The service, the ambience, the small gracious touches -- everything about our stay was perfect. We loved the sense of traditional elegance and the modern amenities. The bar is truly an escape into another era. Most of all every member of the staff was outstanding in attitude and competence.

The Alvear is THE great hotel of BA. Like Raffles, the Old Cataract, George V, Danielli or the Waldorf Astoria, perfect service is just part of the reason you are here. You are following in the footsteps of history, and whatever I say will not change that. The butler was perfect - we could not have been more welcome, the Lobby bar is classic (visit, even if you are not staying here) and the room is spacious and luxurious in a Louis XV kind of way. But it just isn't perfect. With its history and at this price, it should be. Like the Old Cataract, Savoy and Waldorf, the money men need to lift this into the 21st century. It needs a real pool (maybe at the sacrifice of those acres of ballroom), the lobby bar needs the band back on the balcony, and it suffers from lack of outdoor space. But then again, I am sure none of these bothered Greta Garbo.

This hotel is class personified. The interiors are elegant and tasteful. The staff is professional, friendly, and helpful. The breakfast buffet is an experience worthy of a special journey. There is a very good gym and a wonderful old wood-paneled bar that feels like it's been around for a hundred years. The concierge booked all of our restaurants before we arrived and we were exceedingly happy with the choices. We, also, were upgraded to a beautiful suite when we arrived. When, after a few days
we decided, on the spur of the moment, to take a "side trip" to Bariloche, the concierge took care of everything: airline reservations, transfers, luggage storage and reservations in Patagonia. It was, all in all, a heavenly experience.

We booked the Alvear Palace for 2 nights through Leading Hotels of the World. Upon arrival, we were upgraded to a suite that was magnificent. The butler made sure that we had everything we needed during our stay. The concierge helped us with dinner reservations and printed our boarding passes. The buffet breakfast was included in our room rate and was excellent. We are looking forward to our one night stay at the end of our trip. Staying at the Alvear is truly a memorable experience.