LAN

Fares to Buenos Aires include $699 + tax roundtrip from Miami, $799 + tax roundtrip from Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. There are also some other great deals to Peru ($499 to Lima from New York), Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.

The fares to Buenos Aires usually run about $1400, so this is a pretty decent savings.

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US Airways

This means that when you buy 30,000 miles for $887, they give you another 30,000 miles – enough for a coach ticket to Buenos Aires. When you buy 50,000 miles for $1478, you end up with 100,000 miles – enough for a business class ticket to Buenos Aires. (Check out their awards chart here.) The business class ticket in particular is an amazing deal given that business fares are upwards of $2800, and most coach fares cost almost this much.

Since US Airways is a Star Alliance member, you can also fly Continental, United, Air Canada and a number of other carriers. Of course, you don’t have to fly to Buenos Aires to take advantage of this deal either. The Points Guy points out that you can fly off-peak to Europe for only 60,000 miles in business class. He also notes all the other advantages and tricks to finding and booking flights, so be sure to check out his blog post for more details.

This offer expires on June 30, 2011, and you must have been a Dividend Miles member for 12 days in order to purchase miles, so you’d better create one right away if you do not have one. It also helps to have a flexible schedule in order to find the lowest mileage days.

- Thanks to The Points Guy for this deal. Be sure to subscribe to his blog for lots of tips and ways to earn travel points.

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Air Canada

Prices for flights from most major Canadian cities (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax) are as low as $511CAD roundtrip. This is a huge savings over the normal rates of well over U$S 1000.

You can book these special fares at airfare.com, but act now because they will not last. Unfortunately, flights from Buenos Aires to Canada are not discounted.

And, if you or your guests need a place to stay, check out our Buenos Aires rental apartment.

- Thanks to The Points Guy for the tip.

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Since the Argentina entrance fee is a reciprocal fee to what the US charges Argentine citizens, it also increased by $9 to U$S 140 as of this date. This fee applies to any American citizens entering the country through Ezeiza airport. It is a one-time fee that is valid for 10 years.

No word yet on whether this new fee, which first went into effect on December 20, 2009, has affected tourism to the country or not.  Considering that a family of  four would pay an additional $560 for their vacation, I would have to imagine that it has caused some people to rethink their travel plans. I’ve also heard that some people are flying into Montevideo, Uruguay, and then taking a cheap connecting flight into the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (the local airport in Buenos Aires), where the fee is not applied.

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Now, if you’ve never tried the Aeron chair, you may not understand the slight obsession I have with it. Suffice it to say that this is one of the most comfortable chairs available, and it’s made out of mesh, which means it is super-breathable as well. They are not cheap. New models can easily cost US $1200. But, when you spend 8+ hours a day in a chair, aren’t you worth it?  I’m a firm believer in spending good money on mattresses and office chairs.

Luckily, I found a like-new model on eBay for slightly less and had it shipped to my house in the States. I had previously called American Airlines to confirm that I could take this box on the plane with me, and they said I could – for a $100 third bag charge, a $150 oversize baggage charge, and a $50 overweight baggage charge. Ok, so $300 more to bring it with me – still a good deal in my mind. The chair arrived at my house with no problem, and I carefully opened the box to see if I could remove any excess items to get it below the weight limit. No such luck. I carefully repacked it, including putting the plastic straps back around the box that I had carefully slid off before.

On the day of my flight, I carried the chair out to my car. Crap! The box was too big to fit! Ughh… Undeterred, I went back in the house, unpacked the chair and then wedged the pieces of the chair and the folded box into the back seat and trunk of the car. Whew! It just made it. I then drove to a friend’s house in Boston where I was leaving my car and having him drive me to the airport.

Now, he had a pickup, so once at his place, I reassembled the box and put it on the back of his pickup. He dropped me at the airport doors and took off for a weekend in Vermont.  I piled my three suitcases, backpack and this huge cardboard box onto a smart-cart and wheeled them up to the airline counter.

“Where are you headed, sir?” the American Airlines agent asked me while peering at my pile of luggage.
“Buenos Aires via New York,” I replied as she started typing away.

She looked up and said, “Sir, there is no way that box is going to fit on the plane.”
“What? I called American Airlines and they said I could bring it with no problems! I just have to pay the charges.”
“Did you tell them that you were on a small commuter plane between Boston and New York? It will fit on the plane from New York, but not on your connecting flight,” she said.
“Yes, of course I told them that,” I lied.

She called someone else over who looked at the box and confirmed the bad news.  So, here I was standing at the counter with no one else around and wondering how I was going to make this flight.  I asked what my options were.

“You can drive to NYC and still make that flight,” she said.
“Ahhh…I don’t have a car and my friend has left for Vermont,” I replied.
“Let me see if I can get you on a flight to Miami and then connect to Buenos Aires,” she said as she started typing away. “Hmmm…unfortunately, it’s spring break and all the Miami flights are full. Let me look for something else.”

As I waited, I started to try and think about all the possibilities I had for myself and my chair. I could call my friend and beg him to come back for the chair, but that would mean leaving it in the States.

“Sir, I can route you through Dallas, but you’ll have to overnight there because the next flight to Buenos Aires is not until 7:30pm tomorrow.”
“I’ll take it!”
“You’ll have to pick up all your luggage in Dallas though as they cannot hold it overnight,” she told me.
“Ok, I’ll manage it.”

So, now my chair and I were going to Dallas. Luckily, she took pity on me and decided to overlook the excess weight charge of $50, which meant I could apply that to the hotel room in Dallas.  She then directed me to the TSA oversized baggage area, where I once again had to unpack and repack the chair. We put it on the luggage belt and I ran off to find wifi access so I could book a hotel room.

Luck was with me – I found a $49 room at the DFW Airport Hyatt on Priceline! I boarded my flight and arrived in Dallas with no problems. I picked up all my bags and once again loaded them on a smart-cart to go catch the shuttle to the Hyatt. The next day, I did the same thing to head back to the airport.  And, yes, once again I had to unpack and repack my chair for security.

The chair and I made it to Buenos Aires the next day and only one day behind schedule. At customs, I explained that yes, I was bringing a “silla oficina” (office chair) with me and I presented him with the receipt.  I had to pay 50% duty on any amount over $300, but the process was painless – you just walk to the bank counter near customs and pay cash for it.  My chair and I had made it to Buenos Aires!  We hired a van to take us to Laura’s apartment in Olivos.

So, I’m sitting here on my new Aeron chair and writing this to you. And yes, it is incredibly comfortable!

When I come back again in July, I’m bringing a 46″ Samsung LCD TV with me, but don’t worry, this time I learned my lesson and I’m flying out of JFK on a large plane.

ps – If you happen to know that they do sell Herman Miller chairs in Buenos Aires, and you know the price, do me a favor and please do not tell me.

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However, if you stay at Palermo Place Hotel, they will hold your luggage for up to 10 days either before or after your stay. This is a nice added benefit of staying with them, plus the hotel is really nice and in a great location.

Here is a new service that is sorely needed in Buenos Aires – economic luggage storage.

Catty Shack Buenos Aires is now offering a place to store your luggage in Buenos Aires.  From their web site:

Catty Shack Buenos Aires began as an idea for a luggage storage service in November of 2009. It’s conception was inspired after a friend traveling through Central and South America shared her constant struggle to find a safe and affordable home for her belongings. We had similar inconveniences in our travels, but it took her expressing the same problem to help us understand the real need for baggage storage in Argentina.

We offer flexible and economic baggage storage, short or long-term for travelers or anyone in need of storage space. In Buenos Aires, luggage storage was previously limited to major airports and transportation hubs that charge obscene rates. For travelers on a budget, Catty Shack offers a great alternative.  Our prices are determined based on length of stay and the amount of baggage or suitcases stored.

Their prices seem quite reasonable with 1 bag costing USD $10/week or $35/month, 2-3 bags for $15/week or $45/month and 4-5 bags for $20/week or $55/month.

Check out their web site or give them a call at 011.54.15.3599.9304.

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In October 2008, we reported that Argentina was planning to charge a reciprocal fee to tourists entering from countries that charge its citizens a visa or entrance fee.  Well, that plan was put on indefinite hold — until now that is.

According to the Argentina Immigration web site, the new fees are imminent.  The following file was posted there today:

The new fees seem to apply only to Americans (US $131), Canadians (US $70), and Australians (US $100).  For Canadians, the fee is listed as a single entry, which would imply that Americans and Australians get multiple entries.

Of course, in true Argentine style, details are still sparse at this time.  When the new fee goes into effect has not yet been specified.  Also, if multiple entries are permitted, how long those entries are good for has not yet been specified either.  We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more. (UPDATE below.)

The original Argentine immigration article (english) on the reciprocal fee was published February 1, 2009, and mentioned that that the fee will only be charged at the Ezeiza airport, so that should mean that those ferry trips many expats make to Colonia will not cost more.  We especially love how they specifically call it the “eye for an eye” fee rate and express their wishes that Argentina will be added to the list of countries that are granted a visa waiver from the US.

So, does this change your travel plans?

UPDATE: The US Embassy just published an advisory noting this new fee goes into effect December 20, 2009 and once paid is valid for 10 years:

Airport Entry Fee
December 11, 2009

This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens that on December 20, 2009, the Government of Argentina will begin charging American Citizens visiting Argentina for business or tourism an entry fee of $131 U.S. dollars.  The fee will be collected only at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport.  Once paid, the fee permits multiple entries into Argentina for ten years in accordance with United States visa reciprocity.  Americans may pay in dollars, by credit card, or with travelers checks.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. for the latest travel information.  The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, M-F, at 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444.  For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 4300 Avenida Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires;
telephone+54-11-5777-4354; after hours emergency telephone +54-11-5777-4873; ACS unit fax +54-11-5777-4293; e-mail BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov; web page http://argentina.usembassy.gov.

Americans living or traveling in Argentina are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Argentina.  Americans without internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

Thankfully this update was unclassified and we could all get the news.

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This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Argentina that to date the government of Argentina is not reporting any confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (commonly called swine flu).  However as a precaution, authorities in Argentina have temporarily suspended flights to Argentina which originate in Mexico, the country where most cases have been reported.  Seven suspected cases are under review.  More information on H1N1 Influenza in Argentina may be obtained from the Argentine Ministry of Health website.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to monitor this situation and will issue updated messages.  For further information about H1N1 Influenza, please consult the Department of State information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_pandemic.html, the United States Centers for Disease Control website or the World Health Organization website.

We’ll continue to update this post with more information as it’s received.

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• All the nightclubs had international DJs playing (Armijn van Buuren, Kaskade, Dave Seaman, and Erick Morillo to name a few) and crazy cover charges!  It was US $150 for guys at Erick Morillo.
• There were a lot of street parties and beach parties.  The beach near us, Pantano do Sol, had a live band, food and drinks for 4 nights straight.
• In Centro (downtown), there were 4 nights of samba parades.  They started at 9pm and went until after 5am in the morning!  Each samba school would parade through a set of bleachers and boxes to show off their music, dancing, costumes, and floats.  They were judged and the winners came back on the final night.

The parades were pretty spectacular and we’ve included some of our photos here. Enjoy!

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Good news for expats and tourists alike!  Argentina’s proposed tourist entry fee which was scheduled to start January 1, 2009, and then re-scheduled for March 2009, has been postponed indefinitely.  This means that those trips to Uruguay will not cost anymore for us expats. ($131 US was the reciprocal rate for American citizens.)

Argentina had planned to use this money to help modernize many of their immigration computer systems, estimating that it would bring in $40 million per year. However, they never did any research as to how it would impact tourism before they enacted the legislation. Now, amid the global recession, tourism in Argentina has fallen for three straight months, and there’s no end in site.  With tourism bringing $4 billion annually to the Argentine economy, the thought of charging an additional fee without knowing how it may further impact the tourism decline may have been enough to put this proposal on hold indefinitely.

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