Trip Coach: November 7, 2006

Ian Mount: I'd suggest the beach vacation, as it's definitely more of a 20-something scene and it would give you a true opportunity to see the crazy "flash" side of Argentine culture, all models and fashion shows and silliness. The only downside is that you're there right before the beach season kicks off--Christmas Day is when everyone heads to the beach--but I suspect Punta del Este (in Uruguay) and Pinamar (in Argentina) will be packed with the young and beautiful (and the prices will be a little lower than post-Christmas).
Of course, Mendoza is lovely--don't get me wrong. I went there last year during that time and it was beautifully sunny and visiting the bodegas was totally fascinating (though if you're doing wine tasting, I'd get a driver--a "taste" in many of these bodegas is half a glass, so after three or four "tastes" driving is out of the question). Around that time it's very hot during the day (though sometimes there are hail storms; very odd). If you're into wine, horseback riding in the mountains, etc.--if you want more nature than craziness--that's where I'd go.

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Dallas, TX: We are arrive in to Buenos Aires the 18th of November for 7 nights and would like to take a side trip. I've been told Cordova is an easy trip from BA. I've also been told not to miss Montevideo and the coast. What would you suggest?

Ian Mount: Cordoba is an 8 hour or so drive and, to my mind, not a place you "have" to see (the city of Cordoba, that is). The foothills around it are beautiful, however, so if you're into camping that would be a great place to go. As for Montevideo, I found it to be--ok, I'll say it--dull. So I'd go to the coast of the three options you mention. In Argentina, Mar de las Pampas (of the article) is beautiful and silent, and the two towns next to it (Las Gaviotas and Mar Azul) are even more peaceful (all sand streets, bad cell phone coverage, etc). And I think in parts of those two towns you have to move around via horse. We're talking mellow. As for the other beach towns, Mar del Plata is more of a beach city¿think, say, Atlantic City--while Carilo is a very beautiful, upper-middle-class beach resort and Pinamar and Villa Gesell are more for "partying" (Pinamar is wealthier, I think, and Villa Gesell has more high-schoolers, but those are only quick impressions).

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Sarasota, FL: I will fly into Buenos Aires the morning of Dec. 25 and will be there a couple of days on an OAT trip, going to Antarctica for small cruise ship. I was in BA 2 years ago and thought we would go to Christmas Mass at the beautiful 1500's white church on the hill in the arts area. What else is available on Christmas day and the day after, like museums or other things that won't be closed due to the holidays? Thanks, Lee

Ian Mount: Wow. That's tough. Everybody stays up until 5 a.m. on Christmas eve, sleeps late on Christmas day, and then drives (or rather sits in a traffic jam) to the beach on Christmas afternoon. I honestly can't think of much that's open, I'm sad to say. It's a great day to walk the city, of course, maybe walk along the Costanera (the riverside road near the domestic airport) past the Fisherman's Club and just relax.

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Washington, DC: We are going to Buenos Aires over Christmas and New Year's. Can you tell us what to expect on New Year's and any great family ideas where all the kids are in the low to mid 20's? Thanks!

Ian Mount: New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve nights are truly fun in Buenos Aires, albeit a bit nutty. There is a huge Argentine obsession with fireworks, and on these two dates it seems like every citizen of the city has been issued two roman candles, a quarter stick of dynamite, and 12 bottle rockets. Don't even try to sleep. Instead, it's fun to walk the streets after midnight. Everybody's out shooting off what are presumably illegal munitions (there's nothing like seeing a policeman teach a 7 year old light a small bomb). It is also the night of late night parties (though this may appeal more to your kids). And we mean "late night". Last year we went to a dance party/nightclub set up on the Ciudad Cultural Konex--a very cool old olive oil factory remodeled into a museum/event space--at around 2 a.m. Sadly, we were turned away at the door and had to come back an hour later--because the event hadn't started yet.

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University Park, MD: On an upcoming Saturday in Nov. we would like to travel from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay for a short visit. However, the fast Buquebus leaves at either around 11 am or around 7 pm - neither time works for us. Is there any other ferry that we might take beside Buquebus? Many thanks.