There are many hostels all over the continent, each with its own character.
You'll get lots of information and support from hostelers and the staff, and usually access to a kitchen to cook your own meals. You can be any age and many hostels have private doubles, twins, triples etc - some even ensuite!
PS In Patagonia don't miss the Perito Moreno Glacier - the boat goes dramtically close to the edge which is crumbling into the lake.

Two big booking agencies are hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com and tripadvisor lists lots of hostels too.

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Hostel opened few months ago near from Plaza Serrano (place with a lot of bars, restaurants and clubs really great at night!) well located! nice house,rooms are clean, cool and relaxing atmosphere, great music. We even made a barbecue on the terrace.
You'll appreciate the contrast between the crazy Buenos Aires and this haven.

www.playhostel.com
Guatemala 4636, 1425 Palermo, Capital Federal, Argentina
+54 11 6091 9051
Google map: bit.ly/zurvvM

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Great staff, good location, fun bar with a really interesting selection of drinks, spacy dorms and funky design!

www.ostinatto.com
Chile 680, San Telmo, C1098AAN
+541143629639

Google map: tinyurl.com/yc62atu

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I can honestly say Borges Design hostel is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in. It is located in Palermo Soho, the trendiest area of Buenos Aires which is home to a host of boutiques and bustling bars.

After nine months travelling around 11 countries, the hostel was a welcome retreat from other hostels which had looked great on the photos but in reality were run down and dirty.

The communal areas were clean and tidy and the double rooms were spacious and comfy. The breakfast offered a variety which is a rarity in Argentina where most hostels offer a stale bread roll.

The hostel offers excellent value for money and I would recommend the hostel to anyone planning a trip to Buenos Aires.

Borges Design Hostel Paraguay 4539 Palermo Buenos Aires Argentina
www.bdhostel.com
Tel 54 11 4777 8174

Google map: tinyurl.com/nc7nmg

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Very nice place to stay in Buenos Aires. Really great house and helpful staff. Near most of the tourist places in the city.

Solis 458 in the city centre
www.hostelestacionbuenosaires.com

Google map: tinyurl.com/mq53hu

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You may enter this hostel in Buenos Aires thinking you have just stepped into one of the city’s fancy hotels. Neutral colors, comfy sofas and a fireplace make up the fantastic lounge area and the staff are fantastic. Located in downtown Buenos Aires, close to popular bars, eateries and attractions, this hostel offers a clean, safe environment in which to stay. With a range of spacious dorms, sharing between 4 and 6 people, the modest prices also include free breakfast, towels and bed linen, while other fantastic facilities include Wi-Fi internet, kitchen and currency exchange.

www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/argentina/buenos-aires/40615/

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This service allows curious travelers to be paired up with local residents who want to share the hidden attractions and treasures within Buenos Aires. Each tour can be catered towards your particular interests, perhaps museums, coffee shops or arts performances, and the tours are available in a number of languages. This is a brilliant way of getting to know the capital through the eyes of someone who lives and breathes the city, cannot recommend it enough.

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This cool district is located by Buenos Aires’ waterfront, once a busy port in the early part of the century. A major regeneration project has now transformed the area into luxurious homes, apartments, office blocks and hotels. The port has a selection of stunning residential high-rises and office blocks that look amazing at night when lit up, and makes for a perfect evening of strolling should you find yourself close to the docks.

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I travelled around Argentina for three and a half months and found a wonderful hostel in the San Cristobel/Boedo area of Buenos Aires. It's called the 'Elefante Rosa' - it's small and feels as much a modern, boutique hotel as it does a backpackers hostel.

It's a beautifully restored old Buenos Aires house and is two minutes' walk from the tube (subte) station. The 'centre' of town is only 10 minutes away and San Telmo is just a short bus ride down the road. San Cristobel itself is an authentic Buenos Aires barrio where it's good to get away from the mass of tourists in Palermo and San Telmo. The owners are really friendly and helpful too.

alberti 1191, Buenos Aires
054 4941 7255
Station - Jujuy or Humberto I
www.elefanterosahostel.com/

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Finisterra offers great delights at small prices in the warm and informal atmosphere of the classic Argentinean resto-bar.

5190 Honduras (corner of Uriarte)
Palermo Soho - Buenos Aires
www.finisterra-bar.com

Google map: tinyurl.com/mb8e4s

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Long-distance buses in Argentina can be very comfortable and are more reliable than flights. It is a cheap way to get to know the country and, unlike for air travel, the prices are the same for foreigners and residents.

Buenos Aires has a huge terminal in Retiro: www.tebasa.com.ar
An overview over available services can be found at: www.omnilineas.com

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Same owners of GardenHouse hostel (a small homey place) have created an arty, funky, colourful and friendly hostel. Huge and cool rooms, decorated by different artists, the friendliest staff and a wide range of extra services such as high speed wifi all over the house (it's a big mansion!), free towels, a large and limitless breakfast, etc.

Location is also great, just five minutes' walk from everything. A secret spot in the city, aimed at independent hip travellers.

piedras 545
www.artfactoryba.com.ar
54/11 4343 1463
subways: E line (belgrano station) C line (moreno station)

Google map: tinyurl.com/nmcjsf

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We were in Buenos Aires over New Year and the apartment is in a fantastic location for the city centre, close to Plaza San Martin and the subte (metro) and buses, and the Galerias Pacifico shopping centre in the opposite direction.

Even though it's on one of the main shopping streets, it's still relatively quiet as it's a few floors up and there's a concierge service to the block. The booking agent and the owners were really helpful, too. Here's a tip, though; if you speak to the owners Juan or his son Vicente, make sure you mention River Plate if you're going to talk football - they're definitely not Boca fans. It's only £150 per week (one bedroom, self-catering) and very clean/tidy with all necessary amenities. Oh, and it's opposite what used to be the Buenos Aires branch of Harrods.

It's in a block near the corner of Florida and Paraguay (nearest metro Plaza San Martin)
Letting agency telephone number: +541148765000
Emial: info@bytargentina.com

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Buenos Aires is one of the most remarkable places I have ever been. It's clean, classy, safe, and dirt cheap. The leather bags are at least 400 pounds cheaper than what you would buy on the high street.

Also they have miles and miles of shops on Florida and Avenida Santa Fe where you can buy anything for one third of the price in the US or UK.

We stayed at the art hotel in Recoleta which was a boutique hotel with contemporary art in the foyer, free internet access, great rooms and wet room bathrooms.

Beware the fake taxis in Buenos Aires. Because we'd been there for four days we realised that if they don't have a proper meter in the right hand corner and photographic id on the back of the driver's seat then don't get in. We used a taxi which charged us three times the price of a journey from the airport. We refused to pay and threatened to call the Policia!
If this happens to you get to your hotel and ask the concierge to translate... avoid at all costs.

Otherwise, BA is one of the safest cities in the world and the people are very nice. Palermo is great and so is Recoleta. Avoid San Telmo if you have to. Use taxis rather than buses as they are very cheap and the metro is great for getting around centrally. In taxis from the Newbery internal airport it should cost you no more than $14 and to the international around $50.

Try and go to the best steak restaurant in the Palermo area called La Cabrera, it's economical but BOOK AHEAD as it gets very busy.

Various.. please email me if you want any tips neillhenderson@hotmail.com(no spam)

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Beware some of the tango shows in Buenos Aires that are recommended by your hotel. Bar Sur in San Telmo and Mandera Tango in the port area of BA are a rip off and are tourist traps.

For example, they will try and give you a poor seat with a bad view for you to upgrade to the 'VIP' area. They include a poor dinner with horrible house wine then con you to have a photo taken with two of the tango dancers who they say appear in the show then you never see them again.

They'll also offer you a cocktail for 40 pesos which is three times the price of any cocktail anywhere else. Bar Sur charges 210 pesos per person for the dinner and show in one of the tightest floor spaces in BA. Then the drinks are double the price of anywhere else in BA. If you want to see tango choose very carefully.

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Palermo House is a hostel with a very friendly social atmosphere in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The huge common areas make it easy to meet fellow travelers, and to trade travel tips with folks from around the world. Cool place!

Thames 1754, Palermo, Buenos Aires.

palermohouse.com.ar/

Google map: tinyurl.com/n2f276

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This is simply the best hotel in Buenos Aires! The location is awesome, the staff are out of this world and above all, the decor is out of this world. Book ahead as they tend to get full way in advance (they have only 4 rooms). Your stay here is guaranteed to make you feel wonderful, I cannot wait to go back!

Costa Rica 5141, Palermo Soho
Google map: tinyurl.com/nw8f9x

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A typical Argentinian parilla. Order the bif de chorizo, which is basically a sirloin (nothing to do with the sausage!). You'll get one big enough for two; order potatoes (papas) any way you like (natural - boiled; fritas- chips). Bottle of Malbec or a Qulimes beer.

Follow with a helados (ice cream) and coffee. In June it set me back 40 pesos - including tip.
Definitely no fancy stuff here, this is a local restaurant full of portenos. Although tourists do know about it. Fantastico, I thought!

Stroll down the street to Bar Seddon afterwards. In fact, San Telmo is full of interesting bars, cafes and restaurants.

Avenida Defensa 858, San Telmo.
Subte: Independencia

Google map: tinyurl.com/kt38yq

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Buquebus offers ferries to/from Buenos Aires and Uruguay (Colonia, Montevideo) in combination with coach transportation within Uruguay. Very easy to book online, very reasonable rates (my roundtrip ferry/bus fare was less than $100). The ferry is comfortable, as are the buses. For pictures and full description go to www.travelmusings.net

www.buquebus.com/cache/HomeARG.html

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I have had a fantastic time at this homestay in Buenos Aires. The location is perfect, in the middle of town and close to public transportation and all kind of entertainment. Esther is a great host who has helped me a lot with practicing my Spanish and with information. The rooms are spacious and very nice. I have recommended her to several other travellers on their way to BA, it is the best place to stay!

Corrientes Avenue 1642 Floor 4 Apartment 87 Postal Code 1042
Phone numbers: 005411-43731120 or 0054911-58595151
Fax number: 005411-43731120
www.homestay-buenos-aires.com

Google map: tinyurl.com/nbklcw

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