HOTEL REVIEW: Design Suites, Buenos Aires

WRITTEN BY Mark Chesnut

The city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is home to a wide array of hotels, including everything from humble bed & breakfasts to posh palaces of luxury. During this most recent visit, I’m staying first at Design Suites, a mid-priced property in the bustling Barrio Norte neighborhood.
Set in a narrow 10-story building, Design Suites is a minimalist but unpretentious place, with a lobby centered around a very narrow swimming pool (so narrow that it’s used as a decorative fountain, and a setting for occasional fashion photoshoots). Rooms are contemporary in style and cleanly decorated with lots of white, hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the natural light. I’ve opted for a suite, which is not huge but a perfect size for two people, with a sleeping area that can be closed off from the living area, and a dining area that includes a microwave, sink and plates.
Continental breakfast is included in room rates, and while there is not much of a scene happening right on site (although there is a wine bar and restaurant service), the hotel is walking distance to several of the city’s dining and shopping areas, including Santa Fe avenue, which is one block away. I also love the fact that Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, including all guest rooms, and there are computers in the small business center for anyone who didn’t bring their own laptop (one of my biggest pet peeves is when a pricey hotel nickels-and-dimes you by charging extra for Internet service).
The staff is quite helpful and always seems ready with directions, maps and flyers about nearly any possible restaurant, bar, activity or attraction that you might throw their way.
BEST FOR: This is a good choice in the middle price range for anyone looking for clean contemporary style in the heart of the city. The company also operates upscale properties in Bariloche, Calafate and Salta, which I have not yet visited, but look gorgeous in photos (and stay tuned, soccer lovers: Design Suites will debut a soccer-themed hotel in Buenos Aires in 2012).
$160 and up.
http://www.designsuites.com/
Marcelo T. de Alvear 1683
Tel/Fax (54.11)4814-8700

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