Frommer's Argentina & Chile

by Michael T. Luongo, Kristina Schreck, Haas H. Mroue, et al.

Book Overview

Buenos Aires had 3 million foreign visitors in 2003, 50 percent more than in 2002; the Chilean National Tourism Service reports a 17 percent increase in foreign tourists over last year.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764584391
• ISBN13: 9780764584398
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Frommer's
• Length: 498 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Lots of general information

The book contains lots of general information and provides a thorough overview of Argentian. The Buenos Aires description and maps should be helpful when there. Tips and Side Trips are really informative and helpful.

THOUGHTS AFTER THE CRUISE

FROMMERS WAS RIGHT ON THE MARK ON MOST INFORMATION. I WOULD RECOMMEND WATCHING THE DINNER PRICES AS THOSE LISTED FOR ENTEES INCLUDE JUST THAT- ALMOST ALL PLACES ARE ALA CARTE AND A $15 ENTREE ENDS UP COSTING $30 FOR THE MEAL.LIQUOR PRICES (U.S.) ARE OUTRAGEOUS. A SHOT OF J.D. FOR $14?? DRINK LOCAL WINES AND BEER IN BOTH COUNTRIES. GOOD VALUE AND PRODUCT OUT OF THE TOURIST PLACES.

A guidebook full of insight

This is a very nice book. I live in the South of Chile and I got it on a recent visit to the Central part of the country. I find the suggestions on places to visit and especially to eat very good and I must say that all the restaurants recommended in and around Santiago in which I ate,were excellent. Also one day we were to make a reservation for a table for lunch and we tried the phone number that showed on the 2002 edition of a local guidebook. It was disconnected. Than we tried the number indicated on the Frommer's and it worked!!!Around the region I live in, I find that the book gives the best suggestions on places to visit, dine and stay. It shows that the author has researched thoroughly and lived in Chile for a while. Her comments are elegant and full of insight.I'm looking forward to try it on my visit to Buenos Aires next month!!!

A useful book, even despite some outdated information

I used this book on my recent trip to Chile and Uruguay, so I can't vouch for information it offers on Argentina. Most of the information it offers on Chile is pretty useful. There were some inconsistencies, however (although not a big deal). For instance, the entrance fee for the US citizens is now $61, not $45, as stated in the book, and is payable ONLY in cash and only in US dollars. If you are a citizen of Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, double-check before you go, as entrance fees for your countries may also have changed. Also, some items claimed by the book to be in the menus of the restaurants were actually not on the menu.Nevertheless, I was VERY satisfied with the book's recommendations on restaurants, hotels, siteseeing, as well as organized tours in Chile. Following their recommendations, I have NOT been disappointed once, which I found quite impressive. They certainly did a very nice job with that.The book also provides a few pages worth of information on Uruguay. It is very basic and sometimes superficial, but nevertheless useful, in particular the recommendation on hotels and siteseeing in Montevideo, as well as transportation between Montevideo and Punta del Este. However, it is certainly incomplete, and I would use some other reference books in addition to it if you plan to spend more than 1-2 days in Uruguay. I would certainly use other references for shopping recommendations in Montevideo or for what to/where to dine in Punta del Este. Also, beware that many ATM machines in Uruguay are giving instructions only in Spanish, and US dollars (symbol U$S) can be easily confused with Uruguayan pesos (symbol U$).Despite the problems mentioned above, I STILL would highly recommend this book.

Good But Incomplete

I find Frommers, simple concise and not directed towards the backpacker like some other series. This book is good, but very incomplete, excludes areas like Mendoza and Cordoba in Argentina. However, I like what is has to say about the areas in Chile I have traveled to.