Not a very tidy post but I'm in a hurry today. Here are some ideas for Mendoza and Santiago regions.

mendoza:

Here's a list of some things to do in and around Mendoza. There's a hike that looks interesting if people are interested "Hike up Cerro Arco" about half way down the list.

http://spanishinmendozaargentina.greenash.net.au/mendoza/

some sleeping options:

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p448946#calendar

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/105012.html?promoType=none

http://www.venere.com/hotels/mendoza/apart-hotel-mendoza/?sd=08&sm=11&sy=2012&ed=11&em=11&ey=2012&pval=4&rval=1

http://www.venere.com/hotels/mendoza/hotel-cordon-del-plata/?sd=08&sm=11&sy=2012&ed=11&em=11&ey=2012&pval=4&rval=1

http://www.venere.com/vacation-rentals/mendoza/vacation-rental-soltigua-apart/?sd=08&sm=11&sy=2012&ed=11&em=11&ey=2012&pval=4&rval=1#reviews

santiago

free (tips) walking tour: http://spicychile.cl/

some other day/short hikes: http://www.santiagomagazine.cl/living/0096-gateway-andes-5-great-hikes-around-santiago

some other ideas from TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294305-i2020-k4873495-Chile_Itinerary-Santiago_Santiago_Metropolitan_Region.html

some sleeping options:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g294305-d2022013-Fully_Furnished_Apartment_in_Santiago_Centro-Santiago_Santiago_Metropolitan_Region.html#amenities

Enjoy your weekends

Trip Schedule

Hi everyone,

I'm using this blog because I think it can be a great resource for all of us for the trip planning!

First of all, thanks Asher for putting the schedule together. I am wondering about maybe increasing time in Buenos Aires and Mendoza and reducing the Chile arm of the trip by a day or two. From the small amount of reading I've done, it seems like there might be more interesting things to do in BA and Mendoza than around Santiago. Greg and I will get the Lonely Planet Chile book (and I'll get the Mendoza chapter of the Argentina LP as well) to do more research.

Asher, the place you picked out in BA looks beautiful! I am quite happy to stay there - it will be nice to have our own kitchen and a bedroom each. However, if anyone is concerned about spending just over $50 a night in BA, I am also happy to stay somewhere a bit less expensive. I am very flexible. But I'd say ~$50 would be my limit (per person per night). I think we can get a nice clean safe place to stay for that amount of money. :)

Finally, travel to Mendoza - instead of traveling during the day and wasting a whole day on a bus, we might want to look into an overnight bus trip. Since it's a 12 hour drive, it might be nice to sleep it away. For the 7 hour bus trip to Santiago, since we're going to have to cross the border and the scenery will be beautiful through the mountains, I'm thinking we might want to do that trip during the day.

xoxoxo
E