Renting an Apartment in Buenos Aires: Tips from a Reputable Agent
Want to know the most the most common problems encountered when renting a furnished apartment in Buenos Aires? How about which neighborhoods to stay in and which to avoid? Or the best time of year to visit the city?
To get answers to these and other questions about renting in BA, I interviewed a local expert.
Adriana Perillo (center) is a popular, highly regarded agent who helps tourists rent furnished apartments in Buenos Aires through her company RentinBANow. She also arranges city tours, tango shows and excursions. I interviewed Adriana and she offered some fantastic tips for anyone planning a trip to Buenos Aires. You can read her tips below.
Adriana, what’s the best neighbourhood to stay in while vacationing in BA?
First, Palermo/Barrio Norte, second Recoleta, and third San Telmo/Montserrat. However, the choice will depend a lot on what you are looking for during your stay.
Downtown, which is also called MicroCentro, is best for those people who are going to be in BA for a short time and want to be near many of the major tourist attractions. It’s also good for tango lovers since many tango studios and milongas are in this part of the city. However, it does have its disadvantages. It is an extremely busy area. There’s a lot of traffic, the streets are narrow and there is also pollution. So if travellers are more concerned about going out and jumping right in the middle of the action and want to enjoy nightlife, this may be a good option for them. On the other hand, if they prefer a more serene experience, they should stay away from MicroCentro.
Travellers who want to stay in a more upscale part of the city, they may have to consider Retiro, Recoleta and Barrio Norte. Renting here will be a bit more expensive than other neighborhoods. Here visitors will find a lot of the expensive and upscale restaurants, shopping malls, nightclubs, art galleries, and parks. Barrio Norte is better than Recoleta and Retiro in the sense that there are more bus and subway lines which makes it faster and cheaper to travel around.
The largest neighborhood in Buenos Aires is Palermo. If travellers are looking for a laid back trip, this is a great place to stay. There are a lot of beautiful green areas to go for a walk or to go jogging, as well as the Japanese Gardens, Rose Gardens, and Botanical Gardens. What’s more, the City Zoo is also here, making it an ideal place to stay with kids. In addition there is a great range of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, if visitors are interested in the city’s nightlife.
Palermo Soho and Hollywood are also part of Palermo. Soho is the place to shop, eat and drink. There are nice designer shops, exotic restaurants, and cool coffee shops on every corner. Time can also be spent walking around, sipping coffee in book stores, visiting many of the independent art galleries or just taking it easy. Hollywood is ideal for party animals who want to go out and have fun through the night.
San Telmo and Montserrat are good options as well. These are the oldest parts of the city and are much more interesting architecturally. Great colonial buildings, as well as art nouveau and art deco ones can be found. In this part of the city there are lots of tango clubs and shows. You can take lessons in the many tango schools or just see street performers. Staying in this part of the city can be an exciting way to experience old world Buenos Aires. There are also many bus and subway lines. Downtown and Puerto Madero are within walking distance. Montserrat is famous for its excellence in Spanish cuisine, whereas San Telmo boasts the charm of its Sunday Flea Market, antique shops, and independent art galleries.
What’s the average price that tourists can expect to pay for a furnished apartment in Buenos Aires for two weeks?
Between USD$500 and $900 for a one bedroom apartment. Price will depend on apartment characteristics such as size, services and equipment, quality, maintenance, as well as building amenities. Other factors are location, whether it’s on a high or low floor, whether it faces the street or the back of the building, if it’s sunny or a bit gloomy, or modern or old.
What are the most common problems or complaints that someone might have with their apartment?
The most common complaints are generally poor broadband connectivity or lack of it due to server problems. Noise level is another complaint. Argentineans are fond of meeting friends, or having parties on weekends.
Older apartments may occasionally experience maintenance issues, so electricians or plumbers might have to be called, and they do not always come as quickly as we would like. Renting a modern apartment reduces the chance of having a problem.
Are most apartment owners Porteños or foreigners?
Most of the owners are Porteños.
When’s the best time of year to visit Buenos Aires?
A good time to come would be September to mid December. January and February can be really hot, and then March to May are in my opinion the best months to come — sunny, warm days, clear sky, very pleasant indeed.
Any other tips?
When renting an apartment it is always best to do it through an agent or owner who has been recommended to you. Many times it is hard to find good apartments available directly from owners since most owners list with agencies. All major rental agencies are roughly equal in terms of service.
Writing email or phoning will give travellers the chance to get to know who is behind the holiday accommodation. Many apartments may look fabulous in pictures but what they have to know is whether or not the street is on a major bus route. It won’t matter how great the colonial French style architecture is in their San Telmo apartment if they can’t sleep at night. I, personally, take time when answering mails, trying to satisfy all customers’ doubts.
It is important for travellers to know they are going to have someone who can be of service, speaks the language, and cares about their experience during their stay. For example, who do you contact if you lose the keys or need extra sheets or pillows?
I feel that my responsibility starts with the first e-mail or phone call and finishes at check-out. At check-in my colleagues and I do not just drop off keys, or simply have a contract signed, but we spend time showing things on the map, explaining where things are and how things work in the apartment as well as the neighborhood, and the do’s and don’ts of the new city. We are also in close contact with customers by mail or phone.
As a bonus, we regularly send our clients information about what is going on in Buenos Aires, which places to go to, shows, plays, exhibits to see and concerts not to miss — tips not found in any guide book. Since we work with a wholesaler tour operator we can arrange a trip to any part of Argentina without the customer leaving the apartment. We also can get tickets to tango shows, some football matches (the ones we consider safe), a day or weekend at an authentic Argentinean estancia, city tours, or other interesting tours in the city. We want travellers to feel at home and to share the special tips that will make their trip and stay very enjoyable.
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If you would like to contact Adriana about an apartment, or to get more information, her contact information is below:
Adriana Perillo
Rental Manager
www.rentinbanow.com
rentinbanow@gmail.com
Skype: rentinbanow
Mobile: (54) 911 51 74 14 99
