Vacation Rentals by Owner

Paris Style in Buenos Aires

Guest: Bob & Charlotte
Date of Stay: 03/22/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

Hi We just wanted to tell you that we enjoyed our stay at your apartment at Forcadell Apartments. We found things as advertised and were happy with the location. We spent our 6 days there visiting tourist and histroic sites in BA. We particularly enjoyed the antique and craft market in San Telmo on Sunday. We picked up a copy (probably bootleg) of "Evita" there and watched it one evening. With no need to watch it again we left the DVD in the apartment so that other visitors may also watch it. Again, thanks

Recommended for:

Perfection.

Guest: Mayra
Date of Stay: 03/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/18/12

Giacomo your apartment is absolutely gorgeous! It is very well located and well equipped. Just perfect! Perfection needs to be highlighted and your property offers more than any visitor can expect or ask for.....far, far more! Thanks so much and I hope I can visit Buenos Aires again soon. And definitively, stay in your apt again

Recommended for:

Comfortable Stay

Guest: artist and lawyer (Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/19/12 Review Submitted: 03/11/12

The apartament is located in the centre of Buenos Aires inside a very old building. I recomend this apartment for its comfort and central location. The description and the photos give you a very accurate perspective of the apartment. The owners were kind and helpful and i recomend it to anyone traveling to Buenos Aires to vacation. I forget how restricted one can be when going out for dinner. If you are vegetarian or celliac you will have problems finding a place to eat. Argentinians eat a lot of cow meat pasta and potatoes.

Owner response:Thanks Charlotte. Your comments about the food is so true. Personally, as an Italian, i gotta have pasta just about everyday. I cook it a thousand different sauces...the meat once a week is enough...but what great meat it is. Vegetarians or Celliac's do have difficulty dealing with this when you go out , they are improving though and sprining up here and there.... i sympathize...but then again in this apt you have all the utensils and amenities to eat in. best regards giacomo

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

It's the way it's drescribed

Guest: ivan and jana (nova scotia, canada)
Date of Stay: 01/21/12 Review Submitted: 01/27/12

All features that we used were as described: Central location, very well equipped, relatively large apartment in a nice well-managed building, clean, etc. We had a small problem when we arrived but it was immediately solved by the very friendly and effective receptionists and when we communicated with Giacomo, he immediately suggested a phone call to discuss details. We highly recommend this apartment.

Owner response:thanks so much for taking the time to give your review. enjoy Salta and the rest of your trip.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Like a European vacation, without the Euro... Life in Buenos Aires the "old" way...

Guest: Traveler2Much (Portland, Oregon, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/06/11

Solo traveler spent six nights living an average porteño life in central Buenos Aires. The grocery stores, coffee shops, steak dinners and nightlife are all at your fingertips. The apartment itself is not only 100% provisioned, but is a statement in style and comfort. Modern enhancements (like the air conditioing & entertainment system) don't take away from this wonderfully restored old parisian style apartment. I loved the king size bed and closet space for my clothes. I'm not so critical about bathrooms and related, but channeling my ex-wife...I'm pretty sure she would have loved it (counter space, water pressure, and lots of light). The neighborhood is, shall I say..."authentic". The narrow streets, crush of pedestrian, bike and auto traffic during peak periods...gives you plenty to absorb while wandering to the subway, Florida Ave or a caferteria. In addition, working with the Latellas was a pleasure and will gladly rent again next time I return to Buenos Aires.

Owner response:Thanks so much Brian. Like you my wife and I travel regularly and we love to experience the 'local' aspects on offer and we are glad you found it here. That you loved the Parisian style of the apartment & quality of provisions confirms our belief that people like the idea of 'options' even though they might not want to take advantage of them. regards giacomo

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

A great apartment and location for sightseeing

Guest: JCG (Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/08/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

The pictures were very accurate and the apartment managers were most helpful in getting us set up for our stay and also in helping us with travel advice. The apartment has a complete kitchen and there are many nearby places to purchase food to cook if you choose to...it made for a nice combination of eating in and out. The location, though not in fashionable Recoleta, was so central to so many places for both sightseeing and shopping. The only draw back..which seems related to most apartments is the matter of the cash damage deposit..there must be a better way to do this. Highly recommend.

Owner response:Thanks for you positive review. All of my clients to date have had the same feeling regarding the location and ammenites of the apartment, which is heartning. Your point regarding the damage deposit is valid and I also would like to change it but it appears that this option is THE option in Argentina. The reason being according to Raul my greet and meet agent is because of the Great Financial Cricis of Argentina in 2001 when so many people 'lost' money big time in various ways in cluiding credit card fraud and Government 'intervention'...the couontry now works on cash and cash only. Something for visitors to keep in mind when going shopping....pay cash and ask for a discount.

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

Summer stay in Buenos Aires - 12th Feb to 7th March, 2011

Guest: Mary-Jane (Sydney, Australia)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

This was my first visit to South America and B.A. and this apartment really made my stay so lovely. It is elegant and beautifully kept and also well equipped. I met the owner Giacomo in Sydney before I flew over, and he was so pleasant, helpful, informative and honest to deal with. The apartment is very central to so many places, and I enjoyed walking to galleries, attractions and performances - especially with shady parks en route and lovely architecture to look at. I felt very secure in this place and returning at night felt safer than at home in Sydney! I stayed almost 4 weeks, and it was wonderful to have a base there - I just shut the door and went to Iguasu Falls for a couple of days, coming back to this home away from home ready to resume my exploration of this city. I can really recommend the Tango shows at the Borges Cultural Centre - just a walk away, and a fraction of the price of the big price tourist shows! An Argentinian couple, whom I met at a restaurant table next to mine, told me that's where they go. There are amazing art galleries and museums around B.A. - many within walking distance, and the others only an inexpensive taxi ride away. The concierge will recommend which taxi company to call. There are so many good restaurants around B.A., and the custom is to arrive (very!) late like the locals. So it was good to have the well-equipped kitchen for some self home cooking - for the nights when I felt like relaxing over dinner earlier in the evening with a glass of good Mendoza wine. I hope to return to B.A. one day, and I will certainly stay here again.

Owner response:Thanks so much Mary J. The appreciation was mutual. I well understand the importance of feeling comfortable with stated aspects of apartments clients inquire about and I'm glad to hear you found everything to be as described. giacomo

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

Outstanding Experience

Guest: Amy C. (Farmington, CT)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/24/11

We had a wonderful experience in Giacomo's apartment. It's beautifully decorated (I especially loved the high ceilings and beautiful architectural details), has more ameneties than you could ever find in a hotel, it's very safe, and the location is very central in Buenos Aires. This was my first time using VRBO and I was a little unsure of what to expect, but my stay here exceeded even my best expectations. Giacomo and Cecilia (who manages the property on site) were a pleasure to work with. The staff in the apartment were also very kind and helpful - they even let us leave our luggage with them after we checked out so we could explore the city instead of sitting in the airport waiting for a 10pm flight.

Owner response:Amy's uncertainty about using VRBO for the first time is to be expected by a first time user. I understand and respect that paying a deposit or the full rental amount to someone you deal with over the internet can cause some angst and I and my agent do our very best to accommodate a clients concerns. I am certainly not in the business of cheating someone of their hard earned cash ...that would completly destroy my aim of repeat business or referrals. If a potential client refers to the reviews of this apartment they can clearly see that we are very reliable and credible. Amy contacted me on quite a few occasions over a period of months prior to her arrival in BA. It was my pleasure to be able to provide her with information and advice the outcome of which is partly reflected in her review of the apartment. I hope I can do the same for all of my clients. Amy took good care of the apartment and facilities as have all of my clients to date. I never have had cause to decline a damage deposit. Ever. Thanks again Amy. I will be glad to welcome you or your friends anytime. regards giacomo

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

Great Location Excellent Value

Guest: Val (Arlington Hts, IL)
Date of Stay: 10/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/18/10

Hi ,Giacomo ! It was our first trip to BA and I think we are very lucky to stay in your apartment . Everything was as you described ,even better . City is beautiful and people are friendly. If someone who we know will decide to visit BA we will definitely recommend your place . Best Regards VAL & ALLA

Owner response:Thank you Val and Alla for the comments you posted. it is always a pleasure to know that when i have taken a booking the client is happy with what they got in return. I too am an apt renter when I am on vacation and appreciate my expectations being meet just as yours clearly have been. Your feedback is most welcome. iIam about to make some more small improvements over Christmas so should you ever come back to stay things will just a little bit better again because I want it to enhance my own comforts when I stay as well. Thanks again.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

I can't say enough good about this rental

Guest: Erica (Austin, TX, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/01/10 Review Submitted: 11/10/10

To begin I have to state that I lived an entire month in this lovely vacation rental. I also spent an inordinate amount of time in it because I was in BA for a medical holiday and was recuperating for 90% of the time. I found it to be extremely comfortable, clean, well equipped, and tastefully decorated. I am a veteran traveler and I generally prefer to stay in vacation rentals rather than hotels as they are typically quieter, more spacious and more relaxed. This was the only one that I can honestly say I was sad to leave. The ad description is very accurate. It is very well situated with convenient access to restaurants, grocers, a 24 hour pharmacy, and shopping. The building is classic construction and very well maintained. The internet was fast and only went down very briefly on two occasions during my extended stay which is more than I can say for my broadband at home. The owner is a joy to deal with and offered me lots of great advice about the city and was very honest and down to earth. I wouldn't hesitate to book this home again for either a short or long term rental. Seriously folks, you can't go wrong with it.

Owner response:Thank you Erica for offering such a personal review and in being upfront with me in all our communications. As I had already mentioned you are welcome back and so are any friends you refer. Regards giacomo

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

Quality furnishings, Quality location, Quality personel

Guest: Willie (Costa Rica)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

What a superb experience!!!. From the first step on Tucuman 900 we were exquisitely and diligently received by Mr. Franzini and staff (special mention to doorman Mauricio and maid Nelly). Your apartment is very cozy, well located and furnished with elegance and style. Its simple, clean layout makes it really enjoyable. Even that we spend little time "living it", when coming back from street we felt like "coming home". On the second week we discovered the small restaurant on the first floor of the building, surprisingly it has an exquisite cuisine, good prices and very warm personnel. As art and music enthusiasts we were thrilled with the proximity of Teatro Colon, museums, Corrientes music hall and theaters. We enjoyed it very much, specially Teatro Colon wich is Magnificent. No doubt, we will recommend your apartment to all our friends who are looking for an affordable, first rate accomodation on the beautiful Buenos Aires. Be sure you will hear from us again to stay on our home away from home, until then, best wishes of health and prosperity. W&L Pureto Rico

Owner response:Thank you so much for your review Willie. I recall your first email to me on a referral from your friend who had also stayed at my apt and it is very reassuring that you both had the same wonderful experience. Like you my wife and I also find this location just perfect and we love to come 'home' to such a stunning historical and magnificent building. We never tire of it.

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

Guest: Wilfred & Luz
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

Hola Giacomo, What a superb experience!!!. From the first step on Tucuman 900 we were exquisitely and diligently received by Mr. Franzini and staff (special mention to doorman Mauricio and maid Nelly). Your apartment is very cozy, well located and furnished with elegance and style. Its simple, clean layout makes it really enjoyable. Even that we spend little time "living it", when coming back from street we felt like "coming home". On the second week we discovered the small restaurant on the first floor of the building, surprisingly it has an exquisite cuisine, good prices and very warm personnel. As art and music enthusiasts we were thrilled with the proximity of Teatro Colon, museums, Corrientes music hall and theaters. We enjoyed it very much, specially Teatro Colon wich is Magnificent. No doubt, we will recommend your apartment to all our friends who are looking for an affordable, first rate accomodation on the beautiful Buenos Aires. Be sure you will hear from us again to stay on our home away from home, until then, best wishes of health and prosperity. W&L Pureto Rico

Recommended for:

Our "home" in Buenos Aires

Guest: Willie (Costa Rica)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

What a superb experience!!!. From the first step on Tucuman 900 we were exquisitely and diligently received by Mr. Franzini and staff (special mention to concierge Mauricio and maid Nelly). Your apartment is very cozy, well located and furnished with elegance and style. Its simple, clean layout makes it really enjoyable. Even that we spend little time "living it", when coming back from street we felt like "coming home". On the second week we discovered the small restaurant on the first floor of the building, surprisingly it has an exquisite cuisine, good prices and very warm personnel. As art and music enthusiasts we were thrilled with the proximity of Teatro Colon, museums, Corrientes' music halls and theaters. We enjoyed it very much, specially Teatro Colon wich is Magnificent. No doubt, we will recommend your apartment to all our friends who are looking for an affordable, first rate accomodation on the beautiful Buenos Aires. Be sure you will hear from us again to stay on our home away from home, until then, best wishes of health and prosperity.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Value, Great Location

Guest: Jill & Bill (Sydney, NSW, Australia)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/02/10

We enjoyed our week's stay at this very convenient location. Having a supermarket next door is so convenient. The apartment was very clean & well-maintained, the photos very accurate. I used the drying area on the roof which was great. I suggest not to send any mail from Buenos Aires. I sent 10 postcards to Australia, England & USA not one was received. Three minutes walk at night to many restaurants with good food & cheap prices. Thank you to Giacomo for his helpful information. We enjoyed our stay here very much & would recommend to everyone.

Owner response:Thank you Jill and Bill for taking the time to write your review and I am so glad you felt comfortable and welcome in my Apartment.

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

Great Value, Great Location, Great Size

Guest: K Mel (Canda)
Date of Stay: 03/28/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

We loved the apartment and I will put a note on your VRBO site. My relatives came to the apartment. They live in Buenos Aires and thought that the apartment was great. They got the VRBO information and will pass it along to other visitors. The apartment was very good and your pictures depict it correctly. It was very clean, well presented and maintained. We were very comfortable there.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your lovely comments giacomo

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fantastic value Fantastic Apartment and Location

Guest: K S (Coquitlam, BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/07/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

We had a lovely stay in BA and really enjoyed the apt. It was a peaceful place to come home to after the hustle and bustle of the big city. The location is excellent - so close to so much. You have everything one could possibly need in the apt. We had a small problem with the AC remote control working intermittently, probably needed new batteries. The only improvement we could recommend would be to get some kind of seating on the rooftop - perhaps a table, chairs and umbrella. We like to sit and read outside to wind down a bit. Also, being able to use the washing machine was wonderful, perhaps some written instructions might help, as it was kind of hard to see the settings on the machine due to the limited space in that area. Your agent Raul is a big plus - he was really accommodating when we changed our arrival time and was very helpful - would make a great tour guide! All in all, we loved our time in BA and the rest of the country. We covered a lot of territory and saw some amazing places. Am now a Malbec drinker instead of Cabernet- who knew! Oh, one more thing - I am allergic to feathers, but was happy to find extra non feather pillows and blankets, so was not a problem. Will definitely recommend your apt to friends and thanks for providing the apt at such a great price - it's nice not to be gouged everywhere!

Owner response:Thank you for such a nice review KS. Re the chairs , table and umbrella for the rooftop it is a good idea and something I have been working on. The building though consists of 28 different owners and I have to get them all to agree. In the meantime I am looking for a suitable fold up chair to leave in my apt for clients to use...though the client would have to take them up via the lift and down again each time. Apart from the BBQ (Parallia) the rooftop is also a great place to excercise. The difficulty in knowiing where to set the dial on the washing machine is understandable and I am aware of it, that's why it is actually highlighted in the General Info doc I send to all confirmed bookings...to improve it I will now also arrange to have it listed somewhere near the machine itself. The AC remote does work but it seems the batteries 'die' quite quickly no matter which brand we use. The agent is aware of this and in future will show the client the best place to stand to effect the on off button. Regards Giacomo

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Elegant Apartment Beautifully Decorated Central Location

Guest: Lloyd J (Montreal, Quebec) (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/07/10 Review Submitted: 06/20/10

My wife and I stayed for one month in "our" wonderful downtown apartment. It was very central and was a peaceful haven after each day's adventure. We initially arrived 2 days late because of an airplane hydraulic system problem in Santiago de Chile. Raul was kind enough to meet us at the apartment at midnight to give us our keys, etc! We were interested in taking Tango lessons and the Confiteria Ideal was just down the street on Suipacha. After several lessons we were hooked and are now taking classes in Montreal. In fact, everything seemed very central. The apartment was just like the photos and lacked nothing. We had some difficulty in turning on the air conditioning unit with the remote. We ended up manually plugging and unplugging it, as there is a 4-step step-ladder, which was also handy for the top shelves in the kitchen. So it was really no problem. The apartment was very quiet and cool, even without the air conditioner, as the sun did not penetrate directly in through the windows. This is a big plus in Buenos Aires in February. We plan to return to Buenos Aires next year and will for sure be contacting Giacomo later in the year. All the best!

Owner response:It was a rewarding experience to have Lloyd and his wife stay at my apartment. From Lloyd's initial point of contact he was always open, forthcomming and helpful. Having advised me they had spent the previous 6 holidays holidaying in Australia I was hoping they would have a similar experience and relationship with Argentina...and so an ongoing relationship renting my apartment. This appears to be the case and I look forward to welcoming Lloyd and his wife back early next year. Regarding the AC remote control it appears that the batteries 'die' quicker than what seems 'normal' and to compensate for this my agent now makes sure that there are spare batteries available. Thank you.

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/20/10 Review Submitted: 01/20/10

Si busca un aparthotel espacioso, bien localizado, muy lindo decorado, con cama King, cocina moderna y equipada, baño moderno, clóset amplio y sobretodo silencioso, este es el lugar. If you´re looking for a spacious apart-hotel, beautifully decorated, with a king size bed, modernand equipped kitchen, sacious closet and specially silent, this is the place. 24 hour concierge service, wireless Internet, food delivery, supermarket walking distance from supermarkets, shopping stores, Teatro Colon, subway... highly recomended. Will come back again.

Recommended for:

Great Value Great Location

Guest: Dav M (Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/08/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

We enjoyed our stay very much and we have already recommended it to some friends. The apartment is so quiet. Having access to the rooftop was great which compensates for the lack of balcony or view. Your agents Raul and Cecilia were very helpful and the staff on the first floor were helpful even though we were not their guests. From our perspective, the location could not be better. Certainly, we would be happy to recommend your apartment, Thanks for everything.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your favourable comments. Having a good managing and engaged agent makes a significant difference and im glad your experiences were positive. giacomo

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.