What? You paid far too much! I usually get the MTL service to ROS (400 km away) and that only costs me about ARS 55... I am sorry to tell you, but you have been had... I've always had great experiences with MTL.

To fly to Bariloche, I suggest you book Aerolineas Argentinas. If the PireHue is not an option, my second choice would be Llao Llao. If snow is not at its best, you will have a ton of other things to do around the hotel, hence my suggestion to stay at the LL.

Buenos Aires in June July offers changing weather... meaning you can have a couple of rainy spells, and temperatures will usually be cool to cooler as you get closer to August. Having said that, even our worst winters rarely get to more than a couple of days of zero degrees Celcius, so you have nothing much to worry about..... but, please, remember the weather is crazy (global warming?)

MTL offers various services.... most of which are advertised and displayed for all to see. Im not up to speed on all the exact prices, but urge everybody to ask around and if in doubt, shop around before closing a deal. EZE has various authorized service providers that are all inside a 2 minute walking range, so this will be quick and easy.

Does anyone know when the new ParkHyatt will be open? Given the choice between the Four Seasons and the Park Tower (not the Sheraton) which would you choose as a first time visitor to BA?

It won't be open before Oct 2005 if not 2006.

I've stayed at the Four Seasons back when it was a Park Hyatt and it was good. The Park Tower is also decent. Location-wise, both have their advantages, with the Park Tower closer to more modern Puerto Madero (& certain office buildings if that is your purpose) and the Four Seasons closer to the more historical. Both are less than a $2.00 cab ride from each other and the walking distance between the two is reasonable too.

New Park Hyatt
 

The original schedule says soft opening before Xmas 2005, but its not clear if they will be able to make it. Sources close to the hotels management tell me that it will be the new standard for super luxury in Buenos Aires, its going to be a big event when it opens.

Headed next week, with my Mom, and I'm trying to decide whether to stay at the NH Jousten (about $85), or at the Sheraton BA (about $120) or at one of the Kempinski properties. Any advice?

Also, trying to book a 2-day trip up to Iguazu but I'm really baffled by how to go about doing it. I emailed about 5 travel agents in BA and none has written back to me. Is this something I should be able to do when I get down there (I want to go on like May 22-24 or so...) or will the holiday around May 25 make it nearly impossible?

Thanks!

If you are considering the Kempinski Chain, I would say the Kempinski Park Plaza would be my choice.

Doing Iguazu around May 25th usually requires one to book early, but with a little luck you should still be able to get space.

I dont have a mainstream TA that I can recommend outright... the only really excellent people I know do only custom made super premium packages. However, I have heard good things about TTS viajes. Try contacting them at this email: [email protected]

In terms of such factors as expense and convenience, is it better to rent a car in Buenos Aires, or is it better to take Manuel Tienda León service into Buenos Aires from the airport and rely on public transportation? Does it make a difference if the comparison between renting a car and relying on public transportation occurs on a weekend versus during the week?

If I rent a car, is parking an issue in terms of cost and availability? Is driving in Buenos Aires any worse than driving in New York or Malta in terms of safety and finding one’s way around? I know that tolls are not much of an expense, but how expensive is gasoline?

Is public transportation reliable on a weekend?

Thank you in advance for the information...

I dont think its the best idea to rent a car in Buenos Aires, especially considering the US$ cost of Taxi´s. Public transportation is a feasible weekend option... and the subway would be a good way to go during weekdays when traffic is rather busy.

I travel to BsAs often and agree with the esteemed Alejandro (Gaucho100K)...

Manuel Tienda Leon service to your hotel is inexpensive, safe and reliable and taxi service within the City is also inexpensive and dependable. It's safest if you have your hotel call a radio taxi and the taxi driver will stop at your hotel specifically for you. BsAs is really a 24/7 place and taxi service is available within minutes of your request for service.

Travel agents....
 

I think this question may have been asked some many, many postings ago, so, my apologies if I'm being totally redundant:

I'm looking to work with an agent based in BsAs on booking flights & hotel. On another travel forum, people sing the praises of Cintia of Wow!Argentina. She has been fairly responsive, and would like to know if others have worked with her, or if there's someone else recommeded out there.

Since I'll be in Argentina for 3 weeks in November, I think it may be best to book as far ahead as possible...

thanks in advance for your responses. this thread remains a goldmine!

Although I've always thought the Manuel Tienda Leon bus service to be safe, I was somewhat surprised to learn they had an armed robbery aboard one of their buses last month upon departure from Ezeiza...

I think the thing to remember for tourists is that the area around Ezeiza isn't so great, and that there always may be people out there who need money and may be willing to go after tourists who've just arrived.

Details (in Spanish) from La Nacion, on what happened:


En autopista Riccheri Asaltan un ómnibus con turistas extranjeros
Iban desde Ezeiza hasta la Capital

Minutos después de bajar del avión en el aeropuerto internacional de Ezeiza, los asaltaron.

Se trata de un grupo de 25 turistas extranjeros y argentinos que regresaban del exterior, que viajaba en un ómnibus desde la aeroestación hacia el centro de la ciudad de Buenos Aires.

Según informaron fuentes policiales, minutos después de cruzar las casillas en las que se paga el estacionamiento, cuatro delincuentes que se hicieron pasar como pasajeros se levantaron de los asientos y, a punta de pistola, obligaron a los turistas a entregar todo el dinero y los objetos de valor que llevaban.

Los informantes dijeron que durante el asalto una turista finlandesa y un ciudadano italiano fueron golpeados por los delincuentes, por lo que debieron ser atendidos en el hospital de Ezeiza.

Las fuentes indicaron que el hecho ocurrió minutos después de las 9, luego de que los pasajeros, entre los que había empleados del aeropuerto, ciudadanos argentinos que regresaban del exterior y varios turistas españoles, italianos, franceses y finlandeses, abordaron un ómnibus de la firma Manuel Tienda León.

Dos jefes policiales indicaron que los delincuentes actuaron a cara descubierta y que al llegar al cruce de la autopista Riccheri y Camino de Cintura, en el partido de La Matanza, obligaron al chofer a detener la marcha, se bajaron del ómnibus y huyeron a pie con el botín.

Las víctimas no vieron a los asaltantes escapar en un auto, pero la sospecha de los investigadores es que deben de haber subido a algún vehículo que los esperaba como apoyo en las inmediaciones. Fuentes de la policía bonaerense aseguraron que como el hecho se inició en el aeropuerto de Ezeiza, el caso debe ser investigado por la Policía de Seguridad Aeroportuaria.

Fuentes de la nueva fuerza de seguridad reconocieron que trabajan en el caso. Aparentemente, como primera medida, los investigadores revisarán las grabaciones de las cámaras de seguridad de la aeroestación para intentar identificar a los asaltantes y ver sus movimientos, señalaron los informantes. Sin embargo, la instrucción de la causa se realizó en la comisaría 4a. de Ezeiza, donde los 25 pasajeros -los extranjeros, con ayuda de un traductor de la empresa de ómnibus-, declararon sobre lo ocurrido.

Fuentes de esa seccional indicaron que aún no tenían estimado cuánto dinero les sustrajeron los asaltantes a los pasajeros. En tanto, un vocero de la Policía de Seguridad Aeroportuaria aclaró que los ladrones no se llevaron ni revisaron el equipaje que estaba en la bodega del ómnibus. El caso es investigado por la Unidad Funcional de Instrucción (UFI) 20 del Departamento Judicial Lomas de Zamora, dedicada exclusivamente a delitos cometidos por autores desconocidos.

Two things:

* Does anyone here know about the Art Hotel in Recoleta? The locale comes very highly located and though rooms are small, the hotel sounds nice from reviews on TripAdvisor and from its website. And the price at US$65 nett including breakfast for two is a real deal.

* The hotel is offering to pick us up with a private car from the airport for US$20, which seems stress-free and not too unfair, any advice?

Cintia of WowArgentina took care of some of my travel needs on my recent trip. I highly recommend her. The info on the other forum is all correct.