Hilton Buenos Aires {ARG}

We stayed at the Buenos Aires Hilton in May and there was a universal plug in the bathroom. I was able to charge my camera batteries, no problemo. By the way. we had a wonderful time at this hotel. We were treated very well by every employee.

Anyone know why the Hilton Buenos Aires is so expensive in November? I'm looking to make my 14th trip to BsAs the week of November 9th. I generally stay at the Hilton, as I like this property more than the others I've tried. However, I've never paid more $180 USD/night for an executive floor. But, checking rates via the Hilton Honors website it's showing rates between $319 - $364 USD per night. I've stayed at the Hilton BsAs in November in prior years, buit no where near the rate that is beign quoted on-line.

Thanks!

Probably because you are entering their peak season.

I love this hotel. Anywhere in BA is easily accessible and the Puerto Madero district is wonderful as well. Anyone that is considering this hotel should make the rez. Dammit, now I want to go back.

Have you contacted the hotel directly by telephone? I have found this hotel can offer you very good rates if you are staying for longer time periods also (>21 days).

I wonder if there is also a lot of pent-up demand after Argentina's nadir this winter due to the reactions to the H1N1 epidemic.

I'm staying for a couple of days in late December and can't wait to stay there based on everyone's comments. Seems like a better option than the Sheraton.

Much much much much much... etc.

The best steaks in Argentina are located a 5 minute walk from the Hilton, in a small restaurant called the Callaberiza (sp) in the Puerto Madero buildings. It's my favorite restaurant in the world.

Favorite restaurant in the world and you're not sure of the name? How about Caballeriza Madero?

My bet goes for Cabanya Las Lilas

The steaks were very very good at Caba�a Las Lilas and La Caballeriza. But the best, to me - and to my amazement - was at the restaurant at the Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau. I stayed there after the Hilton. Tired from walking all day, I just thought I'd hang back that night. Very elegant surroundings, but the steak was one of my biggest surprises, among many, in Buenos Aires.

Cabana Las Lilas is better than La Caballeriza in Puerto Madero but the former historically costs more than the latter. Both are within a five minute walk of the Hilton.

Supposedly, since June 26, 2006, La Caballeriza in Puerto Madero no longer has had a license to use the La Caballeriza (chain) name.

I might have thought so too, had (s)he not said, "small." Caba�as Las Lilas is a warehouse.

Me and the soon-to-be Mrs. BHF spent the weekend in the BA Hilton. We were there using her points (she's like a mega-super-Diamond VIP). I should say that we enjoyed the physical location and setting of the hotel. The room was OK (9th/Top Floor - Bay view), but it was certainly nothing too special. However, the hotel seemed pretty industrial and not really a resort, so that was OK.

Where the hotel really lacked though was service. In fact, the service was kind of non-existent. Some examples:

We asked the concierge to get us tickets to the Niceto Club for a show. He told us to take a cab and buy them ourselves.

As Hilton Honors VIP, we were supposed to get two bottles of water in the room every day (said so in the nice letter we got from the management). Both days we had to ask.

Second day (Friday) of the stay we came back at 4 PM from sightseeing and the room was unmade.

Never got more than 1 (one - that's right) bar of soap. Same old bar had to be used for shower, bath, and sink and a new one was never brought out.

Service in the club was abyssmal - even though most of it is "self-service" (including the alcohol - forgot to bring a flask), if you weren't a handsome, single, young Argentine male - you were just as well off not existing.

Breakfast in the club was nearly inedible (as well as being subject to the same service). Much of the food looked used (like it was yesterday's leftovers from the restaurant) and the rest of it was just not really that tasty. I know beggars shouldn't be choosers - especially those of us who got these points living in Hampton Inns , but this facility was well below the standard of any international Hilton I've every sat foot in.

The power went out in the middle of the stay and the clock was un-resettable. Of course, the maids didn't bother to try.

Other general annoyances - Internet was more than $10 US and wasn't available free anywhere (although if you sat just right in the lounge - you could get a pretty good signal from somebody else).

Suffice it to say the soon-to-be Ms. BHF was not surprised when the check out desk didn't even bother to ask "how was your stay..."

The four stays I have had at this property have been very good and based on my previous experiences I consider this to be one of the top Hilton brand (note this does not include Conrad and Waldoff hotels) worldwide.

In particular I have found the concierges exemplary and if fact just about every negative point above with the exception of the room sizes to be a striking opposite of your experiences... oh well

mike