Phone directories for all of Argentina:

http://www.telefonica.com.ar/enlace/guia_telefonica.htm

Just finished my sixth visit to Argentina & Bs. As. this year. It was particularly cool this time around in several ways, but also terribly sad due to the tidal waves in South Asia and the hideous nightclub inferno. Don't let the mess at that one club keep you away from this wonderful city though, the goverment is moving quickly, amazingly fast for a normally lethargic and inefficient beauracracy, to impose and enforce even stricter safety rules. If the club in question had followed the existing rules though the tragedy would have been a fraction of what it is. Its particularly disturbing to me becuase my wife has visited the club, and its only 2 blocks from her apartment.

On to the good stuff: Thank you so much for your hospitality Gaucho, we enjoyed that first bottle of wine with our friends in San Antonio de Areca, we're looking forward to the others after they've aged a bit more. El Pobre Luis is indeed a terrific parrilla, we had some awesome rabbit and chicken there last week. We tried to hit a couple of other suggestions you've made this weekend, but like lots of other businesses, many of the restaurants appear to have taken New Years weekend off.

Kurt-- thanks for your kind words, Im glad I was able to meet you and your wife and give you some pointers on the places to go. Please dont forget to let me know next time you are in town... cheers!!

Dear RS-- it was a pleasure to meet you & your wife at our store, I hope to catch up with you again the next time you are in town. Cheers!!

Unfortunately, Im not sure I can help you much. Im not aware of a radio program that could help you in your search, this doesnt mean that there isnt one but just that I dont know of one that could.... I suggest you try the link posted above and see if the phone book can help. Good luck!!

Tour/activity costs?
 

I am planning to pre-arrange some tours for our group of 5. Would like to get some feedback on what others have paid for things so I know when I book something if it's in the right ballpark.

4 +/- hour city tour?

Dinner & tango show?

Estancia trip?

Airport-Recoleta for 4-5 people?

Hiring a bi-lingual driver for hourly rate for the 5 of us (if we find there is something else to do that we haven't already booked)?

I cannot believe our trip is only a month away. I feel like I've read so much but am still so unprepared :confused:

Thanks everyone :)

Cash discount hotel rates?
 

I have read that some hotels offer discounts for cash payments. Is this common?

I emailed one hotel and their cash discount is 20%... That leads me to believe that they discount/eliminate the VAT 21% tax (ie. don't pay it) and give you the regular room rate. Presuming it is a reputable/recommended hotel, there is nothing to worry about. Correct?

I never did a city or estancia tour, have no idea on cost or purveyors. The tango shows usually include a mediocre dinner, like Gaucho said earlier in this thread, you probably ought to get dinner before you go:) I don't recall what we paid at Esquina Carlos Gardel, something like 60 to 75 pesos per person. Taxis from EZE to downtown cost 18 USD, but remember that they are smaller than taxis in the US. You will only be able to fit 3 adults comfortably in each cab, and only a few pieces of luggage in the trunk. You'll probably need 2 cabs from EZE, perhaps even 3 if you guys have a lot of luggage. I spoke to a few drivers about using them all day long, they want about 1 peso per kilometer and 10 pesos per hour.

Cash discounts are nothing to worry about... provided its a reputable/recommended hotel - you will be fine.

transportation and guide - some additional information
 

For a party of 4-5, I recommend getting a mini-van of sorts, no regular sedan (even a stretch S Class Mercedes) will be comfortable enough for a party of 5. While Im not a good source for updated costs for an all in quote, I would suggest checking and verifying that your driver is really bi-lingual. Else, you may end up being better off getting a van with a driver and a tour guide that gives you not only a real ability to speak English, but also knows the sites properly.

I may be able to recommend a guide that will surely be able to arrange suitable transportation, and her English is indeed excellent, but she is not cheap and is very busy, so you must book now to get any chance of securing her services. Please PM me for details.

fsexman and Gaucho 100K:

Thank you very much for your help. I printed all the phone numbers belonging to persons with the same name as my friend. Thanks to the extremely inexpensive phone cards available, I am calling one by one, so far without any luck.

However, I would like to thank you again for your interest.

Best regards

Gaucho,

Thanks so much for providing a forum for this information. Thanks to your spectacular commentary on BA, and the advice provided last year in the AA forum on the Buy 2/Fly Free promo, I've planned my first South American voyage for this April.

I've covered lots of the material in this forum, but still need an opinion. I will be in Argentina for approximately a week, and would like to take a trip to Iguazu Falls and perhaps Montevideo or Punta del Este. What kind of itinerary would you recommend? I have tentatively planned on being in BA for three nights, then heading up to Iguazu for about 24 hours (Southern Winds, arriving 1:45pm, back to BA the next day at 1:30). Is that enough time to spend at the Falls? Should I plan on spending an extra day?

Is it possible, then, to head right to MVD or Punta upon getting back to BA? Or is this too much craziness just to get up to Uruguay? Would you recommend MVD or the beach stop in Punta?

Kind of an open-ended question, I know, but I want to get as much out of the trip as possible without driving myself crazy! Thanks so much...

Clipper - we just got back from BA and the falls and we used a half day and then a full day at the falls. The 1/2 day was the Brazilian side including the bird park, and the full day was the Ar. side, including the boat ride to the base of the falls (which was a highlight for the kids). Two 1/2 days cuts it short, and you're not likely to go back to the falls.

I am thinking about a half-day, a full day and then an additional half-day at Iguazu Falls and another half-day, a full day and then an additional half-day at the Uruguayan cities of Colonia, Punta del Este and Montevideo at the end of May.

Will this be enough time at each location?

I am also a solo female traveller who's been to Buenos Aires many times. Be very, very careful if walking or have the hotel arrange a radio taxi for you and the same for restaurant host when leaving. Sometimes the concierge will call ahead for you and let them know you're coming, especially if you don't speak Spanish, they can seat with English speaking wait staff. Also, Puerto Madero is wonderful and safe and when I go I always say that I need a table for one and make a little sad face. This usually gets me the most solicitous, chivalrous waiters you can imagine.