Argentina: Mileage run and new years

[JuanP]

I need to do a final mileage run to keep status on American. I’m smitten with Argentinians, their accents, their look, and general attitude.  But not a lot of info on here.  Ultimately, I’m looking for a luxe week in Buenos Aires (or wherever Argentinians go for the holiday)?  Recommendations from the forum? Should I hit up BA? Skiing? Punta del Este? Also considering Asia, if folks have opinions. I posted similar post in Asia forum.

[Latbear4blk]

1 hour ago, JuanP said:

I need to do a final mileage run to keep status on American. I’m smitten with Argentinians, their accents, their look, and general attitude.  But not a lot of info on here.  Ultimately, I’m looking for a luxe week in Buenos Aires (or wherever Argentinians go for the holiday)?  Recommendations from the forum? Should I hit up BA? Skiing? Punta del Este? Also considering Asia, if folks have opinions. I posted similar post in Asia forum.

Did you find the posts on my July trip to Argentina? You also have a bunch of information in my blog.

[JuanP]

1 hour ago, Latbear4blk said:

Did you find the posts on my July trip to Argentina? You also have a bunch of information in my blog.

I saw the posts, maybe I skimmed but they didn’t seem to be BA, but a more rural town.  Si? Can you share your blog link?

[Latbear4blk]

6 hours ago, JuanP said:

I saw the posts, maybe I skimmed but they didn’t seem to be BA, but a more rural town.  Si? Can you share your blog link?

You are correct, you should skip all the first posts about Corrientes, and look for the ones towards the end of the thread, they are about Buenos Aires. The link to my blog is my signature here.

[axiom2001]

I was last in Argentina (Buenos Aires) and other related places in 2011, but prior to that time, I'd previously gone 5Xs.  ...had three distinct tour guides, all gay.  One is professional but does NOT intercede in terms of escorts and/or "taxi boys."  He's a superb guide and will show you or arrange the best for you while you're in BsAs.  I stayed in different hotels and rented 3 very nicely appointed and reasonably priced apartments, the latter being in Palermo and a penthouse.  There's a gay apartment agency which is superb; if you check www.gayargentina.com and/or https://.gaybuenosaires.com-- you perhaps will see what I mean.  Also, check out https://.gaycities.com/BuenosAires.  ...hope this helps.

[msclelovr]

I very much like the culture, nightlife and architecture in Buenos Aires @JuanP so I’ll try to answer your questions.

To put my comments in context, I have made more than 12 visits to Argentina. Each trip was for at least a month, but my last visit was 6 years ago after I witnessed 2 robberies/assaults in daylight in the best part of Buenos Aires.

You talk about the ‘holiday’ so I guess you mean Xmas-New Year. Most Argentines spend this time with their families, but there will be some guys in the city. Rich Argentines go to Punta del Este (Uruguay) for the beach, restaurants etc while middle-class portenos may be in the countryside or at some of the Argentine resorts. Generally the city is fairly deserted in the first 2 weeks of January but it will get busier as the month progresses and be back to normal (ie very hectic) in February.

If you go to Punta del Este, my strong advice is to take a companion from the city with you. You might meet a guy there, but it’s unlikely (unless you’re young and handsome). There was one gay beach years ago (close to the urban areas of Punta) but on my one visit it was all couples.

At the Argentine resorts such as Mar de Plata or Pina del Mar there may be some working guys from the city as well as local working guys. Mar de Plata had more of a scene and some guys advertising. 

You also mentioned skiing. I’ve done that in the Lake District and northern Patagonia, but I doubt the ski resorts will be open when you visit. I went in May and there was plenty of snow at the high elevations. You might be able to do some cross-country skiing but remember this is true wilderness: without a local guide, you can easily get lost and be beyond the range of any help from emergency services.

In BA itself (and I assume that you do speak Spanish) you will be able to contact working guys readily. If you’re reasonably fit, I’d suggest you frequent a local gym - the Megatlon chain had lots of gay men as members, and the Alto Palermo mall has a large Megatlon gym that was cruisy. 

My last pieces of advice are to dress well at all times (Argentines can be vain and they certainly take pride in their appearance), to stay in a hotel with good security (Reception will check the ID of any visitors to your room) and if you want to take a stranger home, please take him to a ‘telo’ (local term for a love-hotel that rents rooms by the hour). 

In BA there is no anti-gay discrimination and you are unlikely to encounter any prejudice. But it is very rare to see any PDA by gay men or lesbians.