Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
184
designed in a colonial style by Argentine architect José María Bustillo in 1936. Here you
will find the author's personal effects, photos, books, and other gaucho memorabilia. It's
a bit kitschy (think r ooms filled with gaucho mannequins), but if y ou speak Spanish, a
conversation with the museum's guide and historian, Omar Tapia, will help you put the
gauchos in their proper historical context.
Excursions to San Antonio & Estancias
Various travel companies in B uenos Aires arrange day trips to S an Antonio de Ar eco,
with or without o vernight stays on nearb y
estancias.
Borello Travel & Tours
is a trav el
firm specializing in upscale trav el with offices in N ew York and B uenos Aires (7 P ark
Ave., Ste. 21, New York, NY 10016;
&
800/405-3072
or 212/686-4911) or Perú (359
Ste. 407, B uenos Air es 1067;
&
11/5031-1988;
www.borellotravel.com). They can
include a visit to S an Antonio with stays in the local
estancias.
They maintain an addi-
tional office in B uenos Air es (
&
11/5031-1988
). B uenos Air es-based
Say H ueque
Tourism,
with two locations (at Viamonte 749, Office 601, 1053 Buenos Aires,
&
11/
5199-2517;
and at G uatemala 4845, O ffice 4, 1425 B uenos Aires,
&
11/4775-7862;
www.sayhueque.com), also provides trips to this area.
WHERE TO STAY
Draghi Paradores
The Draghi Paradores is a small apar tment hotel opened in
2006 behind the Draghi museum and store. It is the newest and one of the nicest of San
Antonio's hotels, with a slightly r omantic feel. B uilt in a S panish colonial style, the
entrance is graced by a small pool and fountain in an enclosed courtyard. It looks a little
like a miniatur e v ersion of the
Melrose P lace
apar tment building, minus backstabbing
blondes in high heels and miniskir ts. The five rooms are clean with a countr y style to
them, with a rich use of woods, frilly white bedding, and terra-cotta tiles on the floor
6
.
Two of the r ooms also come with small kitchens, making them ideal for families or for
longer-term stays in San Antonio. All rooms are air-conditioned and have cable TV, and
breakfast is included in the rate.
Lavalle 387 (btw. Alsina and Arellano), 2760 San Antonio de Areco.
&
2326/455-583
or 02326/454-515.
www.sanantoniodeareco.com/paradores. 5 units , including 2 with k itchens. F rom $74 (£50) double .
Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Heated outdoor pool; free bicycle loans;
concierge; limited room service; laundry service; dry cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV, Wi-Fi, kitchen (in some),
minibar, hair dryer, safe.
Hostal de Areco
This small family-style hotel is in a historic turn-of-the-20th-cen-
tury red house, set back fr om the str eet and surr ounded by a small gar den. There are
seven small, spartan, tile-floor rooms, each equipped with a full-size bed and a bathroom.
Dark-green cur tains and bedspr eads giv e the r ooms an ev en smaller appearance. The
accommodations are very basic, with no air-conditioning and only a ceiling fan, but each
comes with cable TV.
Zapioli 25, near the intersection of Zerboni, 2760 San Antonio de Areco.
&
2326/456-118.
7 units. From
$41 (£28) double, including breakfast. No credit cards. Free parking.
Amenities:
Free bicycle loans; con-
cierge; laundry service.
In room:
Ceiling fan, TV.
Hotel San Carlos
Overlooking the Parque San Martín, this is the most business-
like hotel in town. You'll find a sun deck equipped with a grill, Jacuzzi, and two outdoor
heated swimming pools in the courtyard, with a fountain decorated with a mosaic of San
Antonio de Padua. (It's one of the few places in all of Argentina where you're likely to see
bikini-clad women frolicking in front of religious icons, unless you belong to a par ticu-
