Mendoza

in web sites like hostel world among others you can check rating

happy travels : )

In Mendoza itself? I hadn't heard about it. The wine tours are mostly in Maipu which can be reached by Mendoza city bus for a nominal amount. Rent a bike when you get there and drive to the wineries. Most of them got wise to the backpackers and now charge for tastings. Where they ever free? B.t.w. the backpackers (I am one of them) are getting a bad name around there. They never seem to want to spend any money, or want to pay for anything.

You can stay at the "Confluencia" I don't know if it is cheap, but it is nice.

We stayed at Hostel Alamo last week and really liked it. We also did the Bikes and Wine tour in Maipu, get the bus to Maipu (AR$1.40), then hire the bike (we paid AR$35 I think - crap bikes, but It's not the Tour de France so it's fine), and then the first winery is free. After than they charge for tastings, but it's really not that much money. We actually bought a bottle, so we weren't the worst! The Familla de Tomisilla (I've prob spelt it arseways) was def our favourite winery. Good tour, good guide, good wine.

Hola! bike & wine sounds wonderful. I will be in Mendoza next week. Can you tell more about it? Is this an organized package or did you just hop on a bike and ride around? You got a map to show you where to find the wineries? Did you need to make any kind of reservations for tastings?

thanks!!

Have a great trip, Tigertoes...I wish I were going next week instead of next year. Post something when you get back, I'd love to hear about it

Cheers
Arcticchic

We were just in Cafayate and the wineries there did not charge for tastings, you can walk to 3 of them or bike. It is a great little town and we really liked it.

Suprisingly to us to buy a bottle of wine from the winery was more expensive than at the grocery store?

Cafayate wine links

casa del sol costs 15 for a dorm 20 for a private room that pesos address catamarca 515 2 blocks away from the bus station

hi, just responding to arcticchic's request for a trip report!
went to Mendoza for a very quick visit in May of this year and it was wonderful! it was my second visit to Mendoza, both times I stayed at Hostel Alamo and it was great both times. Very clean, calm, large, and beautiful! They have a nice backyard. http://www.hostelalamo.com/
We ended up booking a wine tour with Ampora Wine Tours. I wanted to do a bike & wine day, but my friends convinced me to sign up for a guided tour with a van driver. It turned out to be a great choice because it was rainy during our visit and we still got to enjoy the wine tours despite the weather. Our guide Luciana was super nice and knowledgable and informative. We saw four different wineries and had a super deluxe lunch at Ruca Malen. Normally i'm more of a diy backpacker type traveller, so this seemed kinda posh and expensive, but this guided tour gives you a lot for your money and it was a fun change of pace. http://mendozawinetours.com/ampora/tours/lujan_maipu.html
Also, when we visited Mendoza the year before, we rented a car in town and drove out to Las Cuevas, on the border with Chile. It was a really beautiful drive, we passed Puente del Inca, lots of views of Aconcagua, stayed in the hostel in Las Cuevas (the last town before the tunnel to Chile, a tiny, slightly spooky, vacant place), and then got a ride in a jeep up the old road to the summit, where there's a giant Cristo Redentor statue and some breathtaking, top-of-the-world views, and you can clamber around on the snowy slopes.

have fun!!
Eliza

Hi everyone,

I'm going to Mendoza next week for a few days and was hoping to get a few more ideas as to where to go/where to stay. If I am in the region for 3-4 days, are there any must-sees?

It sounds like Maipu has the best vineyards, yes? Is it possible to stay in Maipu or does it make more sense just to make day trips from Mendoza-town?

Also, are there any other places in the area that we should go (even if they involve traveling a few hours)? Someone mentioned Aconcagua and the Chilean border, which sounds like a lot of fun. Any other suggestions?

Also, in terms of accommodations, does anyone know of any interesting, reasonably-priced lodgings ($100 or less for a room) that are outside of Mendoza-town? (either in the mountains or wine country?) Otherwise, any recommendations for places to stay in the town itself?

Also, given that I'm going in December, should I book in advance in case things are all booked up there, or will there still be room if I just go and book accommodations when I get there?

Thanks so much for all the help!