From central and North America:

American Airlines flights to Buenos Aires: From New York, Dallas and Miami.
United Airlines flights to Buenos Aires: From New York and Houston.
Delta Flights to Buenos Aires: From Atlanta.
Air Canada Flights to Buenos Aires: From Toronto.
Aeromexico Flights to Buenos Aires: From Mexico City.
Copa Airlines Flights to Buenos Aires: From Panama.
Cubana de Aviacion flights to Buenos Aires: From Havana.

From Europe:

Alitalia flights to Buenos Aires: From Rome.
Air France Flights to Buenos Aires: From Paris.
British Airways Flights to Buenos Aires: From London.
Luthansa flights to Buenos Aires: From Frankfurt.
KLM Flights to Buenos Aires: From Amsterdam.
Ibeira Flights to Buenos Aires: From Madrid.
Air Europa Flights to Buenos Aires: From Madrid.
TAP Portugal flights to Buenos Aires: From Lisbon.

From the Middle East:

Qatar Airways Flights to Buenos Aires: From Doha.
Emirates Flights to Buenos Aires: From Dubai.

From Africa:

South African Airways Flights to Buenos Aires: From Johannesburg.

From South America:

LAN Flights to Buenos Aires: From Santiago and Lima.
Avianca Flights to Buenos Aires: From Bogota.
Gol Flights to Buenos Aires: From Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Florianopolis.
TAM Flights to Buenos Aires: From Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro
Pluna Flights to Buenos Aires: From Montevideo and Punta del Este.
Conviasa Flights to Buenos Aires: From Caracas.
TACA Flights to Buenos Aires: From Lima.
BOA Flights to Buenos Aires: From Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Aerosur flights to Buenos Aires: From Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

According to the trade group Wines of Argentina, Argentine wines are in vogue worldwide. The star varietal is malbec, a red wine made from the malbec grape that is native to Bordeaux but actually thrives better in the high-altitude terrain of Mendoza than anywhere else in the world. A decade after first taking the wine world by storm in the early 2000s, when burgeoning foreign investment sparked a boom in Argentina’s wine exports, malbec is as synonymous with Argentina as zinfandel is with California or sauvignon blanc with New Zealand.

There are exciting emerging wines too. Torrontés, an aromatic varietal unique to Argentina, is tipped to be the world’s next high-demand white wine. The torrontés from the evolving Cafayate wine valley in northwest Argentina balances amazing floral aromas with zesty flavours of citrus and tropical fruits. Bonarda (a fruity red) and pinot noir from the cooler climes of northern Patagonia are also whispered about as the “next big thing” by wine industry experts. Argentine wines, it seems, are on everybody’s lips.

In 2011, Decanter magazine awarded more International Wine of the Year trophies to Argentina than any other country. In the same year, worldwide sales of torrontés, which pairs beautifully with Asian-fusion cuisines and is winning popularity among young, female wine drinkers, rose by an astonishing 30%, outpacing even Malbec.

“Argentine wines tick all the right boxes,” explained Andrew Maidment from Wines of Argentina. “They share Old and New World qualities; they’re fruity but have backbone. In the US people see Argentinean malbec as similar to the great wines of the Napa and Sonoma valleys, but at half the price. It has fallen quite beautifully into a sweet spot.”

Paradoxically, in the ultra-competitive UK market, which is viewed as a barometer for the wider European market, Argentina positions its wines upmarket. “They are incredibly popular in the London area among high-spending professionals, the type of person interested in vacationing in Argentina. There’s been an explosion of Argentine restaurants in London, some 25 at the last count,” said Maidment.

In the UK, where sales of malbec rose by 40% in 2011, Argentine wines command the second-highest average price per bottle, after New Zealand.

The secret is clearly out, and as Argentine viticulture flourishes, savvy entrepreneurs from Buenos Aires are busy uncorking the creative potential of the degustación (wine tasting). Deliberately distancing themselves from the city’s slightly stuffy hotel-and-wine-club circuit, these new ventures emphasise the fun, informal elements of urban wine tasting Buenos Aires.

Wine Tour Urbano is an urban wine route that invites participants to discover great wines at interesting locations in neighbourhoods around the city. For a flat fee of 130 Argentinean pesos, tour-goers receive an Italian crystal wine glass along with a map indicating each stop on the circuit. They can then set off independently to discover the route at their own pace. At each location a different bodega hosts a delicious tasting.

Wine Tour Urbano currently takes place in the historic Monserrat district, offering tour participants the opportunity to taste velvety pinot noirs by a Patagonian winery in the lantern-lit cloisters of a 1700s Jesuit church or rich malbecs by a Mendoza bodega at a frescoed, 19th-century pharmacy. In September, the tour will relocate to the ultra-hip Soho neighbourhood, where a circuit of fashion and design boutiques will host tastings, giving shopping-and-wine enthusiasts a chance to quaff lush varietals while browsing funky designer wares.

Still in hip Soho, Autre Monde is an independent bookstore and wine dealer that organises inventive tastings with wine prizes. These take place at the store’s chic loft space, where a sommelier invites guests to guess a single rogue malbec, say, amid a selection of syrah wines. Autre Monde is also planning more creative tastings on philosophical and cinematic themes, such as combining complex wines (pinot noir, for example) with a night of art-house cinema (like 1970s American New Wave) and hosting a discussion on the joyful complexities of both; or toying with the Kantian ideal of universalisation alongside a tasting of cabernet sauvignon, a wine recognised for its structure and universal appeal.

At 0800-Vino in Abasto, an old tango neighbourhood, British sommelier Nigel Tollerman hosts memorable tastings amid the oak barrels of his private cellar. Regular themed events feature the best of Patagonian high-altitude wines and the whites of Argentina, led by the rising star torrontés and finishing with playful guesstimates as to the cost of each bottle.

In the upscale neighbourhood of Recoleta, Prado y Neptuno is a boutique cigar bar that hosts cigar and wine pairings. It marries Cuban cigars with complex white and sparkling wines, complementing the hot, smoky notes of rolled tobacco with smooth chardonnays.
_______________________________
SOURCE:
“Creative wine tasting in Buenos Aires”
May 16, 2012
BBC
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/tourism/201205/86684.php

Sophisticated and sexy, Buenos Aires really is the “Paris of South America”. Buenos Aires Like a Local is an invaluable guide to tango, fútbol, shopping, gourmet cuisine and beautiful architecture. Peter Greenberg, America’s well-respected travel expert and Chief Contributing Editor of the series, shares insider insights and touring tips gleaned from his extensive experience in the travel industry, while Michelin star ratings point out the most interesting sights for every neighborhood, atmospheric places to stay, elegant cafés, established milongas (dance halls), in vogue nightspots and the very best designer boutiques.

Here are 12 picks for romantics of every stripe.

For pure romantics: Jimbaran Puri Bali, Bali — This intimate 41-room seaside resort has traditional Balinese trappings and hospitality, and a spa that incorporates island ingredients into its treatments.

For exhibitionists: The Standard, New York — The hotel literally straddles the High Line park in the Meatpacking District, with guestroom windows visible to the throngs below. As Jetsetter notes, “The Standard Hotels have been called a lot of things, but never boring.”

For stylists: Estancia Vik José Ignacio, Uruguay– The all-suites hotel on 4,000 acres of countryside 20 minutes from trendy Punta del Este, features original art and designs by local artists.

For love nesters: Treehotel, Sweden — The four-tree-house compound features imaginative dwellings, each designed by a different architect. Special touches include a rope-bridge entry and a mirrored façade. It’s located near the village of Harads in northern Sweden.

For dreamers: Cocoa Island, Maldives — Set on the easternmost atoll of this 35,000-square-mile island nation in the Indian Ocean, the lodging consists of 33 picture-perfect over-water bungalows.

For lords and ladies: Saint James, Paris — This small hotel with only 48 guestrooms is the only Parisian hotel with official chateau status. It’s also a private club with a lovely garden.

For secret agents: GoldenEye Hotel and Resort, Jamaica — The former home of writer Ian Fleming and the place where he conjured up James Bond, underwent a complete renovation in 2010. “A high-end retreat with a laid-back attitude,” says Jetsetter.

For traditionalists: The Stafford London — The hotel has a loyal following of Londoners. It’s also home to one of the city’s most historic bars and an acclaimed seafood restaurant.

For beach lovers: Kamalame Cay, Bahamas — The 96-acre cay near Andros Island has long been a hideaway for celebrities, honeymooners and others seeking privacy.

For naturalists: Kichaka Private Game Lodge, South Africa — Nature lovers can experience the African bush in style and comfort at this Eastern Cape Province retreat.

For glamazons: Faena Hotel and Universe, Buenos Aires — Located in the tony waterfront Puerto Madero neighborhood, this Buenos Aires hotel attracts the Beautiful Set with its dramatic red, black and white décor. There’s also an in-house cabaret.

For Isolationists: El Otro Lado, Panama — Travelers who crave solace would do well to head to this four-home compound in the lush hills of Portobelo, a UNESCO-listed town. The décor and its central “living gazebo” are straight out of the pages of a high-style design magazine.

Faena Hotel and Universe – Buenos Aires, Argentina

________________________________________________
SOURCE:
“The world’s most romantic hotels for romantics of every type”
By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY
http://travel.usatoday.com
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2012/05/the-worlds-most-romantic-hotels-for-romantics-of-every-sort/689224/1

- Football games in Buenos Aires
- Ticket delivery at your hotel.
- Transfers: Hotel – Stadium – Hotel.
- Field side locations, not behind the goals
- Seating, not standing
- Enjoy Boca Junioris and River Plate games
- Argentina National Team Games
- Brazil 2012 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
- Discover the magic of the “Bombonera”
- Visit the “Monumental” Stadium
- Book your ticket online in 2 easy steps

Service Description: A driver is going to pick you up from your hotel with the tickets, he will drive you to the stadium. After the game the driver is going to be waiting for you and we will drive you back to your hotel.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE FOR JUNE 2012:

Date: 03/06/2012
Game: Argentina vs Ecuador (Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
Stadium: River Plate

Date: 09/06/2012
Game: River Plate vs Boca Unidos
Stadium: River Plate

Date: 17/06/2012
Game: Boca vs Arsenal
Stadium: Boca Juniors (Bombonera)

Date: 23/06/2012
Game: River Plate vs Almirante Brown
Stadium: River Plate

Tango grew from the working class port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires to become a global dance and music phenomenon that in 2009 was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. But for those visiting the Argentinean capital for the first time, the sheer number of opportunities to experience tango can be overwhelming, and many of the best venues are off the beaten track.

Expat-New Yorker Migdalia Romero is here to help. Here, the author of the “Tango Lover’s Guide to Buenos Aires” offers her insights for all aspiring “tangueros” traveling the city: Classical violin with a Tango twist

History

Tango was especially important in Buenos Aires at the turn of the century when immigrants — especially men without partners — were looking for a worthwhile diversion. The men would practice together to perfect their dance — and hopefully impress the women. But tango moved from the brothels to higher society very soon after it became fashionable in Paris.

The music has always been an integral part of growing up in Buenos Aires. Generations have been nursed on it. The older generation of women dancers remember when they danced resting on the feet of their fathers. Boys would sneak out to the dance halls to see the older men (brothers and fathers) dancing.

While tango skipped a generation of men and women who preferred rock in the 60s, it is now very much in vogue among the youth. Dance halls fill with young and old alike — there are strictly no age restrictions.
Read related: Musician’s passionate journey through Buenos Aires

Embrace the passion

There’s a saying in Spanish that captures the importance of the embrace in tango: “El abrazo es mas important que el paso” (The embrace is more important than the step)

The prelude to tango begins at the moment that two people stand face to face and listen silently to a few notes of the music, before settling in on the embrace and beginning to dance.

Tango is a dance that stresses elegant walking and close attention to the music. More than anything, if you are new to it, just enjoy the scene. Notice the subtle movements of the dancers, the ways in which they negotiate small spaces and crowded dance floors, and the delicate way they accomplish the seductive invitation to dance.

Where to watch

There are classy dinner shows that feature full stage productions for tourists, and then there are intimate tango venues that provide more authentic shows for enthusiasts and local patrons. Be aware that dinner shows can be expensive, and some of the more hidden and intimate clubs offer a less expensive alternative — many charging only for what is consumed.
On Sunday afternoons at Plaza Dorrego in the San Telmo Antiques flea market, a local legend and resident, El Indio, does a demonstration of tango accompanied by a bit of history (in Spanish). Even if you don’t understand the language, the demonstration is worth your time and, best of all, it’s free.

A number of “milongas” (dance halls dedicated to tango) offer late night shows with either live music and/or authentic exhibition dancing. Generally these milongas open at 11 pm, but Buenos Aires is a nocturnal city and the shows themselves don’t normally start until after one in the morning.

Two noteworthy examples are the milonga at Confiteria La Ideal on Thursday nights and that at Salon Canning on Tuesday and Friday nights after 11 pm.

At both places you will see locals, as well as tourists who are completely hooked on tango, dancing socially while making sure to respect all the dance floor etiquette (“codigos”) that make this a cultural experience.

You will notice men signaling silently for a dance across a crowded room with the nod of their head, a wink, or a raised eyebrow. Men and women are never seated together, even if they are in close proximity. The most traditional milongas place men on one side of the room and women on the other.

If you’re more interested in choreographed shows, then head straight to the Piazzolla Tango, which offers a flamboyant dinner show, preceded by a lesson. The space has been restored beautifully with a real air of art-deco elegance.
Meanwhile, those concerned with the history and culture of tango should stroll to the former fruit and vegetable market area of Abasto in the Balvanera neighborhood, which is very much connected to Carlos Gardel — the definitive tango icon. Gardel wrote many tango classics and was famed for his extraordinary baritone voice. He lived his whole life in Abasto and within a two block radius you will see signs of this famous tango figure on buildings, in stores, and even in the museum that was once his home.

Where to learn

Tango is a dance that takes years to master. However, a good teacher can get you on the dance floor, walking simply and in time to the music, within a few lessons. The two studios that teach tango seriously and cater in large part to tourists from around the world are the Studio DNI and the Escuela Argentina de Tango at Galerias Pacifico — inside a beautiful upscale mall. Both schools offer lessons to beginners as well as to experienced dancers.

Some milongas also provide lessons right before the official dance begins. One of my favorites is Nuevo Chique at La Casa de Galicia. The class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the late afternoons. Nothing builds the appetite more than a day of tango and, conveniently, there is a lovely Spanish restaurant on the second floor where hungry bellies are quickly satisfied.
_______________________________________
SOURCE:
“Dancing to the music of love in Buenos Aires”
By George Webster, CNN
May 10, 2012
http://edition.cnn.com
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/10/travel/buenos-aires-tango-travel-guide/

I recently moved to Buenos Aires to launch an accelerator program for sustainable and smart city ventures with the University of San Andres (UdeSA). While Buenos Aires may come to mind as one of the great cosmopolitan cities in Latin America, with great tango, wine, and beef (I know it is a sin here in Argentina, but I don’t actually eat beef so I can’t confirm the quality), it does not usually get included in discussions of emerging smart cities. In fact, in my global ranking of smart cities published earlier this year, Buenos Aires did not make the first cut.

However, I believe Buenos Aires is well on its way to becoming a smart city. For me, no city can be on a journey towards becoming smart without having a quality transportation infrastructure. If a city forces its residents to travel in passenger vehicles because there are no light rail, metro, or bus rapid transit options available, that city can’t even join the conversation with smart cities.

Buenos Aires actually has quite a bit of public transportation. This is the first time I recall living in a city (and I have lived in some great ones, from Copenhagen and Madrid to Vancouver) where I have two different rail networks to choose from to go to work every day. I live in a neighborhood called La Lucila in Zona Norte, located right between the capital and the campus where I work–about a 20-minute public-train ride in either direction. I also live right near the Tren de la Costa, which is a private train line that happens to also stop close to the campus. That is a 12-minute train ride (instead of 20 on the public train). Of course the public trains have many problems, from being unreliable to being fairly dirty, poorly maintained, and unsafe (there was a recent fatal crash caused by poor brake maintenance). Luckily the Tren de la Costa does not suffer the same problems. Most cities, especially in the developing world and in North America, have struggled to keep transit on pace relative to their growing populations.

Buenos Aires also has an extensive underground metro system, Subte. The Subte has six lines, 78 stations and close to 2 million daily riders. So while there are ongoing issues with the transit system, Buenos Aires passes one of the first tests of having significant transit infrastructure.

Another frequently discussed aspect of smart cities is open data and open innovation. How well does a city make its data available for not only public consumption but also for private developers?

Over the past week, I have had the pleasure of meeting senior leaders of the municipal government for Buenos Aires, including the Director of Urban Development, Minister Daniel Chain, who has the broad responsibility of leading the city’s development strategy. I was quite impressed with the amount of data currently being collected and used for making important development decisions in the city.

In the past few years, the city has helped transform a low-income neighborhood into a hub for information and communication technology (ICT) companies, called Distrito Tecnologico (DT). Through a public-private investment of $200 million, DT is already home to 100 ICT companies. Prior to initiating the program, the city used its own internally developed econometrics to forecast the impacts of the infrastructure investment on everything from crime rates to housing prices. The city now requires the use of the econometrics for every public investment it makes. Buenos Aires has developed its own index of Urban Sustainability leveraging econometrics and vast data sources. This index is published and available for the public to view. The maximum score on their index is 1.00, the city’s 2011 score is .68 and its goal by 2060 is to reach .94.

You have to appreciate the transparency. Buenos Aires has created its own custom tool to measure development and it is in the process of developing a program with UdeSA to share lessons learned with other cities in Argentina and beyond. Barcelona is also in the process of collaborating with Cisco to develop its own smart-city protocol measurement system.

While the city has worked to make a lot of its data public, it only recently started making it available in raw form for private developers to leverage, hosting its first hackathon in August 2011.

One of the takeaways from my meetings with city officials is that we need to be clear that smart cities are more than just sensors and real-time data. In fact, Buenos Aires has not done much with its high level of ICT integration, yet it is using data in fascinating ways to improve the quality of life of its citizens. This suggests to me that cities in the developing world with fewer resources (or even cities in the U.S. in this current economy) can continue the smart-city journey just by using the data they already collect in smarter ways. However, I hope that we will increasingly find ways for all cities around the world to acquire more advanced systems to accelerate their smart-city trajectories. We will need to see more private-public partnerships such as the one between Streetline and Siemens to deliver smart parking solutions without infrastructure costs to the city.

Buenos Aires has made some important positive steps towards becoming a smart-city reference for Latin America. A robust transit system, rigorous collection and use of metrics to inform decision making, open data for private developers, and development of the Distrito Tecnologico are all evidence of progress.

In order to make the top echelon of global smart cities, Buenos Aires will need a greater investment in ICT infrastructure to get more real-time data and improve speed and efficiency. I would also argue, as I did with my rankings earlier this year, that a smart city is also a sustainable city, optimizing energy resources, investing in renewables, enhancing cycling infrastructure, supporting district energy and water systems, etc. This is an area where Buenos Aires has a lot of room for improvement. But I believe they can get there.
_______________________________________
SOURCE:
“Buenos Aires: The Making Of A Smart City”
By BOYD COHEN
http://www.fastcoexist.com/
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679743/buenos-aires-the-making-of-a-smart-city

Baexpats, the most popular community website for foreigners living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has recently added a new classifieds section to the site. This will be yet another free service offered to the site members.

Site members who run their own businesses now have an additional place to offer their products and services. They often cater to the needs of the expatriate community, so it is a win-win situation for both sides involved, that creates stronger ties between fellow expatriates.

People are always moving in and out and moving sales make this transition/relocation easier. Expatriates also tend to search out services provided by English speakers; the classifieds section will now serve as an excellent source for anyone looking for employees or work.

The classifieds section is a completely separate part of the site and will not change the direction of the forum. We expect that members will continue to help each other, participate in discussions, share news, give advice, and interact within the community.

“We do realize, that people can buy and sell things on big sites like Craigslist and MercadoLibre. Our advantage is that site members are already connected, all of them have already developed reputations on the forum. This makes it easier for them to do business” stated the site moderator.

This exciting addition to the already popular site adds a new level of convenience. The site is moving forward, improving on what it has and giving the users a better experience overall.

Baexpats.org is an online community of foreigners living in Buenos Aires. Since 2005 the site brings the expatriate community together and serves as a helpful and reliable resource to all of its members.

For more information please visit : baexpats.org
________________________________
SOURCE:
“Baexpats.org launches Buenos Aires classifieds for the expat community”
WEBWIRE
Monday, May 07, 2012
http://www.webwire.com/
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=156208

The activity, called ‘The Travel Diaries’ goes live today (4 May). It gives KLM’s Facebook fans access to a series of films showcasing nine popular cities across the globe – Buenos Aires, New York, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Berlin, San Francisco, Amsterdam and Havana.

The videos give users a snapshot of each city and encourage them to enter a competition to win a pair of tickets to each destination.

KLM will open the draw for a new destination each month. In order to enter the competition, consumers must become fans of the KLM Facebook page and answer one question about the short film on display.

Winners will be announced at the end of every month, before the competition for the next destination is opened.

KLM said that it hopes to increase its 47,000-strong UK Facebook fanbase by at least 6,000 followers, and will support the campaign with alerts to its 675,000 newsletter subscribers.

__________________________________________
SOURCE:
“KLM launches nine-month Facebook initiative”
by Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith
04 May 2012
http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/
http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1130261/KLM-launches-nine-month-Facebook-initiative/

TripAdvisor has released their list of Traveler’s Choice Destinations for 2012 and has named London the world’s top destination, with New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas all making the top 20.

Paris topped the ranks last year but dropped to number 4 this year.

In its fourth year, the awards are based on the popularity of destinations, taking into account travelers’ favorites and most highly rated places.

Here’s a look at the top winners:

Top 25 Travelers’ Choice World Destinations:

01. London, England
02. New York City, New York
03. Rome, Italy
04. Paris, France
05. San Francisco, California
06. Marrakech, Morocco
07. Istanbul, Turkey
08. Barcelona, Spain
09. Siem Reap, Cambodia
10. Berlin, Germany
11. Chicago, Illinois
12. Florence, Italy
13. Buenos Aires, Argentina <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
14. Sydney, Australia
15. Beijing, China
16. Prague, Czech Republic
17. Las Vegas, Nevada
18. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
19. Shanghai, China
20. Honolulu, Hawaii
21. Los Angeles, California
22. New Orleans, Louisiana
23. Cape Town, South Africa
24. Chiang Mai, Thailand
25. Dublin, Ireland

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Top 25 Travelers’ Choice U.S. Destinations:

01. New York City, New York
02. San Francisco, California
03. Chicago, Illinois
04. Las Vegas, Nevada
05. Honolulu, Hawaii
06. Los Angeles, California
07. New Orleans, Louisiana
08. Seattle, Washington
09. San Diego, California
10. Orlando, Florida
11. Washington, D.C.
12. Portland, Oregon
13. San Antonio, Texas
14. Savannah, Georgia
15. Boston, Massachusetts
16. Branson, Missouri
17. Atlanta, Georgia
18. Houston, Texas
19. Sedona, Arizona
20. Napa, California
21. Lahaina, Hawaii
22. Austin, Texas
23. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
24. Charleston, South Carolina
25. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
_______________________________________
SOURCE:
“TripAdvisor picks top world destinations”
May 02, 2012
http://www.foxnews.com/
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/05/02/tripadvisor-picks-best-destinations-worldwide/