Buenos Aires - Bed

		Spirit and Soul The soft strains of a violin ease you into a rarified mood when you check in at the InterContinental Buenos Aires during evening hours. No surprise. The Montserrat area’s only five-star hotel is a classic, with its staff always thinking of ways to make your stay shine with Argentine spirit. Select rooms overlook the magnificent, early 18th-century San Juan Bautista Church. Other on-premises specialties of this recently refurbished 1930s modernist hideaway: a stylish lobby done in rich materials like leather and marble, the much-beloved Mediterraneo restaurant for fine Continental fare, and a full-service spa, complete with rejuvenating treatments (try The Californian if you’re stressed), a salon-style lap pool, and a healthy spread of fruits, cereals, and soothing herbal teas. Don’t cry for us, Argentina! Moreno 809 +54 11 4340 7100 www.buenos-aires.intercontinental.com

		Strictly Starck Monochromatic backgrounds punched with rich color set the stage for the theatrical Faena Hotel + Universe. The lasted work from French New Design master stylist Philippe Starck, the hotel attracts an eye-candy clientele of models, movie stars, and pop icons who share a love for Art Deco flair combined with New Millennium panache. Faena is a popular member of Leading Hotels of the World and part of the Kiwi Collection of top-notch hotels. Accents include curvy velvet couches, tufted leather and steel benches, rich red drapery, and simple yet exotic flower arrangements. Don’t forget your bathing suit as the pool is a scene to be seen. One proviso: Don’t take the sometimes-snooty staff seriously; they’re just trying to add to the atmosphere. 445 Martha Salotti +54 11 4010 9100 www.faenahotelanduniverse.com

		Deco Dependable For centrally located, long-term stays that won’t break the bank, Art Deco Hotel — close to the landmark Obelisco monument — offers no-frills, yet decent, digs with such helpful extras as a small business center and traditional Argentine breakfast. Friendly front desk personnel are extremely helpful to BA newbies, especially when asked where to buy fresh food. Because each of the 50 accommodations offers a full kitchen, on-premises cooking is encouraged — a true money saver for visitors on a budget. Warning: Be careful not to book a room with a balcony overlooking the busy street below. While you will get ample light, you will also welcome noise and car exhaust. Libertad 446 +54 11 4383 5049 www.artdecohotel.com.ar

		Up Above The ultra-contemporary Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel’s glass-enclosed, sky-high elevators literally top this friendly retreat’s list of attractive features, especially when riders ascend as they gaze down at the expansive atrium lobby below. This Hilton, in the exclusive Puerto Madero docklands district, boasts every amenity expected from one of the world’s legendary chains — plus the added convenience of extra-large dressing rooms (a real “must” in this gussied up city), an in-house wine bar (dispensing international and local labels), and two outstanding club floors (well worth the upgrade cost). There is also an extra special club lounge that features a pool table, free Internet, and al fresco seating. One major bonus for those who sleep in: Late checkouts tend to be granted, so be sure to ask before hitting the hay in the helpful Buenos Aires Hilton. 351 Macacha Güemes +54 11 4891 0000 www1.hilton.com