Buenos Aires Apartments - Verses - Hotel Suites



BuenosAiresStay.com 'tells it like it is' and discusses the pluses and minuses associated with vacation apartment rental verses hotels and conclude that apartment rental is not for everyone, but during the coming months, economic uncertainty may change that view.

The Buenos Aires vacation apartment industry has grown substantially over the last five years. At last count, we found nearly 147, 000 Google listings advertising or related to the search phrase 'rent vacation apartments Buenos Aires' and over 400 websites that directly compete against Buenos Aires Stay.

The vacation apartment industry is generally very professional and service is better than 2002 when we first rented apartments in Buenos Aires and found it cheap, but a real headache. Without regulation, market forces and competition has meant that both the quality of apartments and the companies that sell them have improved enormously.

Always research your agency of choice on the internet and read their terms and conditions - VERY CAREFULLY - make sure that rents are final, and when you check-in, should the apartment not be as advertised the agency state clearly that get your money back or another apartment. Again, if something should go wrong during your stay - does your agent have a published complaints procedure? All these points are just as import as the Buenos Aires apartments you might select.

From time to time, every company has the odd problem and vacation apartments are not unlike our own homes and not without the odd hitch - how agents deal with those unforeseen occurrences, sorts the good from the bad. It is important to add that third party service provision, anything the property owner or agents cannot control, is unreliable and time consuming to resolve, so apartments are not for those who demand immediate resolutions or people who expect to move immediately an insect pays them a visit, the internet fails, or they suffer a power cut on their street. If you want hotel style care - go to a hotel and pay for the privilege.

Staying in a Buenos Aires hotel

We all know what hotels provide so we will not dwell long in this subject. Generally, when you buy a hotel room, you are buying brand familiarity that is well constructed, well decorated, a cleanly furnished 'clone' with familiar rules and the security that if something goes wrong, the hotel will fix it immediately or move you to another room. Your room is cleaned everyday and linens and towels replaced and as if magic, and all is well again when you come home to change or climb into bed -bliss? Not for everyone, some of us find hotels 'same-ole' and value our home comforts - access to their favourite food direct from the fridge, home cooked meals, anonymity and privacy.

Personal and property security is generally good and you benefit from room service, internet, mini-bar, sometimes a health club, sometimes a pool, and a concierge. Most important to many people in the current economic climate is that you can use the old 'plastic' to pay from your dream holiday and face the music later. Tried and tested, but not without their many problems, not least the cost being $400 to $700 a week for the basic room with a bathroom, the hotel is fast losing ground in Buenos Aires and apartments are the vacationers choice number one choice for longer term Buenos Aires Stays. If you are prepared to foot the bill, some apartments have all the services of a first class hotel and more - cook, servants, chauffer, and bodyguard - it is all available you just have to ask. What is for sure, you will have change from renting a comparable hotel suite at the Four Seasons Buenos Aires.

Hotel reservation in the best and safest districts of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Apartments

The negatives that detract from the offer of a home-from-home, at a fraction of the cost of a hotel send those who do not have the pioneering give it a go spirit running for cover. All over the internet, you can find complaints some valid, others blown out of all proportion - keep an open mind and going back to our first points - read agencies terms and conditions, look for cast iron good old fashion pros that offer you some comfort and a published complaints procedure.

When you rent an apartment, you normally complete your reservation with a rental apartment agent that provides a shop-front for hundreds of private property owners who sell rental apartments for short-term vacation. Apartments range from budget apartments for less than US$300 each week one bedroom to luxury one-bedroom apartments that range from US$500 to US$2000 dollars a week. There are no hard, fast rules as property owners set their own rents in Buenos Aires, and the quality differences can be extreme, even in the same price bracket.

One thing you can be sure of, budget means budget. Clients should not expect to pay US$150 to $300 dollars a week and demand luxury - you get better than hostel accommodation of the same price bracket, but most importantly, you have privacy, fresh sheets and towels once a week, your own bathroom, and cleanliness. That is good value - if you want more, you have to pay more - you get what you pay for!

Buenos Aires is a society based on cash where credit runs at the national average of 10 in advance to confirm your reservation and the balance of the rent and security deposit of 1 week to 2 months in dollars on arrival. Some reasonable owners will let you pay a deposit in home currency to save on exchange costs. Carrying so much cash makes many people concerned and most certainly accounts for 80 of those complaints were not resolved in 24 hours. We moved only two clients last year after check-in, one due a flood and another due to an electrical problem. One of our clients refused to check into an apartment after a previous tenant wrecked it and the property owner chose to deal with serious problems with a bit of 'first aid,'

We have a complaints procedure and free arbitration service for both tenants and property owners. We can only speak for ourselves, so a word of caution, Buenos Aires Stay takes great pains to spell out the above points to our clients and great pride in our service. Just because you want to move because you prefer another barrio, or you decide you might like to go to Cordoba, or find something cheaper, raising complaints and stating you did not know about your obligations, etc, does not wash. You will be bound to act subject to contract and abide by the law as will the property owner and many government agencies in Buenos Aires protect your rights very effectively.

So there you have it! Apartment rental is not for everyone - but at least now, you can make an informed decision and Buenos Aires Stay will help you with both apartment rental and hotel reservations - need more information email - info@bastay.com.

Buenos Aires Apartments -verses- Buenos Aires Hotels - it is your choice!