Travel writer Jason H. Harper from Concierge.com loved the scenery, the amenities and the choice of activities at the Hotel Correntoso in Villa La Angostura, Patagonia.  Fly fishing, full spa treatments or taking a scenic drive along the Seven Lakes, it's all fabulous.  Read his review and then check out even more stunning views on the Hotel Correntoso web site.    If you can be tempted to leave the hotel, there are tons of things to do and see in and around Villa La Angostura. 

Hotel Correntoso, Villa La Angostura

Map of the Area (see the Map of Argentina as a reference point)

On my next trip to Argentina, I will definitely go back to Siga La Vaca, an excellent, inexpensive all-you-can-eat restaurant with several locations in central Buenos Aires and the suburbs (see map).  For US$20 per person you can indulge in appetizers, excellent beef, chicken, and/or pork, salad bar fare, sides and dessert.  Your first drink (wine, beer or soft drink) is also included.  Stop by for lunch on a weekday, and you pay less than US$15.  Incredible!

I visited their location in Pilar, a suburb of Buenos Aires.  The restaurant was spacious, warmly lit and had a fun, informal ambience.  It's family-friendly and can get a bit noisy.  The food was great - fresh, high quality meat grilled to your taste.  My favorite part of the meal was going up to the counter for seconds.  The asadores (grill cooks) display the meat, fresh off the grill, and you just point to what you like.  You'll see familiar food like steak, beef kebabs, chorizo (sausage) and chicken breast, along with some cuts and parts that may be new to you such as morcilla (black pudding), mollejas (sweet breads) and chinchulines (small intestine).  I really recommend that you try anything new.  "Just take a small bite," as your mom used to insist.  If you don't like it, you didn't waste your money and you can move on to something else you might like.  When else are you going to get such a great opportunity to discover new foods?  I'll bet that you become a fan of at least one of these adventurous foods andthat you find yourself back at that counter.  

The other nice thing about SLV is that you'll dine among regular Argentinean families. This may be the closest you get to a traditional family asado - the food, the laughter, the easy-going mood, the amped-up protein levels.  This is less true of the Puerto Madero location where half the clients are tourists, but on the other hand, this particular restaurant is open continuously from noon until 2am, accommodating both American and Argentinean dining schedules.  The restaurants are popular, and although they can take in over 400 diners in some locations, there may be a wait during peak times. 

SLV locations in Central Buenos Aires.  They also have a take out place in Belgrano and restaurants in Pilar and San Isidro

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When you think of all-you-can-eat, the term "wine choices" doesn't immediately leap to mind.  Unless you are in Argentina!

Let's say you are on a business trip in Buenos Aires and have only one day to yourself.  What can you do that takes little planning, a minimum amount of energy (you are tired from work and travel!) but gives you a good flavor of the city?  Here's what I would do. 

• Check out Calle Florida, a pedestrian-only area for strolling/shopping.  If you are shopping for clothes and shoes, the Galeria Pacifico located at one end of Calle Florida is an upscale mall but you can get some good deals there.  Stop by Freddo's for a dulce de leche ice cream.
• For lunch -- and for a break from the crowds --  take a cab and go to the Puerto Madero area; lots of restaurant choices, and a boardwalk for strolling and people watching. 
• If you want to walk off your lunch and/or still have some energy left, walk down the Avenida de Mayo (see map).  You'll pass by the Cabildo (historical seat of government, corner of Av. de Mayo and Bolivar), the Café Tortoni (famous and oldest café in Buenos Aires, Av. de Mayo 825) and see some spectacular architecture along the way.  You can cross over to the Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest in the world, or you can keep going down Av. de Mayo and check out the Congress building. 

 
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• At night, visit the Viejo Almacén  for dinner and a tango show.  Some say it's a bit touristy.  I say they have great performances and the place just oozes with tradition and history. 

If you'd like more suggestions, here's an insider's view .

Visited these places lately?  What did you think? 

View of Puerto Madero and the Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge).  The Argentinean tall ship ARA Fragata Libertad, used by the navy for training purposes, was stationed there on my last visit.