The Details on Bayres Gay B&B
It's not fancy, but if you're seeking an affordable, gay-owned, and modestly charming accommodation in one of the city's most alluring neighborhoods, Bayres Gay Bed and Breakfast fits the bill. The six-room art deco-style inn is along busy and prosaic Avenida Cordoba, a wide and less-than-charming road on the southern edge of Palermo Viejo. But once you ascend the stairs to this laid-back B&B, you'll find a pleasant place with a large living room with brochures on the gay scene and two computers with high-speed Internet (you can also access the high-speed for free from ethernet outlets in the guest rooms - just bring you own ethernet cables).
Whatever Bayres B&B lacks in curb appeal, it's extremely inexpensive, and the staff is quite helpful (and most of the staff speak English). They can point you in the direction of good restaurants and fun gay nightlife. And it's just a few blocks' stroll through a safe (by big-city standards) neighborhood to reach the chichi retail and dining of Palermo Viejo.
Pros:
- Very affordable rates - compared with larger Buenos Aires hotels, this place is very inexpensive. Compare the rates with what you'd pay for the same basic but pleasant accommodations in most major international cities, and Bayres rates a super bargain.
- Rooms come in a nice range of configurations - some have private baths, and the best ones have small balconies overlooking the neighboring alley.
- There's a nice little Continental breakfast included, and guests have 24-hour access to coffee, tea, light refreshments.
- This is a terrific location - a banal street, but an easy walk from all the charming boutiques and cafes of Palermo Viejo, and a 10- to 15-minute walk (or easy cab ride) from several gay bars.
- Bayres has an international clientele - mostly gay and lesbian. It's an easy place to meet fellow travelers, as there are plenty of common spaces to hang out in.
Cons:
- It's in Palermo Viejo, but on the very edge of the neighborhood, along a busy and drab street (Avenida Cordoba).
- Rooms aren't overly fancy, although nor are they unattractive or poorly kept.
- You don't actually get your own front-door key here - rather, you buzz up when you return each time to the B&B. It's not really a big deal, as there's always staff on duty to let you in, but coming home late at night it feels a little strange not to be able to let yourself in.
The Details:
Address, phone, and web: Avenida Cordoba 5842, Buenos Aires, 54-11-4772-3877; book online via e-mail at bayres@fibertel.com.ar. The B&B is on the edge of Palermo Viejo, the city's trendiest neighborhood, and a hub of gay-friendly businesses.
Rates: Rates vary greatly depending on the room - the simplest, single-occupancy shared-bath units go for just US$35 during from April through October, and US$45 the rest of the year. Add US$10 for an extra occupant, another US$10 for private bath, and another US$10 for one of the superior rooms with balconies (meaning the highest rate, during busy season, is US$75 per night.
Rooms and notable in-amenities: The six rooms have fairly basic furnishings, plus cable TV, air-conditioning, and high-speed Internet (bring your own ethernet cables).
Noteworthy hotel amenities: Breakfast is included, the staff provides plenty of advice on the area, and they can arrange for reasonably priced airport transfers.
