New Years Week in BA
 

Would you recommend coming to Buenos Aires December 31 for two weeks? Are locals in town or are they headed to other beach destinations? How is the weather that week?

Thank You

Plenty going on ... But ...

NYE isn't like most of the world. Midnight out and about is boring. Most people are with family or fixed restaurant dinners. 2 am? Clubs are packed.

It is traditional summer holiday time. Those with dough that stay "local" are in Punta del Este. Those with less dough are in Mar del Plata. Still plenty to do in the city. I've spent the first week of January there since 2009, with the exception of 2021.

Weather can range from pleasant to disgustingly hot and humid with violent thunderstorms.

Pretty quiet
 

We were in BA last year Christmas and New Year's, and in 2022. It's pretty quiet. Summer holiday, they go to the beach or to country houses. We like it as it is a quiet time in one of our favorite cities. We will be heading out for another 3 months in South America at the end of December. Easter Island, 5 day Pony trek, another stay at Estancia Bonanza El Chalten, Cordoba, couple weeks in Uruguay, then the 2nd half no firm plans yet...@travelingstanleys

Thank You
Maybe I should go to Punta del Este for a few days and then onto BA...

Pretty pricey
 

We've been to Punta del Este. It's very nice, but not cheap. Jose Ignacio is quieter, not cheap either. We will be heading there on this trip, and further up the coast for a week or so.

And there you have it!

Meanwhile, given when the OP posted and looking at the calendar, the pickins are likely quite slim at this point for any beachy type locations.

Porteños have always loved PDP and the Argentinian peso is very strong right now, making the place less difficult to afford. Brazil is another long time summer favourite and the cheap real makes it even more interesting. In any case I suspect all good hotels will be already full by now.

Some Buenos Aires restaurants will be open on NYE. You need to book in advance. We spent one New Year’s in Aramburu (still at the old location in Constitución) and we still remember it fondly, it was a lovely night.

From a touristic perspective it’s not a bad time to visit. Most things will be open and the city is quite empty so traffic is great.

Punta del Este is looking to have a record-breaking season so unless you have a (very) flexible budget, getting accomodations from now until January 12-15, which is the ultra-peak season, is going to be challenging. Not impossible, but its going to be seriously expensive.

Yes, the Peso is currently strong (or the Dollar is weak, depending on how you look at it), but in PDE nominal prices are historically very high - and especially so during the last week of December and the first two weeks of January. The top places in Punta have become a playground for the international jet-set of sorts, what was once the place for wealthy Argentines is now more popular amongst not only Brazilians & Mexicans, but also from Americans (US) and also Europeans. If you go really high-end in Punta, expect to pay Monaco like- prices.

Ouch! Thank you and noted !