Click
here to go directly to the Buenos Aires hotel list which follows the city
description below where you can click on the hotel name to see a description
of the hotel of your choice and reserve it.
BUENOS AIRES, called
the Paris of South America, is a large, complex, energetic, port city,
and the capital of Argentina that stretches along the Rio de la Plata.
The city itself is about a $40 US (and 45 minutes) cab haul from its International
airport at Ezieza, which has daily flights from the major cities of the
world. Portenos, as the residents are called, there are around 13 million
of them, have a rich and diversified cultural identity. Here Italian and
German names outnumber Spanish, the lifestyle and architecture are more
European than any other city in the Americas. The Obelisco (Obelisk), a
massive stone tower rising high over the main drag, Av. 9 de Juilio, looks
a little like the Washington Monument, or 1/2 of the Arc d'Triumph with
a point, is a good landmark from which to take, and keep, your bearings.
The city is an interesting blend where modern skyscrapers cast their shadows
on 19th century houses, tango bars face dusty, treasure-filled, antique
shops. Its infrastructure reflects its position as one of the world's largest
cities. For transportation there is an in-city airport called Aero Parque
which has frequent flights to Argentina's cities. Also there are frequent
train and bus departures to Argentina's interior from various points in
the city. It has a fairly efficient subway, but for short hauls take a
cab or walk. If your driver doesn't get (conveniently for him) lost, there
is only one Obelisco, and show you the same landmarks twice, the cost of
a cab is reasonable. We found having your own map in hand tended to reduce
cab fares! That also works in Paris, London, New York, Austin, Tokyo, etc.
The weather tends to be like Houston, Texas. It doesn't get really cold
or really hot but there is humidity to increase the impact of either, so
at least take a sweater in fall or winter. The folks here are really friendly
but not many speak anything but Spanish, but they will work with you whatever
language you speak to try to communicate. There is a lot to see here, so
if you are on business or pleasure, you will be entertained. Here antique
shopping and eating are reasonable and fun. For eating even the tourist
restaurants are reasonable, featuring some really great beef, seafood and
Italian. A few things you should do are La Boca with its brilliantly colored
houses and restaurants, Puerto Madero which is a collection of converted
warehouses along the Rio Plata, now fashionable restaurants and shops,
San Telmo and Recolleta in which you can stroll and get a good feeling
of what Argentina is all about.
If
you would like a city tour to help untangle the complications of this super
city click here for city tours of Buenos Aires.
Should you
prefer to make your reservation by phone call us at 1-866-843-4740
toll free from the US or 51-1-421-9667. from
other countries.
To
get an idea of the layout of Buenos Aires click here for a map of the city.
A little warning though, it is about 50Kb so it may take a few seconds
to load.
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