South America - Early March Santiago & Mendoza Suggestions

My husband and I are traveling to Santiago March 3-10. We will be there over Carnival 2011. We can't decide what order concidering Carnival. Does either city shut down for this time? Is there a prefered order? Mendoza first, or Santiago first. If we drive is there any place interesting to stay and explore between Santiago and Mendoza? Also interested in places to stay.

Brazilian Carnival has no impact in either Santiago or Mendoza. Early March in Santiago is when the kids are going back to school and the parents are fresh back from vacation, glumly sitting in traffic wishing they were still on the beach. No shutdown.

Two good, upscale places to stay are the Marriott and the Hyatt, along Av. Kennedy in Las Condes, on opposite sides of the Parque Arauco shopping mall. Neither is very convenient to the excellent subway system and you would be best having a rental car, or you could cab it (cabs are reliably metered, safe and affordable). If you want to be more central and closer to the subway, try the Hotel W on Av. Goyenechea in the El Bosque area of Las Condes, or the Ritz Carlton on Av. Apoquindo.

If $300+ per night blows the budget there are oodles of less expensive places in central Las Condes and Providencia.

Mendoza is a nice city although security can be an issue. The upscale place is the Park Hyatt, very central and located near to good restaurants. One recommendation in Mendoza would be to visit the Zuccardi winery for lunch. It's about 35 km from town, out along the highway to San Luis. A bit of a hike but an experience you won't forget.

Driving between Santiago and Mendoza takes about six to seven hours. Weather in early March will not be a problem. Note, taking a car that you don't own across the border is a hassle. There are paperwork issues, insurance, etc. etc. If you decide to do this, be sure to get it all straight with the rental agency (and open your wallet, it will cost you). The drive across the Andes is nice enough but frankly, my recommendation would be to fly. LAN has two flights per day.

Siempre Viajando is right. Carnaval does not affect Santiago or Mendoza in the slightest.

If you want to stay somewhere more convenient to the metro system in Santiago, might I suggest the Hotel Orly in Providencia. When I lived in Santiago, all of my family who came to visit me stayed there and they liked it. It is more of a European-style hotel than the Marriott (think smaller rooms), but very nice in terms of furnishings and service.

As far as a place to visit between Santiago and Mendoza, there is the town of Los Andes. There are a few vineyards around the town, but Los Andes itself isn't that interesting.

I echo the sentiment that taking a rental car into Argentina would be a hassle. You have to purchase extra insurance. It's better to take the bus (TurBus and CATA Internacional are two good companies). The scenery is spectacular along the road, and the trip takes about 6 hours.

An alternative to the Park Hyatt in Mendoza is the ParkSuites Hotel. It's just a few blocks off the Plaza Independencia. I personally never felt like security was an issue in Mendoza. It felt safer to me than Santiago, although Santiago never felt dangerous to me, either.

It's better to take the bus (TurBus and CATA Internacional are two good companies). The scenery is spectacular along the road, and the trip takes about 6 hours.

I take great exception to Turbus as being a preferred carrier on that route.

More like Andesmar; CATA; the others like El Rapido, Ahumada, etc; and last of all, Turbus. Andesmar and CATA are Argentinian companies while Turbus is a Chilean company.

My past two trips, Santiago Terminal Alameda to Mendoza Ominbus Terminal, have taken LONGER or MUCH LONGER that 6 hours due to construction on that route. Throw in a full bus to be processed at the border, peak travel windows, the occasional strike or work slowdown, the Kettles version of international bus travelers with their paperwork and customs issues and you have trips that take 8 to 10 hours or more.

Don't even get me going on how long it can take coming back the other direction.

I personally never felt like security was an issue in Mendoza. It felt safer to me than Santiago, although Santiago never felt dangerous to me, either.

There is a reason why many small businesses have buzz-in sceen access in Mendoza and also Santiago for that matter.

I believe the first weekend in March is the finale of Vendimia in Mendoza. Prices and availaibility of transport and lodging may be a problem not to mention crowds.

In Chile, Santiago will be returning to it's normal crowded rushed living character as people go back to work and school.

Reading the great information on this thread, I am tempted to seek your advice: We are planning to spend a few days (Monday-Friday) in (or around) Santiago. We could either stay in Santiago only (either the Radisson Plaza or the Petra la Dehesa Hotel) or split the time between Santiago & Valparaiso (Radisson Concon). Are these places suitable for getting around by public transport and experiencing the local flavour (especially for trying local cuisine etc)? Any recommendations for things to do / see? Thanks!

Reading the great information on this thread, I am tempted to seek your advice: We are planning to spend a few days (Monday-Friday) in (or around) Santiago. We could either stay in Santiago only (either the Radisson Plaza or the Petra la Dehesa Hotel) or split the time between Santiago & Valparaiso (Radisson Concon). Are these places suitable for getting around by public transport and experiencing the local flavour (especially for trying local cuisine etc)? Any recommendations for things to do / see? Thanks!
Radisson Plaza is better located for Metro access. It is about 2.5 blocks away from Metro Tobalaba in the heart of the most upscale urban section of Santiago.

I'm not the expert on Viña so someone else will have to respond on the Concon question.

But to answer the split time question, 3 nights Santiago, 2 nights Valpo-Viña-5th region central coast sounds about right.