Title: Frommer’s Buenos Aires 2009

Intro: If you are unfamiliar with Frommer’s guidebooks they are wordy, upscale guides that focus on a slightly older more experienced crowd with money to spend on hotels, restaurants, and entertainment and offer lengthy sections on trip planning. The do lack photos, but they do a good job for the most part of giving you an idea of what to expect and the authors are among the most experienced in the guidebook business (I’m one of them). The Buenos Aires Guide is no different. It is written bu a knowledgable author who clearly did his research on the country while living there and really sets to define what Frommer’s guides are about.

Highlights:
-There is a very detailed section on Tango that includes salons, palaces, and halls; information on lessons and rules.
– Detailed and up to date gay and lesbian information.
-The Dining section and food information takes up about a fifth of the book, which is quite useful considering many people head to Buenos Aires for food and wine.
-An extremely helpful fact is that this guide is based on Buenos Aires after the fall of the peso. Argentina had to redefine itself hen their currency could no longer allow them to import expensive goods from abroad and an entire new economy grew out of making original and native products and adapting food and restaurant menus to local ingredients. The information is very relevant in finding these new places that are helping recreate the Buenos Aires that everyone once knew.
-The self guided City Strolls/Walking Tour parts are one of the best I’ve seen in a Frommer’s title. There are five in all and they cover just about every major site in the city.
-The section on Side Trips from Buenos Aires is extensive, and even includes Montevideo, Uruguay and Mar del Plata.

Author: Michael Luongo is a well known writer on Argentina and has written about the country for many publications including the New York Times.

Other: The book is purchased by every 1 out of 10 Americans heading to Argentina, so says the authors website and I don’t doubt it. The book release party in New York was attended by more than 400 people.

To buy, click here.

Nicholas Gill (470 Posts)

Writer and photographer Nicholas Gill is the editor/publisher of New World Review. He lives in Lima, Peru and Brooklyn, New York. His work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CondeNast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Afar, and Penthouse. Visit his personal website (nicholas-gill.com) for more information.