Help: Flight to Buenos Aires, RIo, Sao Paulo from Miami

[+ Axiom2001]

Tentatively I plan to fly to South America in May. I want to leave from Miami to I'd presume Buenos Aires and take in both RIo and Sao Paulo. I really want to use one ticket if possible. What steps should I take, or what should I say when I contact American Airlines? Tri has already addressed this about a year ago, but my head aches, and I really do not have the energy to do a lot of reading at this moment. I'd really appreciate sincere help, fellows!

 

Also, what are the MUST places to include in my itinerary while I'm in this most European of cities of South America. I have yet to purchase my guide books, and I do plan to contact Roberto; I've already decided that I want to stay at the HJ's on Florida St. I've already begun to reread the threads and the responses of the past re: BA. Plus when I saw the pics of Flavio on gaydar.com.uk this evening, I said to myself :" Yea, he's mine in four months!" Thanks, gents!

[trilingual]

Tell the airline or your travel agent what you want to do, and see what they quote you, but you may not get a very good rate for this itinerary. If you don't, look into an "open jaw" fare from the U.S. to B.A. with a return from Rio (or vice-versa). That should be cheaper. Then look for a cheap fare between Rio and B.A. that allows a stopover in São Paulo. In some cases, a round-trip excursion fare is cheaper than a one way, so buy that and throw away the return coupons! Aerolineas Argentinas has had the cheapest fares lately, but you may have to buy your ticket when you get to Argentina or Brazil. Fares quoted in the U.S. may be more expensive. You should be able to get between Rio and B.A. (with a stopover) for between US$200 - 300. Happy shopping!

[+ Axiom2001]

Thank you very much, Tri. Your guidance is always immensely appreciated. Axiom2001

[BillyZ]

RE: Help: Flight to Buenos Aires, RIo, Sao Paulo from ...

 

Four thoughts...

 

First, check United as well as American.

I've been seeing better bargains on United.

 

Second, if you fly on United, I'd suggest

MIA-BA-RIO-SP-MIA since United does fly

nonstop Miami-BA and nonstop SP-MIA

(but Rio-Miami is only via SP), so end

in SP and depart from there.

 

Third, regardless of airline, my strong

recommendation is to start with Buenos

Aires. I believe you will appreciate its

nice but more "limited buffet" much more

at the very beginning of your trip (think

of it as the appetizer) than if it follows

the "all you can eat" smorgasbord of Brazil.

 

Fourth, at least check out United Vacations.

Last summer they had this same itinerary

as a surprisingly good package that included

airport pickups. I used it and just added

a few extra days in Rio and BA.

 

Have a great trip! Billy

[jivau3930]

Ax, Can you give me (and maybe others) the procedure for accessing gaydar.com? I can't seem to access the website. Thanks

[jakobsen]

Unfortunately UA is closing its MIA base, so all flights to EZE, GRU, GIG and MVD will originate from IAD and ORD.

[Boston Guy]

RE: Help: Flight to Buenos Aires, RIo, Sao Paulo from ...

 

Flying to Rio will involve going through Sao Paulo in both directions. I would suggest that you look into the following kind of arrangement, in addition to the suggestions offered above:

 

1) Roundtrip US to Sao Paulo; side trips to BA and Rio on local airlines. The cost of these roundtrips might be quite small -- and might well be smaller if purchased once you are in Brazil. (Many airlines have higher fares for internal flights if the tickets are purchased by US-based passenges.)

 

2) Roundtrip US to RIO with a layover in Sao Paulo. During the layover, use a local airline to go to BA and back.

 

Complicated international itineraries become very expensive very fast. It's almost always worthwhile to use a simple round-trip to your first or main destination and then use local airlines to get around to other places nearby. This approach is also sometimes true with itineraries involving the US and Canada and even sometimes with complicated trips within the US itself.

 

Planning -- and buying -- ahead will save you money. If you pay more than $550 to $600 for your trip to Sao Paulo, you're probably paying too much.

 

Have fun.

BG

[Luv2play]

RE: Help: Flight to Buenos Aires, RIo, Sao Paulo from ...

 

It is not gaydar.com but rather gaydar.co.uk

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: Help: Flight to Buenos Aires, RIo, Sao Paulo from ...

 

:9 All of the above suggestions are definitely appreciated! But, men, what about the second part of the inquiry? Although I can glean some of this information from guide books, I'd like to know from you who've been to BA to list "MUST SITES" and SIGHTS to see as well as things to do! I'll get some of this, I hope, from Roberto, but again, I'd truly like to hear from you so that I'll know what to share with "the Man from Buenos Aires."

Again, thanks very much!

[trilingual]

RE: Hanging in B.A.

 

In B.A. there's something for everyone. So what to do depends a lot on what someone's main interests are. There are a number of interesting art museums, there are museums of local and Argentine history (including one with some superb colonial silver), there's a very active theater scene (do not miss one of the revues by the group Caviar, if one is playing during your stay), not to mention lots of classical music (especially opera), great bookstores, and wonderful cafés just about everywhere.

 

Of course, there are the Evita pilgrimage sites (the Casa Rosada, her tomb in Recoleta Cemetery and the new Evita museum, with a few of the surviving original outfits), the tango sites (see the posting a couple of days ago about a new gay tango venue), and shopping (mainly for leather goods).

 

If you're into cemeteries, you could also go to the huge Chacarita cemetery, where you'll find the tombs of Juan Perón (remember Juan?) and Carlos Gardel, the suave, dashing (and possibly gay) supreme exponent of the tango, who died tragically in a plane accident in the 30s and whose recordings are still played incessantly!

 

B.A's also a great city for dining out; there's a reason Argentine beef is so renowned, but there's also fine Italian and Spanish food and a good representation of other cuisines in some extremely attractive restaurants. There's also fine Argentine wine, and you can't miss the desserts built around the national addiction: dulce de leche.

 

So, as you can see, if you're only going to be in B.A. for a few days, you have to decide where your main interests lie and select things to do that will satisfy them.

 

Whatever you like most, remember that B.A. is a superb walking town, so plan on doing lots of walking to admire the architecture, the boulevards, the parks, and the handsome pedestrians! It's an easy city to navigate (basically laid out on the grid plan) with good public transportation and zillions of taxis for getting to more out of the way destinations.

 

If you know the meaning of the French verb "flaner," start practicing it, because B.A. is a wonderful place to be a "flaneur!" Maybe even better than Paris! (The weather is better, too!) Prepare to be delighted; the scene may not be as wild and loose as in Brazil, but B.A. is one of the most attractive and fascinating cities on the planet, and one in which it can be an immense pleasure to just sit at one of the endless cafés watching the beautiful people pass by! Enjoy!

[Guest alanm]

RE: Hanging in B.A.

 

How is the US dollar holding up in Argentina? Have had 2 plane ticket to B.A., which I changed at the last minute to Rio. Is Argentina more expensive than Brazil? I have to give the city a try!

[trilingual]

RE: Hanging in B.A.

 

The Argentine peso and the Brazilian real have been nearly at par with each other for the past many months. Right now it's about A$2.93 = US$1.00.

 

Overall, Buenos Aires is about the same price or lower than Rio. Obviously, things vary in price. Unless there's been a very big change recently, taxis are much cheaper in B.A. than in Rio (about half the price). Meals are more or less comparable. Hotels ditto. Escorts tend to be somewhat more expensive. Movies are cheap (at least compared to U.S. standards) and it's a great film town. Theater tickets are also cheap in U.S. terms.

[Guest alanm]

B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

A few months ago, I was critical of someone for staying at the Marriott in Rio. Well, now I understand since I know nothing about BA.

 

I can get a room at the Hilton in Puerto Madero for $130 a night, which is okay by Rio standards. The area has always interested me (from the distance of guidebooks and the internet). I really do not want to stay at a American chain hotel, so I could use some help.

 

My plans are to walk, walk, walk throughout the city and sample every neighborhood, including the gay spots. But, staying near the gay bars is not a particular priority. Going to BA has been a life long dream and I want to get this right. Thanks a lot for any help. I need it!

[trilingual]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

The Hilton is new, and nice, but not particularly well-located. Puerto Madero is kind of an island unto itself and can feel a bit isolated and cut-off. If you'd consider the Hilton, please consider the HoJo on Florida: the rates are good, the rooms are comfortable (and the hotel is modern), it's gay-friendly, and the location is simply unbeatable! It's virtually at the end of Florida where it meets Plaza San Martín, so it's within walking distance of almost everything. And the rates are about half what the Hilton would charge (at least if you reserve through Roberto, who can get you the rates they charge Argentines, as opposed to foreigners). I've seen the rooms at the HoJo and they're modern, spacious and North American standard.

 

A more upscale alternative within a block or so of the HoJo would be the Marriott Plaza -- it's the old Plaza, modeled after the New York hotel, and for years one of the two really grand hotels in B.A. (the other being the even grander Alvear Palace). Another very attractive and more upscale choice would be the new Sofitel, built into an old art deco skyscraper on Arroyo Street. It's an EXTREMELY attractive place, and the street is really charming, with lots of art galleries and nice cafés/restaurants.

 

I don't know much about it these days (you'd have to get an update from someone like Roberto) but the Carsson, downtown, was a very attractive, pleasant hotel in the English style and moderately priced. But you'd need current information before staying there.

 

Roberto is a great source of information because he loves scouting out new hotels (and there are lots of them in B.A. these days) so he can fill you in on all the newest places, as well as some old favorites. He can also tell you what's well-located and what's out of the way, and that's important! (FYI, Roberto is visiting London for a few weeks, but he checks his e-mail periodically so if you send him a message I'm sure he'll respond within a few days.)

[Guest alanm]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

Thanks so much for the information, invaluable does not even begin to cover it. It shows that there is only so far that you can go with guidebooks and travel internet sites info. I had a hunch that the Hilton was a bad choice, but you would not know that unless you got the info. from someone who has actually been in BA.

 

Do people avoid BA because of the unstable currency/political situation or is Rio such a big draw that BA is not even considered?

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

I've been to Rio 3X's, but BA is alluring to me, too, based on what I have read about it here for over a period of 2 years. That's one of the reasons I want to go. Another reason for my interest is that a few friends of mine have ventured there and have loved what the city and its people had to offfer. So I hope if all materializes, I'll be there in May of this year.

[trilingual]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

I haven't heard of people AVOIDING Buenos Aires! Quite the contrary, it's in the midst of a huge tourism boom!

 

Among M4Mers I think Brazil has taken the top spot because B.A.'s escort scene isn't as extensive, and there aren't any saunas with escorts, like in Brazil. So the majority of M4Mers who've gone to Brazil seem to get seduced by their experience and just keep returning there! But M4Mers who've been to Argentina have virtually all loved it.

 

Argentina is not as "exotic" as Brazil, so that may color some people's vacation plans. Brazil really is different, and not like anywhere else. Argentina (when you scratch beneath the surface) is also unique and fascinating, but on first impression it strikes you as being a large European country, and many parts of B.A. certainly seem like parts of a VERY large European city, with grand boulevards, sweeping parks, monumental buildings, chic cafés and restaurants, and stylish inhabitants.

 

Considering the costs of Europe these days, Buenos Aires is a very realistic alternative for someone looking for an affordable "European" vacation. Except for the fact that the European capitals have much better art collections and more ancient monuments, Buenos Aires is every bit as attractive as Madrid or Paris or Barcelona or London. It certainly rivals those cities in its literary, theatrical, musical and contemporary arts scenes!

 

Compared to the Brazilians, who have to be some of the warmest, most open and hospitable people on earth, the Argentines (or at least the porteños) can seem somewhat aloof and standoffish. That's only a superficial impression, though. Try speaking even a little bit of Spanish, and show the slightest bit of genuine interest in Argentina, and you'll find that they're every bit as warm, kind and hospitable as the Brazilians. You'll have a wonderful time if you visit! Go!

[Guest Deweywop]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

Buenos Aires MUSTs:

 

1. San Telmo on Sunday. The famous antique market on Plaza Dorrego spills out through all the neighboring blocks of this very quaint old neighborhood, full of antique shops, restaurants, and galleries. The Galeria de la Defensa is in an old tenement building with graceful courtyards with trees. San Telmo makes me think of a faded small city in Sicily.

 

2. Mataderos Market on Sunday. Its motto is "Where the country meets the city," and this huge, bustling market on the edge of BA has the feel of an exuberant harvest festival. There is music and folk dancing, excellent country food, superb crafts (the best and the best-priced in the city), and even real gauchos in riding contests. My favorite buys are the artisan-made jams, jellies, salames, and the best dulce de leche ever. This attraction would rank higher except that it's a project to get to. Subway and bus will take an hour each way, but I imagine that a taxi wouldn't cost more than US$15. The other downside is it conflicts with the equally interesting and more accessible San Telmo market, which is reason to spend at least 8 days in BA!

 

3. Palermo Viejo. Imagine SoHo or SoMa in the middle of a country town in the middle of a giant metropolis. Low-rise Palermo with its leafy, cobblestoned streets is a place you'll want to wander in all day long. There's an adorable green-grocer on every corner and you might spot horses and buggies. There are plenty of hip boutiques and restaurants and beautiful young people as well.

 

4. Japanese Botanical Garden. When I visited this place last (southern) spring, in another part of Palermo, it was in full bloom and gorgeous. The Garden is in a very open part of Palermo, full of parks, museums, and big boulevards.

 

5. Cabana Las Lilas. Stupendous steaks, and the "cover" charge gets you copious plates of antipasti, breads, and petit-fours. You almost don't need any other courses.

 

6. Cafe Ideal on C. Suipacha. Go time-traveling in this ornate, old-fashioned tango hall. Check their schedule to see when they have live orchestras. The "Marshall" gay tango hall Trilingual mentioned recently is actually a gay dance club in Palermo with one tango night a week, so it doesn't have the same atmosphere, though the small clientele is friendly, and tango is the one formal dance that doesn't look weird with two men. It's rather mesmerizing, actually, and there's a long history of men tangoing together.

 

7. Carlos Gardel neighborhood. Still on the tango trail? Check out this bustling working-class area near the Once rail station. Visit his house on C. Jean Jaures (though not much on display). The nearby streets have been converted into an urban art project, with his portrait, lyrics, and sheet music painted on houses and car shops. There's also the Abasto shopping mall, a transformation of an old, brick-faced produce market.

 

8. Car cruising. While BA is a delight to walk in, its sweeping boulevards are made for riding with the top down! Okay, I couldn't find a convertible, but the ultra-cheap taxis are great. You can ride from La Boca to Palermo on Paseo Colon and Avda. Libertador, two of the most grandiose thoroughfares I've seen anywhere, not to mention the 20-lane (or so) Avda. 9 de Julio.

 

9. Antique automobiles. Though it doesn't quite compare with Havana, you'll spot picturesque old cars, trucks and buses. Unfortunately, the antique Mercedes buses I remember from a decade ago have been replaced by 70's-ish updates. I did spot one absolutely gorgeous antique Mercedes RV (!) in Once.

 

10. Palacio Alsina. This massive gay disco is in an old dance hall with three rings of galleries and giant chandeliers hanging down its center. Have a Phantom moment, darling, or get on the galleries and take an Evita bow.

 

I didn't even mention the more obvious attractions already in the guide books. BA is fabulous.

[trilingual]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

Thanks for a really superb and useful posting!

[CarloRio]

RE: B.A Hotel Suggestions Needed

 

Axiom,

 

Since you're looking for airflight deals from Brasil to Buenos Aires, here are some prices so that you may decide prior to buying your ticket:

 

Actually we can get tickets to go to Buenos Aires from Rio as low as US$ 230.00 and from São Paulo US$ 200.00.

 

You may even consider to buy a 3-night package to Buenos Aires hotel, air ticket, transfers, city tour etc... for approximately US$ 500.00.

 

But before buying that you should check with your local travel agent what they could get with the following airlines:

 

Varig

Tam

United

American

Canadian

Continental

Aerolineas Argentinas (they have excellent deals here in Brasil)

 

I remember one M4Mer mentioning something about Priceline, so you might consider that too.

 

Unfortunately we wouldn't be able to get you a good quote flying form the US downhere, but once in Brasil, we could get you flights to anywhere else from Brasil.

 

Um abraço,:-)