The nieghborhoods of Palermo and Recoleta are good locations for your priorities. Both have excellent infrastructures of services such as shopping,restaurants,laundries,bakeries,supermarkets,etc for supporting a self catered stay.

There are bars and club meeting places in both neighborhoods and you can walk to most venues at all hours of the evening.

If you are looking at apartmentsBa, then the photos will give a very accurate description of the apartment and the amenities. Other agencies(www.argentinahomes.com,www.buenosaireshabitat,www.bytargentina.com,etc) suggested on this forum do a very good job of representing their apartments. A dryer is not as avialable as in the States. You will find washers in many of the partments but not dryers. The high end rental companies will offer this amenity. Most neighborhood blocks have wash and fold laundries where you drop off in the morning then pick up in the afternoon and are quite cheap.

Even though there is more tourism in the city than before, the majority of the people living around you will be Portenos. You will find that this is still a very Spanish speaking city so don't worry about being in a sea of expats.

When you locate some apartments which you are considering then post them here and we can help you with the specific location. Choose some in each of the neighborhoods mentioned.

Good Luck!!

I have stayed in this apartment in Palermo four times. The apartment is listed on VRBO, as well as their own website. It is ideal for my wife and me and might work for you.

Restaurants, cafes, grocery store, bakeries, walk up markets, take out empanadas and pizza, wash and fold launderies (including one in the building itself), pharmacies, ice cream shops, clothing stores, are all within two blocks....

Two blocks from Las Heras, with busses to anywhere you want to go in the city. Or you could walk to Recoleta, the MALBA museum, Evita Museum, Botanical Garden, the Zoo, two multiplex cinemas, and a two large malls.

I do not know specifically about acoustic music...never looked for it...but the boyfriend of the local person who manages the apartment plays with a group...so they could probably fill you in about where to go...

This is my favorite part of Palermo...very few tourists around...yet close to tourist destinations such as Recoleta and Palermo Soho....

www.shortstayinba.com

I would say Recoleta is the place for you as you will be in a quiet neighbourhood and yet very well located to walk all over. Palermo is also very nice but is quite big and you can find yourself a little far to walk to other places.

1-I like Recoleta and Palermo..for vacation rentals.

It will be a rare apt that provides a dryer.

Almost all apts have a little laundry room or area, they have washing machines for the maid who will come in once a week. But they hang the clothes or take them out to be laundered. A dryer is a big luxury here that rentals don't usually go for, unless you are going to use a more expensive rental company.

Almost all kitchens are gas here.. again, the amount you pay will determine how decently outfitted the kitchen is.

2- Grab a map somewhere that includes the bus lines. Taxis cost pennies. There is a Subte line also.

3-"older"??? lol Yes, you are in your early 40's, you are practically ancient ! Everyone has good suggestions for you on this...

4- It is hard to find a building and know how many apts are vacation rentals. I only know of a few that are all rentals but

when we arrived here to live, we had to rent until we found and bought an apt.

So we spent 6 months in rentals.. one building we were the only non-Argentines renting and in one building, there were quite a few students who rented ( from all over the world)..

That will be hard to find... price makes a difference.

look at

www.apartmentsba.com

www.bytargentina.com

www.shortstayinba.com

Forgive me for just repeating the apartment rental links that have already been provided... I just woke up. I am not responsible for anything I post :)

"...We are older, and want to spend our evenings near our "home". I am 43 and my husband is 37..."

Come on, Amanda..! you are not "older"! ;D

Anyway, probably Recoleta or Palermo Soho are the best places for you to stay.

Palermo has more restaurants/ bars than Recoleta, and you can certainly walk back home, since everything is close. The only thing about Palermo is that, depending location of your apartment, it could be a bit far from subway or buses (maybe 8 blocks away)

Recoleta is a lovely area, with beautiful architecture. Depending the location of the apartment you may feel more "local" or "tourist" (there are areas within Recoleta with a strong touristy feeling than others)

Check the websites mentioned by Ricardo. And make sure to book a.s.a.p. since ate October/Early November is very high season.

Thanks for all the replies! I will check out all the information after a little more sleep.

We would definitely be interested in Palermo, but which Palermo neighborhood would offer the most low key nightlife and the safest experience? I see Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Soho, Palermo Viejo?

Regarding my "older" comment, I guess what I was meaning to imply is that we are kind of quiet, not looking for the late night disco scene, more interested in walking and talking than to party into the wee hours. We're "that" kind of old. ;) Heh.

I've been excited about Argentina for a while, gonna be brushing up on my Spanish. This will be a wonderful trip.

I love the area of Palermo close to the parks (limited by Las Heras Ave., Republica de la India, Libertador Ave. and Coronel Diaz Ave). It's close enough to Recoleta to walk there. Also close to Palermo Soho. But this area is the nicest for being close to the Palermo parks, has very nice restaurants, shops, supermarkets, it's safe and you will feel like a local.

BASandy, The apartment I linked above is in the area you like...at Salguero y Segui. I agree with everything you said. To me, it is one of the nicest areas in Buenos Aires....

hello Amanda:

Websites Palermo:

http://www.buenosaires.travel/Palermo_en.aspx

www.buenosaires.travel/Circuitos_Palermo.aspx

Good luck!