Hotel in Buenos Aires

Q: We will be spending three days in Buenos Aires on our way back from the Antartica in December. We are looking for 3 or 4 star hotel in a central position. Do you have any suggestions? - Maureen Michaels A: Buenos Aires is not the cheapest city for hotel rooms, but there are still plenty of value-for-money choices. Here is a selection of hotels that could suit you. The rates quoted are from a discount website, www.booking.com, and they exclude 21 percent compulsory tax. A good mid-range hotel in the city is the Hotel Bristol, located on 9 de Julio Avenue, across from the Obelisk. It offers free Wi-Fi, gym facilities and comfortable bedrooms. Double rooms with breakfast start at R883 (www.hotelbristol.com.ar). Go trendy and stay at the Art Suites and Gallery, which is located in the smart Recoleta district with its chic cafes and designer stores. A studio apartment with breakfast will cost R1083(www.artsuites.com.ar). A very affordable choice is the three-star Hotel Impala, which offers clean double rooms with breakfast from R630 per night. The hotel is located in the very desirable Recoleta district, close to the city's most famous street, 9 de Julio Avenue (www.hotelimpala.com.ar). If you prefer smaller hotels, then you could give the Le Fresque Hotel a try. Located in downtown Buenos Aires four blocks from the Obelisk, it offers 34 rooms in an old colonial building. It's rather eccentric, with antique furniture, wooden floors and modern touches. Rates range from only R492 (www.lafresquehotel.com). For a totally different feel, try Five Cool Rooms, a four-star boutique hotel in the Palermo area. All 17 bedrooms are classy and there's a great rooftop terrace with an tub offering views of the city. Rates for a double room with breakfast start at R759 (www.fivehotelbuenosaires.com). If you decide you want to live it up, the five-star Claridge Hotel is a great neo-classical choice in the heart of the city. Enjoy stylish rooms, a heated outdoor pool and 24 hours service. Double rooms with breakfast start at R1275, a good rate for a luxury hotel.