GUWonder

... certainly not to be missed.

Any hotels around Caminito and La Boca that you recommend?

Gaucho100K

No. This area, in terms of accomodation, would not be on my recommendation list unless one is perfectly fluent in spanish and is on a survival backpacker budget.

Please note that there may be some ultra posh and luxurious boutique hotel I dont know about that may be well worth considering... if someone has a place to point out please do so.

USAFAN

Gaucho100K:

Sure, we did all this. Your opera is great .. we enjoyed Mozart's "Requiem", great performance!

But what is Caminito?

GUWonder

I see you got my point.

MIKESILV

Calle Caminito ( which is in the La Boca District of BA) is a sort of "Arts Fair " area. The houses are usually made from metal sheeting and are brightly painted like Valparaiso, often with unsual shapes and angles etc.
Especially on weekends, the street are packed with artists and street performers etc
You will find some great little paintings, metal figurines made from all sorts of unusual stuff at unbelievably low prices. If you need to buy any sort of gifts etc this is the place to go.
Its somewhat comparable to Los Dominicos in Santiago.
mike

DCA-SEA

GF and I are going on our first trip to Argentina the last two weeks of July - AS IAD-SEA-LAX in F, LA LAX-(LIM, SCL)-EZE in J. Just booked it a couple days ago - we're very excited, needless to say. I've read much of this thread and others.

But I have a quick question for the experts, before AS tickets our reservation tomorrow night - we're planning to see BA and Iguazu, and are deciding between a few other destinations for the third and final: Colonia/Montevideo, for a different city scene; Bariloche, for the town, mountains, lakes, and chocolate; Mendoza, for the city, mountains and wine; or maybe elsewhere - we're open to suggestions. (I'd love to ski a day, but GF isn't so excited about that idea.)

For first time visitors, what would be our best option for the last couple of days of our trip?

I ask because it is a possibility to change our award ticket before it's ticketed to an open jaw return out of Mendoza, allowing us to one-way plane or overnight bus there. The other destinations would be r/t's from BA by appropriate means (no award seats available).

Edited to add: We thought about it a bit more and did some further research, and we decided we'd have so much to do between BA and Iguazu, and maybe a day over in Uruguay, that we'd save Bariloche and Mendoza for future trips.

USAFAN

MIKESILV:

Thanks. I was not aware that a street at La Boca was called Caminito.

cornellalum

What are typical fares from California to EZE? I've just started to look at airfares for the last week of August and I've been able to price economy class tickets from SFO-EZE for US$912 rt, including taxes. This is on AA.

Also, LAX-EZE rt around US$800. But I need to fly out of SFO/SJC/OAK.

How much is considered cheap?

mryflyer

Right now the cheapest fares I can find are TAM (Brasil) via MIA and GRU for $ 785 or LAN Peru via LAX and LIM for 812. The fares are ex-SFO
Glad I could help a fellow Cornellie!

Gaucho100K

While I havent been in the market for US to EZE fares in a long while now, if the idea is to get lowest possible fares I would not rule out checking with Aerolineas Argentinas.

cornellalum

Thanks. Are there any seasonal variations in airfare? I know that trans-pacific fares are usually more expensive during peak periods (december, the week before xmas). Does this apply to flights between the US and South America? When are good off-peak times to travel?

I'm flirting with the idea of visiting sometime within the 8 months. But the thing that's holding me back is that I would like a travel companion. All my friends either have no money or have no interest in traveling to South America. What a shame Is anyone going during the 3rd week of Aug, perhaps around 8/17-8/22?

Gaucho100K

Certainly. Dates around the Xmas season are specially difficult, so do book early by all means.

cmdinnyc

I'll be traveling to Argentina for the first time in September (02-Sep-2005 until 10-Sep-2005). I'm currently planning to visit BA for a few days, and then from the 6th to the 9th head to Mendoza. Since I'll be traveling solo, does anyone have any suggestions on how to arrange transportation to visit wineries in the area? Are there any known tour operators that come recommended?

Gaucho100K

I would recommend a small car with a driver. You can of course rent a car and drive yourself, but Im not sure its worth the hassle. Im afraid I cant point you to any travel operator at this point, though. Perhaps someone else can help out in that aspect?

Deanster

I find Ba As to be a very safe city. We travelled throughout the city (Palermo, San Telmo, Recoleto, Belgrande and Downtown) and never felt unsafe or uncomfortable.
Loved the Palermo area. Charcas Blvd and Colonel Diaz area is excellent and very safe.