going to BA in January for a month with a 6 mth old -- 2 questions:

1. We will have to do a connecting flight -- any thoughts on if we should go through Miami, Santiago, Houston, Washington??? or does it really matter?

2. Apartments -- We are undecided about whether to rent an apartment in either Recoleta or Palermo (and which Palermo?). While accommodation didn't use to be that important to us (we'd be out of our hotel 8-10 hr a day anyway), now it is. Neighbourhoods in particular are now important as we will be a little more apartment dependent for naps and meals. Which area is better given we will be doing a lot on foot with a stroller -- we likely will not want to brave public transit each and every day and the carseat issue makes cabs less attractive. Our preference is a neighbourhood that is accessible on foot to other must-see areas (we do not mind long walks) and a neighbourhood that has cafes and shops where we could get groceries/takeout nearby. I have heard excellent reviews about both and don't know which to pick.

Any other random suggestions on travelling with an infant would of course be appreciated -- we're new at this so I don't even know what to ask.

Hi
What fun, a 6 month old is still so easy to carry around and travel with, and you are coming to a place where they Love babies. Really, prepare to have all these sweet strangers talking to your baby and telling him/her how beautiful he/she is.

Our flights were around 17 hours .. from the NorthWest US to BA .. whatever you can find that is the shortest amount of time, take it. Miami I have heard is only 8-9 hours to BA .. but I don't know where you are flying From.

I live in Recoleta. I can walk to Palermo Botanico, easily. On wide beautiful sidewalks along a beautiful wide Avenue.. past parks and parks and more parks.
So either neighborhood is good and close enough where you can still easily visit the other.

I never see car seats used in Taxis. I don't know how people do it ..
A good Stroller that can deal with bumps/cracked sidewalks, curbs etc is what you need.

Just about every neighborhood/ every block or two, has a market, produce market, drug store etc ... You never have to go far for food or supplies, groceries, laundry etc.

Mostly I think you want an apartment that is clean and quiet.

www.apartmentsba.com is a good, reliable and well established company... as is www.buenosaireshabitat.com

The owner of apartmentsba sold most of his properties but still handles some, he can be extremely helpful regarding questions about the baby too... he has 2 very small children of his own .

I hope this has helped at least a little bit :)

Hello Alexcat:

I agree with Scarlett, either Palermo or Recoleta would be good locations with a young child. Reynolds is another solid apartment rental agency.

CHECK OUT this post by Julieod in which she describes her substantial stay in Argentina with two(2)! wee ones.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g312741-i979-k3350…

Good planning is even more important with a child on board, but with the flexibility you already describe, I think you will have a great visit in BsAs.

Buen Viaje !
~Marnie

Julieod is a great poster who came here with two small children.

The link Marnie gave you did not work for me.

You can read here what she wrote about her stay in BA:

http://www.fodors.com/community/prof...eod/topics.cfm

You'll have a great time in our town with your child. I favor Recoleta over Palermo. If you choose Palermo, I would favor an area which is near the large park called Palermo. I assume you know it will be quite warm. A flat with a pool upstairs would be great for you. A/C is indispensable, at that time of the year.

Do not underestimate the need for a stroller to accomodate really bad sidewalks - while nowhere from expert (above responders count as that). Few curb cuts and there are blocks where moonscape would adequately describe sidewalk.

Thanks Scarlett et al for all of your helpful suggestions -- We have pretty well decided on Recoleta and are considering an apartment at Rodriguez Pena St. between Vincent Lopez St and Guido St -- is this a good area ???
Lisa

Yes, Alexcat, that is a good area.
Plenty of shops , a Disco market, a Carrefours,small produce markets and fish markets and flower stalls on corners.. and best of all for the baby, a huge park just a few blocks away.
It is really lovely in that area..and yet you are an easy walk to the more busy touristy parts of Recoleta and it is also good walking around there.

That's once again -- we have now booked the Recoleta apartment and are very happy and are turning our mind toward planning a short stay in Mendoza. Any thoughts on how many days minimum we should stay ? Also, what airline should be use when travelling in Argentina ?-- I was warned about one of the airlines (consistent delays and canellations) but can't remember if LAN was the good or bad airline now ...

LAN gets good reviews from my friends who travel to SA frequently.We used American out of Dallas..it was OK,not great, very cramped, more than our domestic flight to Dallas..

Lan is recommended by most travelers to Arg.;including me.

~MarnieWDC

Hey - my wife and i are planning a similar trip in January with our then-to-be 2.5 month old...
any info you have to pass along would be great!
where to stay, stuff to do, etc...

thanks

zack

As for connecting airports, of the ones you mention Santiago would probably be the easiest as you are in a relatively small transit area and don't have to change terminal, just gate. I am not sure where you would be coming from though. Atlanta is a good connecting terminal for Chile but not sure about Argentina. Make sure that you can tag your luggage all the way through if transiting in Santiago as you don't want to pay a reciprocity fee just to re-tag luggage.

Recoleta is definitely the best place to stay when travelling with small children, it's not only safe and beautiful but there are also a lot of interesting sites to visit which you can go to by foot. As for the connection flights...I think it'd be better if you come through Miami.

Scarlett -- what is a Disco market?

I'm not Scarlett, but I can tell you "Disco" is the name of a comparatively upscale chain of supermarkets.

Have a great time in our town with your child, Alexcat.

I am sorry, Alexcat, I should have said Supermarket.
There is Disco and Carrefours and Coto.
They are all good. Whatever is closest to where you are staying is fine.