Salto, Argentina

Magical!

Our family's stay at La Fortuna was magical! It was one of the best weeks I have had the pleasure to be a part of. This home is magnificent, incredibly designed. And the service matched. It was Downton Abbey on steroids. We dined on stunning crystal and woke up to horses grazing outside our bedroom window. We were a family of 15 which included 4 children under the age of three that wore smiles the entire week. Maybe you have to love horses and the dream of riding around a magnificent tree lined estate each morning and during magnificent sunsets. By the end of the week the once skittish adults were cantering around the grounds. It is a long way to travel but well worth the opportunity to live in a dream world and have all your family think the same. Thank you for the love you have put into this property and most of all for sharing it with others! We can't wait to return.”

Fantastico!!!!!

A most extraordinary week! We give it 10 stars! Which would be only a tiny fraction of the lights in the night sky by as we sipped wine by the Ring of Fire privately serenaded by a guitarist. The estancia is beautiful; the art and architecture alone are worth the trip. However, there is much more - the staff was exceptional and the available activities a delight. Do not miss the Argentine barbecue served at the pool house, or the horseback riding through the many picturesque arbors, or a tour of the property in one of the many beautiful carriages or the impressive gaucho riding demonstration,... Our stay at La Fortuna will always be a treasured memory. Note: We were fortunate that one of our group was fluent in Spanish as the on site staff spoke little English. ”

BETTER THAN AWESOME

Estancia La Fortuna will forever hold a special place in our hearts. The week we spent there was extremely special. The property and grounds are outstanding, over-the-top beautiful. Flocks of wild parakeets nest in the 150 foot trees that surround the home. It is simultaneously exotic, classical, and comfortable. For those who watch PBS, we felt like we were at Downton Abbey. All of the staff were attentive to our every need. Thank you Massimo for having this property available on 3rd Home. If you want a week of pure relaxation in an AMAZING setting, just go. The Estancia is just 2 or 2.5 hours driving from Buenos Aires. We had never been to Argentina, so the biggest impediment for us were the details of how to make it all happen. So, in the spirit of sharing, here is what worked for us: First, we always felt safe in Argentina. The Argentine people were more than gracious and always helpful. The food and drink were excellent (best beef in the world and several amazing restaurants). We drank the water out of the tap. Everything we worry about when traveling was not a concern in Argentina. We flew to Bueno Aires (EZE) airport. We took a taxi ($40 US) to our hotel the amazing Park Hyatt Duhau Palace (booked online AARP rate if you are over 50). Upon arrival they offered suite upgrades at much less than the online price. Next, we went to a "casa de cambio" near what is called the Travel Bank (not really a bank) on Posada street a short walking distance from hotel, rang a buzzer to get in, and safely and privately exchanged U.S. dollars for Argentina pesos. This was an important step because the official and "casa de cambio" exchange rates are very different. Official rate was 8.5 pesos for $1 and "casa de cambio" rate was nearly 13 pesos for $1. So, if you do this with dollars or euros, everything in Argentina is about 40% off. The hotel allowed us to pay our final bill in pesos so a $600 suite cost us $360. If you use a credit card, the offical rate applies. We stayed a few days in Buenos Aires and toured the beautiful european style city. Took a Taxi back to the airport (EZE) for 350 pesos to pick a up the rental car at the airport (EZE) and drove to La Fortuna. We had an international drivers' license from AAA, but it was not needed as long as we had a valid drivers' license. The roads were good and it was a relatively easy drive using Google maps on our cell phone. The town of Salto is 10 minutes from La Fortuna and it has a lively downtown. There is a european class bakery (confectioneria) there in the downtown (centro). Well, there you are, a road map on how we made La Fortuna become a reality for us and our family. Like the previous reviewer, we would give it 10 stars if we could. We hope that one day we can return.”