During a family visit to Argentina, I had to unexpectedly book a hotel room, and decided to stay where my son and his partner were staying, the Hotel del Casco in San Isidro, province of Buenos Aires. I was born in this suburb and had very fond memories of the area where the hotel is located, across from the San Isidro Cathedral. It is an old neighborhood, full of history and character.
In this review, I will not include comments, suggestions, or warnings about visiting Buenos Aires itself. Insterad, I would like to focus specifically on the hotel. First, here are a few possible things travelers may not like:
- The traffic on Av. Libertador (one of the more important and used streets in Buenos Aires), can be heard from inside the hotel. For those who live in cities, this won't be a problem. For others, you get used to it.
- Those looking to be in the center of the city may not like to commute from the San Isidro suburb via public transportation, or via a common way of transport, the "remise" (a regular car without the taxicab metering but which acts as a taxi). It may be frustrating since you are charged a bit or a lot more just because you are picked up from a fancy hotel or because you are a tourist. No two remise drivers charge you the same amount for the same trip, and it is hard to get a commitment from them beforehand--still, if the Argentine peso keeps its current relation to the US dollar, trips do not cost much.
- You'll need to check your bill. Make sure you keep track of what you have consumed from the fridge. There was an item I did not consume charged to my room, which they corrected immediately. I am sure this was a careless mistake, and not an intentional one.
This hotel has many good things, and here are some I would like to comment on:
- The rooms are well-priced for the value provided compared to other hotels downtown, or for American and European standards.
- The rooms are large and elegant, clean, with great beds. Also, the bathrooms are wonderful, with great showers and water pressure/hot water (this was a concern for me since I was born and lived in Argentina for many years and know how it can be in the suburbs). My son had a larger room that also included a nice bathtub.
- The hotel has great security equipment, and they constantly watch what is happening around it, who is allowed to come in, etc.
- The environment is absolutely gorgeous. This is a remodeled house from the 1890s, and they have kept the flavor of the house even in the newly built rooms. They have a covered patio, in addition to another patio with a pool and plant arrangement/cascade. In addition, they have a wonderful breakfast room, but you can also have your breakfast in the patio if the weather permits. It is very peaceful.
- The breakfast is full of delicious croissants, cakes, fruit, fruit juice, toast and breads, yoghurt . . . Plus really great coffee, made to order.
- The service is *the best I have ever had* in a hotel. The maids/breakfast servers are constantly attentive without being intrusive or bothering you. They remember what you like or want and bring it to you if it is breakfast time, or do it if it is something in your room. The front desk personnel is also extremely attentive, helpful, and cordial at all times. Note to the hotel management: your personnel works very hard, displays a wonderful attitute, and they are very good at what they do!!!
- Great location:
***The San Isidro area is wonderful, with the Cathedral and its plaza, next to the "Tren de la Costa", and the shops and restaurants in close proximity. There are also plenty of banks and historical spots to visit. In addition, you may want to take a remise (about u$s 5) to the Unicenter shopping center, which seems to be more geared to the affluent locals than to tourists. This place has nothing to envy any of the better American shopping malls.
***I must mention the great number of restaurants available within a 15 minute remise drive. There are wonderful places on Av. Libertador in San Isidro, Acassusso, Martinez, etc., and even greater choices in San Isidro on Av. Dardo Rocha. These latter location is mostly for the locals, with great grills and wonderful restaurants. The choices are as varied in this, the "Zona Norte" as they are downtown and in Palermo.
Bottom line, I recommend the Hotel del Casco to other international travelers, and would definitely consider staying there the next time I visit Buenos Aires.
- Del Casco Hotel
