Customer Reviews

Fodor's Argentina, 4th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides)

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This year I have used and then reviewed five guides on Argentina. Fodor's has commendable qualities, but its weaknesses outweigh its strengths. This guide will give you excellent direction on what to see/where to go. Its selection and recommendations of accommodations is the best out in guides today. However, if you want a guide to help you select an excellent, unique restaurant, if you want a guide that informs you about the history and culture of Argentina, and if you want a guide that will provide you with maps that help you locate restaurants and hotels, then look elsewhere.

Fodor's excels at helping you to pick the best accommodations.. Their recommendations are accurate and, if there is a "Fodor's Choice" next to the accommodations it is worth checking that hotel out. I was never disappointed using this guide for accommodations.

However, Fodor's restaurants recommendations in the guide are typical and common. Those that I visited were not the unique "finds", nor the excellent "mom and pop" restaurants that other guides occasionally give you. Rather, the restaurants Fodor's selected were populated by tourist and often filled with large groups. That alone would not be a distraction if the food at these restaurants was great, but, the food was good, but not worth touting in a guide.

One of the most disappointing and dysfunctional aspects of this guide is the total omission of information on the history and culture of Argentina. Another was the serious lack of maps.

A guide without maps is like a horse without a saddle, hard to enjoy and after awhile the absence is very noticeable. Good guides will have maps that help you locate both their recommended restaurants and the hotels. Fodor's only has these maps for Buenos Aires. Once you leave Buenos Aires there are NO MAPS to help you in this area.

Caveat: After the economic collapse Argentina became a bargain country to visit. That is changing very fast. Hotels, airfares and restaurants prices are quickly rising. It is difficult to stay in Buenos Aires (unless you are staying at a hostel or backpackers hotel) for less than $100 a day. You, should plan on at least $150 for a moderate priced, well located hotel, good meals (with a good wine of course) and some sightseeing. Before you travel, use the internet to check out current hotel prices.

For a overall reliable guide I recommend: Rough Guide to Argentina(2005). This guide is conditionally recommended 3.5 stars.