Frommer's Review
The historic Plaza was the grande dame of Buenos Aires for most of the 20th century, and the Marriott management has maintained much of its original splendor. (The hotel still belongs to descendants of the first owners from 1909.) The intimate lobby, decorated in Italian marble, crystal, and Persian carpets, is a virtual revolving door of Argentine politicians, foreign diplomats, and business executives. The veteran staff offers outstanding service, and the concierge will address needs ranging from executive business services to sightseeing tours. All the rooms are spacious and well appointed. In August of 2006, the hotel spent about US$100,000 (£53,000) adding new luxurious bedding featuring plusher mattresses, softer white sheets with a 300 thread count of the finest Egyptian cotton, and more pillows and duvets. Twenty-six rooms overlook Plaza San Martín, providing dreamlike views of the green canopy of trees in the spring and summer. This view is at its most magical in October when the jacaranda trees are in their majestic purple bloom. The Plaza Grill remains a favorite spot for a business lunch and offers a reasonably priced multicourse dinner menu as well. The Plaza Bar is among the most famous in the city, and was rated among the world's best for 2005 by Forbes magazine, though it is no longer a cigar bar because of the antismoking laws. The hotel's enormous health club is one of the best in the city, and contains a large heated indoor pool, specialized dance and aerobics rooms, and a punching bag, unusual in hotel gyms. In a unique gesture, guests whose rooms are not ready when checking in are provided access to a special lounge area in the health club where they can rest and shower. The value of this service cannot be overstated when arriving very early after overnight flights from North America. The hotel's lobby has free Wi-Fi access, but in-room Internet access comes at a price of about US$16 (£8.40) a day, decreasing with the purchase of additional days. The exterior of the hotel, with its historically listed facade, is currently undergoing a renovation. The complexity of the process means there is no current endpoint for this slow procedure, though management hopes it will finish by the end of 2007. The hotel also offers high-quality free historical tours of Buenos Aires, though space is limited.
Facilities:
2 restaurants; cigar bar; excellent health club w/outdoor pool; sauna; concierge; business center; salon; room service; massage service; laundry service; dry cleaning
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
