Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Tipping
A 10% to 15% tip is common at cafes and restaurants. Taxis do not require
tips, but many people round up to the nearest peso or 50 c entavo figure. If a taxi
driver helps you with bags, a small tip might be a nic e touch.
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WHERE TO STAY
Though the current economic downturn at the time of this writing will make this subject
to change, current international tourism to Buenos Aires has been increasing by as much
as 20% a year since the devaluation of the peso. As a result, hotels in Buenos Aires often
fill up in high season, so it's more crucial than ever to book ahead. The most convenient
hotels are found in Recoleta and the MicroCentro. Recoleta is more scenic and not quite
as noisy as the MicroCentro, but you might spend more money on cabs, as it is not near
the
subte
lines. Prices listed below are rack rates in high season and include the 21% tax
levied on hotel r ooms. The prices listed her e can differ considerably based on many
factors—from type of room, events in the city, views, and the hotel management's discre-
tion, based on o verall availability in the city. Do not be surprised if rates v ary consider-
ably, up or do wn, fr om what I' ve listed her e; many factors can affect the final price,
including whether y ou book online using the S panish v ersus the E nglish v ersion of a
hotel's website. Discounts are almost always available in low season, and sometimes even
in high season. Web packages and specials ar e also available on various hotel sites. Most
hotels charge about $10 to $12 (£7-£8.20) a night for valet parking or, at the very least,
recommend nearb y self-par king facilities. L uxury hotels charge double that rate.
You
should avoid parking long-term on the street.
Buenos Air es accommodations hav e impr oved tr emendously in the past fe w y ears,
following a series of r enovations among many of the city 's government-rated four- and
five-star hotels. Most five- and four-star hotels in Buenos Aires offer in-room safes, cable
TV, direct-dial phones with voice mail, and in-room Internet access for free or at varying
prices. Most hotels in this chapter boast four or fiv e stars. Wi-Fi, often free, is standard
in the lobbies and public ar eas of most hotels, including two- and thr ee-star venues.
You love Buenos Aires, and so does everyone else. That means that hotel bargains ar e
much harder to find now. Exponentially increasing numbers of tourists have made avail-
able rooms a scarce commodity, and hotels are trending their rates up in accor dance. In
fact, many hotel prices are back at their pre-peso-crisis levels. Still, bargains can be had—
especially from four-star establishments off the beaten path, and locally o wned (rather
than international) hotel chains. And, of course, every traveler knows never to accept the
first price offered. Always ask for a better rate and whether using your AAA card, student
ID, or other membership card will net you additional discounts.
MICROCENTRO
Very Expensive
Marriott Plaza Hotel
The historic Plaza was the grande dame of Buenos Aires
for most of the 20th century, and the Marriott management has maintained much of its
original splendor. The intimate lobb y, decorated in I talian marble, cr ystal, and P ersian
carpets, is a virtual revolving door of Argentine politicians, for eign diplomats, and busi-
ness executives. Twenty-six rooms overlook Plaza San Martín, providing dreamlike views
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