Luxury Travel Advisor - December 2007 - (Page 28) THE TOWER SUITE (living room shown) spans three levels and offers views of the Rio de la Plata and Micaela Bastidas Park. like Library Lounge—it’s full of overstuffed leather chairs and sofas and antique mirrors and lamps—and the cabaret theater, El Cabaret, which is filled with Belle Epoque red leather sofas, gold and red leather chairs and antique tapestries. The restaurant is a world of white—walls, tables, chairs, even the floor—and huge sparkling crystal chandeliers. The only color in the fine-dining room, El Mercado, is the gold-rimmed china and the red Baccarat crystal stemware. Of the hotel’s 70 rooms and 38 suites, the top three picks are the F, Tower and Imperial, all with panoramic views and more traditional décor. The two-bedroom F Suite’s living area features a cathedral ceiling and is paneled in rich cherry wood. Its bathroom boasts a marble floor and walls. The Imperial Suite features two outdoor terraces with stunning views of sunrise and sunset. The tri-level Tower Suite is favored by honeymooners for its romantic river and park views from the top-floor bedroom—there are windows on three of the four walls—and the two-person marble tub next to a picture window. Faena’s high season is from mid-September to mid-March; reservations should be made at least two to three months ahead. The La Prairie Spa on the second floor is the first in Buenos Aires to have a room-sized hammam. The couples’ treatment room has a marble Jacuzzi behind a wall of relaxing and romantic candles. Treatments include Shiatsu and Thai massage in a dedicated room with a futon-like floor mat. Contact Spa Director Augustina Caminos (acaminos@faenaexperience. com; 54-11-4010-9085) for VIP spa needs. Tip: Request Belen Carriaga or Roman Schneider for massages. We hear that entertainers Liza Minelli, Lenny Kravitz and Owen Wilson are among past celebrity guests of the hotel. ADVISOR INSIGHT: Julio Lublinerman of SER Travel/American Express Travel in Winnetka, CA, says, “Buenos Aires surprises me every time I’m there, even though I’m a ‘porteño’ (a native of Buenos Aires). Known for its blend of European sophistication and Latin charm, Buenos Aires has earned the nickname ‘the Paris of South America.’ You can see tango dancing on the streets downtown and, in San Telmo, coffeehouses, wine and spirits bars, restaurants and clubs, all open until sunrise.” When it comes to lodging, “A great choice and a hotel I recommend for its stylish design and décor is Faena Hotel + Universe. Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, the Four Seasons and Madero by Sofitel are also excellent choices.” With regard to dining, Lublinerman says, “So many and so good are the restaurants 28 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | December 2007 in Buenos Aires, it’s hard to pick just one. When I want to enjoy a delicious Argentinian steak, I go to La Cabaña or Piegari Vitello e Dolce (both located in Recoleta). For seafood, Sorrento Madero (at Puerto Madero) is an excellent choice and for international delights, El Bistro + Cavas at the Faena Hotel + Universe.” Visitors who plan to stay in Buenos Aires for several days “can combine tours of the city with visits to places around it, such as the Delta (the Paraná river), the estancias (ranch houses) or any of the famous golf courses,” says Lublinerman. Buenos Aires also is home to many renowned museums and art galleries. The most well-known and most visited include: the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA), which houses the Constantini Collection; the Museum of Hispanic American Art, which houses the Isaac Fernandez Blanco Collection; the National Museum of Belle Arts; the Eduardo Sivori Museum of Plastic Arts; the Museum of Modern Art of Buenos Aires; Casa Rosada; and museums dedicated to Carlos Gardel and Eva Perón. “There are more than 50 important museums in Buenos Aires and thousands of art galleries, so Buenos Aires is a great place to shop for art!” Lublinerman exclaims. “I like to visit two soccer fields in Argentina: River Plate and/or Boca Juniors, two classic teams that, together, host 80 percent of the soccer fans in Argentina,” Lublinerman says. “Walk around, stop for wine and fine food, enjoy world-class theater, get lost in bookstores, sit in magnificent parks and plazas and be amazed—you will have seen life as it should be in Buenos Aires: harmonious, passionate, tumultuous, energetic, calm, vibrant, lazy.”
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