2002-2004 WSG Reports

re: castelar hotel, since you ask

i've been to b.a. twice before, once on business when i stayed on av florida (same area as castelar - centro), and then for fun when i stayed in recoleta.

i would not stay at the castelar, unless saving $10-20 per night is that important. just me, but i'd rather stay in recoleta.

you can get a room at a nice enough place for about the same money and be _walking distance_ from recoleta, or be on the square (eg. etoile hotel - where i've stayed).

yes cabs are cheap, but i like to be able to step out for a quick walk (get a water, snack, do the internet, grab a coffee, stop at the drug store, etc) and be in the scene.

av florida and centro is a very tourist area. i'd compare it to union square in sf, or say the 50s in manhattan. yes, nice hotels, but the locas don't live in the area. i prefer to stay in say the marina or pac heights in sf, or say soho or noho in nyc.

imho of course...

I was just at the Castelar. It´s a good hotel. Not really 4 star IMHO. I moved to Etoile today. The way I see it, Castelar is about $10 cheaper, but it´s worth it to stay at the Etoile. The rooms in Etoile are about twice as big, they are nicer, love the fridge for after activity drinks and the neighborhood is much better. Also, I just don´t know how to describe it, but the vibe I get from the Etoile staff when I bring a girl back is more laid backed. I got this disapproving feel from the Castelar staff. I think it´s much more common in the Etoile than the Castelar. Castelar is more of a legit, family tourist place. I also heard from some of the PlayWoman girls, that some of their dates have had things stolen out of their rooms at Castelar. They charge 10 pesos to have a guest, the Etoile doesn´t. Also, the convenience factor at Etoile is priceless. Yes, Castelar is only a few minutes away by cab, but it´s just not the same.

If I were just traveling for traveling sake, I would stay at the Castelar. It has more local charm. But if you´re on this forum, stay at Etoile and be in the heart of things.

Trust me. Nothing can compare to staying in or close to Recoleta. Yes, taxis can take you anywhere but as several mentioned... there is nothing like walking out of your hotel and being in the heart of the action.

Also, if you are saying Etoile's rooms are nicer than Castelar than Castelar must be a 2 star hotel. Etoile is no more than a 3 star hotel at best. You all know where I stand on the beds there. Although after reading some of your posts maybe some of the beds are newer than others. Or maybe some of you are the type that could sleep in your cars. I do know the pillows suck. My buddy also agreed about pillows.

If saving $10 - $20 per night is a "deal breaker" for you than you probably shouldn't be going to BA in the first place. I'm not saying to waste money....just my opinion. Every dollar does add up, so don't mistake my message.

Have fun.

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your succinct and interesting appraisals and comparisons of the Castelar with other hotels.

I now have my trip narrowed down to BA.

Now I need to narrow my hotel down to one. It's a toosup between Artsuites, Designsuites and Etoile.

Rickster

ps: I joined WSA for just one month several days ago....I believe this site is better....and free to boot. I'm not trashing WSA....it just doesn't seem to be as active and personally.... I have a more difficult time getting around it's site through it's interface. I don't think the interface is as user friendly.

Rickster,

My suggestion is that you book one or two nights at a hotel. If you feel comfortable, then stay longer. If not, just move on to an other hotel. There are hundreds of hotels i BA, and loads of them i Recoleta too. As the economic situation is i BA, there are ALWAYS rooms available at any hotel. You don't need to pre-book anything. Good luck!

I don't know if I can emphasize this enough, but with this continued talk about the Etoile Hotel, Uncle Otto feels constrained to say: THE BEDS SUCK! FIND ANOTHER HOTEL!

Yes, the staff is "chica friendly" and all that, and the rates are low. But in an earlier life Tio Otto used to sleep soundly inside the back of a charging M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier, and he even occasionally caught 20 winks while marching in a column with his battalion.

At Etoile, he woke up every morning with a backache!

-Tio Otto de Buenos Aires

i will be in b.a. at the end of the month, and like you i narrowed my hotel choice to those three: art, design, etoile.

design was quickly eliminated as it's not in recoleta, just as far away (more) as the castelar.


now, unlike otto, i never even noticed the beds being less than fine on my last stay at etoile. so that wasn't a factor for me (i like a hard bed). maybe all rooms are not the same, or maybe i just didn't notice...

still, this trip i am giving artsuites a chance. the rooms will clearly be nicer (more of a suite with livingroom). same price, maybe slightly more. location is not quite as perfect, art is 4.5 blks from the recoleta "plaza", and then about 90 degrees from the most active corner of the plaza, but this is not a bad walk (pending weather) with various 1st floor retail places along the way.

summary - i just went through the same choices you did - pick etoile or art and you'll be happy.

While the beds at Etoile aren´t the best in the world, they don´t bother me at all. The pillows on the otherhand, do suck. I usually dig through all 4 in the room before I find an OK one.

As for the messy showers, it all depends on the room. In some rooms, there´s no sign of water on the floor. In others, like the one I´m in now, I have to mop up afterwards with the bath mat. Luckily the maids do come around twice a day, so that wet mat dissappears quickly.

bapunta, Thanks for the comment on the attitudes of the staffs at Castelar vs Etoile regarding guests. An important consideration for those less than thick skinned. Also not mentioned in the guidebooks, lol.

I'm not sure when I will going down to BA - probably sooner than later - and may stay as long as a month, maybe even more.

I'm seriously considering an apartment rental in Recoleta.

Check out this three bedroom (four if you include the servants room) three bathrooms, a luxury apartment in Recoleta next to the Caesar Hotel for $100/day plus tax.

It has a terrace, large living room, kitchen, parking garage, etc.

http://www.parera156.com/

And I'm sure it couldn't be more chica friendly.

Makes one reconsider the hotel option:-)

Jamesbond69,

Nice looking apartment but I think they are asking too much. Times are desparate for many down there now which puts you in the driver's seat. Check with Mayra at argentinago.com and reference the apartments at parera156. Email me at tooshman@hotmail.com.


Toosh

Hotel Republica???

$27 per night- including tax
4 Stars?

Anyone know about this place???

Take the "5 star" system in Buenos Aires with a grain of salt. Or actually disreguard it. The Etoile hotel told me they were considered 5 star and they are 3 star at best. You also have to be realistic. It's VERY doubtful you'll find a 4 star quality hotel for $27 US per night. Even with all their economic/social problems you will be hard pressed to spend that little for a high calibre room.

Good luck though.

NH Hotels...
friendly to guests?

anyone have any thoughts?

Hi, Everyone.

Back in the U.S. and not very happy about it. I noticed that no one posted about the Loi Suites Arenales so here's my input:

I booked it through Mayra. Decent location. About 5 minute cab ride from Recoleta area. Free access to internet. They have one of their rooms set aside as the guest business office. One computer, printer, etc. Very nice if no one else is using. They will also let you use their own computers as backup. Very nice staff.

Room/apt. was kinda small compared to the Etoile but it suited my needs. $56 USD a night tax. included. Busy section of town so if you don't like noise, it may not be the place for you.

Chica friendly. One day, I think I came in 3 seperate times with 3 different girls. If it's early enough (7pm), and the girl is dressed decently, she doesn't have to register. I encountered no problems whatsoever.

Kick Stand