Stopover in Buenos Aires

Q: We are lucky enough to be spending three days/nights in Buenos Aires on our way to the Antartica in January 2009. Do you have any suggestions for reasonably priced hotels and the what to see in such a short time? Also, is there public transport from the airport and around the city, or should we use taxis? - Sharon McCallum

A: Recommended hotels in the city centre include the Embassy All Suites Hotel (from US$46), the Days Inn Comfort Hotel (from US$60) and Tribeca Studios Hotel (from US$73). Find the best offers on discount hotel reservation websites like travelocity.com or hoteltravel.com. There are three airports in the city, but you will probably use the Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) 35 kms from the city. There are ordinary public bus services, but it is best to use a taxi or a chaffeur-driven car to take you the hotel on arrival. You can easily use the bus service within the city to get around.

For sightseeing it is worth considering hiring a private tour guide from Buenos Tours (www.buenostours.com), who offer English-speaking expat guides. They will draw up a programme based on your interests and can explain the differences in culture.

Places to visit include the National Museum (free entry), the upscale La Recoleta neighbourhood (where Eva Peron is buried), the Teatro Colon opera house, the Puerto Madero riverfront area (a hip shopping and residential neighbourhood), El viejo Almacen (the city's most famous tango club) and the San Telmo flea market.