We arrived at the Buenos Aires International Airport on Sat. around 11:30 am, after our overnight non-stop flight from NYC. By the time we arrived at the Reino Del Plata Hotel by taxi, we had traveled for 18 hours. The Reino Del Plata a small, European style, basic hotel, very close to the Presidential Palace, Florida Street pedestrian shopping area, downtown attractions and many restaurants. Nina and I booked the standard 'Awesome Argentina' tour, with guided tours, transfers, lodging, internal flights and some meals. We were the only ones booked on this tour, since a party of 3 had canceled. We were on our own the first day. It was a beautiful late summer day, around 85°F. We spent this afternoon exploring the downtown area on foot, starting on Florida Street with many shops, street vendors, street dancers and musicians. The Buenos Aires boulevards may be wider than those in Paris, but some sidewalks here are in a state of disrepair. We bought some leather goods at OK prices. We stopped at the Cathedral D line subway station for pictures. (I grew up riding the NYC D train.) We enjoyed our first meal of Argentine beef at Burger King This BK restaurant, in a 110 year old mansion, made the Travel Channel Top 10 Fast Food list, world-wide. It's worth climbing grand stairs and taking pictures of the incredible carved ceilings and stained glass. We walked to the Obelisk monument. We didn't realize you can walk up this structure, similar to the Washington Monument. We walked past the famous150 year old Cafe Tortoni a few blocks away from the hotel. Our last stop was a small grocery store near the hotel for some juice, fruit and snacks. We then rested for a few hours at the hotel. We ventured out for an early dinner at the well known El Palacio de la Papa Frita on Lavelle, a couple of blocks off Florida St. (Restaurants in Argentina are empty at 8, and start filling up at 9 and later.) We ordered the price fixed steak dinner with wine, bottled water, salad, famous puffy fries and pear in wine sauce dessert for $25 for two!
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.