Hotel in Buenos Aires City Centre

Q: I am passing through Buenos Aires in June and would like to find a reasonably priced hotel near the city centre. Could you also please help me with transport and sightseeing tips? - Gladys Smith


A: Accommodation is not cheap in Buenos Aires, but you can find discounted prices on a discount website like www.hotels.com, which you can adjust to give you room rates in Rands. Among the hotels on offer are the two-star Hotel Astor (from R322), the three-star Ker Urquiza Hotel and Suites (R390) and the four-star Mansion Dandi Royal Tango Boutique Hotel (R406 per night). A good upmarket choice is the very comfortable five-star Claridge Hotel (from R1099 per night). Other upmarket choices are the Hilton Buenos Aires (R1013) and the Sheraton Libertador Hotel (R1111). 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. (24/4/11)