Has anyone been on the "Incredible Patagonia" 13 day tour with SmarTours?

No, I haven't but bear in mind that a company based outside your destination will have to use local companies for services. This almost always makes things more expensive and makes it more difficult to contact someone if there is a major problem. It depends on where you want to go in Patagonia and what is included in the tour, but it is usually quite easy to book what you want yourself.

Agree.

I will be heading Argentina this september and I would like to know if you guys know any good local company for Patagonia? and also a hotel in Buenos Aires. Good area - Recoleta?

Thank you!

gilin: Patagonia is big, exaclty where will you be going to? Is it Ushuaia, Calafate, Madryn, Bariloche and lake area or some other place. I could point out good local companys for each of them, let me know please. Likewise, about hotels in BA, what sort of budget. Id suggest either Recoleta or palermo area, but let me know more or less what kind of bill are you willing to pay? also, big or small hotels??
Thanks

Really, you don't need a tour company for Patagonia. Last fall I spent two months in South America, mostly in Patagonia (see http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...-patagonia.cfm ), without using a tour company.

I booked my accommodation either directly with the hotels or through booking.com. I booked my internal flights with the airlines, the Navimag ferry with the ferry company, and the cross-Andes trip from Puerto Varas to Bariloche directly with the company in Puerto Varas. I booked buses as I went, and I did a few day tours arranged by my hotels. I had a great time.

In BsAs I can recommend the Duque Hotel, on the edge of Palermo - the good TA reviews are actually accurate.

We booked with smartours for November 21 returning Dec 3. Spoke to someone who did this tour and they were very pleased.
we researched the area in great detail and thought for us an all inclusive tour was best.

We are finishing packing and getting ready to head out to Santiago this Thursday. We have both warm and cold wet weather clothes ready. Anyone else going out with Smartours incredible Patagonia?

I look forward to hearing about your trip, I wish you a fantastic time!