Santiago or Buenos Aires
Nov 12th, 2010, 04:48 AM
#21
The train trip is short enough to allow for a pleasant day trip. We enjoyed the train ride, felt it was safe and a bit pituresque in some places. One can get off the Train de la Costa and back on, in order to explore smaller towns. Some recommended sites to look at Tigre in general, and overnight possibilities in particular...and Delta Unplugged is a Tour Group that has been well reviewed and recommended on this and other Fora. Enjoy your time in Argentina. Lots of great choices.
http://www.tigre.gov.ar/
http://www.hosterialospecanes.com/
http://www.cabanias.com/subregiones/delta.asp
http://www.tigre.gov.ar/
http://www.hosterialospecanes.com/
http://www.cabanias.com/subregiones/delta.asp
Nov 12th, 2010, 10:47 AM
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few more questions. Delta Unplugged looks good, but does that work as a day trip? It looks like you need to get there early in the morning if breakfast is included.
Also, how hard is it to get radio taxis if you arrive back in BA on the train after being on day trips? All the advice suggests having your hotel or restaurant call for a taxi, but what about if you are not at one of those places when you need a taxi?
Also, how hard is it to get radio taxis if you arrive back in BA on the train after being on day trips? All the advice suggests having your hotel or restaurant call for a taxi, but what about if you are not at one of those places when you need a taxi?
Nov 12th, 2010, 05:12 PM
#23
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Be aware that there are two different trains going to Tigre as I explained before.
From Retiro I can guess it is not convenient at all to take ANY taxi from the station, DO NOT DO IT.
These are some reliable radio taxi companies in Buenos Aires, USTA 4383 7700, Pidalo 4956 1200,/ Premium , /www.taxipremium.com/servicio-online.asp, and others as ALO 4855 0455,
you have to have a phone to call them, public phone guess its .25, go to a locutorio where they have telephone cabins and internet, or have a cell phone, I guess that having a cell phone is a great asset in BUenos Aires.
As a rule I have learnt never take a taxi that is waiting in line. Except in cities where they have regular taxi stations.
From Retiro I can guess it is not convenient at all to take ANY taxi from the station, DO NOT DO IT.
These are some reliable radio taxi companies in Buenos Aires, USTA 4383 7700, Pidalo 4956 1200,/ Premium , /www.taxipremium.com/servicio-online.asp, and others as ALO 4855 0455,
you have to have a phone to call them, public phone guess its .25, go to a locutorio where they have telephone cabins and internet, or have a cell phone, I guess that having a cell phone is a great asset in BUenos Aires.
As a rule I have learnt never take a taxi that is waiting in line. Except in cities where they have regular taxi stations.
Nov 13th, 2010, 05:03 AM
#25
Taxi Ezeiza has a booth just outside of Customs: http://www.taxiezeiza.com.ar/ They are dependable and the least costly (besides the Tienda bus to center of town) but they take CASH ONLY.
The Remis services are: VIP; World Car; Tienda Leon. All good and payable with CC. Get a return coupon for a discount back to the airport - though I believe that the return trip is always less costly.
DO NOT take TAXIS from the stand OUTSIDE the AIRPORT !!!
When in the city, we called Radio Taxis, as Graziella recommends, and the Restaurants, Shows or Stores will call for you, if you do not have a cell phone. We did hail Radio Taxis on the street, and then wrote down the # of the Taxi, but that is probably of little worth as it is the connection to the station that is the safegaurd. We NEVER hailed a Taxi NEAR TOURIST SITES...if there are unscrupulous drivers, they will be right there looking for a mark. We found most Taxi drivers to be friendly, interesting and honest...albeit rather hair-raising drivers !
Enjoy your planning and then your visit.
~MarnieWDC
The Remis services are: VIP; World Car; Tienda Leon. All good and payable with CC. Get a return coupon for a discount back to the airport - though I believe that the return trip is always less costly.
DO NOT take TAXIS from the stand OUTSIDE the AIRPORT !!!
When in the city, we called Radio Taxis, as Graziella recommends, and the Restaurants, Shows or Stores will call for you, if you do not have a cell phone. We did hail Radio Taxis on the street, and then wrote down the # of the Taxi, but that is probably of little worth as it is the connection to the station that is the safegaurd. We NEVER hailed a Taxi NEAR TOURIST SITES...if there are unscrupulous drivers, they will be right there looking for a mark. We found most Taxi drivers to be friendly, interesting and honest...albeit rather hair-raising drivers !
Enjoy your planning and then your visit.
~MarnieWDC
Nov 13th, 2010, 07:33 AM
#26
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Note: there are less Locutorios than before because most people has a cell phone now. However there are quiet a few, best way to find them ask any of the PORTEROS , or handy men of buildings, they usually hang around , dressed in working grey shirts or similar, they know the neighborhood and can let you where the nearest Locutorio is located. From there ask for a BOOTH called Cabina and phone one of the radio taxis give as an address the Locutorio address and a phone number, like your hotel's.Give them a first name, a simple one for them to understand . And wait by the door of the locutorio. I understand it might be more difficult when arriving at Retiro, the Buquebus port etc, in those case you have to be more careful than ever and avoid any taxi standing there. If you have no luggage walk a few blocks to get out of the area of the station, flagging a radio taxi is an option as Marnie WDC says , however the best if to phone them because this way your name+ address, is recorded, drivers are aware of this and in itself is a deterrent to any foul play. I have to agree however that most taxi drivers are nice guys or girls, it is a question of luck to get a rotten apple. However there are rotten apples and since they will know right away you are a tourist ...
Other options are remises, they are usually very good, let us say you are going to a show you can arrange the same remise that takes you to the show to pick you up. Most remises in Buenos Aires, charge for the one way trip, and then they charge by the hour to wait for you. They are charging aprox $30 per hour. That is less than 10 dollars. This is particularly advantageous when you go to a far place.
Other options are remises, they are usually very good, let us say you are going to a show you can arrange the same remise that takes you to the show to pick you up. Most remises in Buenos Aires, charge for the one way trip, and then they charge by the hour to wait for you. They are charging aprox $30 per hour. That is less than 10 dollars. This is particularly advantageous when you go to a far place.
Nov 13th, 2010, 09:31 AM
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow. This whole taxi thing sounds really stressful. I was thinking of staying in Palermo and of day trips to Tigre and Colonia, but that requires a variety of transportation modes. I always having trouble using my cell phone in other countries, even if I switch out the sim card, unlock it, etc. etc. I guess I need to look into that.
Nov 13th, 2010, 10:21 AM
#28
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, it looks stressful, but at the end of the day it is no big deal. You will get use to it. In Palermo there is a good subway line, use it. Walk a lot too. In two words avoid taxis waiting in line in train stations and the like and call radio taxis. The fact that inexpensive remises are available I believe is a wonderful characteristic of Buenos Aires. They are cheaper than taxis most of the time, this does not happen in NY for instance, or in Paris...so in all it is good, walking is always in my opinion a great option.
Nov 13th, 2010, 11:15 AM
#29
Honestly, jag1jag1, I was trying to creat the opposite of stress or anxiety around taking taxis in BsAs.
I apologize.
My DH and I (2, not-so-young and not-so-muscular travelers, with pathetic Spanish) have never been nervous or uncomfortable walking or taking buses or taxis in BsAs. I am always uncomfortable in metros, but no more in BsAs than in Paris or WDC.
I think being aware of which neighborhoods are unwholesome or seedy or dangerous at night - and of possible tourist scams - is being a smart traveler...but that is true wherever you are a tourist - and even at home in large city centers.
Having a cell phone was useful, and might be worth checking into.
I hope I have refined my earlier message to encourage you to
continue to learn about BsAs, and be an ever wiser tourist -not a stressed one - and you will have such a wonderful time; even taking taxis
Your plans for Tigre and Colonia sound great. The trains to Tigre (especially the Tren de la Costa) are nice to ride and the fast ferry is a pleasant experience too (unless you hit bad weather, which is why you may want to plan that after you arrive in BsAs and know the weather prediction).
Really, jag1jag1, you are in for a great vacation ! Best,
~Marnie
I apologize.
My DH and I (2, not-so-young and not-so-muscular travelers, with pathetic Spanish) have never been nervous or uncomfortable walking or taking buses or taxis in BsAs. I am always uncomfortable in metros, but no more in BsAs than in Paris or WDC.
I think being aware of which neighborhoods are unwholesome or seedy or dangerous at night - and of possible tourist scams - is being a smart traveler...but that is true wherever you are a tourist - and even at home in large city centers.
Having a cell phone was useful, and might be worth checking into.
I hope I have refined my earlier message to encourage you to
continue to learn about BsAs, and be an ever wiser tourist -not a stressed one - and you will have such a wonderful time; even taking taxis
Your plans for Tigre and Colonia sound great. The trains to Tigre (especially the Tren de la Costa) are nice to ride and the fast ferry is a pleasant experience too (unless you hit bad weather, which is why you may want to plan that after you arrive in BsAs and know the weather prediction).
Really, jag1jag1, you are in for a great vacation ! Best,
~Marnie
Nov 13th, 2010, 11:54 AM
#30
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a quick comment on BA cabs. I didn't call any by phone. The few I hailed in the street were no problem; all had working meters and provided an efficient, moderately cheap service including the final one from Recoleto to Ezezia. Maybe I was just lucky. On that final one I actually hailed a couple, but negotiated the price first. The first guy wanted 100 pesos; the second got the job for 85. He got 100 anyway at the airport, for an efficient safe ride.
On my first arrival, a month earlier, I used one of the airport services for a set return fare.
Getting around BA I enjoyed the challenge of using the trains and buses. Be sure to take Linea A at least once, just for the step back in time. For buses, buy the pocket-size Guia "T" Bolsillo at a street news stall and spend a little time studying how the book is arranged. Despite my limited Spanish I was able to work out which routes went where and how to connect between them using the combination of maps, grids and route numbers.
On my first arrival, a month earlier, I used one of the airport services for a set return fare.
Getting around BA I enjoyed the challenge of using the trains and buses. Be sure to take Linea A at least once, just for the step back in time. For buses, buy the pocket-size Guia "T" Bolsillo at a street news stall and spend a little time studying how the book is arranged. Despite my limited Spanish I was able to work out which routes went where and how to connect between them using the combination of maps, grids and route numbers.
Dec 31st, 2011, 06:11 PM
#31
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Going back to the original question, how different is the weather in January between the two cities? I realize it's summer there, and January can be quite warm in either. I've heard the humidity in Buenos Aires is much, much worse, 'tho...whereas the heat in Santiago/Valpariso is dry and a bit more bearable, no?
Feb 21st, 2012, 11:32 AM
#33
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stgo cannot compare to BA's cultural richness, but all the day trips outside of Stgo surpass it. Valparaiso is worth 2-3 days of just walking around. Maipo wine valley on the outskirts of Stgo by subway (BA doesn't have vineyards, but it does have good wine). Stgo is much safer if that matter at all. I love both places, but Stgo to live or wine tourism, Valparaiso for history, BA for food, museums or people watching.
