Superb service, superb rooms, wonderful service from the on-floor butlers (though a couple of peculiar calls about ashtrays found on the housekeeping trolleys near to my room). Breakfast is delightful, though do dress appropriately.

The Alvear Palace has lovely classic rooms that are spacious and comfortable. The bathrooms, fortunately, are large and modern. They are great about giving upgrades to past guests, even if a previous stay was only a week ago. The location is excellent, but it is not really worth eating at the hotel. The food is uninspired, despite what any reviews might tell you.

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.