Well.... AR stewardesses are better looking than your average UA or AA prison matron, alas - they are not what they used to be.

In any event, AR long haul from North America in Business Class is still better than what you will get these days on UA or AA - so if you can forget about the mileage issues then Aerolineas is actually an option.

Blasphemy! ;)

Please note I did say " if "..... :D

Hotel Madero by Sofitel
 

Does anyone have any info on this hotel? We will be in BA 31/10 - 4/11 and they have an opening special of US$80 a night (plus 21% tax). The hotel opened on 7/10/04 and is on dique 2 of Puerto Madero. The website is www.hotelmadero.com

We were also looking at the Bobo hotel in Palermo - we figured that twe would always need to get a cab to go into town. The website is: www.bobohotel.com

Thanks for any feedback!!!

Dolly Irigoyen
 

Gaucho100K, on Dining Buzz you give the impression that you've eaten at one of Dolly Irigoyen's restaurants. I sent you a private message about this which you read on Saturday but to which you did not respond.

I contacted the chief concierges at Alvear Palace and Park Hyatt in BsAs and they tell me Dolly Yrigoyen doesn't have a restaurant and has never owned a restaurant anywhere. I contacted the station that produced her cooking shows and they tell me that she doesn't have a restaurant and that she never did own one. I'm puzzled, where did you eat? I've copied your Dining Buzz post to show others because you go into a bit of detail as well. Please let me know the name and address of the restaurant. Thanks, Ciao :)

Bluewatersail, you are correct. I must clarify the information I posted before because it was not accurate.

The place in question is Espacio Dolly. It is in fact an operation that is not open to the public (I was made aware of this fact just yesterday). I apologize for posting this misleading information. I have been invited to Espacio Dolly on two occassions, as part of my dealings with the F&B trade - and wrongly assumed that this was a venue that one could have access to simply by reserving a table. This is not the case, so unless you can get the trade connection, dining here as part of a regular visit to Buenos Aires will not be an option.

Sorry for the confusion caused - I will head over to Dining Buzz to correct the misleading information.

Spanish Lessons
 

anyone have any recommenations for a spanish school or tutors? i will be in ba for the first 2 weeks of november. so far, the list of schools i have are the folllowing:

1) centro de estudio del espanol (cedic)
2) instituto de lengua espanola para extranjeros (ilee)
3) international bureau of language (ibl)

any advice regarding the above or new suggestions would be appreciated :)

chao!

I will be on a personal holiday and will be traveling solo. Is there anyone visiting or local FTers that might be interested in getting together for coffee, a meal, touring, etc.?

I have tentative plans to visit BA from Nov. 10-15 and Santiago, Chile from Nov. 15-17. I may also visit Iguazu Falls or Colonia during my stay.

Anybody have any comments on the Golden Tulip Savoy Hotel near the Obelisco?

Thanks for all the great information on BA in this thread. It will make my upcoming trip all the more rewarding. Please feel free to PM me. Thanks!

Rioplatense
 

I like Rioplatense, it's really unique. Can anyone give a short list of words that are peculiar to BsAs and not heard elsewhere? Words that might confuse an unsuspecting visitor.

Also, Alejandro you might be able to answer this. I was in a car on a toll road approaching BsAs. Traffic slowed to a crawl as we approached the tollbooth/peaje. Suddenly cars started honking and people stopped paying the toll, everyone drove through without paying. What was that all about?

Hi CAPreppie
 

CAPreppie you must be ware of the +/-21% room tax that your hotel will charge you in BsAs. I heard some North Americans moaning and groaning about the tax because they were not aware of it.

The room tax in Chile is like 19% but as a tourist they'll take a copy of your passport and you will not have to pay the tax.

Last minute Advice
 

I'm heading to EZE on Friday (thank you, AABOS promotion!) with two friends (we're all twenty-something guys). Gotta say, this thread is just awesome. Answered most of my questions, but want to see if there is any final advice. Also, I saw some mention of the new Ibis earlier in the thread, but has anyone reading stayed there? Thanks.

tax clarification
 

Please note that Argentina has a 21% VAT which is usually included in the price of all goods sold. However, sometimes prices are quoted at $XXX + VAT. Hotel fares are subject to other taxes (as in many other parts of the world) - airline tickets are another example. Make sure you are not mixing up these taxes.... they are not the same.

A trip to the pampas
 

I am going on an organised tour of Argentina. I have the first Sunday at leisure in BA and want to book a trip to see Gaucho on the Pampas. What company does such trips? Any ideas?

What to wear
 

My wife like most women isn't sure what to wear. We will be going to Buenos Aires over Thanksgiving. What should women wear for sightseeing, dining out, and the evening shows? Thanks.

Jim