Hotels In Carolina|"Hotel Review: Palermo Place In Buenos Aires"

Source            :    renewamerica.com/
Category        :   Hotels In Carolina
By                  :   Selwyn Duke
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Hotels In Carolina

In Buenos Aires, where low prices and plentiful availability often entice visitors to rent an apartment for a short stay, Palermo Place aims to offer apartment living with the perks of hotel services. The low-rise, modern hotel has the feel of a cosmopolitan, if slightly generic, pied-à-terre. Opened in 2011 on a leafy street in the upscale Palermo neighborhood, the hotel is surrounded by chic coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques. (A nearby elementary school occasionally pierces the residential quiet, but only during recess.) It’s a short walk to the night-life districts of Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood and other attractions like the 62-acre Palermo Woods park. A subway station and buses are close, and cabs are plentiful.

Our fifth-floor double with twin beds (other rooms have king beds) had a floor-to-ceiling glass door opening to a French balcony that offered a bright, appealing city vista. Dark wood décor, by the Argentine designer Gianni Berelli, set off the cream-colored tile floor, and bedding was plush. The kitchenette had a two-burner stovetop, microwave and easy-to-open cabinets stocked with plates and cutlery. Over the desk, outlets accommodated American-style plugs, and the alarm clock included an iPod dock — well thought-out features for travelers. The large TV had plenty of international programming.Reasonably sized, with a powerful shower and a bidet, as is standard in Buenos Aires. A single, deep sink was outside the bathroom — though two would have been more convenient, and the placement, between the room door and the bathroom door, was a bit awkward. Luxe toiletries and terry cloth robes were provided. The bare basics in the gym — a single treadmill, elliptical machine and Nautilus; no free weights — were made up for by the skyline view on the patio just outside. There was also an outdoor shower and some chaise longues, should relaxation be in order post-workout. The hotel has a separate roof deck with tables and a grill. Wi-Fi is free throughout the building, and there was a coin-operated washer and dryer. Above all, Palermo Place strives to set itself apart with its concierge service, which helps with the usual needs — booking taxis and restaurant reservations; printing flight itineraries — and also more atypical requests, like finding baby sitters and personal trainers.

Hotel employees can stock your kitchen before your stay, or refill toiletries if you provide a list. But in a city that loves secret hot spots and thrives on insider information, a search for an address for a roving underground club was met with a shrug and an offer to look online for it, no help at all. Generally, though, the multilingual staff was friendly and eager to assist with requests like bike rentals and straightening out an overcharge from a boutique.There is no room service per se (there’s no restaurant on the premises), but guests are given vouchers for nearby bakeries and cafes for breakfast, or the staff can arrange to order in, with no service fee. Palermo Place makes up for its slightly anodyne vibe with its prime location in a lively neighborhood and its affordable price. For those who want a little homeyness without the guesswork of arranging it in an unfamiliar place, it works.

Source:travel.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/travel/hotel-review-palermo-place-in-buenos-aires.html?_r=0