Rendez-Vous is a boutique hotel that perfectly fits in with its chic surroundings in Palermo Hollywood. Popular with Brazilians, this oasis in the middle of one of Buenos Aires’ trendiest areas is immaculately clean with a contemporary feng shui flair.

Overseen by the friendly and professional, Fréderic Dubois, the hotel features 11 uniquely decorated rooms with hardwood floors and huge windows in a 1904 French-style mansion. The staff here is very accommodating and willing to go the extra mile to make reservations for tours, the area’s best dining locales such as La Cabrera and of course the obligatory tango shows.

You can also take part in an Anuva Wine tasting, right on the premises to be introduced to some unique wines to take back home. The staff can also arrange massages, haircuts, laundry and other services. Amenities include en-suite jacuzzis, wifi, a computer center, a bar, a solarium and leafy patio area.

Prices fluctuate depending on the season, but this is a good value — a room for two with breakfast included runs around the US$130 mark. This non-smoking hotel is gay friendly, accepts pets and is well-equipped for disabled travelers. With only 11 rooms, this one books up fast so make your reservations in advance.

photos courtesy of Rendez-Vous

Rendez-Vous Hotel-$$$
Bonpland 484
Tel: (11) 3964-5222
Palermo

All the usual references do appear in this boutique hotel – the tango hat, black and white checkered floors and the images of the most famous tango singer of them all, Carlos Gardel but Tanguero shows admirable restraint by keeping the atmosphere tasteful.

The goal here is to transport guests back in time to the glory days of the passionate dance, and indeed Buenos Aires itself, by recreating the feel of a contemporary establishment rather than hurling out as many clichés as possible, as is the approach used by many tacky tango restaurants and cafés in the city.

The refined mood is further achieved by keeping the guest rooms themselves simple and comfortable. The lobby and other areas of the hotel are decorated with tango memorabilia, but the rooms are designed with coziness and practicality in mind. Antique mirrors, lampshades and telephones are complemented by other classic furniture such as elegant but comfy beds, old-fashioned writing desks and the kinds of sofas and chairs you’d find at grandma’s house. Black and white photo portraits on the walls and marble bathroom settings complete the scene.

No doubt that after some late-night dancing some guests have spent the first dreamy seconds after waking bewildered, wondering exactly where they are — and in which century. Once they notice the digital safe, high-definition TV, and ADSL internet hook up, they will either be gratefully reassured about their historical whereabouts, or doubly confused.

With a small number of rooms; 21 in total including nine suites, the focus is on making sure guests receive as much pampering as possible. The hotel offers a spa with hot tub, gym, sauna and Scottish shower, business center, masseuse, personal trainer and a currency exchange facility. The tango theme is always going to be one of the main reasons guests choose this boutique hotel over others and this fact has not been lost on the managers.

There is a permanent museum style exhibition of authentic tango artifacts, as well as a gallery of historical pictures. Tango lessons are also offered on site, and bookings to some of the city’s best shows can be made at reception. Not only that, the whole bar area is a re-creation of a traditional Buenos Aires tango bar and hotel staff get in on the act by dressing and acting with suitable classical charm. Room rates, which include an American breakfast, are reasonable by boutique standards.

If you’ve come to Buenos Aires in search of tango, Hotel Tanguero might be the perfect place to hang your hat while you dance your way through town.

Book Tanguero Hotel Online — $$$/$$$$
Suipacha 780
Microcentro
Tel: (54-11) 4327 2605

At first blush this theme hotel can seem like a kitschy gimmick, in the business of ‘tango for export’, but it’s set in a classic 1903 mansion oozing architectural detail and the instructors at the on-site tango school are the real deal. The school is directed by Héctor B. Villalba, a dancer of traditional Argentine tango for 60 years, and a guru in the San Francisco Bay Area tango scene.

The 30-room hotel has three gorgeous ballrooms with original hardwood floors for classes and events. Each room has a hand-painted mural depicting a tango scene, but some of the rooms starting at US$130 per night, are rather four-star quality in an otherwise five-star experience. Those who can afford it may want to opt for the higher priced rooms.

The best value is the three-night package, ranging from US$ 330-350 per person. The package includes airport pickup, one private dance class and one group class, transport to an authentic milonga to practice or a Broadway style tango show with dinner. Every Wednesday evening in the high season the Dandi Royal Academy also hosts a milonga open to guests and the general public.

Visitors who just arrived in Buenos Aires for the first time may be a bit startled when they go out to explore the scruffy surrounding neighborhood as it’s 100 years past it’s heyday, but it’s the barrio that birthed the tango,so you’re right where you should be. Those who stay over the weekend can check out the nearby San Telmo Street Fair a few blocks away.

Multilingual receptionist, Fabian Mecle is especially adored by guests and thanks in part to his warmth and attention to detail, the Mansion Dandi Royal receives a number of return visitors. Others, having gotten a taste of tango at the Dandi on their first trip, stay elsewhere with the confidence that they can handle the milongas on their own.

The Dandi Royal is not for everyone – those who shudder at the thought of showing up in a minivan to their first real Buenos Aires’ milonga for instance. And those who have studied ballroom style or Tango Nuevo should be prepared to erase everything they’ve learned and get ready to immerse themselves in the spontaneous style of classic Argentine tango.

If at the end of your stay, the Dandi’s 10am checkout time seems too early, congratulations– those late nights mean you’re well on your way to becoming a real milonguero.

Mansion Dandi Royal and Tango Academy-$$$$
Piedras 936
San Telmo
4361-3537 / 4307-7623

This historic, family-run hotel sits on the narrow and noisy Chacabuco Street, but once you enter its sturdy confines you’ll find a tranquil old-style pensión with rooms surrounding an open patio full of plants.

For some reason the San Telmo hotel ‘for families and gentlemen’ doesn’t make it into the listings of many popular guidebooks anymore, and maybe that’s why it’s still so affordable.

A private room with a shared bathroom costs a mere AR$60 (US$11.74 as of November 2011) for one and AR$100 (US$18) for two. A room for one with a private bathroom runs for AR$100. The reasonable rates are quite a contrast to the numerous ‘tango hostels’ in the neighborhood, which charge about the same rate for a bed in a dormitory shared with strangers.

Here you’ll inevitably meet the hard-working owner, 87-year-old Victoriano Prieto, who continues to oversee the hotel. He took over management in 1959 here, eight years after emigrating from Galicia, Spain.

'For families and gentleman'

The international array of guests here includes experienced travelers and tango aficionados mostly from Europe and a handful from Japan. Housed on the third floor of the hotel are long-term guests — mostly a mix of students, travelers and families from neighboring Latin American countries.

There are shared kitchen and laundry facilities available for all guests. The first floor courtyard has wifi and is a lovely place to sit outside and lunch or catch up on email.

Jose Prieto, Victoriano’s son who works the night shift at the hotel speaks English, and can help visitors find local restaurants and tango milongas that are economical and off the tourist trail.

“We think we offer a good deal here. This is a unique place,” says Daniel Daglio, Prieto’s son-in-law who also works at the hotel.

The Victoria may also be more secure than the more transitory hostels on the surrounding blocks. No one messes with the Victoria— they have their ears on the ground. The front door is locked from 10pm and guests are given a key.

The Victoria is a safe, affordable option for savvy travelers who are beyond the typical hostel age and willing to forfeit a bit of luxury for an authentic Argentine hotel experience.

The Victoria has partnered with Wander Argentina to offer exclusive online booking through our website.

Victoria Hotel
Chacabuco 726
San Telmo

The Victoria is pictured on the cover of the 2004 album, Madrugada en Backdedonia by the tangotronica group, San Telmo Lounge

Photos courtesy of Milhouse Hostel

The location, just blocks from Plaza de Mayo and walking distance to San Telmo can’t be beat for ease of travel throughout the city. The neighborhood itself has some good restaurants and interesting sites, and from here there’s all sorts of transportation options to the city’s nightspots.

The five-story 19th century building is beautiful, and the first floor lounge with couches, a pool table, a boob tube and a bar is spacious and great for meeting people. The biggest drawback for lushes is that Milhouse takes advantage of the no-outside alcohol policy by jacking up the prices they charge for drinks.

A multitude of activities are on offer, from football games, walking tours, tango classes and without fault, club-hopping every night of the week. The reception area can get overcrowded during peak hours, and there aren’t enough computers for the number of guests, but it’s the price you pay for popularity.

Due to increased crime in Buenos Aires’ hostels in recent years, security has tightened here. Most notably, guests must wear a bright orange paper bracelet throughout their stay to confirm their guest status, but the ‘hostel jewelry’ is not exactly low profile and kind of brands you as gringo prey while you’re out on the town.

The bottom line is if you’re young, want to party, make lots of new friends and enjoy the best of Buenos Aires’s nightlife, this is the spot to stay. If you want to meet Latin Americans, rather than mostly Americans and Europeans, practice your Spanish, or actually want to sleep at night you’d be better off looking for another hostel.

Worth noting are the numerous ‘Milhouse Marriages.’ Here, romance has blossomed from what began as mere beer-goggled glances across the lounge.

Dorm beds go for a very reasonable AR$48 (US$ 12.50) per night. Private rooms are available and are quite nice, but the prices, beginning at US$50, are a bit steep, considering you could probably find a two or three star hotel for around the same amount.

Millhouse is so popular that they recently opened a new location with over 200 beds on the famous Avenida de Mayo. Nothing wrong with ‘Milhouse Avenue’ as it’s called, but there’s nothing like the original. Make sure you make reservations at least 48 hours in advance, as the famed hostel does fill up.

Milhouse Hostel
Hipolito Irigoyen 959,
Downtown
Tel: (54-11) 4345-9604

Milhouse Avenue
Avenida de Mayo 1245
Congreso
Tel: (54-11) 4383-9383

→Click here to see a video about Milhouse

Once inside, the visitor is presented with a spacious lobby area that is both stylish and comfortable, flooded with light during the day from the glass-walled, internal courtyard. The breakfast room upstairs has an equally warm and inviting vibe, and opens out to a terrace with Jacuzzi.

Despite the name, there are actually 17 rooms in the hotel, ranging from small to extra large. All rooms have wifi, air conditioning and heating, a safety box, complete bathroom with hairdryer, and cable TV, with the larger rooms providing larger TV screens.

In harmony with the rest of the hotel, the rooms manage to be very chic, but at the same time a little on the small side (or really cozy depending on how you look at it).

Five Cool Rooms offers all the little pleasures you would expect from a boutique hotel, including a spa, solarium, and even a massage service. There is also an Argentine-style barbecue on the terrace, making it the perfect place to spend a pleasant evening sipping Malbec and enjoying an asado.

The staff are pleasant and helpful, adding to the generally relaxing atmosphere. Guests of the hotel tend to be mainly couples, ranging from their 20’s to their 50’s. With all its little luxuries, stylish feel and intimate nooks and crannies, Five Cool Rooms is certainly a great place to spend some chill out time with that special someone or a group of friends. Room rates range from US$125 to $240 per night. There is a 15% discount for those who pay in cash.

–>Book online at Booking.com

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Five Cool Rooms— $$$/$$$$
Honduras 4742
Palermo Soho
Tel: 5235-5555

Planning activities at the hostel

V&S is a hostel that ticks all the boxes. It’s reasonably priced, clean, and offers a wide range of activities to guests. It is also located in the thick of the action downtown — this could be either a plus or a minus, depending on what you’re after.

Most hostels are gathered around the Tango bars and steak houses of San Telmo, or the bars and clubs of Palermo, but the microcentro area offers a happy compromise.

The corner of Viamonte and Suipacha streets lies within walking distance of the pedestrian thoroughfare of Florida and other shopping streets, as well as the Retiro train and bus stations, and numerous bus and subway connections. Getting to San Telmo from the V&S takes less than 30 minutes on foot, and is even quicker by public transport.

Palermo is slightly further away but still easy to reach from here. The only drawback with being based downtown is that the noise and hustle of a typical working day which confront you as soon as you step out the door. If you can cope with that, you’re in a very convenient spot.

Inside, the V&S is relaxed and comfortable. Typical Argentine early 20^th century elegance is reflected in details such as the antique elevator, the cozy library and the French balconies and terrace. The communal area is spacious and decorated with touches of rural Argentina. It’s also dominated by a gigantic TV, perpetually alternating between movies and sports, depending on who has wrestled control of the remote.

Live music in the hostel

The V&S offers all the standard features you would expect from a good hostel. The price of your room includes a buffet breakfast (until 10:30am), introductory Spanish and tango lessons, and personal lockers (bring your own lock for extra security). Internet access and laundry are available for a fee. Staff are helpful in arranging trips to the usual attractions such as football games, theater and tango shows.

The management also finds a good balance between encouraging a peaceful environment for guests who need their rest, but at the same time provide plenty of opportunities to socialize, with group dinners a couple of times a week and discounts at various recommended nightspots every night of the week. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights the hostel puts on live shows highlighting Argentine genres of music, such as tango and national rock, giving guests the chance to experience the local scene.

Rates vary slightly depending on season and length of stay, but the cheapest option is the 8-person room. Four-bed rooms, with either external or internal bathrooms, are a slightly more expensive alternative. Private rooms for solo travelers or couples with a small balcony and private bathroom are also available. A huge plus is that all rooms have air conditioning and heating, an important feature during Buenos Aires’ chilly winters and muggy summers.

Book V&S Hostel
Viamonte 887 (corner of Suipacha)
Retiro/Downtown