Find a cheap flight to Buenos Aires for a great budget vacation
Anyone who regularly reads this blog knows that I try to mix up places with very cheap flights, along with places that are very cheap once you get there. Not enough people consider this second category as a way to have an affordable holiday so today I’ll be highlighting a world-class city that should be on everyone’s list.
Buenos Aires is deep into South America so until you actually visit it’s easy to assume that it’s similar to other large cities on the continent, but it’s actually quite unique. In most of South America you have a strong mix of local indigenous peoples plus a variety or two of colonial Europeans. In BA (as the locals call it) it’s pretty much 99% Europeans. In fact, walking along the grand boulevards you’d think you were in Europe if you didn’t know any better, with every last detail blending right in.
Destination: Buenos Aires
With flights starting around $800 from New York and a bit over $1000 from Los Angeles, flights to Buenos Aires are very similar to prices to Europe this summer, but unlike Europe, things in Buenos Aires are quite cheap once you get there.
Obviously being in the Southern Hemisphere makes you consider that going in their warmer months is wise. BA has a climate that is similar to Los Angeles, which means that it’s quite pleasant all year, but better for visiting during the 8 or so months that aren’t its winter. You also have to think about the sunlight issue, so going in June means that it’ll get dark around 5pm each day, which is less than ideal.
One odd feature of Buenos Aires is that it doesn’t have a single attraction or landmark that is world famous. There’s Eva Peron’s tomb in the Recoletta Cemetery, and there’s that boulevard that is 18 lanes wide, but neither of those are on par with famous sites in cities half the size or less.
The good part about this lack of checklist attractions is that it allows visitors to enjoy the city at their own pace. There are tango demonstrations hoping to fill seats at tango shows later that night, but otherwise it’s a gentle city where you can stroll around at your leisure and stop when and where you want with no pressure to see 5 cathedrals and 4 art museums like in so many other cities.
The food is also exceptional, especially for those who like beef. You might think that it’s an exaggeration to say that Argentina is obsessed with its beef, but it really isn’t. Look around and you’ll find it on almost every menu and on almost every lunch or dinner plate. It also happens to be excellent quality and cheap as well, so it’s one of the highlights for most visitors. Even vegetarians will have plenty of options as well, at prices that are very affordable, so just book a flight and go.