ARGENTINA

Carlos Paz is a popular resort town 37km / 23 miles west of Cordoba on route 20 on the banks of the Lago San Roque.It is one of Argentina's favorite resort towns.during the summer its normal population of 35,000 swells to 400,000.Cordoba is Argentina's second largest city (population 1.2 million) 307 km / 192 miles northwest of Buenos Aires on Route 9.

TOURIST OFFICE: 400 San Martin, Carlos Paz.

Tel: (541) 21801.

HOW TO GET THERE: Flights operate daily from Buenos Aires to Cordoba's International Airport.

Gobernador Alvarez & J.L.Cabrera, Carlos Paz.

Tel: (541) 24931.

Amenities: rooms, restaurant & confiteria, outdoor & indoor pools, tennis, paddleball, sun deck, sauna, art gallery.

Avendia San Martin, Carlos Paz.

Type: Casino.Games; tables (blackjack, American roulette, punta y banco) (limits US$10 - 100), bingo.

Open: 2pm5am daily.

Entrance fee: US$4.

Colon (population 17,000) is on the Rio Uruguay, 350 km / 220 miles north of Buenos Aires in Entre Rios Province.A bridge links Colon to Paysandu, Uruguay.Colon is a picturesque river town with sandy beaches and Cliffs.

HOW TO GET THERE: 2 bus per day, 5 hours from Buenos Aires.

Ave.del Frente, PO Box 42, Colon.

Tel: 47-1870.

Type: Moderate first class Spanish Mission style hotel & casino.

Location: In a palm fringed setting on the edge of Colon Bay.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette).

Amenities: 84 rooms, restaurant, cocktail lounge, pool, tennis, health club, sauna.Rates.US$55 - 75.

Av.Quiros s / n, Colon 3280, Argentina, S.A.

Tel: (447) 4414.Rooms.

Casino Games: tables (American roulette, pont y banca).

Comodoro Rivadavia is on the Atlantic Ocean 237 miles / 396 km south of Trelew, or 942 miles / 1,570 km south of Buenos Aires.Comodoro Rivadavia is the largest city in Chubut Province of the Patagonia region of Southern Argentina.Argentina's oil production comes from wells west and south of the city.

TOURIST OFFICE: In bus terminal.

HOW TO GET THERE: By air - daily flights to and from Buenos Aires.

190 Rivadavia, Comodoro Rivadavia 9000.

Tel: (967) 32200.

Amenities: 115 rooms, US$47 - 67.

770 Av.9 de Julio, Comodoro Rivadavia 9000.

Tel: (967) 32300.

Amenities: 104 rooms.US$62 - 80.

_ 9 de Julio y Rivadavia, Argentina, S.A.

Casino Games: 7 tables (5 roulette, 2 pont y banca).

Gualeguaychu (population 85,000) is 155 mi./ 248 km north of Buenos Aires on the Rio Gualeguaychu.It is a very pleasant town with a river promenade, an attractive cathedral, and a railway museum.It is a popular weekend resort that celebrates Carnival at the beginning of March.

TOURIST OFFICE: Direcion Municipal de Turismo, Av.Costanera y 25 de Mayo.

Tel: (446) 23668.

San Martin y 3 de Febrero, Gualeguaychu 2820.

Tel: (446) 24414.

Casino Games: tables (American roulette, pont y banca).

Amenities: rooms Rates: US$50 - 75.

Puerto Iguazu 645 air miles / 1,075 km northeast of Buenos Aires at the Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay border.Puerto Iguazu is a small town on the Argentinean side of the Iguazu Falls.One can take a ferry from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguaci on the Brazilian side of the river.Tourist go to Puerto Iguazu to see the Iguazu Falls.The Falls are the most overwhelming natural tourist attraction in South America.They are the widest in the world extending over 4 miles with some 275 cataracts.Waters fall thunderously in a virgin forest with colorful and exotic mixtures of orchids, begonias, fern, palms, parrots and cacique birds.

TOURIST OFFICE: Corner Avenida Victoria Aguirre y Brazil.

HOW TO GET THERE: Daily flights Austral Airlines or Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu.

Madero 1020.Puerto Iguazu, 1106 Argentina.

Tel: (757) 20295.

Fax: (75) 20311.

Type: Luxury class hotel.

Location: In Iguazu National Park overlooking the falls, jungle and Devil's Gorge, 4 miles from the airport, 12 miles from Puerto Iguazu.

Amenities: 180 rooms, some with view of falls, International Restaurant.coffee shop, tea room, nightclub, convention center, pool, sauna, gym, tennis, shopping, children's playroom, garage.Season year round.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$68 - 211.

Tax: 18%.

Iguazu Falls, Misiones Province.

Tel: (757) 20-318.

Fax: (757) 20-497.

Type: Casino only.

Location: near the falls on the border with Paraguay and Brazil.

Casino Games: 150 slots, 29 public & salon Prive tables (6 blackjack, 14 American roulette, 3 punto y banca, 3 mini punto y banca, 3 caribbean stud with US$5,000 limits.Salon Prive games (blackjack, American roulette, punto y banca).

Amenities: restaurant, bar.

Description: A future 60 room deluxe hotel is under construction.

Affiliation: owners / operator Universal Casino Consultants (United Kingdom).

La Cumbre is 60 miles / 96 km north of Cordoba.It has been known as a traditional retreat for Argentina's writers and its elite.Trout streams attract fisherman from November to April.Swimming, tennis and golf are also major attractions.La Cumbre adjoins Cruz Chica a health resort which has one of the best English boys' schools in the country.Hang-gliding is popular at nearby Cuchi Corral.

HOW TO GET THERE: Train or flight from Buenos Aires to Cordoba then bus or taxi to La Cumbre.

_ Velez Sarsfield y Estanislao Olmos de Aguilera, La Cumbre, Argentina, S.A.

Casino Games: 8 American roulette, 4 pont y banca.

La Rioja (population 66,000) is 1,310 miles / 2,092 km northwest of Buenos Aires by way of Cordoba.La.
Rioja is the capital of the dry wine producing La Rioja Province.Founded in 1591, the town contains the ruins of a Jesuit church and Institute del Folklore Riojano folk museum.It also contains strange palo borracho (drunken stick) trees with hanging pods containing a cotton like substance used to stuff mattresses.

TOURIST OFFICE: Av.Sarmiento y Urquiza.

HOW TO GET THERE: By train from Buenos Aires via Cordoba, 39 hours; twice daily flights from Buenos Aires.

Avendia Sarmiento 1235 y Avendia Quiroga, La Rioja 5300, Argentina, S.A.

Type: Hotel & Casino.

Casino Games: 5 American roulette, 1 pont y banca.

Mar del Plata is some 250 miles / 400 km south of Buenos Aires on the Atlantic.Its normal population is 350,000; however, during the summer some 2.0 million visitors stay in some 1,500 hotels, lodgings and tourist houses.Mar del Plata, Argentina's famous seaside resort, is known as "the happy city"; it makes people smile.There are over 5 miles / 8 km of beautiful beaches, parks, shopping galleries and inexpensive local products.During the summer December through April, it becomes a lively resort where for over 300 years the wealthy Argentineans go for vacation or recreation.

Big money can be won or lost at the tables of its famous casinos: Casino Central, Casino Anexo I, and Casino Anexo II.

Mar del Plata offers a variety of activities besides gaming: sun bathing, swimming, fishing at the pier of the Fishing Club.There is a Yacht Club, the Club Nautico, and the port with the golf club behind it.A golf club exists on the grounds of the Club Mar del Plata, 7 km / 4 mi.south of the Moyogetes lighthouse, on the way to Miramar.The wooded Parque Camet 8 km to the north has polo grounds, playing fields and a salt water swimming pools.Fishing is good along the coast.Private boats can be chartered for shark fishing.Soccer fans may enjoy seeing the San Lorenzo team playing in their new 41,500 seat stadium.

CLIMATE: Winter is from June to September.The average July temperature, the coldest month, is 49? F (10?c).Summer, December to March, the temperature climbs to the 80"s F (27'c).The mean annual temperature is 61' F (16?c).

NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE: Maritimo Patrico Peralta 2267, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina, S.A.(23) 21777, or 20853.

HOW TO GET THERE: From Buenos Aires by car is about 4 1 / 2 hours along a direct route which can be slow, uncomfortable, crowded and unsafe in the summer.Travel may be easier on the El Marplatense express train from Constitucion Station in Buenos Aires about 4 1 / 2 hours.A La Coster Criolla bus takes about 5 hours.The most expensive and shortest trip is a 45 minute flight from either one of Buenos Aires' two airports Ezeiza Int'l (EZE), 28 miles south of Buenos Aires, or Jorge Newbery (AEP), 2 miles / 3 km northwest of Buenos Aires to Mar del Plate's downtown Aerpuerto de Camet.

Buenos Aires 1841, Mar Del Plata, 7600 Argentina, S.A.

Tel: (23) 25002.

TIx: 39-874.

Type: Tourist class hotel.

Location: On the Bristol Beach waterfront across from the Central Casino.120 rooms.Restaurant, bar, snack bar, TV and Bridge room, laundry service, beauty parlor, parking.Season year round.

Credit Cards: AE / DCNISA.

Rates: US$24 - 32.

Blvd.Maritimo 2500, Mar Del Plata, 7600.

Tel: (23) 24081.

Type: First class hotel.

Location: Adjacent to the Central Casino building on the Bristol Beach oceanfront.

Amenities: 500 rooms, 16 suites, wheelchair access, International Restaurant, nightclub, convention facilities, sauna.gym, private beach, garage.Season year round.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / VISA.

Rates: US $120.320.Service & Tax Included.

Maritimo Patrico Peralta 2252, Mar del Plata, 7600.

Tel: (23) 27011.

Type: Casino.

Location: In the Bristol Beach section of Mar del Plata.

Casino Clientele: Predominately Argentine nationals.

Casino: Largest Casino in South America.State owned.

Casino Games: 163 tables (108 roulette, 55 pant y banca) (bets: US$1-500).

Open: Summer (Dec.-Apr.) 4pm3.30am, 4pm-4am (Saturdays); Winter (May-Dec.) 3pm-2.30am.

Entrance Fee: US$23.ID / Passport required for foreign tourist.Minimum gaming age 18.Casual dress, but men should wear jackets and ties.

Casino Language: Spanish.

Casino Currency: Austral.

Description: The Central Casino is the largest gambling establishment in South America.It can handle up to 9,000 gamblers at a time.Profits from its gross receipts of more than US$200,000 a night go directly to the Ministry of Welfare.It is the biggest, most modern and luxurious casino in Argentina.

Affiliation: La Lotteria de Beneficial.

Av.Martinez de Hoz 3545, Mar del Plata, 7600.

Tel: (23) 84031 or 84032.

Type: Four star hotel & casino.

Clientele: Predominately Argentine nationals.

Location: Beachfront on Punta Mogotes.

Casino: General Information: same as Central Casino.

Casino Games: 12 American roulette, 6 pont y banca.

Hotel / Amenities: air conditioned rooms, swimming pool, beach.

Affiliation: La Lotteria de Beneficial.

4+ Blvd.Maritimo Patricio Peralta 2300, Mar del Plata, 7600.

Tel: (23) 24081 or 26095.

Type: Casino.

Location: In Gran Hotel Provincial.

Clientele: Predominately Argentine Nationals.

Casino: General Information: same as Central Casino.

Casino Games: 22 tables (18 American roulette, 4 pont y banca).

Affiliation: La Lotteria de Beneficial.

Mendoza (population 780,000) is 636 miles / 1,018 km west of Buenos Aires near the Chilean border.Mendoza is known as the land of sun and good wine.It is the largest city in western Argentina and among the most beautiful in Argentina, second only to Buenos Aires.Its beauty is created by a combination of low rise buildings and tree lined streets throughout the city.It is a gateway to the mineral springs of Cacheuta and Villavicencio to the west set amid the mountains, and to the premier Las Lenas ski resort, Argentina's best, southwest of Mendoza.

TOURIST OFFICE: Av.San Martin 1143.

Tel: (61) 24-2800, or (61) 24-2656.

HOW TO GET THERE: Daily flights from Buenos Aires to Mendoza take just under 2 hours; trains are twice weekly and take 14 hours.

Chile 1124, Mendoza 5500.

Tel: (61) 23-3248.

Fax: (61) 23-3000.

Type: Hotel Location: On Independence Plaza in the center of Mendoza.

Amenities: 86 rooms, restaurant, bar / nightclub, TV and reading room, conference facilities.Season year round.

Rates: US$42 - 59.

25 de Mayo 1123, Mendoza.5500.

Tel: (61) 23-4888 or (61) 25-5862.

Type: casino.

Location: one block from the Plaza Independencia.

, in the same black as the Paza Hotel Casino Games: slots, tables (blackjack, American roulette, pont y banca) (min bet US$10).

Open: slots 11am-close; tables 10pm3.30am Sun-Thurs.; 10pm-4am Fri.-Sat.Entrance Fee tables only US$2.Proper Dress.

Affiliation: La Lotteria de Beneficial.
Horse racing is available at the Hippodromo, Armani y Montes de Oca in nearby Godoy Cruz.

Tel: (61) 272352.

Miramar is 25 miles / 40 km southwest of Mar del Plata; 265 miles / 440 km south of Buenos Aires.Miramar, like Mar del Plata, is another Atlantic Ocean summer bathing resort.However, the surrounding hills are more picturesque.Miramar is also a less expensive resort than Mar del Plata and the beaches are far less crowded.

HOW TO GET THERE: Daily train via Mar del Plata or daily flights to Mar del Plata and taxi to Miramar.

9 de Julio 1343, Miramar 7067, Argentina, S.A.

Type: Hotel / Golf Club / Casino.

Casino Games: 18 American roulette, 8 pont y banca.

Affiliation: La Lotteria de Beneficial.