2002-2004 WSG Reports

Hi All,

Am headed to BA in a few weeks for work. I will be staying at El Américas Towers on Libertad 1070 in Recoleta (sp ?).

I'm a cherry monger (is that possible?) who's seeking the best first time possible - so I've saved myself for BA! I've contacted Roxanna for help and feel well taken care of so far.

Couple questions for you:

1) Anyone know my hotel? Is it nice? Any problems you can think of?

2) Any full service massage places near there with an English speaking front desk at least?

3) Any english speaking apartments with chicas I can visit?

I know you will tell me in part to RTFF, however I'm sure you're aware that the Argentina section is simply sprawling at this point so maybe you'll give me so quick advice and help.

For what its worth I'll post a report aimed at ignorant gringos (who better than me?)....

Thanks!

The Lurk

I hate to add to the sprawl with this response to Logan, but I can tell him this:

America's Towers Hotel is a very nice looking hotel. It has an excellent location about halfway between the club areas of Recoleta and El Centro. Both are about 12 blocks, an easy walk day or night with a little caution.

Most hotels are chica friendly. You may have to register as a double to bring in a visitor. The best thing to do is ask if it is necessary to register as a double to have a visitor. In the interest of men's rights, I would be prepared to change hotels if I didn't like the answer. In fact, you might call first. The Carlton and Dazzler are both close and nice, on Libertad.

You don't say how many nights you will stay, and this is important. From your questions, it appears that you have no idea of the situation here. There are few things in your life that could benefit you more before your trip than studying the reports to educate yourself and help you prepare. I know it is sprawling. I have in the past found two approaches to this problem.
1) Read the messages from current-old, skipping the chat and responses and looking for the longer descriptive reports. As you go back, the information starts to duplicate, and you also begin to recognize names/situations, allowing you to skip faster. The responses usually aren't that important for getting a general feel.

2) If the problem of threads makes you confused, try reading the messages current-old in groups of 5 pages: Pages 5-1, 10-6, 15-11, etc. This helps keep some thread order.

Take notes and stop reading when you feel that the information is very repetitive and you understand what is being discussed.

Try reading the Andres reports and the Otto Graham reports to get a general flavor. Part of the reason there is so much stuff here is because there is so much stuff here(in BA).

Post a description especially of your experience with the hotel, which is new information. Too few people post on hotels.

Prepare and enjoy your stay!

Dear Fellow mongers:

During my last visit over the weekend before, I stayed at Loisuites Recoleta. This hotel was situated in an excellent location as far as access to Recoleta club action was concerned, within 30 seconds walking distance of Etoile, and across the corner from Recoleta Vilage.

Madahos, Solid Gold, and Playwoman were about 2-3 minutes away by walking, and affaire/Cicerone, Closer, and Newport were about a 2 minute walk from this hotel. Black was about a 4 minute walk away (not that I bothered with it).

The "suites" are very tasteful, although on the smallish side. They are equipped with a microwave oven, a mini-bar with enough extra room to hold a few drinks you would buy on your own, a sink, and a few wine/champagne glasses and dishes. There is a nice soaking tub, but no Jacuzzi. The sleeping area is separated by a sliding door. There is a nice indoor garden and swimming pool that doubles as breakfast seating area. Overall, the hotel has the feel of a "W" in the states, although not quite as nice and artsy.

Some of you may recall that I was "chained up" and hence did not get to personally test the chica-friendliness of the staff, although some Australian lads were noted to be availing themselves of the local talent without much fuss.

In dealing with hotels in the past, I usually try to contact them directly to secure the best rate. I sent an email to them via their web site, which, BTW, has outdated pricing. There was no response for a week. I then sent a second email and received the following answer in about 5 days:
[quote]
Junior Studio (25 m2) 125 USD + TAX[red]= 151 USD[/red]
Executive Studio (40 m2) 150 USD + TAX[red]= 181 USD[/red]
Executive Suite (42 m2) 180 USD + TAX[red] = 218 USD[/red]

These rates are per room, per night.
Include:
* Wellcome drink
* Buffet breakfast
* Sauna, fitness center and swimming pool
* Business Center

1 USD= 3 ARS[/quote]

This was somewhat irritating since I had specifically asked for quotes in PESOS.I contacted Mayra who within an hour wrote back, offering a prepaid rate of 155 USD per night which [red]included tax[/red] for the Executive Suite, and that was the rate that I took. Compared to the bargains available elsewhere I suppose this was a little on the high side, but I liked the look of the hotel and was convinced that Mayra had secured the best possible rate. Upon arrival and throughout my short stay the hotel was at full occupancy.

Based on above I do recommend contacting Mayra before accepting any prices quoted by this hotel.

Does anyone have information on the Castelar Hotel and Spa? It seems fairly inexpensive (~$40US) and I believe it includes breakfast and admission to the spa. Does anyone know if this hotel is girl-friendly and if it's located in a decent area for mongering?

I have similar questions regarding Hotel Nogaro at Plaza de Mayo.

I'm working with a discount travel company that seems to get good deals on these hotels.

Alternatively, if anyone has recommendations for a hotel that is chica friendly, in an area apppropriate for the serious mongerer, and has a decent swimming pool, though not necessarily at the high end in prices, I would really appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks for your help. It will all be reciprocated upon my return from B.A.

DfB

DFB,

There are many hotels in Buenos Aires that are past their prime. Once listed as a 4 star hotel, the Castelar needs to be updated. Standard rooms are small. Location is not ideal for mongering.......The same is true for the Nogaro.....

Still, if the deal is good enough and you need to stay in the Castelar, it is chica friendly provided you register as a double....

In terms of location, the Etoile is ideal! Read others comments about the state of the hotel....no longer a 5 star property, but still way above the Castelar...and just around the corner from all of Recoleta's clubs...


As well, The NH City and Argenta Towers both have pools and are nicer hotels. The Argenta is in a more hobby central location. Contact Mayra of www.argentinago.com for a better rate than you will find on the net or by contacting the hotel direct. $55 per night is possible, depending upon how crowded they are at the time....

One Tree Hill:

I stayed at Sarmiento Palace for one night last week. I would not recomend this hotel to anyone. The rooms are small and not very clean. The staff is not friendly. We asked for a 2:00pm check out and they sayed anything past 12:00 will be half the day rate.

We decided to move all our belongings to one room and checkout at 6:00pm. When we checked out of the room they wanted to charge an extra 20 Pesos on top of the half day rate because they said we had four people staying in the room. If anyone have seen these rooms know this is imposible.

They charge 20 pesos to bring a chica and they don't ask for documents. For my safety I always like to register the chica.

jodomas

One Hotel I stayed at about a year ago seems to be overlooked by many, and I found VERY pleasent. Certainly more refined then the Etoille these days.
It is called the Hotel Plaza Francia, website
www.hotelplazafrancia.com
The answer their email promptly, which I appreciate!
The rates start at about $65, the includes breakfast (brought to your room for free, in case your overnight date doesn't have the right outfit with her to join the regular dining room crowd!), and the staff was VERY friendly and helpful. Chica Friendly, with no charge for guests, and no attitude (although they do have to register, which I don't mind a bit!)
It is located on E. Schiffino, on the corner of Libertador -- just a short, pleasant (although uphill) walk to Junin St.

I would recommend it to anyone with that budget.

David

Firstly, I'm not on a budget, but then I don't fancy a 5* hotel just because it's affordable. I know how some other people live - I have tried Venetian suit for 1 grand (listed at back of the door type rate), plenty of $300 and $400's when I met my girls in LA. I don't do outcall for any less than $100, incall instead. Of course I don't pay the back of the door rates.

I believe the girl is the star. If she cost 100 to 200 peso, 60 peso per day is a good starting point for the room rate. But if no tourist live on that price, I'm happy to go up to US $40 $60 or higher. A US $250 suite is not really good idea unless you have some over $100 (per hour) girls to go with it. Do we have that sort of girl that worth that price? If you bring a 200 peso girl into that suite. Oh yes she will be impressed. But she just expect more tips for the same performance. Worse still, it's even a distraction sometimes. Some girls sort of over working their tiny brain to try to squeeze some more out of you all the time, after all chicken shit from you will be very significant to them.

Location: close to the clubs is good. But I'm not sure that a 2 min walk or a 4 min walk is good. If taxi/cab is plenty and cheap, easy to get from your hotel, a 2 min or 4 min ride is good. I want to avoid embarrassingly short cab rides, the alternative being walking for 5 min. Is it common for the hotel and club to call a taxi for you?

Meals: leaving the only land of drive throughs and dinners, I hate to exhibit anti social behavior when I haven't got company. So I may need room service or eatery in hotel. Apartments is OK if there is supermarket within short walking distance. Excellent if they have prime cut of Argentina Black Angus, tuna, yellow fin, salmon from the sea. I can live on that rare and raw diets for weeks. Don't worry about the cholesterol, at worst you will have an excellent good vs bad cholesterol ratio.

I know this is a hotel thread, but what is an BA club? Average New Yorkers will be clueless inside a downtown LA hostess club.

Tall, Are you asking for a hotel recommendation base on the criteria you have laid out? If so, I am glad you mention that you are happy to pay more than the 60 pesos per day rate you deduce would be about right for a 100-200peso chica. You won't find anything decent for that amount.

Alternately, you certainly won't need to spend $250 a night to find something nice with roomservice and/or good supermarkets nearby. The dazzler at $37 a night, ArtSuites Aparthotel at $75 or the Etoille at 150 or so pesos are the most popular hotels in Buenos Aires for hobbyists. Artsuites does not have a restaurant, but is just around the corner from a large supermarket, Cotos.

Yes, the staff in hotels and most clubs will phone for a cab.

re: your question of what is a BA club.....I will post an answer under the BA section rather than the hotel section.

Thanks, I found plenty of supermarkets. There's one Coto about the next block to Artsuites. Are the two locations correct on the map?

[img]http://www.geocities.com/tallnhandsom2000[/img]

I don't have the scale. What is the distance of 1 block? A Tokyo block is very different from a Californian suburb block. This is not so interesting but next I'll be plotting my distance from the clubs.

Coto delivers to your apartment for free? Interesting. Walking distance isn't important then. But I wonder how I get home from the supermarket, with no cell, no Spanish? How easy is it to catch a taxi on the street?

What sort of goods are on offer in say Coto? In comparison:
Japanese hyper markets are one of the best. I think they have live fish by air.

French Atlantic coast, where the oysters are aired to all over the world. You can assemble your own sea food platter easily beating those in nice Paris restaurants. The good thing is that the French who lives a few miles from the coast hate seafood. No competing mouth.

Pavilion closest to Coto (de Caza) California has all the prime cut of Black Angus. Trader Joe closest to Coto (de Caza) has organic Alaska Salmon for a few months now. 99 all over South CA has Japanese food, prime cut of tuna, yellow fin, and octopus.

At least they have Argentina beef and wine in Recoleta supermarkets? I'll put other discussion in the general info.

I second Dick Johnson and doubt that TNH will ever go to BA. He was banned once from the board and resurfaced like a bad penny under another name, only to flame away at people. He does seem to be trying to be nicer now.

However I do feel that you can find a "decent" hotel in BA for 60 pesos. Perhaps not a great one, but a decent one. I would say the Marbella is "decent" at I believe it is 39 pesos for a single and 51 for a double, and I think the Gran Vedra is "decent" in the same price range.

That leaves a few pesos left over for Brahma.

Hi Dick Johnson, so you are stalking me across continents? Hate me for not picking BKK? No one can have a healthy debate with you since you like to twist things up. I have said before you are the kind of people that incite a mob violence. DH is all already to go into the mob but he has is a bit more refined as to starting it. I stated clearly that I never pay the 'list' price (listed somewhere in the room, like back of doors) in my message. The fact that a Venetian suite list for 1 grand doesn't concern me, nor you.

I hereby declare an unofficial complain against you DJ. You have absolutely no connection with BA or Argentina. If you 'can handle the truth', can you point out any one 'shit'?

Previously I have explained that I use a browser integrated spell checker (free) to reduce Jackson's editing work load. I complain about other people's spelling only because if I quote them, either I have to correct them as well, or let the error counted as mine, not good. My first language is visual (no tense too) so even if I know the difference between suit and suite, I won't be likely to spot the difference at the reading speed of a visual language.

Dickhead, I have to correct you that Dick Johnson didn't doubt my intention to go to BA. Between the lines, he seem to doubt that I've ever been in an Venetian suite - or did I buy a suit in Venice? That sure cost more than I pay for the suite.

Motel 6 standard in the South Coast of California could be decent enough. I'm looking for a good location relative to the clubs, get the meals sorted out, and someone speaks English to call taxi for me in Spanish if I need it. Whatever it cost it will not be too bad compared to the ticket.

Since you are here, can you start the internet girl top ten thing, or the club girl top ten? Like you did for top 10 destinations? (No tooth brush stuff please.) I can't enter the Spanish yahoo group yet. Are there other review sites?

I am seconding DJ that you are full of shit. The opinion that you will not go to BA is my own.

Ah, DH, now I understand what you seconded before. See? Don't be so subtle and reflect that in your sentence structure. American subtlety (none) is what I picked very late in life, just for survival. Get over things like my handle and you will fair better, or you better move.

Dick for Brains--

Regarding the Hotel Castalar on Avenida De Mayo (and the Spa)

I can personally vouch for this hotel. When I stayed there they gave me a special $70 (peso rate) for a smallish single with AC and Cable tv, comfy bed.

The Hotel has an old world Parisian charm (Lorca stayed there). It is not howver a plush designer hotel.

IMHO--you can't go wrong there if you are on a budget.

The legit spa is there downstairs and considered on the best in LA.

Best of Luck--