A team of surgeons in Argentina where high quality, low cost care is the norm.

A team of surgeons in Argentina where doctors are typically well-trained, confident & knowledgeable.

When most foreign journalists return home from a trip to Argentina, they often pen glowing reviews of their gastronomic conquests down south…Newsweek’s Howard Fineman is not one of those journalists. On a recent visit to see his daughter—who currently lives in Argentina—Fineman had a nasty bout with food poisoning. The illness and his subsequent 3-day stay in a private hospital in Bariloche opened Fineman’s eyes to the cost and quality of care advantages for expats and foreign visitors in Argentina. “My hospitalization included continuous intravenous fluids (to counter dehydration); IV antibiotics; an EKG, two blood tests and a chest X-ray; special meals; a private room; and even satellite-TV access to what seemed to be every obscure soccer match on the planet,” Fineman writes, “The doctors, nurses, aides, and others were all uniformly excellent. Total cost: about $1,500.” Considering that similar treatment in the U.S. would have cost roughly $12,000, the NBC political analyst was impressed by both the quality of care (”The doctors were clearly well trained and knowledgeable, and inspired confidence with their touch of Argentine cockiness.”) and the resourcefulness he witnessed first-hand. (”Perhaps they can’t always afford the latest in technology, but they strike me as doctors who don’t dwell on technology for its own sake.”) While most Argentine medical tourism coverage to date has focused exclusively on elective procedures in BA, InvestBA believes Fineman’s anecdote sheds important light on the non-elective, year-round quality care awaiting  expats, transplants and foreign travelers in Argentina. (Full article)

The Word Is Out on BA’s “Wonderfulness”

Wine critic Matt Kramer writes of the "wonderfulness" of BA. (Pictured: Soberbia 22 in Palermo)

Wine critic Matt Kramer writes of the "wonderfulness" of Buenos Aires. (Pictured: Soberbia 22 in Palermo)

American wine critic and Wine Spectator contributing editor Matt Kramer arrives in Buenos Aires for a three-month stay and wastes little time getting to know the food & wine delights of his newly adopted barrio of Palermo Soho. Kramer authored several Making Sense of Wine books and coined a term “somewhereness” in describing a wine’s character.  Prior to his departure, Kramer—a seasoned globetrotter—says none of his friends or family members ever asked him,Why Argentina? “Apparently, the word is out on the wonderfulness of Argentina as a place and the Argentines as a people,” Kramer surmises, “And, let’s be honest, the word is also out about how wonderfully inexpensive Argentina is for those of us trading woebegone American bucks for even more economically bedraggled Argentine pesos.” In describing what makes BA unique, Kramer points to the “intactness” of the city and a true feeling of identity in the city’s many diverse neighborhoods. In his own neighborhood of Palermo Soho, Kramer praises the diversity of culinary offerings: “Around the corner from us is a Moroccan restaurant. Italian restaurants abound. And, surprisingly, there are a fair number of sushi places.” So for at least one veteran critic in Buenos Aires, it seems “somewhereness” has truly given way to “wonderfulness.” ¡Buen provecho! (Full Wine Spectator article)

Hundreds of foreign jetsetters ring in the New Year at BA's Faena Hotel (Source: Clarín)

Hundreds of foreign jetsetters ring in the New Year at BA's Faena Hotel (Source: Clarín)

The Dow broke above 10,000 this morning and European debt concerns eased, so TheStreet.com figures Wall Street execs could use some tips on what foreign countries to invade and blow invest their next quarterly bonus. But this isn’t 2000 when you could charter a G-IV and kite off to Sardinia for a Tyco toga party featuring Jimmy Buffett, an ice sculpture of Michelangelo’s David spewing vodka from his privates and a birthday cake in the shape of a woman’s breasts with lit sparklers.  No, this is 2010, so you’ve got to fly coach and hopefully find a country with an exchange rate that makes the hard-earned, government bailout coin go a little farther. Look no further than Buenos Aires writes JetSetReport.com’s Michael Martin. “BA’s allure remains undiminished for American travelers looking for the romance of Paris made affordable by the weak Argentine peso,” Martin writes, “Tourism has flourished in Argentina’s capital with a bevy of new boutique hotels along the vibrant Puerto Madero waterfront and new developments by star architects such as Norman Foster and Philippe Starck.” It’s been exactly four years since New York Magazine’s Moveable Fiesta article which declared Buenos Aires “The New Expat Heaven.” Judging by TheStreet.com article, very little has changed…except for the more favorable exchange rate. The vodka-spewing ice sculpture may still be out of reach, but then again, life is all about trade-offs. (TheStreet.com article and JetSetReport.com).

Argentina and Uruguay were the top 2 Latin American destinations in IL's Annual Quality of Life Index.

Argentina and Uruguay were the top 2 Latin destinations in IL's Annual Quality of Life Index.

January’s headlines out of BA were either steeped in controversy (The debt row and Central Bank standoff) or sexual scandal (Fake Viagra from China and Cristina’s pork promotion.) Yet, despite all of the infighting and innuendo, there was one very positive piece of news that merits repeating for those contemplating relocation to Argentina. For the second consecutive year, Argentina and Uruguay were the two highest ranking Latin American countries in International Living’s annual 2010 Quality of Life Index. (Click image to enlarge) On the 1-100 scale, Argentina received its highest marks in the categories of Risk & Safety (100), Climate (91), Freedom (83) and Health (82). Of the 194 countries surveyed, Argentina ranked #26 sandwiched right between the United Kingdom and Slovenia; however, Argentina’s Cost of Living score (61) was actually 2x better than the U.K.’s (30). Neighboring Uruguay, another InvestBA favorite along the Tango Coast, garnered the #19 spot on the IL 2010 Index, sandwiched right between more expensive and significantly colder European competitors, Finland and Hungary. In a related story, data released this week from Argentina’s Tourist Ministry suggests a record number of foreigners traveled to Argentina in January “buoyed by an improved global economic situation and competitive prices at the country’s different destinations relative to those of its neighbors.” The entire 2010 Quality of Life Index ranking is available at InternationalLiving.com.

The 3 Playas Porteñas were such a hit in 2009, the City opened several more for 2010.

Besides providing relief from the heat, the 3 Playas Porteñas have been a great exercise in public trust.

Even though it’s summertime and thousands of Buenos Aires residents have made their annual exodus to the beaches of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, surveys suggest 70% of porteños have neither the time nor the resources for such a vacation. In 2009, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires took a novel approach and decided if residents couldn’t go the beach, the City would bring the beach to them. The “Playas Porteñas” debuted last summer and almost 300,000 residents took advantage of the urban beaches complete with sand, volleyball courts, soccer fields, cooling stations and the signature yellow umbrellas and chairs. The Buenos Aires coastline had popular beaches a century ago, but years of pollution and water contamination have rendered the Río de la Plata unfit for swimming. The 3 Playas Porteñas were such a hit last year, several more were added for the 2010 Season. According to Clarín, the beaches have been a good exercise in public trust: the neighbors, thankful for the opportunity to relax and cool off with their families, took pride in the Playas and kept them clean, orderly and free of vandalism to the umbrellas and chairs. So A.) if you’re in Buenos Aires and B.) you’re burning up, the beaches will be open daily now through February 28. (YouTube video)

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