Great Guidebook!
 

^ IMHO one of the best guidebooks is the 286 page MOON HANDBOOKS BUENOS AIRES, ISBN# 1-56691-510-4 www.moon.com which was updated in March 2004. This guide has 4 pages of Internet resources listed, covering everything from tourist information, bird-watching, media resources, discussion groups, etc. I bought one recently via www.walmart.com which gave me the best price.

Before my first visit to Madrid a few years ago, I got this book called Cities of the Imagination which exactly fit the bill you're looking for....except it was for Madrid! I was very impressed with it.

There is another one in the series, by a different author, about Buenos Aires. I guess the reviews on Amazon make it seem a little less worthy. But it could be a good start for you. I plan to pick it up from my library before I leave.

I speak little to no Spanish
 

I'm hoping to take two trips to Argentina over the winter (I have 2 of the fly2/fly free vouchers). Unfortunately, I don't speak any Spanish. How tough will it be getting around?

It won't be easy but it won't be too difficult either. The ultimate solution for such situations is a cell phone that you can use to call up someone to translate/communicate on your behalf if push comes to shove in a language-dependent situation.

Hotels near EZE
 

I have an 8 hour layover at EZE and would very much appreciate any suggestions for a hotel or something relaxing to do near the airport.

I can't believe I found this thread!! This is unreal. jaja! I lived in Argentina for about 6 months as a foreign exchange student and fell in love head over heels. Everyone should visit Argentina at least once. But that never happens, eaither you've been there and you have returned or you've never visited Argentina at all! Everyone is so warm and helpful. (well, not always in buenos aires, jaja) I loved it so much I'm planning a trip back and I plan to live there with some family for a while after college.

But on to my questions...

I'm planning a trip back this december to visit my former host family for christmas and these are my questions:

1. A ticket from Minneapolis to EZE is about $1200 a couple days after christmas, is that overpriced? Underpriced? Can I get a lower price?

2. How much would a bus ticket cost from Buenos Aires to Corrientes?

3. Do airlines encourage student travel with discounts or anything similar?

I feel like I have more questions but I lost them... if anyone can answers these it would be a great help. Thanks.

I would just like to echo what Colito04 says above. I have just spent a week in Buenos Aires and was totally blown away - it is a fantastic city, it's like being in Paris, Madrid and Barcelona all at the same time - the people are elegent and charming, the food and wine excellent. Visit BA you won't regret it, I for one will be going back soon.

PS.for those visiting BA you must see a concert at Teatro Colon and go to a Boca juniors match, two experiences which I will remember for a long time.

PPS. And have morning coffee or afternoon tea in the Alvear Palace hotel.

I agree 100%. Buenos Aires is great.
And Teatro Colon is a must. I had a concert and a tour. They also have free performances in the late afternoon.

However, I was told that the Boca arena can be dangerous ..!?

I can't answer all your questions. $1,200 some days after christmas might be the right price. LAN Peru has a special, less then $500 MIA-EZE-MIA. But it ends early Dec. May be you can change your schedule ..?

40,000 BA miles or 50,000 miles in most other programs for a coach seat is not bad. 3 cents per mile of value is not the best, but it's not the worst either. :D

Going to the Boca Juniors stadium is no longer a dangerous thing to do. Perhaps a few years back, when the club was still under the old management, but not now. Security is very tight in and around the stadium, so if you use common sense and stay out of hooliganism, you will be fine. And yes, its a once in a lifetime experience - so by all means, do go and see a match.

8 hours is ample time to take a Manuel Tienda Leon bus into town, have a meal, walk around a bit and then return in time for your connection.

I agree with Gaucho. Besides, there's really nothing interesting in Ezieza, take a cab or bus into the city. A remis is $18 US, you should be able to negotiate a taxi for about $10 US, and I'm sure the buses are really cheap. What time of the day and what day of the week will you be there?

Introducing new member's new question...
 

I'm brand new here and hope my question is in line with proper forum etiquette--as it's content is new. After reviewing the other forums on the internet, I have found this "Master BA" to be very good. I am 33 and my girlfriend is 31. She has Puerto Rican blood and I was born in Guatemala, so porteno bystanders wont really know we are tourists. We will be visiting BA from 2.22.05 to 3.12.05.

We are deciding where to stay. We will be renting an apartment through APARTMENTSRENTAL.COM. Our real question regards which neighborhood to stay in. It will be either in Palermo or San Telmo.

Right now, we have found a beautiful apartment on Guemes/Coronel Diaz I, in Palermo. We would have preferred San Telmo as this apparently is like Greenwich Village in New York City--where we are traveling from; but, we heard that San Telmo is not very safe at night. Thus, we are leaning towards Palermo.

We figured you experts out there might be able to offer us some "insider" advice. Is the Guemes/Coronel Diaz I location a good one? Would this location serve us better and safer than an alternate in San Telmo?

Thanks for your replies.

I would definitely take Palermo over San Telmo. There are many more restaurants, bars, and clubs to visit at night. During the day there are many pretty parks and plazas including the Botanical Gardens, the Japanese Gardens, and the Zoo. San Telmo is a nice touristy place to check out, but I wouldn't compare it to Greenwich Village. It is interesting and charming, but not THAT interesting. I walked through it in an afternoon and probably won't go back very often, whereas I go to Palermo frequently on every visit. Your location sounds awesome to me, its a block from Sante Fe, which has endless cafes for cheap eats and tons of shopping oriented towards locals rather than tourists. Its also only 2 or 3 blocks from the subte.

You (and everyone else who goes to BA, even you Gaucho!) should spend one Sunday afternoon at Plaza Serano in Palermo. There's an arts & crafts market there, with some very talented painters, sculptors, and other craftsmen showing their wares. Its a fantastic people-watching spot every weekend. Its a few blocks north of Corrientes on Serano.

By the way, this was the perfect thread for your questions ; :cool: