Mark-- very glad you enjoyed you trip. Hope to have you back down here soon.

Cheers
Gaucho100K

Wow, what a thread. I just joined FT to post on the US-DL merger and stumbled upon this thread. My apologies for my user name, it was made before I found this site. Just don't get me confused with the real Gaucho.

I got back from BA about 3 weeks ago,,went down their with a friend. We both were missionaries for our church in Buenos Aires 28 years ago and just went back for a visit. I agree with the general consensus here.....Buenos Aires is a great city....but what makes it great is the people. Los Argentinos are the friendliest people in the world.

Thought I'd share a good budget hotel, the Hotel San Ramon. Very clean and friendly staff. It's on Moreno St. just a block from 9 de Julio. Still only about $25- $30 for a double. Check it out.

http://www.hotelsanroman.com.ar/index.html

BA great, but be careful if you use the subways
 

In Buenos Aires yesterday, I got hit by a professional (or perhaps, semi-professional) pickpocket team when entering a subway car. This was on the 9 de Julio station, D line, at about 2:20PM as I was heading to Ave Santa Fe for lunch. I had noticed these three people for some reason, as I'm a bit of a people watcher. They seemed to be watching everyone quite closely. A shorter stocky guy, a taller blond (Mid 30's, pockmarked face), and an older (late 50's, early 60's shorter lady). I noticed that the tall blond had a plastic water bottle that had an orange fluid in it. Probably pop, but it stuck out to me.

When the train started to come into the platform, I went up to stand in line, and everyone was crowding in. The guy in front of me (one of the 3 people I had noticed), just stopped, barely inside the door, even though there was space for 4 or 5 more people. People were pressing in behind me, so I was getting pissed off.

I then see a lady with her hand in my shirt pocket (where I keep my money clip with the big bills, and my camera). I grab her hand, and bend her fingers back, I start to yell "Ladrona", and she starts cussing at me. She backs off the train and onto the platform. She then throws her 1/2 full bottle of drink at me, that glances off my face.

The guy who had been in front, also slinks away, and the third person is standing right there as well. Everyone, of course is staring at us, as we continue yelling at each other. I explain to the other occupants that she had been trying to steal my money, and they didn't seem to be that surprised.

The door closes, and my adrenaline starts to come down a bit. A guy next to me then hands me a map, that was on the floor. It had been in my right hand pants pocket, but I guess one of the other team members (perhaps the elderly lady), had pulled it out thinking it was money.

I always split my money up, with small change and bills in my pants pocket, and bigger valuables in my shirt pocket where I can keep an eye on it. I only had a 5 peso bill in that pocket, and it wasn't touched. I had over 300 pesos ($100 US) in my shirt pocket. I never try to carry credit cards or larger amounts of money if possible.

When I exited the train a young lady told me that they really go after tourists, and that I should be careful. She said I was lucky that I caught them in the act.

Exciting for sure. I took a taxi back to my apartment after lunch!

The thief got lucky you didn't break her fingers. Thieves working subways (platforms and cars) and buses (and bus stations) are something to watch out for.

Jaimito--

Im very sorry about this incident....

Please allow me to congratulate you on how well you managed the incident, and also on the factual and non-judgemental way you have posted your experience.

I sincerely hope you broke a couple of the pickpocket's fingers and that this little "excitement" doesnt keep you from coming back to our city.

Best regards,
Gaucho100K

Thanks for your pointer on the budget hotel.

The budget category of hotels is one of the weak spots of this thread.

Glad you had a good time in Buenos Aires!! :D

Cheers,
Gaucho100K

I've been coming to BA a couple of times a year for the last 3 years, so it won't put me off. :)

I guess I'm a bit of a pessimist, and always go out like I'm going to be robbed. I split my money up. I try to be aware of my surroundings, and never take out more than I can afford to "lose".

The only time I'll take a credit card out with me, is if I'm going to an ATM to take money out, and never for mundane purchases. I had maybe $110 US total, along with a $200 digital camera with me. I'm certainly not going to die for these items.

As for my reaction, I think it had more to do with growing up with two older brothers, with whom I had to be able to quickly respond to, or get my butt kicked. :) I know that I could not have reacted in any better of a manner if I had planned it.

I've ridden the subte probably 15 times in the last couple of years, and this is the first problem I've had.

Hi, guys. I'm taking the first steps to plan a return trip to Argentina for next year. We'll likely want to spend a few days in BA and head elsewhere, possibly Patagonia, which we thoroughly enjoyed last time.

With airfares from the US to Argentina still quite high, I'm thinking of using some AA miles for the trip. With Southern Winds' demise, it looks like internal airfares have skyrocketed -- especially for foreigners. But the press releases indicate that LANArgentina is joining the OneWorld alliance, so presumably I could add BA-El Calafate flights to an AA award for free. Anyone with any experience in this regard? I tried to pull up LAN's schedule to El Calafate (the press release said service was supposed to start last month), but I got nothing.

Anyone with the scoop? Thanks!!

IAHPHX,

Check out page 2 of the .pdf file press release, El Calafate starting 7 Nov 06.

http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/deta...f=1&showhtml=0

An idea is to buy a South America Pass with LAN...lookk at some of these fares!

http://www.lan.com/promociones/data/....html#calafate

Thanks for the tips, SASfan.

Yes, that's the press release I saw about Lan's El Calafate service. But if I go to LAN's site and try to book a BA-El Calafate flight, it has no info to display. On the other hand, I did see some El Calafate flights pop up if I tried to book, say, Miami-El Calafate. So I'm having a hard time finding the complete schedule and, I fear, AA won't be able to find the flights for reward travel (the press release also suggests full integration of LanArgentina might not occur until early next year, so I'm not even sure LanArgentina reward travel can be booked yet with AA).

Those SA Pass fares you linked to: they're one-way, right? They seem pretty good compared to published fares for foreigners (at least what I found at Aerolineas), but they're still a little pricey. I know I'll never get it this cheap again, but Southern Winds only charged me about $60 each way from BA to El Calafate two years ago. And it would certainly be better to pay NOTHING as part of an AA South American reward rez. :) But I guess if I am interested in the SA Airpass (and I would be if those fares were roundtrip!), it would be a little cheaper if I flew LAN to Argentina with my AA award than flying AA metal.

I am planning a trip to BA. What is there to do in Patagonia and where is it?

I'm guessing it's your first trip to this part of the world. :)

This Frommer's summary will get you pointed in the right direction.

http://frommers.com/destinations/pat...ierradelfuego/

On a related note.... AEP (Buenos Aires' City Airport) is due to resume normal operations this coming Monday.

Another message of thanks to everyone posting here, especially Goucho...I'm headed down to BA tomorrow night, booked my ticket a couple hours ago. I'm running around packing like a fool and trying to take in as much as possible before taking off tomorrow. Looking forward to some delicious malbec!

My sister just arrived Saturday morning and I'll be meeting her in a few weeks. Woo hoo. Can't wait!
Rita