Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, trekking, and other adventure sports, contact
the tourism office.
The tour company
Olitas Tours
also does half-day city tours, as w ell as a special tour
for children on a bus filled with clo wns. Visit their kiosk at P laza Colón, call
&
223/
472-6810,
or log on to www.olitas-tours.com.ar.
WHERE TO STAY
Amerian Mar del Plata Hotel
The Amerian is an Argentine chain hotel, and this
branch in M ar del P lata overlooks Plaza España and La P erla Beach. The hotel is sur-
rounded by several nightclubs, so it can be noisy at night. Prices can differ depending on
sea or city vie w. Rooms are spacious, ho wever, especially for the price categor y. Junior
suites, positioned at angles, all hav e some form of sea vie w, even if it's not direct. Suites
come with Jacuzzi tubs, and all the bathr ooms are on the large siz e no matter the cate-
gory. Parking is free on-site. Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and in the lobby, along with
a small computer station. There is no gym or pool, though staff will help guests arrange
to visit one nearby.
Av. Libertad 2936 (at La R ioja and Yrigoyen), 7600 Mar del Plata.
&
223/491-2000.
Fax 223/491-2300.
www.amerian.com. 58 units (52 doubles, 6 suites). From $75 (£51) double; from $150 (£102) suite. Rates
include buffet breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; access to nearby pool
and fitness center; concierge; business center; limited room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; Inter-
net station; Wi-Fi.
In room:
A/C, TV, Wi-Fi, minibar, hair dryer, safe.
6
The Hermitage Hotel
This is M ar del P lata's grande dame hotel, opened in 1943
and where celebrities often make an appearance.The lobby is rendered in a classical style,
with gilded friezes of fishermen and Louis XV elements. Ar t and photos of old M ar del
Plata adorn the walls, and the flo w of spaces might remind visitors of Rio's Copacabana
Palace Hotel. The hotel added the Torre Colón in 2002 and r enovated all the r ooms in
the old building at the same time. The rooms in the ne w building are nicer and pricier,
affording either sea or city vie ws. The formal restaurant Luis Alberto, where breakfast is
served as w ell as lunch and dinner , is in an atrium connecting the two buildings. The
hotel has its own private casino and beach ar ea, connected via an undergr ound passage-
way, with bar and towel service from 8am to 10pm. The casino is open 3pm to midnight
Sunday to Thursday, and until 4am Friday and Saturday. While the hotel faces the ocean
via its original lobb y, the Torre Colón lobby is the main entrance. There is a small gym
and spa, and the rooftop heated pool has a spectacular sea vie w.
Bd. PP Ramos 2657 and Av. Colón 1643 (overlooking the Casino), 7600 Mar del Plata.
&
223/451-9081.
Fax 223/451-7235. w ww.hermitagehotel.com.ar. 300 units (240 doubles , 60 suit es). From $159 (£108)
double in old building; fr om $181 (£123) double in new building; fr om $256-$288 (£173-£195) suit es.
Rates include buff et breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking $10 (£6.80).
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar ; casino;
pool; health club; spa; c oncierge; business c enter; 24-hr. room ser vice; massage; bab ysitting; laundr y
service; dry cleaning; r ooms for those w/limit ed mobility.
In room:
A/C, TV, high-speed I nternet, Wi-Fi,
minibar, hair dryer, large safe.
Hotel Presidente
This small four-star hotel, o wned by the S panish chain H oteles
Alvarez, is about a block fr om the beach. An older pr operty, it's full of dark woods, and
some of the rooms are on the small side. The pleasant staff more than makes up for any
faults in the decor . Some amenities, such as the r estaurant Tartufu, where breakfast is
served, and the small gym, ar e shared with the neighboring H otel Iruña, owned by the
same company. Breakfast is included in the rates, and ev en some of the side r ooms have
sea views. Rooms facing the sea cost a little mor e, but overall this hotel is a good choice
for those who want good service on a reasonable budget. Each room comes with a small
