Buenos Aires - where to stay
 

Is the Park Hyatt still the place to stay?

I stayed there the other week for one night and yes it is very 5*. Fortunately for me it was a free night stay. I didn't have to open my wallet so the moths couldn't escape.
Personally I wouldn't pay the prices asked for but if you're into 5* luxury and money is no option then yes it is still one of the places to stay. I actually prefer the look and location of the Hilton although I have no idea if it gets good reviews.

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Actually, if money is not an issue, then the Alvear and the Four Seasons are also game...

Hello,

I stayed at the Alvear Palace last April and I can say it's a superb hotel. I highly recommend that hotel.

If you want a hotel, where when you walk out the front door and you're in the midst of the city, I'd pick the Sheraton -- the Sherator Libreador or something like that.

David

... and there's the Four Seasons which almost like an island unto itself.

David

If it were my dime, and I were staying for a week or more, I'd rent an apartment. I rented a very nice 1 BR in Recoleta for an entire week, that cost me the same as 1-2 nights in a Hotel.

It is clear that the OP is looking for an opulent hotel. As far as location, I'd probably rather be in Recoleta than at the Hilton (which is a nice hotel). All that said, I'm a big fan on people renting apartments, in fact, I own a rental in BA, but it doesn't seem like that is what the OP wants.

I agree, but a hotel of that caliber will cost more than $2000 week, while a really fine apartment in a great neighborhood can be rented for $400-$500. I merely stated what I'd do if it were MY money. IMHO, the difference in price between an Apartment and a Hotel is greater in Buenos Aires than just about any other major city. Hotel rooms in BA seem to cost the same as in other world class cities, while Apartments tend to go for 1/2 or 1/3 of what they do in other major world cities. I really don't understand the reasons for this, although it's clear that there is a healthy supply of rental properties out there, and perhaps not so much supply of hotel rooms.

Compared to a place with dumpy rooms and indifferent service like the Sheraton Libertador (which a prior post mentioned), an apartment is a FAR better choice. Admittedly, it will not have anything remotely like the great service of the Alvear Palace. But it costs 1/5 as much for as much or more space in the same neighborhood.

There you have it. BA used to be one of the world's most expensive cities for hotels - I remember it being difficult to find anything decent (and I don't mean luxurious) for under the $200s 10 years ago. Prices were similar to NYC. Then things crashed. Things went from cheap, to reasonable, until a couple of years ago. For the price of 200 to 250 nights at a top hotel, I actually bought a modest 2 bedroom apartment. Of course, the coffee service means I have to get out of bed, and the turndown service - well, it is really reliable, because I rarely "turn up" the bed.

To the OP, I think that Recoleta is a great place to have an upscale hotel experience in BA.

There's also the Faena Hotel + Universe:

http://www.faenahotelanduniverse.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._District.html

John

Consider the Alvear Palace if you want an opulent hotel experience. (Allegedly, there's an upscale adult entertainment venue across the street above the Cartier.)

I also can't say enough positive things about the Dazzler Flats Quartier on Basavilbaso Street (in Retiro, but a stone's throw from Recoleta). The rooms and furnishings are brand new, although it is not a full service hotel. But for $55 a night, it was one of the best travel purchases I've ever made.

I understand the reasons that Apartments are so cheap in BA, what I DON'T understand is that, in a city where EVERYTHING else is quite cheap, hotels are not cheap at all.

My experience in most other cities is that a Hotel room costs about 2 to 2.5 times what an apartment costs, per day. Whereas in BA, a hotel room costs typically around 5X what an apartment in the same area costs, per day.

No allegedly, there is. Its called Black. Very expensive;) .

I would defiantly say the Alvear Place. Even if you don't stay there go one morning for the breakfast buffet, its legendary in my book.

I stayed one night in the Loi Suites and it was also nice.

I usually rent an apartment in Recoleta though.

There aren't very many quality hotel rooms.

If you are traveling to BAires in the summer, then the Four Seasons has the best pool, as compared to the Hyatt or the Alvear. Indeed, the Hyatt doesn't have a pool. The Faena has a pool but it is a very different hotel from these other three.

As for my own inquiry: we really want a pool for a summer visit to BAires. We have two young teens in tow and like to jump in a pool after a long day trekking around the city in the heat. A few years ago the FSeasons was expensive. And we had a terrific stay there. Now, as mentioned, its price is on par with other city hotels in other parts of the world. Needing two rooms, it is out of our budget.

We would prefer to be in Recoleta, our favored area but, there aren't many good hotels with pools there. (The Melia Recoleta is very nice but, no pool.) So, for other options?

The Madero?
Maybe the Hilton?
The Claridge (are all the rooms there from before the Peron era?)

We generally veer away from chain hotels but maybe those are a good option for us? We haven't ever really spent much time in the Puerto Madero area. One year we stayed at the Regal Pacific, in the Centro, and that was Ok for the price. Very modern, new, small pool. Rooms were fine. Yet, service was lacking and, again, it isn't the area we prefer.

Do any luxury apartment rentals have pools or, that is a very rare thing to find in the city?
Thanks.