Hitchhiking in Argentina: Gear, Patience and Safety
Hitchhiking in Argentina is smelly, exhausting, wet, sweaty, cold, hot, windy, dry, uncomfortably awkward and highly rewarding. Thumbing rides in this huge, sparsely populated country can mean days in a variety of miserable conditions, from icy Patagonian wind to a tropical Andean heat. Still nothing compares to a ride well earned, that sudden thrill [...]
Chifa Man-San: San Telmo’s Chinese-Peruvian Greasy Spoon
Chifa Man-San, a Peruvian-Chinese restaurant is an enduring budget favorite, serendipitously located on Perú Street in San Telmo. Here you’ll dine among Peruvian families, foreigners on a shoestring and artisans from the San Telmo Street Fair having a bite to eat after a day selling their wares. The word ‘Chifa’ comes from the Mandarin ‘chi1 [...]
Verde Verde – Cheap Vegetarian Takeaway Downtown
Just because you are downtown doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on lunch. Verde Verde is a vegetarian takeaway joint just half a block from Florida Street that serves up dishes that are both healthy and cheap. It’s also convenient if you’re on the run; you can be in an out [...]
Cervantes – An Authentic Argentinean Grill that Won’t Break the Bank
Tucked away a couple of blocks behind Congress this buzzing cantina has proved a well-kept secret, serving up perfectly cooked, flavor-filled meat and all the fixings at a quarter of the price of some of the tourist hotspots for over twelve years. Such is its popularity with in-the-know locals that one can arrive any evening [...]
Victoria Hotel — An Authentic Bargain in San Telmo
The Victoria Hotel is a San Telmo institution and one of the best deals for budget travelers to Buenos Aires. 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 [...]
Rosario – Cheap, pleasant, and a short trip from Buenos Aires
Rosario, in the province of Sante Fe, may not be a big-name tourist destination in Argentina, but it’s worth having a look at if you’re sick of the Buenos Aires grind, and don’t feel like spending big on a trip away. Rosario isn’t as gorgeous as Mendoza, nor will it take your breath away like [...]
El Refugio — Bad Lighting, Good Food
San Telmo’s El Refugio is one of those back-to-basics gems that haven’t yet made it into any guidebook, meaning it remains, as it always has been– traditional, excessively affordable and virtually gringo-free. Those on a budget will want to leave it to the Lonely Planet crowd to spend more at the nearby Des Nivel – [...]
Milhouse—BA’s Party Hostel
As one of Buenos Aires’ most popular and largest youth hostels, the infamous Milhouse Hostel deserves a mention if only to confirm that, yes, what you heard is true. Milhouse’s fame as the number one hostel for debauchery continues even though it’s a HI-approved hostel and a few years ago the family that runs the [...]
V&S 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 [...]
