Buenos Aires has been called the Paris of South America. Long boulevards framed with wide sidewalks sprawling with cafes full of extremely attractive, well-dressed people of all ages, dancing and drinking the night away. Even in the midst of a poor economic outlook, Argentineans are still upbeat and full of life. Watch them tango, eat superior beef, talk into the night or head to their beautiful countryside to do all the above in pretty towns and mountain ranges blessed with beauty. Better yet, join them by taking advantage of some great travel deals to Argentina this winter and spring.
Escapes Unlimited (tel. 800/243-7227; www.escapesltd.com) offers a three-day/five-night package that starts from $599 before taxes. This base-price is for an air and hotel combo with departures out of Miami (out of NYC it's priced from $789; from LAX, $829). Travel is valid through June 16, then again from August 16 - December 6, 2005. Lodgings are in the traveler's choice of 2-1/2 star hotels in Buenos Aires, and the deal also includes breakfasts, ground transfers and a half-day city tour.
Cheapie champ OffPeakTraveler (online only; www.offpeaktraveler.com does even better by offering a longer stay at an overall lower price. Consider its five-night Buenos Aires Package out of Miami that starts from just $499. Check the website for complete details.
Marnella Tours (tel. 866/993-0033; www.marnellatours.com) has several air/land tours to Argentina that include Buenos Aires and its environs. A seven-day/six-night trip starts from around $1,549 based on double occupancy from Los Angeles and only $1,269 from New York. In addition to three days in Argentina, you'll spend some time in Iguazu exploring the popular region known for its incredible waterfall.
Remember, Argentina is gaucho country with a landscape made for horseback riding much like the old West of the United States. In Iguazu, you'll feel like you stepped into a spaghetti western. Accommodations for this trip are at three and four star properties and you'll have ample time in Buenos Aires to explore the cosmopolitan city on your own. Add-ons for this trip include a dinner dancing tango show ($39 per person) to a three-day/two-night jungle excursion ($385).
A less-expensive six-day/five-night trip called the "Tango Vacation" focuses just on Buenos Aires. With accommodations at the three-star Regis Hotel, travelers are close to shopping, cinema and eating thoroughfares where they can see the spirit of the city by day and night. An evening of tango is included in the price of this air-land package that comes to $699 out of Miami and $829 out of New York. Your trip goes through Sao Paulo so you can stretch your trip a few days longer by making your own arrangements in Brazil.
Gorp Travel (tel. 877/440-GORP; www.gorp.com) has an eight-day adventure trip exploring Argentina's glacial area. Starting at $1,425, the trip consists of sleeping at campsites and country lodges and includes some light trekking. You have to be 18 years of age to take this trip that consists of groups sized from 10 to 12 travelers. The trip splits time between the Fitz Roy Range of mountains in the south of Argentina and the famous Los Glacieres National Park with the gigantic Perito Moreno Glacier. All meals are covered in this land-only trip, and airfare is additional.
For a lengthy more detailed trip through the Southern region of Argentina and parts of neighboring Chile, Djoser Travel (tel. 877/356-7376; www.djoser.com) offers a 22-day trip that covers all of Southern Argentina including the Fitz Roy region, the Perito Moreno Glacier and incredible views of glacier lakes and mountain range. In Chile, you'll get an up-close at the wild animals indigenous to the region including wild hares and guanacos of the llama family. This trip that leaves about once a month from September 2005 to March 2006 costs $3,450 from Miami and $3,595 from Los Angeles. If you act fast, a trip that leaves on March 10, 2005 may have space available. The air-land tour begins and ends in Buenos Aires.
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