What is the best way to get from BA to Iguazu? It looks too long to drive. What would be the closest airport to fly into/out of?

Quickest way is by air....AEP-IGR

By air, check www.aerolineasargentinas.com

Same advice as everyone else. Also, if you stay at the Sheraton resort, you can access the National Park at sunrise instead of 8am when they let in the hordes of tourist.

I suggest you consider LAN, which is more reliable than Aerolineas Argentinas.

has anyone stayed somewhere other than the sheraton?
i heard they were some nice b&b in town far cheaper, and was wondering if that would be the better way to go

For a reduced budget, I would suggest you consider these options:

The Hostel Inn
www.hostel-inn.com

Che Roga
cherogaapart@hotmail.com

Hotel Saint George
www.hotelsaintgeorge.com

has anyone stayed somewhere other than the sheraton?
i heard they were some nice b&b in town far cheaper, and was wondering if that would be the better way to go
I think unless you are planning on staying there 3 or 4 days you should take the Sheraton optio. Yes it is very expensive but the views are spectacular and IMO it is worth it.

has anyone stayed somewhere other than the sheraton?
i heard they were some nice b&b in town far cheaper, and was wondering if that would be the better way to go

I'm staying Feb. 2-5 at Hotel Saint George .
Price for 3 nights ( including brkfst ) equals price for 1 night at the Sheraton.

Michael

I flew LAN from Buenos Aires to Iguazu. I booked on their website and their service was fine and on time. I would recommend staying for only two nights, and would recommend the sheraton. When I went I spent two nights at the sheraton and two nights at another hotel (the sheraton was booked up, plus I didn't want to spend the extra money) and that was wa too much time. There is not a lot to see in the town itself. I'd also recommend getting the Brazil visa before you go so you can see the falls from the Brazil side. Although some people say you don't need it to get across I wouldn't take the risk.

If you book a car & driver to take you over to the Brazilian side, you dont need a visa. The drivers have everything arranged. The fact is that the Brazilian side business people want to get all the business they can and therefore the border guards look the other way when American tourists want to cross over.

I walked around the Sheraton in March and thought it was not a very nice place at all. I stayed at the Iguazu Grand (the casino), which was first class in all respects. I didn't see any advantage in getting into the park especially early. You can easily knock out all the touristic vistas in the park in a day. If you have more than a day, you could check out the Brasilian side of the falls.

One thing I missed while enjoying caipirinas by the hotel pool was the tour of the Itaipu dam. Note, though, that with a US passport, you're supposed to have visas for both Brasil and Paraguay.

I walked around the Sheraton in March and thought it was not a very nice place at all. I stayed at the Iguazu Grand (the casino), which was first class in all respects. I didn't see any advantage in getting into the park especially early. You can easily knock out all the touristic vistas in the park in a day. If you have more than a day, you could check out the Brasilian side of the falls.

One thing I missed while enjoying caipirinas by the hotel pool was the tour of the Itaipu dam. Note, though, that with a US passport, you're supposed to have visas for both Brasil and Paraguay.

Thanks for your review of the Grand Hotel. Did you get a renovated room...? I have heard that the non renovated rooms are not too nice (or perhaps the renovation has been completed?). Thanks.

I must have had a renovated room, because it looked to me like the whole hotel was very new. I reserved the least expensive room, but it was large and elegant. Perhaps most importantly in this climate, the air conditioning worked such that there was absolutely no trace of humidity or mold. I have pictures from my stay that I'm happy to share once I learn how to do that.

Just to add my 2 cents. If you plan on staying in the Argentinean side you only need 2 or 3 days at most and I would highly recommend the Sheraton. I agree it is due for an update but the views are amazing and it’s fantastic to go to sleep with the sound of the falls plus you get to beat the rush of the crowds also it has a nice little bar.

Isnt the Sheraton also being worked on...?

it has a nice little bar.

Very nice little bar just stay well clear of the bourbon....US$18/drink:eek:

Very nice little bar just stay well clear of the bourbon....US$18/drink:eek:

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Very nice little bar just stay well clear of the bourbon....US$18/drink:eek:

That's just highway robbery. Good thing I steer clear of hard liquor. Only beer and wine for me. In any case, one of the earlier posters hit the nail on the head about the Sheraton. It may cost a little extra, but if it helps you beat the crowds and gets you a little closer to where you want to be, it is a big plus in my book.

That's just highway robbery.

Thats pretty standard for bourbon outside of Australia/US, it just seems that the rest of the world doesn't care much for it. They were fairly stiff drinks they were pouring though, very tall glass probably 2.5 standard shots. Still pricey, but it was the Sheraton:)

What it at least quality bourbon is just standard stuff...?

What it at least quality bourbon is just standard stuff...?

Just standard Jim Beam....:rolleyes:

You will be happy to know we instead indulged in a lovely red from the 'Right' side of the Andes :cool:

Isnt the Sheraton also being worked on...?

No. I was there two weeks ago and the work is complete. The property looks fantastic now, and I really wouldn't consider staying anywhere else for your first trip.

BTW, I managed to get to Itaipu, and thought the dam was well worth seeing. As far as visas go, I had them, and got the impressions the Brazilians wouldn't be too lax - but again, I didn't try without.

Paraguay, on the other hand...

I could easily have walked in without and never stopped at the border. Actually when I went in, I saw dollar signs in their eyes, until they saw the visa, at which point I was mocked in spanish for getting a visa. Hah.

Thanks for the heads up on the Sheraton, I wasnt aware that the renovation work was complete.

Just booked two nights in late Feb at the Sheraton. Glad to hear it has just been renovated. Thanks all for the info.

Just booked two nights in late Feb at the Sheraton. Glad to hear it has just been renovated. Thanks all for the info.

Not sure if you have SPG status, but was upgraded to one of the only 6 suites in the property here with platinum - was an amazing experience. ^

If you have a little flexibility in your dates, check out the park's website for when their "moon walks" are...walking thru the park via full moonlight....haven't been able to do it myself, but the last time I was there, the "buzz" was that it was pretty awesome.
I'd agree with other posts on biting the bullet to stay at the Sheraton.
As a Gold, I was upgraded to falls view room at no extra charge & was given their HUGE buffet breakfast each day.

Keep in mind that w/ the Sheraton, as others have said, only two nights max are needed, as opposed to 3 or 4 in town, thanks to the location. So, you can put that money from your "extra" 3rd or 4th night to the two nights there. Your park fees are included, and you dont' have to worry about paying for getting to/from town. Since you can eat a huge breakfast, that would cut down on your meal expenses a little as well.

Not sure if you have SPG status, but was upgraded to one of the only 6 suites in the property here with platinum - was an amazing experience. ^

No I just have basic status with 1000 points for sharing 2 stories haha. Out of interest how many adults would you say the suite can comfortably hold.

Thanks skye1 will inquire about the Moon Walks.

Now if I may ask. What are the distances between the two airports IGU & IGR

Thanks all

No I just have basic status with 1000 points for sharing 2 stories haha. Out of interest how many adults would you say the suite can comfortably hold.

Thanks skye1 will inquire about the Moon Walks.

Now if I may ask. What are the distances between the two airports IGU & IGR

Thanks all

Comfortably, I'd say the suites can hold 2 adults. The one we had had one king bed. I guess you could fit a 3rd on the couch, but kinda defeats the point imho.

Comfortably, I'd say the suites can hold 2 adults. The one we had had one king bed. I guess you could fit a 3rd on the couch, but kinda defeats the point imho.

I see. I'm just inquiring as there will be 7 of us, trying to work out the best room strategy.

Would flying into Asuncion or Sao Paulo make more sense than BA? And then getting a flight or drive?

Driving from Asuncion or Sao Paulo to Iguazy doesnt seem like a good idea. Unless you are willing to pay a fortune in rental charges and pay an additional arm & leg if you are thinking of dropping off the vehicle in a city/country different from where you picked it up.

As for flying to any of those cities and then continuing on by air, I guess its hard to say if you will save $$$ that way. There are so many possibilities to look at that maybe its not worth you time to explore. Do you have a TA you can get help from or do you want to do all the ticketing yourself?

Also, please note that since Iguazu is not a large city, flying from outside of Argentina to Iguazu will probably include a stop in EZE.... so perhaps the savings potential is just not there.

Just to add.... we were in BA for a week and did a one nighter to Iguazu (AEP-IGR) and it was just the right amount of time for us. We did stay at the Sheraton and were upgraded to the view-side room as Gold. Quite enjoyed the park - Sheraton was perfect for location and more than adequate. It was during the renovation so no pool or similar amenities were available.

Just be aware of the currency trick.... they tried to take our US Dollar confirmed rate and change it to Pesos - and then back to Dollars (I was paying cash in US Dollars) at more than 5% loss each way. It seems to be how they do it as getting around it (I said I had the exact amount in USD - cash- and that was all they were getting) required the manager crediting the bill.

Hello Daveland-- The best way to get around the FX loss in this case is to get your USD cash changed at a bank or money changer that offers you a competitive rate. Hotels almost never offer a good currency exchange rate, at least thats been my experience (in just about every city in the world).

Also, while I dont know the details of the situation you encountered, please note that its common practice to quote hotel rates in dollars, and then invoice in Pesos. Regardless of the quotation currency, the hotel is required to invoice you in Pesos, so the first conversion is in order. Of course, its only fair that the hotel should use a reasonable fx rate to do this conversion.

Now, upon payment, if you choose to settle you bill in USD cash, again its perfectly normal for the hotel to use their house rate to exchange back, and in that case you would have to use their "selling" rate. The end effect is a considerable FX loss (as you correctly point out), but its standard hotel procedure. Im not entirely sure its fair to qualify this as a "trick". As pointed out, you have the option of settling with a credit card or exchange the Dollars at another location.

Just to clarify, did you get the manager to accept the dollars against the peso invoice?