A Hedonist's Guide to Buenos-Aires

Like a migratory bird, Charlie Froggatt, polo-journalist and author of Hg2 Miami has spent several years wintering in  South America's style and party capital covering the polo scene. So he was a pretty safe bet to send out there to write this guide.  Once again, he submitted hundreds of photos of scantily dressed girls along with those of hotels, bars and restaurants etc - who they all were we are still waiting to hear.


Isn't Buenos Aires just full of pretty polo players?

Well, yes actually, but it's also got a whole lot more to offer. Currently the toast of South America, Argentina's capital offers cutting edge restaurants, chic shops and the hippest of hotels. Join the stylish, elegantly dressed Porteñas on the charming streets of Palermo Viejo or partying into the morning sunlight. Hg2 Buenos Aires also covers the best hotels and activities in the rest of the country, from the summer scene in Punta del Este to dove shooting in Patagonia.

How long do I stay?
 
A long weekend is plenty of time to enjoy Buenos Aires' decadent pleasures. After that we recommend that you explore some more of the amazing countryside;  Argentina boasts the world’s southernmost city, huge waterfalls, the continent’s only advancing glaciers, ski slopes, beaches, golf courses, polo clubs, and the widest river estuary on the planet. Alternatively, go dove, duck or deer shooting, learn to play polo and cook an asado or just hop on a flight to Punta del Este and carry on partying.

When should I go?

The best months to come are from September to December, when the flowering jacaranda trees paint the city purple and the weather begins to heat up.  Summer is the most popular season for tourism and it’s the perfect time to go to Patagonia and Argentina’s colder regions. During the autumn the weather is mild, and it’s still a pleasant time to visit. Although it has snowed only once in Buenos Aires’ history, winters are chilly and wet, but nothing in comparison to those that Europeans are used to.


Where should I stay?

There has been an explosion of fabulous boutique hotels in Buenos Aires, traditionally the preserve of large, classic hotels. Of the latter, the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, the Four Seasons and the Sofitel are the pick of the bunch. Amid the larger design hotels, Philippe Starck's Faena Hotel + Universe continues to make headllines or try the funky 725 Continental and the minimalist Esplendor. In the smaller boutique category, Bobo and the pioneering Home hotel have sent a frisson of excitement through the Palermo Viejo scene. For a ‘naughty weekend’ playboy bachelor pad, slightly rough around the edges, consider Palermo 1551.

What do we need to take?