Accommodation Blues

Last week, we'd called Hosteria La Pastorella in Bariloche to reserve a room for 4 nights on the basis of LP's recommendation that it was an "excellent choice".

Alarm bells should have rung when we read "gives cozy a new meaning". It was away from the main artery through town, up a slope, in what seemed a quieter, more residential part of town.

When we arrived, our hearts sank. The excellent choice of a hosteria had a run-down wooden facade, with tacky cut out hearts in the window panes and little alpine heidi doll pictures at the entrance. Cute. But we found the rooms too "cozy" and a little too dimly "romantic". And their "married" bed was just right for huddling in a bundle.

Off we trudged into the darkness for OUR definition of "excellent choice", and within 10 minutes, we had found our dream room. Only it was kinda expensive and we'd have to move out after three nights. But after walking through most of the town centre in blistering winds, we found nothing else - the entire place was booked full with graduating students and Chilean retirees.

Back to Kenton Palace Hotel we went. a little pricey, yes, but truly excellent rooms and service. And the best ice cream in town was literally just round the corner. :)