Vacation Rentals by Owner

I cannot recommend this apartment.

Guest: Ken (Palo Alto, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/12 Review Submitted: 05/14/12

My domestic partner and I rented this apartment in Buenos Aires (VRBO #188400) from January 6, 2012 to March 4, 2012. I believe that the owners treated us unethically. The description of the apartment, includes “an elevator.” On the fifth day of our stay, the elevator became inoperable. In that my domestic partner is disabled, it was impossible for him to climb the stairs to the apartment which is located on the fourth floor. The owner?s wife provided alternate housing for seven days, but did not offer us substitute housing following that seven-day period. We asked for a refund for the remaining days of our lease, and she declined our request. Since our travel funds were depleted and we had no creditable assurance whether the elevator repairs would ever be completed, we returned to the United States. Regarding the apartment itself, there is a multi-level parking garage across the street. In order to alert passing pedestrians of cars which are exiting from the garage to the street a high-pitched, loud, and piercing electronic beep sounds. This occurs almost constantly during all hours of the day and night. Any semblance of tranquility in the apartment was destroyed by that electronic beep. Even with the windows closed in the living and dining rooms, and the air conditioning on, that electronic beep is penetratingly loud. I was only able to find relief from the noise by sitting in the kitchen, which is situated in the rear of the apartment. We learned from the VRBO website that the apartment was rented for a substantial period of time during our original lease period. Later, when the owner offered us a small sum to settle our dispute, he did not make us aware that he had re-rented the apartment. Once again, we believe that the owner and his wife behaved unethically by profiting further from our misfortune. They collected two rental incomes for the same period of time. Having rented and lived in this apartment, I can not recommend VRBO#188400 to anyone.

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The PERFECT Place to Stay in San Telmo

Guest: Paul, Tom, Barb, and Gary (Evanston, Il & Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/02/11 Review Submitted: 10/18/11

Seeing the pictures of the apartment in this ad, as I write this, brings back such a flood of fantastic memories. I think of it as "our place" in Buenos Aires. Four of us rented the apartment for a week in October. It was the perfect place to stay in San Telmo: walking distance to subway stops, across the street from a bakery, feet away from lots of art stores & restaurants, and the center of the Sunday street market. The view from the balconies allows you to see all of this, plus modern high-rises in the distance. Let's not forget the tango music drifting in from the dance school across the street. We spent our days exploring Buenos Aires, returning to the apartment in late afternoon to enjoy drinks in the light-bathed living room, with the balcony doors open. The beds are comfortable, the water pressure is great, the lighting is perfect, the bathrooms are modern, and the appliances are up-to-date. What you see in the pictures is what you get. Alejandro, the protrero, is available to help with any questions you might have about the space and is super-friendly. Grisel and her husband were easy to work with beforehand, quickly answering questions via e-mail. When we knew we would arrive 12 hours late (thanks, Aerolineas Argentinas!), Grisel went with the flow and still met us the next morning to let us in and to orientate us. She arranged for a great driver to pick us up from the airport. When we left BA for Iguazu, we asked Grisel to recommend a hotel where we could plop ourselves down between flights for nine hours the next week, en-route back to the States. She communicated with us while we were on the road and, when a previously arranged renter did not show up for the apartment, she allowed us to stay there for that day! She truly went above and beyond and helped to make our stay such a pleasant one. When we return to BA, we have already decided there is no reason to stay anyplace else.

Owner response:Thank you for the nice words. It was a pleasure having you stay at Defensa and hope you can come back to Buenos Aires again. Warm regards. grisel

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Exceeded Expectation!

Guest: David V. (Ottawa, Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

I had a wonderful two week stay in this gorgeous apartment - a top shelf residence with a superb location. The interior is very well appointed with wonderful lighting in every room and the layout is very comfortable. Everything is exactly where one would expect it and there are lots of maps and guide books to help become acquainted with the area. The kitchen is large and well stocked and includes a handy breakfast corner. The bed in the Master bedroom is possibly the most comfortable I have ever used! The view up Defensa Street from the French-style balcony is wonderful, yet there is almost no street noise! The apartment is very secure and the location is well lit and policed. The management was very professional and the check-in/ check-out process was seamless. I would definitely rent this apartment again!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

wonderful stay

Guest: santamonica (maryland)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

My wife and 18yr old son stayed here for four nights in april while visiting our older son who's studying in buenos aires for a semester. We had a great time. The apartment is lovely, with wonderful french doors opening onto small balconies overlooking defensa street. On sundays you can look up and down the street and watch people setting up for the fair. It's a short walk to Plaza Dorrego, and there are lots of cafes and restaurants nearby. Grisel, the owner, teaches english and is very nice. The inside bedrooms are quiet and the apartment is very nicely decorated. Highly recommended.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your beautiful comment. Hope to see you back in BA for more days. Warm regards, Grisel and Jerry

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Tango in San Telmo

Guest: Graham and Cecilia (Sydney, Australia)
Date of Stay: 12/11/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/11

This is a superb property in a superb location in arguably the best and certainly the most interesting area of Buenos Aires. Forget Palermo and Ricoleta. Old money and old hat. San Telmo is where it's at, the cradle of the Tango and gentrified just enough not to lose the slight edge and character that makes Buenos Aires such a compelling destination. We spent 15 nights here and couldn't have been happier - a Parisian style apartment with plenty of old fashioned touches like the incredible central wrought-iron elevator but with all the requisite mod cons. Some of the city's best restaurants are in walking distance but a full kitchen and trusty oven enabled us to execute our own culinary triumph on Christmas Day - exquisite slow-cooked Patagonian lamb obtained from the butcher just around the corner. So much about this place is great, like the decor, the supremely comfortable beds and efficient air conditioners. But to overlook Calle Defensa on market day and soak up the most incredible sights and sounds from the street below was certainly one of the most memorable travel experiences we've had on any continent. Our thanks go to Grisel for such thoughtful gestures as sending a car to pick us up from the airport and inviting us to join her one night at a local milonga, where we were able to witness her own prowess on the tango dance floor. Sensational! She also provides you with all the information you need to enjoy the area to the fullest, from restaurant tips to where you can learn to tango yourself. All in all, a highly professional and warm approach from the owners, a beautiful character-filled property and much of the best that Buenos Aires has to offer literally at your feet. Our advice? If the calendar is open, book it! Bueno! Muchos gracias!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Thank you!

Guest: John W. and Jo (Taos, NM)
Date of Stay: 04/13/10 Review Submitted: 04/24/10

Hi Grisel & Jerry........Just a quick thank you note - we had a most enjoyable time in BA & your apartment was wonderful. We arrived back in Taos almost 24 horas exactly from the time we left the apt........we did get a few broken hours of sleep on the plane but we are both quite tired from the trip as there was some sort of medical emergencia which caused an interruption of the quiet hours. Anyway thanks so much again. You live in a most wonderful city & we appreciate all your assistance Grisel..........Buen noche y buen Vida........Adios

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/20/10 Review Submitted: 02/20/10

This apartment is the perfect retreat after a day of sightseeing and tango dancing in Buenos Aires. It is light and airy and the beautiful artwork was an added bonus. The apartment is situated in the absolutely perfect location in San Telmo, with great little sidewalk cafes just down the street, a gelato shop on the corner, and a fabulous French bistro within a block. I was a little concerned about the neighborhood at first, but San Telmo is full of life and charm and we grew to love it. We especially enjoyed being literally on top of the famous Sunday antiques market, plus all the fabulous antique (and other stores) on the less busy weekdays. We were there during a heat wave in January, and it was absolutely heavenly to walk into our lovely and COOL apartment at the end of a very hot day. Cabs are plentiful to take you away to any other part of the city within minutes--but we often stayed in San Telmo at night and enjoyed walking to some of the best restaurants in the city. Looking forward to our next visit! Lin & Bob from San Anselmo, CA

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/04/09 Review Submitted: 09/04/09

Thank you for the wonderful experience at your apartment in San Telmo. Caitriona and I had an amazing vacation and the apartment was a big reason for the success! We're back in San Francisco after a very long day of travel.. Already missing Petanque, 1880 and the rest of San Telmo.. not to mention all of BA! Thanks again and best to both of you - M.A, San Francisco

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Guest: James32 (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 07/20/09 Review Submitted: 07/20/09

Put simply, this is a fantastic place to stay in a spectacular city. From previous visits to Buenos Aires, I knew San Telmo would be a great neighbourhood to be based in, but the apartment exceeded my expectations in every way (well, all except the roadwork going on out front on Defensa, but the owners have no control over city works!). Well-appointed, comfortable, elegant... it truly was a pleasure to feel a bit like a "Porteno" and to be able to come home to our own apartment every night. Walking distance to an abundance of cafes, restaurants, historical markers, tango shows, and *increasingly* the trendy shops previously only found in Palermo, San Telmo is a delight (with a delightful history!)... Easy cab ride (or why not try the efficient bus lines? ) to all other points of interest in the city... And it was very easy and professional interacting with the owners and property managers.

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Guest: Bruce & Valerie (Ottawa, On, Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/09/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/09

Valerie and I enjoyed two fantastic weeks as guests at TANGO Pied - a- Terre. The apartment is truly warm and it is as beautiful as it looks on line. Grisel and Jerry are a joy to deal with and they made us feel comfortable and at home. Raul looked after all the deatils when we were in BA, and he is a real gentlemen. From the apartment we were readily able to explore the city. You should not miss the open air market on the weekend which is happening just outside the front door! Be sure to bargain to make it more fun. Taxis are inexpensive and every where, but it is safe day and night so feel free to get out and walk the streets. The streets are pulsing with music, and people of all ages late into the night. Embrace it all, for soon enough you will return to your home. Grisel, please let us know if you are coming to Ottawa so we can show you the beautiful city here in Canada. Ciao !!!! Bruce & Valerie

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Guest: Nancy Stuart (Canyon Lake, Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/16/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/09

My husband and I stayed here in March and were so happy with our choice. We had looked at the typical cookie cutter apartments in the new buildings going up in the Palermo area and were amazed that this property was available. The apartment is well appointed with modern features, nice artwork, lots of light and overall extremely comfortable and quiet. The two bedrooms with comfy bedding are more interior bedrooms, but this is a major plus as they are quiet at night. The neighborhood has very little car traffic, but the nightlife is plentiful and fun and can be a little noisy on the street in the wee hours sometimes. The view, from the French balconies, is over Defensa street and from there you see the tree lined street of Chile, which is delightfully full of outdoor cafes and historic old buildings. On Sundays, you can look out over the Sunday market which stretches for many blocks from Plaza de Mayo past Plaza Dorrego.The apartment, located in San Telmo, is in a wonderful, historic and bohemian neighborhood that is seeing a resurgence in popularity and an infusion of money from the city to upgrade it's streets and sidewalks. Outdoor cafes, antique shops and famous bars are out your front door. Within a few blocks of the apartment, you’ll find a Supermercado, several Tango Clubs, Plaza Dorrego, and lots of great food. Slightly longer walks will take you to Plaza de Mayo, Puerto Madero and La Boca, another historic and even older neighborhood. If you’re not into walking, you are just blocks from Ave. Paseo Colon and lots of buses or several subway stops are in the vicinity. Taxis are plentiful in the area as well. We had a great time and were delighted to meet the owner of the apartment on our last day. You all did a great job on the apartment and we look forward to sending friends there if not a return trip for ourselves. N.StuartMarch 12 -17, 2009

Owner response:Thank you Nancy! We are so glad that you had a good time and you enjoyed the apt. Warm regards, Grisel and Jerry

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Guest: Y. Shimizu (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/08/08 Review Submitted: 12/08/08

If you want to experience the good old Buenos Aires, don't miss this apartment! Enter the building, and you feel like you are in an old French movie with gorgeous wrote iron elevator in the middle of marble staircase waiting for you. Of course, the apartment itself is superb. Newly renovated by an architect owner, it is not just new with old details, but also with a great taste. On the corner of two main streets of San Telmo, great restaurants and coffee shops are all right in a few blocks' distance, and there will be a flea market on Sundays right in front of the apartment. Neighborhood is so beautiful just to take a walk around the area is a great experience. Nightlife is right around the corner too, but because of how the apartment is situated, it is actually nice and quiet even if there is a big parties at bars near by. Lots of locals suggested us to stay in Palermo, the big shopping/dining/clubbing center. It may be a bit far to get there, but the taxi ride is so easy and inexpensive, we were so glad to stay in this beautiful area/apartment rather than staying in the middle of sometimes too chaotic Palermo. Would we stay in this apartment again? Definitely! We cannot think of staying anything else in BA.

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Guest: Fiona4 (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 11/20/08 Review Submitted: 11/20/08

A wonderful apartment in a great location in a beautiful, cosmopolitan city! The apartment is lovely and very comfortable -- beds, kitchen, livingroom were all just right and had everything you could want. And it is professionally managed locally. The location was perfect for us - 6 blocks to either the Plaza de Mayo or the Plaza Dorrego. We loved the older neighborhood of San Telmo with its beautiful architecture and hip restaurants and galleries. Overall, a great experience. Thanks!

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