Mendoza (MDZ) - the ultimate Q&A thread
Jul 11, 2007, 3:14 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,575
Jul 13, 2007, 8:22 pm
#92
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 797
Siempre Viajando-- I havent been to Zuccardi for a while now... do they have a walk in restaurant or do you have to make reservations? Zuccardi makes great wines... and if you can, try the Alma 4 Sparkling wines made by Sebastian Zuccardi, they are very very good. Plus, for lovers of sparkling red wine, make sure to try the sparkling Bonarda and Syrah.
Jul 14, 2007, 6:45 am
#93
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
I know it's been a while since you asked this but here it goes: we were at Familia Zuccardi in April. We took one of the local agent tours with another couple from New Zealand. The deal included a visit to the Don Bosco school and winery (with an olive oil plantation to boot), where we met a very friendly host. Then on to Zuccardi for the tour and later lunch. I believe you can also call in and reserve a table. The service there was relaxed and efficient. The couple from NZ was overwhelmed by the amount of food offered and we all enjoyed the wine pairings. I will not comment on the quality as I am no expert, but I can say I enjoyed the meal and the whole tour. All this (including pick up and drop off at our hotel) for the equivalent of $30 US each!
Thanks for your report!^ How did you arrange this tour? Do you have a link, phone number etc.?
I am planning 3 days/2 nights in Mendoza ... after reading Gaucho's comments, I probably staying away from renting a car and making/joining a tour.
Also thanks to Gaucho running this thread^
Jul 14, 2007, 10:16 am
#94
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,681
I know it's been a while since you asked this but here it goes: we were at Familia Zuccardi in April. We took one of the local agent tours with another couple from New Zealand. The deal included a visit to the Don Bosco school and winery (with an olive oil plantation to boot), where we met a very friendly host. Then on to Zuccardi for the tour and later lunch. I believe you can also call in and reserve a table. The service there was relaxed and efficient. The couple from NZ was overwhelmed by the amount of food offered and we all enjoyed the wine pairings. I will not comment on the quality as I am no expert, but I can say I enjoyed the meal and the whole tour. All this (including pick up and drop off at our hotel) for the equivalent of $30 US each!
Jul 15, 2007, 4:03 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Kamuela, Hawaii
Programs: AA Platinum Plus; One World Emerald
Posts: 540
Last time I got some advice that probably won't work for me so I'm posing my questions again in the hopes that someone may have some more concrete information. Basically I have two questions:
1) Does anyone have some recommendations on arranging private or semi-private wine tours out of Mendoza? I'd probably be looking for a full day tour on a Saturday in early February.
2A) I also need to figure out how to get from Mendoza to Santiago (with considerable baggage) on the following Sunday to catch an 11 pm flight to the United States. I had planned to hire a driver, but some of the earlier responses were this was prohibitive. There are two of us traveling -- if we fly the airfare appears to be running somewhere around $450 to $600. Also LAN has two flights on the day in question -- one early in the morning; the other arriving at 8:15 pm, which seems to be cutting things close.
2B) If we do drive, when should we have the driver leave to safely get to Santiago by around 8:30 pm?
2C) Is the bus a viable option? How comfortable is it -- and, how long does it take?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
1) Does anyone have some recommendations on arranging private or semi-private wine tours out of Mendoza? I'd probably be looking for a full day tour on a Saturday in early February.
2A) I also need to figure out how to get from Mendoza to Santiago (with considerable baggage) on the following Sunday to catch an 11 pm flight to the United States. I had planned to hire a driver, but some of the earlier responses were this was prohibitive. There are two of us traveling -- if we fly the airfare appears to be running somewhere around $450 to $600. Also LAN has two flights on the day in question -- one early in the morning; the other arriving at 8:15 pm, which seems to be cutting things close.
2B) If we do drive, when should we have the driver leave to safely get to Santiago by around 8:30 pm?
2C) Is the bus a viable option? How comfortable is it -- and, how long does it take?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Jul 15, 2007, 4:41 pm
#96
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,681
prh-- where are you staying? Do you have access to a concierge service at your hotel? If so, I suggest you have them arrange for a car & driver and have the vehicle take you around Mendoza to your various appointments. Please note that you will have to book/make appointments. Walk in visits are not the norm.
If you are getting high airfares and there are two of you... then maybe the option of hiring a small van for both of you may not be such a bad option. Again, I would try to get a concierge to shop around for fares for you.
The Bus is a very viable option... you should be able to get a premium bus service that should be quite nice. This will be the most cost effective solution as a excess bags on the bus service will be very inexpensive.
If you are getting high airfares and there are two of you... then maybe the option of hiring a small van for both of you may not be such a bad option. Again, I would try to get a concierge to shop around for fares for you.
The Bus is a very viable option... you should be able to get a premium bus service that should be quite nice. This will be the most cost effective solution as a excess bags on the bus service will be very inexpensive.
Jul 15, 2007, 6:11 pm
#97
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: US expat somewhere south of Valpo, Chilezuela
Programs: On the way to lowly LATAM Gold, AA, MiClub Lider
Posts: 853
2A) You need to do some cost/benefit research and calculations here.
Assuming you have already paid the $100 Chile reciprocity fee for your passports and are not flying Lan out of SCL and don't plan on flying them for a while...
FYI, there are $70 base fare "RT" MDZ-SCL tickets (read: "throwaway") for approx.$92 all in. The problem will be luggage:
So, being creative and assuming the change fee is not prohibitive, how about trying to add on a one-way LAN segment, MDZ-SCL, to your current return segment out of SCL and interline your bags to your final destination? If you do this, the LAN baggage rules then change to:
2C) If you decide on the bus, the most convenient for an ultimate transfer to SCL would be to take the bus with the Chilean company Turbus from Mendoza to the Terminal Alameda in Santiago (the main Turbus and Pullman Bus terminal). After receiving your bags, you can then stroll over to the airport transfer bus kiosk and purchase your pasaje for the hourly bus that leaves from the platform in front of that kiosk (1.800 pesos). They will check your bags below like on any intercity bus in Chile and Argentina. There is also an official taxi stand area if you exit the terminal to the left of the Turbus airport transfer kiosk. If you have sufficient hours to burn, there is also a bag check storage facility inside the terminal and the Metro station Universidad de Santiago is connected to Terminal Alameda on the bottom level.
WARNING (especially for the bus terminal in Mendoza but applicable to all bus terminals in this part of South America): WATCH YOU LUGGAGE, HANDBAGS AND POCKETS!! You can relax though once you have you luggage checked into the bus hold.
Observation: In Argentina, the person loading the bags in the hold is looking for a small tip. In Chile, this is not done. The bus attendant though always publicly asks for a small tip on the route between these two cities.
Assuming you have already paid the $100 Chile reciprocity fee for your passports and are not flying Lan out of SCL and don't plan on flying them for a while...
FYI, there are $70 base fare "RT" MDZ-SCL tickets (read: "throwaway") for approx.$92 all in. The problem will be luggage:
Tourist Class 20 kilograms
Excess baggage will be charged as follows:
- For every kilogram of excess baggage, the passenger will be charged one percent of the highest published LAN oneway Tourist Class fare for the route in question.
Excess baggage will be charged as follows:
- For every kilogram of excess baggage, the passenger will be charged one percent of the highest published LAN oneway Tourist Class fare for the route in question.
Passing thorugh North America: When my origin or destination it is NOT Miami, Los Angeles or New York
* Two pieces of luggage are permitted.
* Each piece of luggage must be 23 kilograms or less.
* The height + width + breadth of each piece must not exceed 158 cms.
Excess baggage is defined as the following:
- An extra piece in addition to the two permitted.
- Any piece exceeding the permitted dimensions.
- Any piece weighing over 23 kilograms and less than 32 kilograms will be charged with US$ 25.
- Any piece weighing over 23 kilograms will be charged according to the following:
* US$ 150 per each excess.
* Two pieces of luggage are permitted.
* Each piece of luggage must be 23 kilograms or less.
* The height + width + breadth of each piece must not exceed 158 cms.
Excess baggage is defined as the following:
- An extra piece in addition to the two permitted.
- Any piece exceeding the permitted dimensions.
- Any piece weighing over 23 kilograms and less than 32 kilograms will be charged with US$ 25.
- Any piece weighing over 23 kilograms will be charged according to the following:
* US$ 150 per each excess.
WARNING (especially for the bus terminal in Mendoza but applicable to all bus terminals in this part of South America): WATCH YOU LUGGAGE, HANDBAGS AND POCKETS!! You can relax though once you have you luggage checked into the bus hold.
Observation: In Argentina, the person loading the bags in the hold is looking for a small tip. In Chile, this is not done. The bus attendant though always publicly asks for a small tip on the route between these two cities.
Last edited by Viajero Perpetuo; Jul 15, 2007 at 6:17 pm Reason: punctuation
Jul 15, 2007, 6:32 pm
#98
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Kamuela, Hawaii
Programs: AA Platinum Plus; One World Emerald
Posts: 540
Replying to the two replies above, first thanks. Now let me try to respond to some of the questions and comments above:
1) We're staying at the Hyatt -- I've just contacted the concierge, who has asked me which wineries we want to go to -- suggestions? I also asked about the "transfer" to Santiago.
2) My flight situation is this -- we're on a frequent flyer ticket on AA from the US to Santiago and back. I've also got a LAN South American Airpass which will take us from Santiago to Punta Arenas, up to Iquazu, down to BA, and over to Mendoza. When I booked the Airpass, I had thought the drive over the Andes would be a neat way to end the trip and figured that it wouldn't break the bank. When I checked lan.com for the one-way flight from MDZ-SCL, it was quoting $305. It seems if I modify my Airpass the cost would go down about $80. BUT, that still leaves us with the dilemma of getting to SCL around noon (with bags in hand) or around 8:15 in the evening which seems a little too close for comfort.
Interestingly, I just checked lan.com, if we book a roundtrip ticket from MDZ to SCL and back, the roundtrip ticket is $70! Can we safely do that and throw away the return??????
1) We're staying at the Hyatt -- I've just contacted the concierge, who has asked me which wineries we want to go to -- suggestions? I also asked about the "transfer" to Santiago.
2) My flight situation is this -- we're on a frequent flyer ticket on AA from the US to Santiago and back. I've also got a LAN South American Airpass which will take us from Santiago to Punta Arenas, up to Iquazu, down to BA, and over to Mendoza. When I booked the Airpass, I had thought the drive over the Andes would be a neat way to end the trip and figured that it wouldn't break the bank. When I checked lan.com for the one-way flight from MDZ-SCL, it was quoting $305. It seems if I modify my Airpass the cost would go down about $80. BUT, that still leaves us with the dilemma of getting to SCL around noon (with bags in hand) or around 8:15 in the evening which seems a little too close for comfort.
Interestingly, I just checked lan.com, if we book a roundtrip ticket from MDZ to SCL and back, the roundtrip ticket is $70! Can we safely do that and throw away the return??????
Jul 15, 2007, 7:30 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: US expat somewhere south of Valpo, Chilezuela
Programs: On the way to lowly LATAM Gold, AA, MiClub Lider
Posts: 853
Still leaves the checked baggage cost issue. Do you only have 20k each?
There is also a left luggage facility at SCL.
http://www.aeropuertosantiago.cl/con...20040708153249
The bus AFAIK will not have any extra luggage fees assuming you are traveling like a tourist.
Jul 16, 2007, 9:06 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 797
I will try to find the name of the agency where we made the arangements. I can meantime give you the name and number of the guide we had that day: Liliana N. Rodriguez Tel (0261) 4390864 and her cell (0261) 578605. I am sure that you can easily arrange the winery tours once you arrive in Mendoza. Familia Zuccardi was the one we really enjoyed . Heard great things about bodega Tapiz but did not make it - will have to do it next time. You should also consider the day tour to "La Cordillera" unless you plan to cross the Andes by surface to go to Chile.
Jul 17, 2007, 1:38 am
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,575
Let me share my recent experience getting to Mendoza from Buenos Aires. Instead of the plane, my wife and I decided to try the bus. There seem to be two companies that stand out: Andesmar and Chevalier. I purchased the tickets on Andesmar online @ www.andesmar.com There are several services each day and we chose the "Executive" service that leaves B.A. at 7.45 PM and arrives at Mendoza at 9 am or so. Each round trip ticket was 350 pesos or about $116 US at the rate of exchange at the time. Hint: to find the origin point look not for "Buenos Aires" but "Retiro - Buenos Aires". The bus leaves from the main bus terminal near the Retiro train station by Plaza San Martin. Just after the ride starts you get a full fledged safety demo, followed by a game of Bingo. A short while later you are served dinner (choice of chicken, beef or vegan) with beverage of your choice (we went for the red wine). Then it's a movie or two on the flat screen or sleep on the full flat "bed", more or less like an international business class seat. The bus is set so that it does not exceed 50 mph, which is good considering that the roads are ok, but not up to US or Western Europe standards (in my opinion anyway). After dawn you get breakfast and a short time later you are close to downtown Mendoza. We were very satisfied even though it is a long ride; service was cordial and efficient and the accomodations (seats are 2-1 per row) quite adequate. Anyway an option to consider - much cheaper than the plane and hey, you save one night's hotel bill!
I do have a couple of questions. I went through a "trial" booking online on andesmar.com (haven't actually booked yet) of a first-class itinerary just to familiarize myself with what's available, and looked at the seat maps. I doubt that there is the equivalent of seatguru.com for these buses, so I wondered if you had any recommendations for seats that are particularly good or bad. The seat maps show a lower and upper floor; piso inferior has seats 1 - 6, and piso superior has seats 7 - 26, so it appears that the "lower floor" is actually just the front of the bus, and then I'm guessing that there are a few steps up to the rear of the bus, where the majority of seats are. Since I'll be traveling alone on the bus, I'll probably pick one of the single seats (on the right side), but if you can think of any particularly desirable or undesirable places to sit on the bus, please let me know.
Also, how was the food? Was it at least of airplane quality and quantity?
I plan to take an overnight bus, stay one night at a hotel in Mendoza, then take another overnight bus back.
Jul 17, 2007, 8:32 am
#102
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
I will try to find the name of the agency where we made the arangements. I can meantime give you the name and number of the guide we had that day: Liliana N. Rodriguez Tel (0261) 4390864 and her cell (0261) 578605. I am sure that you can easily arrange the winery tours once you arrive in Mendoza. Familia Zuccardi was the one we really enjoyed . Heard great things about bodega Tapiz but did not make it - will have to do it next time. You should also consider the day tour to "La Cordillera" unless you plan to cross the Andes by surface to go to Chile.
Thanks! I guess that I can arrange everything when I am at MDZ. I'll keep Liliana's phone numbers.
Thanks again.
Jul 17, 2007, 11:04 am
#103
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 797
Your post has inspired me to make plans to travel between BsAs and Mendoza this way!
I do have a couple of questions. I went through a "trial" booking online on andesmar.com (haven't actually booked yet) of a first-class itinerary just to familiarize myself with what's available, and looked at the seat maps. I doubt that there is the equivalent of seatguru.com for these buses, so I wondered if you had any recommendations for seats that are particularly good or bad. The seat maps show a lower and upper floor; piso inferior has seats 1 - 6, and piso superior has seats 7 - 26, so it appears that the "lower floor" is actually just the front of the bus, and then I'm guessing that there are a few steps up to the rear of the bus, where the majority of seats are. Since I'll be traveling alone on the bus, I'll probably pick one of the single seats (on the right side), but if you can think of any particularly desirable or undesirable places to sit on the bus, please let me know.
Also, how was the food? Was it at least of airplane quality and quantity?
I plan to take an overnight bus, stay one night at a hotel in Mendoza, then take another overnight bus back.
I do have a couple of questions. I went through a "trial" booking online on andesmar.com (haven't actually booked yet) of a first-class itinerary just to familiarize myself with what's available, and looked at the seat maps. I doubt that there is the equivalent of seatguru.com for these buses, so I wondered if you had any recommendations for seats that are particularly good or bad. The seat maps show a lower and upper floor; piso inferior has seats 1 - 6, and piso superior has seats 7 - 26, so it appears that the "lower floor" is actually just the front of the bus, and then I'm guessing that there are a few steps up to the rear of the bus, where the majority of seats are. Since I'll be traveling alone on the bus, I'll probably pick one of the single seats (on the right side), but if you can think of any particularly desirable or undesirable places to sit on the bus, please let me know.
Also, how was the food? Was it at least of airplane quality and quantity?
I plan to take an overnight bus, stay one night at a hotel in Mendoza, then take another overnight bus back.
Food was plentiful - you can choose your entree when you make your booking (chicken, beef or vegetarian). How does it compare with airline food - perhaps a bit better than average coach on an international flight, depends on the airline. I did not regret not taking any extra snacks.
Another poster recommended caution at the bus terminals and I agree that you must be watchful at both ends. Do not lose sight of your stuff until you deliver it to the bus people and you get a bag tag. Finally make sure you get on the right bus because there are two or three leaving within 30 minutes of each other - and this is Andesmar alone to Mendoza! Retiro is a VERY busy terminal as you will see but quite manageable if you allow enough time.
I do urge you to consider staying more than just one night. In addition to a tour of the wineries you might want to go on a 'regular' tour to the Andes (paseo Cordillera) and even spend another day just walking around the city. Parque General San Martin as well as the Municipal Market in the middle of the city are worth while checking. A shame to go that far and not spending a little more time.
Jul 17, 2007, 11:20 am
#104
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 797
I suspect that you will end up paying more if the arrangements are made through the concierge at the hotel than if you do it directly with a travel agent. I still don't remember the name of the one we used but it was on Rivadavia street between Espaņa and 9 de Julio.
Jul 17, 2007, 4:15 pm
#105
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,681
I dont know what your interests in terms of wines are (styles, etc.), but IMHO some names that you need to consider visiting are:
a) Bodega Benegas
b) Banfi - Cinco Tierras
c) Achaval Ferrer
d) Bodega La Azul
e) Clos de los Siete
f) Andeluna Cellars
g) Rutini La Rural