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Amigos,
I am looking for tickets to Argentina from the West Coast. The best I can find is almost 900 dollars. Does anyone knows of a better airfare of website?
Dances,
Have you checked www.carbone-travel.com? They usually have the lowest fares in the market.
Dances with chicas - please go to www.despegar.com, it's an Argentinian owned on-line travel service and they generally have a promotional fare to BA almost every day. When you log on look in the lower right-hand corner for the promotional fares. Also, don't hesitate for a second to call the 800 phone number, (I believe it's actually 1-877 or something like that, it's listed on the top of the home page) and be prepared to speak Spanish since these calls typically are transferred to a young woman working at the BA headquarters where the girl's English may be questionable.
But I highly recommend you try it, Dances, as I've had great results with this site over the years.
Re: Paying first or after: with all due respect to the diehards on this issue that insist on always paying afterwards, this is an old issue and though I too am in favor of only paying afterwards and always try to get the girl to let me pay afterwards, I have to say that now that I've been at this game for about 6 years that I can honestly say that there doesn't seem to be too much correlation between paying afterwards and getting great service. The ones that are out to give you great value for your peso are going to do it whether you pay up front or afterwards if they have any sense of how powerful your word of mouth advertising can be for them. I've paid before and gotten great service, paid afterwards and gotten crappy service and yaddie, yaddie, yaddah. Yes, it's true that you can always withhold the money if they give crappy service and boot them out but then again, you're on their turf in a foreign land and they generally know lots of tough guys who can easily arrange to have you knocked on the back of the head with a hard object if you mistreat their mealticket. As for the ones who earnestly seem to be trying to please but are on the fringe and just don't cut it, you aren't likely to throw these girls out of the room anyway, so with regard to this type of girl it probably doesn't much matter if you're paying first or last.
Lastly on the subject, one thing I've found is that if you find a chica and you pay up front the first time, if you make her like and trust you then naturally if you see her again she drops the pay-up-front stance. I imported one from Mendoza several years ago who asked me to pay up fron the first night I was with her in BA. The second day she didn't ask me to pay first since she'd already figured out I was a decent guy looking to get his rocks off with a young hottie but finally, I paid her before saying goodbye after 5 incredible days of bliss that we spent together when I sent her a plane ticket and put her up in a local hotel and wined and dined her near my home. So go figure! DownBA
Dances, PS, here's the link to despegar.com: http://www.us.despegar.com/homes/homeusms.html and I noticed right away that they're offering LA-BA for $544 which seems pretty damn good to me seeing as how it's $499 from NY-BA and LA's 5 hours farther by air. Hope this helps! DownBA
Down BA is 100% correct about his travel agent and I'm kicking myself right now. My frequent flier miles are on United but when I did a search on UA and Expedia, Travelocity etc, I kept getting fairs over 1200 bucks from March 1st - 18th.
So I finally just cheaped out and bought AA's lowest fare which was $780.
Anyway--I just did a search on that site despegar.com and found UA flight for my exact dates for 640 or so!
Thanks Down BA I will be using them in the future.
(PS. UA really is no longer competitive any longer with flights to Europe. California, Asia and most importantly South America. I would be flying through JFK to South America and UA is always 200-300 bucks if not more than AA and other carriers. They are no losing my business to AA. Its a shame because I did like flying their 777s to Japan/Thailand.)
Oh well!
Lastly, has anyone stayed at the Four Seasons in BA.?
Peace--
The trick with TRAVELOCITY is DO NOT PUT IN DATES.
Click on "Search all dates for best fares" and THEN pick your dates from the calendars. Often the fares show up 50% less this way. Go figure.
DownBA, is there a trick to getting http://www.us.despegar.com/homes/homeusms.html to display in English? I tried clicking on the little US flag but it's still in Spanish.
For travel from the West Coast (L.A., S.F.) the cheapest flights I found were with Holiday Travel in Pasadena, CA. They are Argentine owned and have very good deals.
And, last call. I am going to B.A. next Thursday 2/26. If I can be of service to anyone let me know.
Guille
Another great consolidator is carbone-travel.com. They specialize in Argentina and usually sell AA. I had no problem dealing with'em in the past. Fares appears to be between usd 550 and 770 right now.
Amigos,
Thank you for the tips regarding airfares etc...
I did research the $555 from Los Angeles. After tax is
$650 plus a $30 booking fee. That said, My two hour
drive up north, gas and parking... It gets too close to the
$871 United fare I am looking from my local airport SD.
Still $680 is not bad from LAX but, I think is not a major
airline and with more than one stop over.
I am glad I still looking out for the finances. You got to
used that other head for something!
Don't loose faith chicas!! Is just logistics...the artillery is
ready!!
DWC
Guille,
Do you have a number or website for Holiday Travel in Pasadena. I tried a web search but I couldn't find it.
Gentlemen,
At the current rate of demise of the USD versus the GBP I can get a nice weekend break in the USA (Virgin air), buy my ticket for BA stateside, and still have change for a night at Madahos compared to going straight to BA from Europe! Now all I need is time!
Regards, Havanaman
Hey Guille5,
Im in the middle of booking my well overdue trip to Argentina. I too live in the Glendale/Pasadena area and would like to call Holiday Travel. I've done some preliminary searches and could only dig up Holiday "Tour" not Travel. Can you dig up some contact information for me. Guys, looking to meeting with many of you March 16 thru ??? lol.
Thanks Guille
To Galvanizer and others:
Holiday Tours, 626-793-3040. I usually ask for Elsie who is very professional and found me the cheaper flights (with tax included).
I am flying down BA Thu. 2/26. Anything happening the 1st week of March. I would like to meet some of you. Do you have a mtg. place?
Thanks, G.
WEATHER?
I am hoping to come next week to BA. How bearable is the humidity and heat? I see high 80's and high humidity on the reports. Is it sweaty? Short and Tee's in the day time?
Thanks
[blue]Try one of these:
[url]http://www.accuweather.com/adcbin/public/intlocal_index.asp?wxcity2=BUENOS+AIRES&wxcountry=SA;AG[/url]
[url]http://www.intellicast.com/Local/IntlLocalStd.asp?loc=saez&seg=LocalWeather&prodgrp=Forecast&product=Forecast&prodnav=none&pid=none[/url]
[url]http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=SAEZ[/url]
Jackson[/blue]
In looking for good rates to EZE, I came across one of the travel specials from United. It's good from Chicago, and is good for departures from the 8-11th of March, and return up to 6-10 days later. Less than $500 including taxes. May be available from other gateways.
United is having a $489 Lax to EZE in the special deals section.
DWC
Thread: Travel Information:
While booking a trip to Bariloche, I asked if the ¨extranos(? sp)paid more than the argentinians.
Guess what. We foreigners get a good ripoff from the domestic airlines to the effect of 15-20% more for the same seat as an Argentine, EXCEPT on Southern Winds which does not discriminate as of yet.
You do the math and ask the same question on discriminatory fares. This will tell you if your favorite travel agent is really out to help you.
I suggest we band together and boycott the domestic ripoffs like AreoLinas Argentina and the others who treat us like a money machine.
I now use Midnight Pumpkin at 867 Viamontes, Piso 1, room #104
.
The agent is an english speaking woman named Veronika. She is quite helpful and even suggested a good 3 star hotel. Using Southern Winds saved me over 200 Pesos.
Please post any feedback.
Bien Viaje.
Jackpot
Jackpot,
I had the same thought too as I had just forked out $230 USD for a round trip flight between BA and El Calafate on Aerolinas Argentinas. Since this is my first time visiting the country, what do I know about local practices? Would any porteno or local expert happen to know if that price is a big time rip off?
Aerolineas Argentinas is owned by a Spanish company. Go figure. When Aerolineas was owned by Argentinos, no difference in price for extanjeros....but now, si. Screw em.
Southern Winds lowest fares require 10 day advance purchase. Late purcharers pay more, Argentinos and extranjeros alike.
Several of the newer airlines also offer good fares for extranjeros.
Interestingly, you can almost always get a lower fare from Buenos Aires to Chile or Brazil than to many places within the country. So I am inclined to save my dollars and go to another country rather than travel within Argentina via air.
Almost all good travel agents will tell you where and how to get the best fares as an extranjero.
Double pricing is used in may parts of the World. It is somewhat unfair, but those are the rules. We locals know that.
Domestic air transportation always behaved as an oligopoly. That's why is cheaper to fly to Santiago (more competition) than to Mendoza.
In English, "foreign" means "strange" and "foreign national", depending on context. In Spanish, you use "extraño" for "strange" (or "unknown") and "extranjero" for "foreign national".
Hope this helps,
Andres
Andres,
Double pricing is not "somewhat unfair", it just plain sucks. And, true, it happens in many parts of the world. And, at my opinion, it's presence in a country is good evidence that that country is NOT part of the 1st world.
In Argentina it seems to be a national sport, like futbol and tax evasion. I experienced it of course with airline tickets, hotels and chicas.
At one occasion, I made a hotel reservation in Puerto madryn through my travel agent. I was quoted U$S 70 (I think) for a double. a day later, I got a call that some error had occurred and the price would be U$S 105, and everything else booked (it was early January). I accepted, but some time later I had an Argentinean friend call the hotel for a quote for the following weekend. Guess? 200 pesos.
This is so transparent to people who do their share of travelling, and who know locals in any country. And it is awfully bad for a country's reputation.
So, I kindly suggest you as a local not to defend that habit as "the rules", but speak up against it and try to get rid of these rules. People all over the world are quick with prejudice, and "some businesses in Argentina exploit foreigners" easily becomes to "the Argentinians try ro rip you off".
Don't get me wrong: I like Argentina very much and I have met a lot of very nice people there, from those I am doing business with to ladies I spent unforgettable nights with. I would hardly have invested a 6 digit U$S sum in the country would that not be the case.
Another country where douple pricing was a plague 5 years ago was the Czech Republic. On May 1, they will join the EU, and today double pricing hardly exists any more. They, somehow, managed to move into the right direction.
El Alemán
El Alemen,
You forgot the most important area of commerce where double pricing sometimes exists in Argentina--The girls. We extranjeros sometimes pay one price, Argentinos another.
Andres can defend the practice or not. It is his right. We can make our own statement by pointedly rejecting this form of discrimination and giving our dollars to those who appreciate us.
I choose to give my business to hotels, airlines and chicas who treat foreigners and nationals alike.
Screw Aerolineas. Fly Southern Winds, where your business is wanted and appreciated.
Screw Design Suites. Stay in Art Suites or another hotel that appreciates your business and treats foreigners right.
Screw chicas who double the price when they see a yanqui walk through the door (no, wait, that would be don't screw chicas who double the price. Instead screw those who don't double the price).
Speaking of screwing, I am stuck in the States right now and I am grumpy cause I aint gettin any if you know what I mean.
I know that double pricing sucks. I heard of Western European tourists having to pay a premium in Greek hotels. Of course, these tourists get the best rooms and a better service (a "compensation" that may not be present here).
I guess that Argentinians will learn that double pricing isn't fair by the hard way, either through external factors (businesses in neighboring countries stopping this practice) or internal (too much competition leading to narrowing or droping the gap).
Andres
MeGusta,
You are absolutely right.
Double pricing can only exist in quasimonopolistic market segments, and will dry out as soon as enough competition exists who treats foreigners and locals alike. And, if the foreign customers are aware of the fact and behave accordingly. Very often, this is not the case, and providers do their best to keep the existence of double pricing secret. So, makink things public helps.
Of course, Andres has every right to defend these practise. I, however, have the same right to feel pissed and say so.
I just edited my first post to correct my unforgivable omission...
El Alemán
Knowledge is power. If you know somebody intends to charge you a different price because of your nationality, then you don't need to get taken. Give your business to somebody else.
With few exceptions (intra-Argentine plane flights being one), you don't need to pay a different price.
As for women, I think the differences in price have less to do with nationality and more to do with socio-economic status. If you come across as somebody with a lot of money, a girl will want to charge you more, regardless if you are Argentine or Gringo. Your ability to negotiate, in Spanish or not, also has a lot to do with the price you will pay. Ditto your looks and whether your breath smells like something died in your mouth.
-Uncle Otto
Hello Fellow Mongers,
United is running a special on flights to BA from Miami for an unheard of $389.00 or from Chicago or LA for $439.00. Check their special e-fares section on thier website. Flights must be booked by this Friday.
It's a great deal.
I flew on Aerolinas Argentinas between the Aeroparque airport in BA and Calafate. Damn, the stewardesses on Aerolinas were gorgeous! I would love to do any one of them. Also, as far as airline food goes, Aerolinas serves way better food than the crappy stuff you get on American or United even on long international flights. Not only that but you get wine from Mendoza at no extra charge.
Save 5% off any United flight
https://www.itn.net/cgi/get/itn/air/unitedairlines?index:NEWREC*itn/ord=NEWREC,itn/air/unitedairlines
Hi, Guys:
This post is about travel information through Mayra's services and what is going on with her. Her partner screwed her up and Mayra is not working anymore for Argentinago.com.
This week she is starting with her own and new company, so she changed her email address and her cell. phone. She is still providing the tourist services she used to and with the same and also more dedication, because now, she understood that she works for herself and she hasn't any monthly salary; everything depends on her skills and dedication.
As I know her for almost two years, and I know how hard she likes to work and how much she likes to provide a good service and take care of the guys' needs, I am one of her supporters in her new challenge and I want to recommend as I always did, her services. Also because although we are not partners, since we first met, Jackson led us to cooperate, and we did it, and as a result we are taking care of you like a coordinated team; she provides the beds and I call the stuff to be put on the beds!!!!
So, we need to be patient with her these first weeks, she is starting again, and she really wants to work for you; the guys of the forum.
Any problem you could have with her ex agency, you'll need to solve it with them, because they want to play the fool now, and they are responsible for the services they've already arranged with you, although their best employee is not working with them anymore. But of course, you can email Mayra and as usual, she will try to help you in case you have a problem with her ex agency and if they persist in not taking responsabilities, relax, you can cancel the services with them and go straight to Mayra's, because now she is the head and she is a responsible person.
Her new email address is: MAYRABRILL@ARGENTINA.COM
Her new cell. phone is: 155 307 3300.
Kisses, Roxana.
Fellow mongers not attached to a ball with a chain:
For those who may be interested, United is having a very good last minute fare to B.A. through their Washington Dulles (IAD) gateway.
For example, a weekend "jaunt" departing IAD on Thursday 22nd and returning at 9pm of Monday 26th, INCLUDING taxes and fees is $511. This would give you 4 solid days of mongering: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and just about all day Monday.
If you are lucky enough to be able to sleep on the plane, you are back in time for work on Tuesday morning, and with a big grin on your face! I bet none of your coleagues could possibly claim having had a better weekend than you did!
As for me, I can only live vicariously for now (see the first sentence)...
Question on Argentina.
1. Best moderate price girl friendly hotel in Recoleta?
2. Advisable to take the laptop computer on the trip for internet connection?
3. If #2 is negative, where can I get internet connections? Considering the fact that many Escort Agencies advertise on internet.
4. Any HSBC or Bank of America located in Recoleta district?
Thanks for the help.
j.
Re: HSBC bank
There is a Citibank and an HSBC bank in Recoleta. Both are on Avenida Callao. The HSBC is near Vincente Lopez and the Citibank is up near Alvear, just down the street from the famous hotel for people above my pay grade.
Stormy
Re: internet connections
Internet connections are all over the place, at locutorios (public telephone stations) and at internet cafes. It seems like there is one on every block. There are several in Recoleta.
Many of the hotels offer terminals for use by guests, as well. There is no particular reason to bring a laptop, unless you do work on it several hours per day AND are in a place that will offer you a connection in your room.
Stormy
Jaimito:[quote]I'd hate to have to cram that much mongering into 4 days![/quote]
I agree, but some of us are on a leash and short getaways are all that is possible. Given the short-lived nature of this temporary reprieve, it initially appeared to make sense to cram as much mongering as possible into that time frame!
That being said, I did exaclty the above during my last trip, which gave me from Friday morning to Monday night on the ground. I did three "scheduled" sessions and one unscheduled one every day. I must admit that by the end of the second day, it felt at times that I was simply going through the motions. I was simply "sex'ed out". Under normal circumstances the little Knuckhead would have quit, and it would then have become a self-limiting problem. However, I had taken a Cialis tablet, and as such, the little Knuckhead was 100% obedient!
Looking at it from some distance now, it was the highest number of girls I had ever done in the shortest amount of time! 15 girls (including two three-some sessions) in 81 hours! Not exactly Mickey Mouse, but maybe I came close?
Sounds like you had a great time. What made your trip unique was that you had a girl following you as your personal assistant. I especially got a big kick out of the fact that she was helping you do other girls!
In the future, I will try to spend more time with one of the ladies. I would like to ask Maria (from Argentina Private) to join me for a much longer time, maybe an entire 24 hours, during my next trip. I'll just keep on dreaming...
Well it was a bit of a different approach for me this time with Marta-Makeover. I just got good vibes off of her from the beginning. After our first night together, I had her come over in the evening, and we went out and I got her hair done, got her some decent makeup and looked at some clothes.
I'm a sucker for sexy hosiery and stuff, so lots of fun looking on Florida for stuff. I was tired after a few hours, so gave her a 150 pesos and told her to get some clothes. Marta used to sell clothes to the girls at the clubs, so she has a pretty good idea of where to get the best prices.
She's a seamstress by trade, and wants to set up an apartment to do that, with sex sidework as needed.
The next night I had her work on a business project I had brought along (collating/stapling) while I went off to the weekly AMA meeting. While it may have been rash to leave her in the apartment alone with most of my money, video camera and passport, I just got a very trusting vibe out of her.
As soon as the picture options are restored, I'll post a series of before, during and after pictures of her. For the 9 days and nights I was with her I spent a bit over $500 on her, including the makeover. This includes payment for her time, a cell phone (150 pesos), and about 4 outfits. I would have tried to get her some chic glasses if I had the time.
Which is the best? Viagra, Ciallis or Leveitra?
I have tried V and L but never C. Feels like L is better than V but anyone tried all three?
There is very little differentiation between Viagra and Levitra in spite of what the marketers would have you believe. However, Cialis stays in your body longer and so you can feel the effect longer, as long as 36 hours. That's why they call it the weekender in Europe. When I was in BA last month it was easy enough to get generic Viagra without a prescription. I didn't inquire about Cialis though. Would anyone know whether that's available as a generic in BA?
After spending the last 11+ months living in a nice hotel in BA(2 weeks short of a year) I have decided to go and visit Paraguay for a while over the winter. I hope all goes well. I had a nice Paraguayan favorita for 5 months and perhaps I can find others as nice.
I have just gotten my 90 day visa to visit Paraguay.
In Buenos Aires, visit:
Consulado del Paraguay
Viamonte 1851 (1/2 block West of Ave. Callao)
8:00AM-13:30PM M-F
You will need (for a US citizen):
1. One photo carnet size. Obtainable in photo/film shops immediately.
2. Travel tickets to go to Paraguay and return to Buenos Aires.
I have a bus ticket with an open return date Asuncion-BA.
3. One credit card useable in Paraguay
4. Your passport, with at least six mos. remaining
5. $US45 for one entry/exit, $US65 for multiple entry, in US dollars
You do not need photocopies of anything. They will photocopy your passport, credit card, and tickets. You fill out an application in the office. It may be possible to get it in one day. I went at 9:30AM and they asked me to return the following day for it.
I am planning on going by bus(Nibu style) thru Posadas, Encarnacion, and the Ruta 1 side of Paraguay to Asuncion. The trip is about 24 hours. This has the advantage that I will be able to take in the scenery of about half of southern Paraguay in one day, comfortably. Hopefully, I will pass thru Encarnacion just after dawn to assess my prospects for returning to visit there.