Pinamar

I am thinking about renting a summer home in Pinamar around Feb. '07.

Anyone familiar with the town? I believe it is more residential and upscale than Mar Del Plata. I have checked out a couple of sites and found alot of homes for rent by owners. I might need a place for up to 8 people (a family vacation concept) so I am looking at large "chalets." Not much info on prices. Would appreciate any info regarding entertainment, shopping, restaurants, supermercardos, and whether a car is needed to get around town.

Thanks.

I always stay in Mar Del Plata but have visited Pinamar about 80km to the north. To find the average prices do a simple search on Clarin's site. There are always price indices published around summertime and I sometimes use them. I just found one instantly here:

[url]http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/12/04/sociedad/s-04215.htm[/url]

You can see that the avg price (month) for a 2 bedroom house is 5000 pesos for January06 in Pinamar (2500 in MDP). Feb would be substantially cheaper than peak Jan, at least 20% less. A cool chalet is probably above average though.

You see a lot of people walking and a lot of people riding four wheelers on the sandy backroads of Pinamar. I'm sure there are taxis/etc in the town area but you may want some kind of wheels if staying in a remote chalet in the forest. But you still might not be too far off a bus line while in the woods, Im not sure.

Feb is the best time to take the summer holiday IMO. Still summer but you avoid the horrible crowds and high prices of Jan. If I were considering renting a place for a month and had never been to the coastal destinations Id probably take a 2-3 day recon mission between now and Nov to check it out first. Pinamar is only about 300 km south of BA. Why the hell not.

Though the population swells in summer, you can probably imagine that your entertainment, restaurant, nightlife, and whoare options are not too extensive in an Argentine town with a base population of 20,000. Personally Id take a long holiday in a place like Pinamar only if going with a very large group since you would probably be creating your own entertainment much of the time.

Pinamar as a whole is more "upscale and residential" than MDP but you're comparing apples to oranges. Pinamar is a coastal village of about 20,000 and MDP is a coastal city of more than 500,000. One thing MDP does not offer is a prestigious/exclusive name. There are many great chalets, upscale zones/neighborhoods, residential areas, and forests in and around MDP but many visitors never really leave the microcentro area by the casino which is kind of a tacky, congested zone. As mentioned, I recommend sampling the places before making a choice that you (and others) will have to live with for a month.

I just returned from a three day trip to Pinamar with my GF. Some observations:

Driving down and back was relatively easy. About 400 km one way. I took the long way (Rt 2 to 74) directly to Pinamar. Total time about 4.5 hours from downtown BA, with a rest stop. Tolls about 12 pesos. Gas for the three days about 100 pesos. Rest stops (gas, food bathrooms) along Rt 2 at 60, 90, 120, 180, 200 km markers. BA is 0 km marker. Along Rt. 74 there are no rest areas until you reach Pinamar. Speed limits are average 120 kmh, 80 if raining.

No cops on the highways truly monitoring speed limits, but plenty of checkpoints around toll booths and at traffic circles. I got checked out once - I knew the cop didn't want to play with a tourist as I told him I did not speak Spanish, showed him my papers (and a special ID I carry around) and off I went.

Because it is winter many places were closed - mostly seasonal restaurants and specialty shops. Not a problem because the better places are open all year round. Food was good, prices reasonable, lots of seafood. We stayed off Bunge on Libertador, three blocks from the beach. 4 Star place for 150 pesos a night, IVA included. Internet, breakfast, etc. Only 5 rooms rented out in the whole place. During the week in the off-season it is very quiet. Weekends pick up a little bit for families who own places there.

Prices for real estate were much cheaper than of BA - about 700-800 dollars per sq. meter for mid-level apartments. 1000 dollars and up per sq. meter for newer modern places along the beach. Since I live here I may consider buying something in the future for that weekend getaway idea. I liked the beach town atmosphere of the place.

The beach is narrow and the sand is earthy (not the fine white sand in Florida) Most of the local roads are dirt. Reminds me of the Jersey Shore many years ago. Surf was about 4-5 feet.

Because of a change in plans we did not look at chalets for rent but concentrated on hotels and apartments. Here is the rub. Not one place would reserve a room or apartment until October! Most places gave us estimates of last years prices because they have not set any prices for this season. I smelled a price fixing concept, like the owners have to have a meeting to decide how much to raise prices this year.

I liked the atmosphere of the place for a family vacation, many things within walking distance and less hustle and bustle than MDP. I will be making plans for a Feb. 2007 stay.

Has anyone been to Pinamar? Recommend any places, hotels, or apts? I hear its not as insane as MDP but would like another opinion.

It is very crowded during summer months. Lots of traffic, lines at restaurants.

Pinamar is much more exclusive then Mar del Plata. A young crowd on the beach with party music, last time I visited. Way better then MDP.

Mongers-

In my opinion, Pinamar is overrated and is in fact just a lame beach resort for families from Recoleta that cannot afford to go to Punta del Este. The ocean is brown and cold and the sand is very rough and hard. As this is a "upper class" family place, the singles pick up scene is shitty and the girls are not there to fuck. Nearby Villa Gesell, although sleazier and reminiscent of the Jersey Shore (not necessarily a bad thing) has a much better middle and lower class non-pro chica scene and many more nightlife options. Mar Del Plata is a big city with an extensive non-pro and pro chica scene and many dining options, although the ocean is also nasty there.

Suerte,

Rock Harders

I have been to Pinamar in the off season. Pleasant enuff, but during season it is over crowded, over priced. Beach is not impressive. No beaches in Arg are impressive.

Ewww. A beach in Argentina. I hope you're joking right? Even the Argentinians look down on their own beaches.

If you want a beautiful beach setting but you don't want to go to Punta, or Punta is maybe a little over your budget. Try Piriapolis.

That is the best alternative to Punta you will find.

Regards,

BM.