Gay Friendly BA Sohotel, Palermo, Buenos Aires

By Roy Heale

Palermo with its cobbled streets, historic architecture, parks, the Zoo and the Botanical gardens, the largest exhibition center in the country, its racetrack, the polo field, and the Galileo planetarium, is one of the city's most historic neighborhoods and well represents the Buenos Aires of yesterday and today.

Considered to be a funky, bohemian neighbourhood, Palermo is popular with residents and tourists alike due its festive atmosphere. It is the largest barrio, or neighborhood, of the city. The name of the district is derived from the still-existing Franciscan abbey of Saint Benedict of Palermo. The massive Palermo Woods also features beautiful lakes, a rose garden (Rosedal), a Japanese garden, and even a Hippodrome. Today Palermo is renowned for this massive parkland where outdoor fun activities and joggers abound.

Although appearing as one big area on the official map, Palermo can be subdivided into six distinctly different sectors. Today, this is one of the most popular residential communities of Buenos Aires and the new BA Sohotel is located in this barrio.

Built in 2012, gay-friendly BA Sohotel is a distinct addition to the city's roster of boutique hotels. This is a smoke free premise and offers a first floor sun deck, spa tub, and a seasonal outdoor pool. This designer hotel features business amenities including a business center, a meeting/conference room, and a technology helpdesk. Dining options at this business-friendly hotel include the Rietti restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a bar/lounge. The Rietti restaurant serves a wide range of excellent meals, daily specials, and a delicious hot and cold buffet breakfast in the morning. For lamb connoisseurs their Medallion de Pierna de Cordero (lamb roast) with a Malbec wine sauce and potato millefeuille is a must.

The multi-lingual LGBT welcoming staff can provide tour/ticket assistance, event catering, and business services.

Guests can choose from thirty-three rooms, all of which exude an atmosphere of total peace and harmony. Rooms have city or pool views. The air-conditioned guestrooms at BA Sohotel include private en-suite spa tubs and laptop-compatible safes. Beds have signature bedding and down blankets. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access. Cable channels are available on the 32-inch LCD televisions. All accommodations provide desks, safes, and direct-dial phones. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations with jetted bathtubs and rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms also include bathrobes,slippers, bidets, and hair dryers. Additional amenities include windows that open. In addition, amenities available on request include in-room massages, irons/ironing boards, and extra towels/bedding. Turn down service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available daily.

Facilities:

24 hour room service

Air conditioning

Child/family friendly

Jacuzzi

Lift/elevator

Meeting/conference facilities

Outdoor pool

Wheelchair access

Wireless internet

Large Safety Deposit Box for Laptop and valuables

Restaurant

Room Options:

A Deluxe Room offers one king bed or two queen beds with, balcony/terrace, bathrobe (bata), bathroom amenities, cable/satellite TV, disabled facilities, en-suite private bathroom, hairdryer, heating, free internet access, jacuzzi/whirlpool/spa bath, laundry service, non-smoking rooms, room service, safe in room and telephone. All the rooms are very spacious and have a balcony with a beautiful city view. They have a work desk, TV LCD 32in, fully equipped minibar, safety box for laptop, full amenities, robes and slippers.

The Premium King offers one king bed with balcony/terrace, bathrobe (bata), bathroom amenities, cable/ satellite TV, disabled facilities, en-suite private bathroom, hairdryer, heating, free internet access, jacuzzi/whirlpool/spa bath, laundry service, non-smoking rooms, room service, safe in room and telephone. All Premium King rooms are very spacious and have a balcony with a beautiful city view, with table and deck chairs. They have a work desk, TV LCD 32in, fully equipped minibar, heated/cold air conditioned, safety box for laptop, full amenities, robes and slippers.

A Corner Suite offers two queen beds with balcony/terrace, bathrobe (bata), bathroom amenities, cable/ satellite TV, disabled facilities, en-suite private bathroom, hairdryer, heating, free internet access, jacuzzi/whirlpool/spa bath, laundry service, non-smoking rooms, room service, safe in room and telephone. Corner Suite rooms are very spacious and have balcony with a beautiful city view. They have a work desk, TV LCD 32in, fully equipped minibar, heated/cold air conditioned, safety box for laptop, full amenities, robes and slippers.

BA Sohotel is conveniently located in the eclectic neighborhood of Palermo Soho, just 300 mts away from the Subway and Exhibition center La Rural and 500 mts from Plaza Serrano. With a modern, elegant and warm design, you can enjoy a pleasant stay in a great loaction. All the rooms and lobby have original paintings by recognized Argentine artists.

Enjoy unparalleled services and a truly prestigious address at the BA Sohotel, Palermo, Buenos Aires.

For More Information:

www.basohotel.com

Gay-Friendly Azur Real Boutique Hotel, Cordoba, Argentina

Azur Real Boutique Hotel

By Roy Heale

In the center of Argentina---about 700 km northwest of Buenos Aires---with a student population of more than 300,000, Cordoba is a bustling, gay-friendly city. With nearly 1.5 million people, and 3.2 million in the region, Cordoba still has a small town feel to it with a variety of neighbourhoods and parks to enjoy. Nueva Cordoba is the heart of the university scene, full of gay life and community hang-outs. Just a short walk from here is Viejo Cordoba where the historic part of the city includes the San Martín square, the Cathedral, Córdoba´s Townhall, and the Jesuit Block which was declared by UNESCO in 2000 as a World Heritage Site with a group of buildings dating from the 17th century.

Viejo Cordoba

The most gay-friendly living quarters in the city is surely the Azur Real Boutique Hotel located just two blocks from the heart of Viejo Cordoba and a ten minute walk to the Nueva Cordoba community. The historic hotel exterior proffers an unassuming entrance, but the short elevator ride to the hotel lobby reveals an elegant, calm, and tranquil haven in the heart of the city. Stylish and comfortable with gay-friendly, English speaking staff, the 24/7 reception area will immediately make you feel right at home.

Azur Real Boutique Hotel Lobby

The original house, where Azur Real Boutique Hotel is located, was built in 1915 as a traditional home-store, where the household members and the family business co-existed. The property evolved over the years, becoming a Drugstore, a Restaurant, and later a Students Residence. Part of the building was used by Dean Funes National School, where personalities from the City of Cordoba attended classes. Perhaps its most famous student was Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

The current owners began restoration work in 2004 and after five years finally the hotel opened its doors in 2009. However, the property is so well maintained and cleaned it appears to have made its debut yesterday.

Luxurious Designer Rooms

Azur Real Boutique Hotel has fourteen spacious rooms each with a unique architectural style and exquisite modern design, equipped with LCD TV, Internet Wi Fi, computer sized safety deposit box, mini-bar, multi-function shower, and American percale 180 thread count sheets. The attention to detail is luxurious including bath robes, slippers, and nightly turn-down service. Comfort is combined with an opulent ambiance to make every guest feel pampered while staying here.

Rooftop Sundeck

A sumptuous daily breakfast buffet is served from a civilized 7AM to 11AM in the top floor restaurant, or by room service, or outside on the comfortable rooftop sun deck. The restaurant is also open for À La Carte lunch and dinner with exquisite local Argentine specialities being served. The Deli Lounge lobby bar also serves refreshments throughout the day and evening.

Throughout the property there exists a peaceful aura of relaxation combined with the total professionalism of the gay-friendly staff. A rare combination today in many hotels.

Historic Architecture Restored

One of the many attractions of Cordoba is the surrounding Sierras (hills) where many smaller towns and Villas (villages) offer unique tourist attractions and historic buildings from the earlier Spanish Colonialism and Jesuit Orders. Most of these communities can be visited as day trips from Cordoba via local buses or on organized tours. The Azur Real front desk staff will be happy to provide you with additional information.

Villa General Belgrano

The Hotel is also conveniently located close to the main Omnibus Terminal and the Mercado Sur Bus stop for easy access via local transit to the Sierras. A visit to Cordoba is not complete without at least one excursion into these hills to enjoy the scenery and local history. Of special note is the Villa General Belgrano, a small mountain village named after the creator of the Argentine flag---Manuel Belgran---and located in the lush green valley of Calamuchita. The Alpine architecture of the village attracted immigrants from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria which gives this small town a truly European atmosphere and charm.

So be sure to stay at the gay positive Azur Real Boutique Hotel while you enjoy the LGBT life and the Sierras of Cordoba. It will be the perfect, memorable gay get-away during your visit to gay-friendly Argentina.

Azur Boutique Hotel Services:
•Deli Lounge
•Room service
•Roof-Top Terrace with splash pool
•Meeting room
•Wi Fi
•Transfers
•Maid service twice a day
•Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing
•Luggage Storage
•Safety deposit box in rooms
•Bilingual Staff
•Pillow Menu
•Massages
•Shoe shine service
Gays and Lesbians Welcomed
For More Information Visit: www.azurrealhotel.com