Please feel free to contact me via PM so I can send you the details of a guide I can recommend.

As Gaucho100k said, in Argentina, car seats are required by law but are not really enforced. Almost everybody uses car seats in private cars, however no one uses them in taxis.

Traffic in Buenos Aires is not terrible as in other cities like LIM or MEX, but its certainly not as organized as in the US. As a father of a little young and a Buenos Aires native, I do recommend you using a car seat if you are going to rent a car.

LR

We have only a few hours in the city to have lunch and walk around, but we will be back to visit Buenos Aires for a longer period of time at the end of our trip.[/QUOTE]

AEP is nice and close to the city, so you should have no trouble getting there and back, with time for lunch. Indeed, Puerto Madero is a good place to find a restaurant.

I have a 6 hour evening layover in EZE next week. I am flying business class, so have lounge access to the Club Condor lounge, but last time I was there it was pretty messy, and all out of food. Alcohol was available, but no glasses (i ended up with a glass of wine in a styrofoam cup). Any suggestions of where I can eat at the airport - any half-decent restauranants or anything? Thanks

Food at all of the EZE eateries ranges from bad to horrible. Since you have 6 hours, why not grab a car and head into town?

I was considering that, although I was in town last week for 24hrs (my flights are SYD-EZE/AEP-MVD-EZE-SYD). But I do love the city. And the steak. Does anyobdy know if I would have to pay the departure tax if I exited the airport, or would I still be considered in-transit?

Thanks

Interesting question on the departure tax.... Im guessing that if you exit the sterile area then you will most probably have to pay the tax... although the only way to know for sure will be to ask the airline you are traveling with.

Thanks, Ill try AR

I had no luck with AR re departure tax. So if anybody knows, would be much appreciated.

How did you buy your ticket...? Maybe you can find out from the TA?

Direct from AR (was a day-before thing). I don't think they are very used to issuing tickets from the Sydney office, though they at least tried to be helpful.

Quick question. For first time visitors, which will be two couples in their late 30's who don't stay out until 3 a.m. but would enjoy an active area with great food & some nightlife, and do care about refined accomodations, which would be preferable? Dates are in November, 2007.

Option A: Park Tower. Have SPG Gold. Could either get 2 rooms for US$220 each or 2 suites for $350 each. Either looks like it includes breakfast buffet, and the suite appears to have butler service.

Option B: Park Hyatt. Have Hyatt Diamond (so would get continental breakfast even though rate does not include it) and generally prefer to give money to Hyatt over SPG if all things are equal. Regular rooms are US$410 however my corporate rate would get that down to $230 per night per room. Could try to get a suite UG with diamond, though probably unlikely to happen based on reports on this property.

Any opinion? Is one a much better neighborhood for the considerations described? Thanks!!

(P.S. I did do a search and I did scroll quickly the 44 pages of this thread - did not find a comparison on point - sorry if I overlooked one.)

Both the Park Tower and Park Hyatt are very good hotels, but considering that you have Diamond status and the rates for both hotels are the same, I think you would be better served staying at the Hyatt. The Hyatt has somewhat better location, so that is an added plus.

Please feel free to PM me should you have any additional questions.

I absolutely agree with Gaucho even 'tho I haven't stepped foot in either hotel, the location of the Hyatt is way better. You'll be right in the Recoleta neighborhood which is great for strolling and window shopping.

Rita

Thanks Gaucho100K and rkt10 - the Hyatt it is, then! ^