Regarding Expedia, the question is why???

Regarding expedia rates,having only just started to check rates I trust you are right

Thanks for syzygy8 and USAFAN for your replies ^

Happy flying, Tattikat2

Mar del Plata is just another over-developed beach area. Hint: Jersey Shore crowd or (worse yet) Jones Beach.

El Tigre and Colonia are good ideas. Mar del Plata is something else.

I'm in BsAs as I write this. It's a warm, humid but sunny and comfortable Monday morning and I plugged in the ol' laptop to check my Email and write to my wife about things like the outstanding bottle of Malbec that I downed last night to accompany a steak the size of a VW Bug that I had the great pleasure of tucking into!

My 25 year old daughter is accompanying me on this particular journey and she's not a drinker, so she was content with a smaller steak and a decent Italian mineral water "sin gassata!"

To the business at hand... I've got an afternoon appointment... My daughter is taking a solo daytrip to Colonia via Buquebus in a couple days so she just returned from a walk to the Buquebus terminal at the West end of the Puerto Madero area. She booked a r/t trip that includes a Guide meeting her in Uruguay at disembarkation who will escort her on a tour of the sights, including lunch and seeing her onboard the return fast ferry. She chose the one hour fast ferry vs the 3 hour trip by regular ferry. Her cost in Argentine Pesos was $212 (USD $73), all inclusive. If she chose the slow ferry, she could have done the round trip (including lunch and tour) for as low as ARS $88 (USD $31). She has to be at the Argentine check-in at 10:00 AM with passport in hand. Return is 5:30 PM the same day. If she had chosen the slow ferry, check-in would have been at 08:00 AM & return disembarkation at 09:30 PM.

Also, she just phoned a Tour Company to see about a one day escorted Estancia visit and was advised that the cost would be ARS $100, including hotel pick-up and drop-off, etc. She's going to get a brochure from the Tour Company, so when I see it I'll report what inclusives there are, if I have the time.

Finally found this thread with great difficulty.

I'm going to be in BA just for Friday night with a special friend, and am seeking recommendations for trendy nightclubs where you don't have to wait on line all night and then get turned away. I'd also appreciate suggestions for a romantic dining experience.

Thanks!

I currently have tix for 2 to EZE from 2/5/06-2/19/06. Our plan is to see Buenos Aires for a few days, then do some hiking, backpacking, and traveling for the next 10 days. I understand that early Feb will be quite warm in BsAs, but am afraid that if we go into March it will be too cold/possible snow in Patagonia or the Lake District or the Northern Andes. Since Argentina is big and 'latitudinally diverse' perhaps it is not possible to pick just one good season; we can handle a few days of heat, but want the hiking etc to be done in good alpine conditions - low chance of snow, days sunny but not too hot. My guidebooks are all too vague to give me a more precise idea, so I appreciate any help you can give me. Muchos gracias.

Go in early march. Fewer tourists(high season is Jan, Feb), cheaper prices, the weather is still good (for Patagonia).

I wrote a few weeks ago asking about Cell phone service in Buenos Aires. Well, I thought I would share my personal experience. I went to an "official" office of Personal on Florida street where they happily sold me a prepaid SIM card for $40 Pesos assuring me, after careful inspection, that it would work with my phone (a Nokia purchased in Europe). They told me that It would take about one hour to activate so I went on my way. The phone never activated and I returned to the Personal office where they explained to me that Argentina uses an uncommon 1900 MHZ GSM system that is incompatible with most of the rest of the world. So, why did they sell me the SIM chip to begin with? Frustrated, I ended up buying a new phone from them with supposedly $120 Pesos of credits.

Three days and three visits to the same office later, my phone still doesn�t work. I also found out that 70 percent of everything the sales reps told me were blatant lies. A kind women helped me tranlsate a conversation once with one of the representatives (I am only conversant in Spanish). She understood my situation and what happened perfectly. She explained to me that these people are only employees and that if I wanted something done I should go the Personal head office on Corrientes Street. Unbelievable.

I like a lot about this country but doing business here is not one of them. I don�t think borroring $100 Billion Dollars and then deciding not to pay it back is the solution to improving this economy. I think they could improve their business practices a bit. Sorry, I�m a bit frustrated after my phone fiasco.

I understand that the provider CTI works its GSM networks in the bands GSM 850 and GSM 1900.

The question that perhaps some tech expert can reply is if a tri band phone sold in Europe would work under one of these networks, or would it have to be a quad band handset? Some website where the worldwide GSM bands are depicted would be of great help too.

850 is rarely used (if at all) outside the US and a small percentage of other countries. 1900 is far more widely used.

850 is not covered by most tri-band phones but is generally covered by quad-band phones (which will also cover the 1900 band). Most tri-bands are 900/1800/1900.

From what little I know, at most all clubs in BsAs, most appropriately dressed foreigners from the US, Europe, Asia or Africa will have little to no problem getting into Buenos Aires clubs (but you may well have to wait in line). There are a few exceptions (like clubs rented out for private functions), but generally not an issue.

Most night clubs start very late. You should have no problem getting in. Ask your hotel to arrange for it. Weather permitting you could pick a restaurant in Puerto Madero (sp?) If you'll like steak try Cabanas Las Lilas, Telmos area has a few good Pasta places - Parrila 1880 would be my choice. Again most restaurants start late too

It appears that SW's operations are continuing, although they have scaled back greatly on their international routes. The service to MIA was cut, and frequency to MAD on the leased 747 has been cut back. The latest news indicates that the owners are trying to reposition the carrier as the low-cost carrier option for Argentina, having sliced the prices for their domestic tickets up to 50%. The recent agreement with LAN apparently gives SW just enough resources to continue operations through the end of May. I guess this is some good news to those holding SW tickets for the next couple of weeks. In any event, it appears that they have canceled some of their flights domesticall, as they have a reduced numbe of aircraft operating, so if you have not checked your itinerary lately I suggest you refresh things and verify the current status.

Cheers,
Gaucho

For calls from the US related to SW issues, try this toll free number: 1 800 37991 SW (79).

As a resident of the United States, do I need an international driver�s license to drive in Argentina, or will a license issued from a state in the United States be all I need?

If anyone can offer the same information about driving in Uruguay, that is a bonus that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Great Thread! Thanks for all of the information!

My wife and I are really looking forward to being in BA in mid May and would like to visit Iguazu. Unfortunately, Areo Argentinas wants US$500 per ticket! Does anybody have a recommendation for getting this a little lower? Maybe I should wait until I get there to book? Or use a local travel agency? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Also, we may be staying at the Marriott (this is for my wife's work) is this a good place to stay?

Thanks again.