One week in Buenos Aires and Argentina’s countryside

Who: Tanisha Townsend, 33, of Suitland, and her friend Lamar Brown
Where: Argentina
Why: Romantic getaway
When: One week in late summer or fall
Budget: $1,500 per person

“We’d like to visit Buenos Aires but would love to tour the countryside as well. We want to get to some wineries and see some vineyards. Oh yeah, and we just have to have an Argentine tango lesson.”

Like Thailand, Peru and Malaysia, Argentina is one of those countries that offer fantastic bargains for Americans — once you get there.

Alas, airfares to Buenos Aires are not cheap. Unless Suitland’s Tanisha Townsend and her friend Lamar Brown are lucky enough to hit a sale, they’ll pay upward of $1,250 round trip for the nonstop 11-hour flight from Washington to B.A. As if that weren’t enough, all U.S. visitors must now pay a $131-per-person “reciprocity fee” to enter Argentina — payback for the United States’ decision to charge residents of Argentina and other countries the same amount to visit here.

Since those combined charges will just about wipe out our couple’s travel budget, and we haven’t even looked at lodging yet, let’s talk about a few ways to cut costs:

– Start tracking fares now on such sites as Kayak.com, Farecompare.com, SmarterTravel.com and Airfarewatchdog.com so that you can pounce when a deal is offered. Be flexible with travel dates to get the best price; you’ll find better fares in October, for example, than in July. Bonus: October is Argentina’s spring, and a particularly lovely time to visit.

– Look into package deals offered by online discounters that bundle air and hotel costs. Gate 1 Travel, for example (http://www.gate1travel.com), is offering a seven-day trip with nonstop air from Washington to Buenos Aires and five nights in a three-star hotel for $1,733 in October, including most fees and taxes (but not the reciprocity fee).

That works out to about $100 a night for lodging, a good deal by any standard. Other vacation packagers to check: Travelzoo (http://www.travelzoo.com), Expedia.com (click “Vacation Packages”), American Airline Vacations (http://www.aavacations.com).

– Book a custom trip with a tour operator. You’ll pay a little more than you would with a discounter, but the added perks and peace of mind may be worth it. Veronica Brignone, an agent with Washington’s Latin Destinations (866-645-2846,http://www.latindestinations.com), said that a seven-day custom trip in October would run about $2,100 per person, including round-trip air from Washington to Buenos Aires, five nights’ lodging, breakfasts and — wait for it — a two-night side trip to the Mendoza wine region, including round-trip air. You can also sign up for such extras as a tango show and dinner, including pickup and delivery from your hotel ($75 per person).

Okay, time to tango.

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires and start walking. That’s the best way to get to know any city, and with its wide avenues, sidewalk cafes and eclectic neighborhoods, B.A. is eminently strollable. See for yourself why the city is called the Paris of South America. As in any big city, stay alert, dress to blend in and don’t flaunt valuables.

Days 2-3: If you’re there on a Sunday, be sure to hit the San Telmo market, a weekly open-air extravaganza featuring art, antiques, hand-made goods, food and street tango. Other musts: Recoleta Cemetery (Evita’s tomb!); the historic center and Plaza de Mayo (Evita’s balcony!); the Recoleta and Palermo Viejo neighborhoods (galleries, cafes); Avenida Alvear and Calle Florida (shopping); Corrientes Avenue (restaurants, theaters, music, night life). As for tango, it’s everywhere, from amateur street performances to milongas (local bars) to fancy dinner theaters. Ask a local, visit one of the city’s many tourism kiosks or consult online message boards and forums before you go. Plan on paying $60 and up for a show, $40 for an individual lesson.

Days 4-6: Take a day trip. I know, I know, we’re trying to cut costs here. But it would be a shame to come all this way and not see a bit of the wine country or world-famous Iguazu Falls. So consider hopping on an in-country flight for a one- or two-night stay.

Day 7: Return home.

Cost: Assuming that you go with a custom package that includes a side trip to Mendoza, airfare and lodging will run about $2,100 per person, and don’t forget the additional reciprocity fee. Meals are mucho affordable; you can eat very well indeed for about $30 a day. Total: about $2,400 per person, not including entertainment, admission fees and taxis.

Interested in having us help plan your trip? Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingourway.
_________________________________
SOURCE:
“A tango through Buenos Aires and Argentina’s countryside”
By K.C. Summers
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/26/AR2010042603573.html