A group of us stayed in this hotel in Feb 08. The hotel looks nice from the outside and has a nice lobby but there's where it all ends. The lifts have a mind of their own. The rooms are all different; some smelly, some difficult to live in and most old and run down. The rooms have normal keys and when your partner/friend goes out, you are stuck.

The hotel staff were miserable and would not make eye contact. We changed some money and were given a fake note. After lengthy arguments with the hotel manager, he offered us some vouchers which we declined. Watch out!!! FAKE NOTES are in abudance in this city. From then they refused to change money for us. The restuarant staff were unfriendly to say the least. The only person who we liked was the security guy who was a very friendly chap.

The breakfast was on/off. Most of the time things kept running out and would not be replaced. You had to keep asking for things. On one day we saw flies circling the fruit.

The only nice thing about this hotel was the spa; we particulaly liked the steam room and the sauna.

All in all, stay well clear of this hotel. If you are going to choose one bad hotel to stay in, dont choose this one. We will never go to this hotel again.

Very depressing, old, moldy, tacky hotel. There rooms quiet honestly were disgusting with dirt on the walls and old curtains and bed spread. The tv was something out of the 1970's. The staff was very unhelpful- would not go out of there way at all to help you get somewhere or find something. Check out was 10 am on the dot- never heard of that especially in South America. The worst hotel I've stayed in in a long while. DON"T STAY HERE

I went to South America (Argentina and Uruguay) for Thanksgiving week 2005 where it is essentially the same weather as late May in the southern tier of the U.S. and, yes, the weather was great.

I had read about the Castelar in several guide books and they have a web site. It sounded good and the price which included the breakfast buffet, the use of the spa/exercise area and taxes, seemed like a good deal. Two years before, when prices were very low in Buenos Aires, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Puerto Madero which was worth every cent at about $ 75 but it had since doubled so I wanted to stay somewhere else.

The reservation was taken with accuracy. The front desk staff was nice but not overly friendly. They work in a small area and have too many people milling around. The room and the bathroom were small. I almost wanted to check out and go somewhere else but I would be gone in 3 days, so I stayed put. There just wasn't enough room to spread out with luggage and get comfortable. However, the ladies who worked in housekeeping on the floors were very attentive. The "spa" was an absolute turn-off. It was an almost turn-of-the century in a basement facility that was kind of dingy and not conducive to wanting to stay there and work out. I didn't care for it, so I didn't use it. The breakfast buffet looked better than it tasted. I have had better ones in South America.

The location is phenomenal. It is halfway between the Casa Rosada and the Congreso. It is also walking distance to the Obelisco and its theatre area and there are great restaurants all around. It is truly smack in the middle of everything B.A. has to offer.

If you are wanting to save money and staying a short time, it can be done. If you require a more comfortable and memorable Buenos Aires experience, I would recommend trying to locate a decent price through some perseverance at some of the chains we are familiar with in the States. Thus, for most cases, it would be a "pass."

If you want to be in the traditional centre of BA, this is a good place. The subte is close and you can walk to plaza de Mayo and the big shopping streets.
They have a Spa you can enjoy, allthough we did not try it.

It is clean, friendly hotel and it has a traditional feel to it.