TRAVEL INFOS

1 Argentinian peso= 2,90 us dollars 3,60 euros as of april 2004

I had an award ticket with Air France, they have pretty new comfortable B777 planes. On the way to Santiago we had a 1 hour stop in Buenos Aires Intl. On the way back I was flying from Buenos Aires. I guess Air France has a really good service comparing to the price, but remember to reconfirm your flight back, since they have just a flight per day, and it's all the time overbooked... well, not that it pisses u off if you have to stay there longer ihihihih

FROM SANTIAGO INTL AIRPORT:

You can take either a bus, about 1 dollar, or if you are more than 1 traveller, you can take a remise and it's gonna be pretty cheap, like 2 bucks each.

FROM EZEIZA INTL BUENOS AIRES:

You can take a collectivo, which is a normal bus, for about 50 euro cents, it takes ages but it stops you near Casa Rosada, or another fast way is to take Bus Léon Tenda, just outside the customs they sell tickets, they have a huge bus, leaving every 30 minutes, and they offer door to door service, including the Ezeiza-Aeroparque Domestic Airport service. It's about 5 bucks.

Then of course you can take a remise, which is like a private cab and it's gonna be around 30 pesos, or a taxi which will be about 30 plus tip.

ATM'S AND SO ON

You'll be able to change your money directly outside the customs, both euros and us dollars, or you can simply withdraw money (pesos!!! don't withdraw dollars!) from the atms. they are all over, but some of them downtown are out of cash...

WHERE TO SLEEP

SANTIAGO: Residencial Londres, Londres 54, tel 02-6382215. We had a very very nice double for just 15.000 pesos. We had a great view. This hostel is close to anything and just 15 minute walk to Barrio Brasil.

VALDIVIA: Hostal Casa Grande, Carlos Anwandter 880, tel. 202035.We slept close to the bus station. This hostel was so nice and clean, they had cable tv, and for a triple we paid 15.000 pesos. Breakfast was included.

PUERTO MONTT: We slept at this hostel-like place, called Hostal Sur. It's just 1 block from the pasejo by the beach. The place looked ok, althought the room was quite dusty, but we had a bad experience at night, cos while we were sleeping, around 2 am someone opened our door, although it had been locked from the inside,  and it was someone i suppose from the hostel. She was like "desculpe, desculpe" but I guess she wasn't just going to clean at 2am!!! I guess she wanted to steal something, in case we wouldn't be there.. well, i wouldn't recommend this place for safety, but it is cheap and close to the bus station. We paid 12.000 pesos. Hostal Sur, Andres Bello 973, tel. 065-292535.

PUERTO NATALES: This was a very very nice and friendly place. It's like a guesthouse and it's owned by the old lady who likes to talk with her guests and hang out with them at night in the common room. She is very kind and warm-hearted. I would recommend this 100%. It's just 1 block from the Plaza de Armas, and like 4 blocks from the Seno Ultima Esperanza, from which you have a great  view of the bay/fjord around Puerto Natales. Breakfast is included. We paid 20.000 pesos for a double with bathroom, but the price was worth. Hostal La Cumbre,  Eberhard 533, tel. 061-412422).

EL CALAFATE: We arrived and everything was overbooked cos it was the Semana Santa, the Holy Week. But we managed to find a nice hotel room, with cable tv and clean bathroom, for just 15 dollars, breakfast included. It's called Hotel Amado, it's on the main street, Avenida del Libertador General San Martin, just near the Vaca Atada restaurant.

PUERTO MADRYN: This hostel is fabulous, especially during mid-seasons like this. it's just 2 blocks from the beach, they have a supernice garden with porch and barbeque thing, HUGE clean supernew rooms with superclean modern bathrooms, they also have kitchen access, they organize tours, and you get fresh fruits from the garden, free tea and coffee. The owner is supercool, he's been all over the world and will give you LOADS of tips. We paid 50 pesos for a double. it was more than worth!Hostel Puerto Madryn, 25 de Mayo 1136, tel 02965 474426.

BUENOS AIRES: This is my all the time favourite place, my friend Melina works here and I find it the best hostel I've ever been to. It has EVERYTHING. Rooms and dorms look like a 3 star hotel, they are clean, spacious, toilets are sooooo clean. In double rooms you find even cable tv. Breakfast is HUGE and included. You can also play pool, watch cable tv in the common area and have free internet access. A Double room is 20 bucks. Hostel Milhouse, Hypoliyo Yrigoyen 959, this street's between Avenida de Mayo and Adolfo Alsiria, so, supercentral. You are at Casa Rosada in 5 minutes walk, in Puerto Madero in 10 minutes walk, walking distance to San Telmo, Retiro and even Recoleta.

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