Bike friendly accommodation in BA?
 

I am leaving by boat tonight for BA. I'm actually writing this on my phone's browser in my bunk :)

i'll be there in 28 days and would love some advice on places to stay when we arrive. Bike parking a must of course. I have some parts that failed to arrive in time and a mate can send them on so if anyone can suggest a place so cool they would allow them to be delivered?

Thanks,

Paul

Hi Paul,
we can recommend DakarMotos. It's a hostel and a workshop in one, so no problem to store the bike. You'll find them in the internet: DAKAR MOTOS-HOME OF ´OVER-LAND BIKE´ TRAVEL IN SOUTH AMERICA
We stayed there for three weeks last october, Sandra and Javier, the owners, are really nice!
Save travells,
Christine & Tom

___________________
Wüstenelche - Toms und Christines Reiseseite

I m staying at giramondo s hostel in Palermo (in Buenos Aires) and they have a closed garage for mortorcycles.

The advantage over Dakar Moto are :

- it s located in Buenos Aires , not in the Province, so you have an easy access to all public transport and services ( restaurants, cinema, swimming pool, administrations).

- it s a wide 3 floors house with a large patio and all maid services, so you avoid the clostrophobic disconfort some might experience while staying in a garage with 4 dorm beds, the lack of intimacy and eventual conflicts about the chores. In other words, you are not invited in a private place, you are a customer with all the benefits of this status.

- receptionists change every day so if you dont click well with one of them, you wont be "punished" for your whole stay. They are available for helping all the time (it s their profession)

- you are free to compare prices for bike services or other import export services.

- the use of internet is a service that is included in the night price, not a favor that the owners are willing to give you..or not..depending on their own needs. It s a real highspeed connection (1 megabits/s, not ISDN 128 kb/s) with several computers.

- you are mixing with other travelling populations, which allows you to explore different worlds and mix with different age groups..and avoid the occasional redundancy of bike travel reports on the same continent.

Editing since i forgot another important feature : this hostel is open 24/24 so you wont get stuck or awake anybody if your flight gets you to B.A after the garage closes..and get embarassed with the taxi driver wondering if you gave him the wrong address after he searched for the street for half an hour and nobody responded to your calls after 10 mn...and you dont have to deal with key issues while you stay there... you dont depend on anybody else than yourself. You can awake at the time you want not at the time the garage opens...

Yes Philippe
You are right.
-Dakar Motos its not an Hotel or a Hostel, Maybe because you don’t understand that you don’t click on there.
-We like to treat the travellers like mates and friends as we feel this. No like a customers.
-Nice need to pay to be helped all the time.
-You always are free to do whatever, but NOT to be nasty rude tide or impolite.
-In DM the Internet Wi-Fi it’s a FREE service.
-Our Sleeping facilities was a require for a lot of real Moto-Travellers than was passing over our older shop from years a go (many was staying in our family home), people who don’t wont to stay with backpackers and non bikes relative travellers in hostel and hotels.
-Dakar Motos is always open. You only need knock the door or make a phone call.

Only one doubt, if you think than Dakar Motos is so bad place, Why you are so angry with us to don’t be allow to stay there anymore? And why you spend so much time talking about us?


Javier & Sandra...
DakarMotos

So everything is free then, because friends don't charge friends for helping them out? Or do you charge people to sleep in your garage?

That's what I thought.

Not everyone clicks with everyone else, but based on this antagonistic response to a pretty valid and informative post, I think anywhere would be better than Dakar Motors.

Dakar Motos gets my vote.

A hostal with a garage is the same as a garage with a hostal as far as I'm concerned, although hostals dont usually have tools, spares & a good mechanic.

The main difference with Dakar is how much Javier & Sandra are prepared to help out, they're good people & good friends.

Sure, its a business & not free, but when you spend all your time running it you have to make money somehow and its not expensive.

I've stayed there several times, recommended it to friends who've also had good experiences.

DakarMotos in B.A. gets my vote :thumbup1:

there might be better places to sleep in but not better places to be at!!!!

Tons of help, great fun and a great place to learn new tricks from other adventure travelers. Javier and Sandra will take care of you!

So everything is free then, because friends don't charge friends for helping them out? Or do you charge people to sleep in your garage?

That's what I thought.

Not everyone clicks with everyone else, but based on this antagonistic response to a pretty valid and informative post, I think anywhere would be better than Dakar Motors.


Wow, "pretty valid and informative post." How would you know it was valid? Have you been there? Have you ever been sick and needed some help there? Have you ever had your bike worked on there? Have you ever sat in the sun enjoying lunch/coffee in the little back-yard there, enjoyed a meal with the crew there- or watched a hailstorm with them? Dakar Motos is what some US citizens would call: "the finest kind." There. (By the way- "anywhere would be better than Dakar Motos," unlike Johnny Cash- you haven't been everywhere, man!) Ride safe, H.

The purpose of the post wasnt to encourage any kind of dispute here but to report a personal experience about the service offered and give an alternative solution to the posters needs.

For the same price (24 pesos for the hostel), a customer can enjoy accomodation that offer similar bike safety with more convenience. Since Dakar Moto advertise here, they should be able to accept any kind of customer reports, be they supportive or..comparative.

Regarding the bike services, i would also, as a previous customer, nuance the comments here, based only on my experience. My motorcycle was leaking some oil and i decided to leave it for some service, while aware that the hourly price was twice to three times the actual average price in Argentina based on informations i got from hosts there who had been travelling in the country (which were confirmed by my own experiences later). After i brought the motorcycle to the nearest gas station to get the engine cleaned and got it serviced, the motorcycle was still leaking oil. I had to get it serviced again to get it fixed.

Dakar Moto certainly fits some travellers expectations but imho a professional service shouldnt depend on the emotional relation you develop with the service provider but on how much he feels responsible for the quality of his service.

Actually, i regard myself as privileged while staying at DM, since i did get one of the 4 bunk beds, while some had to camp for the same price.

Being given different choices, the poster can now freely choose what suits best his personality, expectations and budget.

Sincerely

Philippe

Yes, I have, have you been anywhere else?
 

I have been to Dakar, and eaten there, and had a mate'... bla bla bla... But when I take my bike to be worked on, I ask the local people where to go, and you will never get a recommendation for Dakar from the motoqueros in BsAs.

I believe they serve two clientèles extremely well, those fresh off the boat and overwhelmed by Buenos Aires, and those at the end of their trip and running on mental fumes. It is a one stop shop when you aren't in thinking mode

Because the only recommendations they get are from foriegn travelers, they have to make all their money off these travelers, which seems to be working. But this is why their rates have to be so high, in comparison to every other shop in Bs.As. They don't get local business.

The clique that seems to have developed around Dakar is just another example of why this site has lost it's relevance for real overlanders, who instead go to advriderDOTcom and the yahoo mcadv list for accurate realtime information.

Hey Spar- I'm not sure where you're from, but DM does get local business- I've seen quite a bit when I've been there. Certainly DM caters to overlanders- as we from the EU/US/CAN/AUS/NZ tend to carry a bit more cash than some other folks. But make no mistake about it, DM has a great reputation- and it is well deserved. You must know that many repeat customers of DM have been visiting for many years (I'm referring to foreigners). Ride safe, H.

Thumbs up for DakarMotos

Alec

This thread is the first time I have ever heard anything but glowing recomendations for Dakar Motors. I have seen Javier work on bikes and he is a good mechanic. The hostal wasn't open yet and my bike didn't need any work when I waas there, but those guys did tons of favors for me- and not for money.

Sure, if you want the privacy of a hotel with secure parking, the recomended hotel sounds great- the original post WAS asking about places to stay in Bs As. If it was me though, I'd stay at Dakar.

Dakar Motos
 

Dakar Motos is great place to stay. I had a blast while I was there (10 days ago) as did everyone else that stayed in the bunks or in the yard. Most people were there for extended stays and enjoying the camaraderie.

If you want your own space, or traveling two up (intimacy), then you should probably stay at a hotel. If you are a bit dusty from the road, traveling alone, and feel like hanging out with some bikers stay at DM. There is a ton of info to be gathered from Javier and Sandra's shop. Keep in mind that it is a BUSINESS this is what they do to earn a living. (don't whine about being charged for a bunk!?!?!?!wtf!).

It is in reality a nice garage with 4 bunks, a yard, and a hot shower. That is just what I needed when I got into town.

As a general rule it's best to get along with the people who's establishment you are staying at. Especially if the quarters are tight. If you haven't figured out how to do that then you should definetly stay at a hotel with a new front desk clerk every day.

Suerte

Philipe:
Don’t make of this a suppose comparative of services.
I’m glad to know that travelers talk each others and make his own compare. You know and we know that all of this is because we didn’t allow you to stay any more in our place. And you know exactly why. I think that this kind of things are private that’s why we didn’t mention it.
If you want we can tell everybody which are that reasons but we think is not the way.
There is people who think that Dakar Motos is a good place and others that no. That’s life .And we are Proud of what we are doing here. We don’t has to prove you anything.

Spartacus:
We don’t know who you are. You never sign a post with your name. You says you was with us sharing mate or whatever . Usually we know the people who came to our place.
But this time we don’t have a clue.



Thank to all of you mates for your support. This means a lot to us, means that we are on the right way.

Javier & Sandra
DakarMotos

Javier,

Being asked to leave without a previous day warning at the heart of high touristic season was the final point of a series of disconforts but this is totally off topic and has no interest for the request of the poster who started this thread. For any personal remark, using private messages would undeniably be more appropriate.

Staying at DM is one option amongst many others while visiting BA. It can bring comfort for some, disconfort for others. The title of this forum is "The Website Motorcycle Travellers trust". For a source of information to be reliable, you need to understand both advantages and drawbacks of a recurrently advertised service. This is what is offered in that post.

Anybody knowing other bike friendly accomodation in Buenos Aires at reasonable prices is of course encouraged to post it here for the benefit of Paul and other visitors to this generally naturally hospitable country.

Sincerely

Philippe

Hi Phillipe , solo la verdad hombre
 

I know DM for 2 years now.As a local let me tell you about the bikes you find in Argentina.Lots of small cc(motoqueros=courierbikers) and a few expensive big cc bikes.Not all travellers end up at DM.BA is huge and you find other mechanics.Also hotels,hostals etc.But none like DM.

Phillipe twice as cheap? let me say to you that is a blame.And i remember very well why you being asked to leave the place.You have a very negative(to put it polite) way of dealing with US. travellers.Javier does not like intolerance.
Many posters here knows me and had have times of talking and drinking mate at DM.Javier works on my bike because i know for sure he is doing it itself.Not a guy that is underpaid and is learning(with my bike in the process).This shops could be twice as cheap.But spareparts here are U$S related.So only cheaper working labor.
Just go to the BMW,Honda and Yamaha shop and ask for spares and service price,hahaha.
Your bike was leaking as you entered DM and making funny noices.....so keep to the real thing.
To Spartakus(the name of a infamous porn disco here in BA) to have your comments as a true post put your name on it.(otherways SPAM)
Sandra and Javier keep the way you both are!
KH(Carlos) Pfarr

I spent a week at Dakar Motos about 2 months ago, and I would highly recommend it, but you have to understand the place is a motorcycle repair shop first, and a hostel second. If you don't like this business model, you should stay somewhere else, no hard feelings.

Nice spin... what are you guys hiding?
 

I'm happy to learn that you still hang out at Dakar Motors when you are not repairing elevators.

If the guy's bike was leaking and making funny noises, and he took it to a shop and expected it to be fixed and it wasn't, what level of mechanical competency is that?

For the most part, parts prices are not tied to the US dollar in Argentina anymore, unless you are getting ripped off, and haven't been for a number of years. So stick to the truth. Parts and labor quotes from Dakar are generally at least 50% higher than they are at other shops in BsAs. But they market to a clientèle that is willing to pay that and pay hotel prices to sleep in a garage or pitch a tent in the yard because of the reputation and atmosphere of the place. That is fine, but to trash someone for telling the truth about alternatives in BsAs is unprofessional at best. It almost makes one think that you are hiding something, or don't want people to find out how much they are overpaying...

Anybody who expects a Frenchman to be nice to Americans is delusional. They are not and never have been.

So, BCK_973 (Name of a nasty bug that infects your privates here in BsAs), I'm going to go get me some ribs and an ice cold Isenbeck, why don't you go learn the definition of SPAM.

working your passage?
 

Paul,

How is it? How's life at sea? You on a Grimaldi freighter? Impressions?

Snide hijackings aside, there are a couple of reasons you'll struggle to get a clear answer to your question...

The first is that Buenos Aires is a glorious, honking sprawl of a capital city with as many distinct areas as London or Paris. There's no obvious place to aim for - it all depends on what you want from the city. I'd recommend starting in Monseratt slash micro-centro (The Hotel Ritz on Julio and Mayo is marvellous faded old colonial queen and only $20 a night) and then exploring - check out San Telmo, Palermo, the 'burbs and see where you're most at home.

The second reason is that, especially downtown, most hotels don't have parking. But this isn't a problem - because as a community, we're lucky to know Javier and Sandra at DakarMotos who will store you bike while you're flashing about BA.

Suerte, Dan Walsh

On another hand, a parking is not always necessary. I left my bike in front of my first hostel for 10 days in a well lit area and nothing happened, even the net on the carrier stayed untouched...it all depends how visible and flashy the bike can be. I did notice some interest tho since i have been asked on several occasions by locals if i was willing to sell it.

So you feel that the bike was secure and recommend that to other riders?

It all depends on your risk aversion, Lone, if caution is certainly necessary in B.A, paranoid reflexes arent. You still can see bikes parked in the streets just like in any other metropolitan area in the world. In the areas where there is permanent night life and police presence like Palermo or San Telmo, i would rank the risk minimal if locked properly. In the Province, i can only testify in Vicente Lopez where i stayed 5 weeks (in a house full of Americans can you believe it! =)). I regarded the risk very low too given the local guards and well lit streets.

I went to La Matanza to distribute gifts for the kids in the Comedores, and even there (one of the poorest areas in BA), i didnt feel anxious...Buenos Aires is not Rio de Janeiro and is certainly safer than most european and north american capital towns. The thefts here a more oportunistic than highly organised (except for corruption of course).

Lovely Rita
 

re - on street parking

I wouldn't recommend it, mainly because very few of us can relax when our ridin joy's exposed and vulnerable on a pavement. Better to do as the Portenos do and use one of the secure multi-storey carparks that seem to be on every block. Or arrange to have it stored at DakarMotos....

Suerte, Dan Walsh