Chanel Features Buenos Aires

After all the buzz here in Buenos Aires last October about Claudia Schiffer being in town with Karl Lagerfeld to shoot the Spring 2010 Chanel campaign, we've finally seen the results! Well, partial results.... This March's Elle magazine features two new double-page spreads shot here in BA, sans Senora Schiffer - guess those ads are still to come. Supposedly influenced by Argentine gaucho culture, we also see strong hints of Mexican boleros and Spanish matadors.

The ads (at least the ones featured in Elle) were shot in the barrio of San Telmo, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods and home to the popular weekend fair. Specifically, the Chanel shot featuring "El Patio del Arbol" was taken in the picturesque "Pasaje de la Defensa," located at Defensa 1179. Here a 19th century residence now is home to galleries of antique dealers and souvenir stands, lining three ample patios - the "Patio del Tiempo" (Patio of Time), "Patio de los Ezeiza" (Patio of the Ezeiza, after the home's original owners) and, of course, the "Patio del Arbol" (Patio of the Tree).

Argentina Reciprocity Fee to Start December 20th

Breaking News -- We've just confirmed with the US Embassy that, as of December 20th, US citizens will be charged a reciprocity fee upon entering Argentina. The US$131 fee will be charged only on entries via Buenos Aires´s Ezeiza Airport, will be good for multiple entries, and valid for 10 years.

Argentina is not technically calling this a "visa fee" as there is no visa paperwork or application process to go through...though this is the same amount that the US charges Argentines for its visa process.

Australians will be charged US$100 for the 10-year, multiple entry pass, while Canadians receive just a one-time entry for US$70.

Forms of Payment: Travellers may pay by Argentine pesos, US dollars, credit cards, or travellers´cheques. If paying in pesos, the local exchange rate for US$131 will be used.

Please note that, for now, travellers will have NO access to ATMs or currency exchange desks before having to pay their reciprocity fee. Make sure that you have a way to pay!

The fee represents the implementation of a law passed back in 2008, but which had not been put into practice until now. Click here for the Argentine government announcement, released just this week.

Holiday Cheer! Our (Informal and Subjective) Wine Guide for Toasting this Season

Ah, the holiday season is upon us - time to deck the halls and bring out the holiday cheer. Wine is the primary choice of 'cheer' here in Argentina, so we thought we'd add our two pesos on brands to try and buy while visiting this part of the New World. (Note: this is a fully subjective list!)

Inspira was quite happy to see a recent November Wine Spectator article that recognized Malbec as an emerging grape in the wine industry, but also noted Argentina's other rising stars, such as the reds Bonarda (considered by many wine experts to follow Malbec as Argentina's next big boom) and Pinot Noir as well as the white, fruity Torrontes (a Salta specialty, and perfect for the area's arid clime). We suggest branching out beyond Malbec (if only to say you did), though if taking bottles home, you may want to stick with this forerunner.

But back to our brands. For "Best Buys at Argentine Supermarkets" - great for purchase and taste in your apartment or hotel room with some cheese - we like Colome's Amalaya (around US $10), Norton (around US $7) and Quara (around US $5!). Under "Restaurant Values," to accompany some great tenderloins at an Argentine parrilla, try the classic brands Salentein, Rutini, or Luigi Bosca or even slightly lower-priced wines from Escorihuela Gascon or Trapiche. To "Impress the Folks Back Home," experts count the Renacer Punto Final Malbec 2006 among the highest scorers (see Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiastic). We also happen to like wines from powerhouse producers Catena and Achaval Ferrer; the "restaurant value" brands are also good bets.

Salud! and much holiday cheer from the team here at Inspira Travel.....

Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, December 3-8

The Buenos Aires Jazz Festival opens tomorrow, December 3rd, showcasing more than 150 local and international artists. From big names to new talents, the music fest offers jazz in all its variations - instrumental, vanguardist, Latin American, European, tango jazz, and much more. Clinics, midnight jam sessions, Classic venues such as the Sarmiento Theater are complemented by open-air shows at the Centro Cultural Recoleta and the Buenos Aires Zoo, and speakeasy basement venues like the renowned La Trastienda.

We love the fact that ticket prices remain so accessible, costing between 10 to 40 pesos depending on the show. That's roughly US $3 to $12 to see top musicians perform!

For more information, contact the City of Buenos Aires or give us a ring here at Inspira.

Family Travel Tip, Buenos Aires

We've had the pleasure of arranging travel for various families recently, many with kids between the ages of 2 and 10. One of the parents' first questions is, what to do in a big city like Buenos Aires? Since the question must be foremost on travelling parents' minds, we thought we'd share some of our insider tips. Look for an upcoming "Top 10" list...but in the meantime, check out this video we recently posted on YouTube highlighting one of our fave places...the Museo de los Niños, or Children's Museum, in Buenos Aires. Hands down one of the best children's museums we've seen....

Argentina Among Best in the World

Conde Nast Traveler's "Best in the World" Readers' Choice Awards is out...and Argentina is among the favored.  The Four Seasons Buenos Aires made this year's Top 100 List, coming in at #97.  And, of course, Buenos Aires beat out nearly every city in the Americas, ranking second only to pristine Vancouver.  (Our capital was also voted Latin America's top city for Restaurants.)

When it comes to hotels, Argentina won by a wide berth.  Apparently, the hotel infrastructure is far-and-away tops across South America.  Of the region's Top 15, seven are in Argentina.  Six of the seven are actually in Buenos Aires - the Four Seasons, Alvear Palace, Bobo, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, Sofitel, and Home hotels.  The seventh is Mendoza's crown jewel, the centrally located Park Hyatt.

No slouching here!  Argentina continues to add new hotels of all sizes to its accommodation offerings...check out a selection on our home page or feel free to contact us at info@inspiratravel.com for even more info!

Argentina: Top Ten for Fine Dining, Nightlife, and Ease of Travel

The folks over at FutureBrand have released their 5th annual Country Brand Index...and Argentina tops the list in major travel and leisure categories.

In the Fine Dining category, Argentina wows at #4, outdone only by global heavyweights France, Italy, and Japan. It's the only South American destination to make the top ten. With the country's famed meat and wine; rich European heritage that results in authentic French, Spanish and Italian cuisine; introduction of fusion foods from Asia and Peru; and great value at restaurants, we're not surprised!

The country is no snoozer when it comes to Nightlife, either. At #10, Argentina is already known for its plethora of bars and discos that stay open 'til dawn. We love that here, it isn't just about the drinking - milongas, tango shows, theater, and much, much more make for all kinds of evening entertainment. Heck, even our neighborhood ice cream shop stays open until 2 a.m. on weekends!

And, finally, Argentina slides into 7th place for the Ease of Travel category, which ranks the ease with which travelers can enter, leave, and get around the country. We're sure it helps that, unlike certain South American neighbors, Argentina has fewer visa restrictions - making it not only easier but cheaper to get into the country.

Here at Inspira, we know that gastronomy and nightlife rank high on our travelers' priority list...which is why we not only help guests get around, but also get to the tops in restaurants and night fun with our complimentary concierge service. If you're traveling with us, let us know what we can help you with!

For more information on the study (though in Spanish), click here.