Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodations in Argentina are varied
enough to satisfy every taste and budget.
At the top end of the range are five-star
deluxe hotels, which provide exclusive
service and first-class amenities.
A quintessentially Argentinian experience,
luxury estancias in the country's rural
interiors combine bucolic relaxation and
breathtaking vistas. International and
domestic chain hotels are well represented
in urban and tourist destinations, together
with a vibrant boutique hotel scene that
offers a more personable and aesthetically
driven alternative. Visitors traveling to
national parks can stay at well-equipped
campsites, while economical hotel options
include modern hostels, cabin complexes,
and budget hotels.
Gradings
Hotels are graded from one to
five stars, although Argentina's
classification system differs from
the international star system
and is often not the best guide
to quality, with the exception
of five-star hotels. A common
anomaly involves a hotel
receiving a lower rating than
it deserves, often because the
local tourist office has not yet
upgraded it, or because hotels
themselves have opted to stay
in a lower category in order
to avoid higher taxes. Cabin
complexes and hosterías (small
hotels) are awarded a separate
grading of between one and
three stars.
The Ave María at Tandil in the Pampas region ( see p280)
parts of the country. At the top
end are five-star deluxe hotels,
which typically charge US$300
or more per night. These are
followed in order of cost by five-
star and boutique hotels, four-
and three-star hotels, and cabin
complexes. At the low end of
the price range, hostels and
campsites are often better-value
alternatives to budget hotels.
Exclusive fishing and hunting
lodges charge up to US$750 per
night. Services provided include
access to the best game areas
and helicopter or light airplane
transport. Outside of this
category, most estancias,
including working ones in
Patagonia and guest ranches
in the Buenos Aires province,
charge between US$150 and
US$250 per night.
Rates vary greatly between
low (April to November) and
peak season (December to
March), when prices rise
considerably, especially at
Atlantic beach resorts and in
Patagonia's Lake District.
Conversely, they tend to drop in
Buenos Aires as business travel
slows and porteños leave the
city for their summer vacations.
Pricing and Booking
Pricing depends greatly on
location - hotel rates in
Buenos Aires and popular
tourist destinations such as
Patagonia's Lake District are
higher than those in other
Taxes
Hotels in Argentina charge
21 percent in Impuesto de Valor
Agregado or IVA (value-added
tax or VAT ). This tax should be
included in the quoted rate,
but it is worth checking when
booking in order to avoid any
unwelcome surprises when
checking out. While calculating
price ranges listed on pages
278-83, IVA is taken into account.
The stylish tango-themed Mansión Dandi Royal, San Telmo (see p278)
Vibrantly colored store exterior in the La Boca barrio, Buenos Aires
 
 
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