by Scott Laird
Last updated: 6:00 AM ET, Mon July 31, 2017
Some hotels are almost like time capsules unto themselves. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When it does, it's an utterly sublime experience.
The Park Tower, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Buenos Aires is just such a hotel.
Originally opened in 1996, much of the architectural design is clearly drawn from the cutting-edge building trends for luxury hotels of the late 20th century-high ceilings, marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and atrium dining rooms with vaguely European heritage style furnishings, perhaps as a hat tip to Argentina's pan-European heritage.
The hotel's styling wouldn't be much out of place in virtually any European capital 20 years ago. Yet, the anachronism is somehow comforting rather than grating.
The crown jewel of the lobby and lounge is a 17th-century French tapestry, which I'm told depicts Alexander the Great, but the lack of color vibrancy in period dyes and centuries of fading make the design rather difficult to make out-nevertheless, it manages to work.
The lounge offers comfortable evening service some of which is complimentary to SPG elite members and to those staying in specific room types.
The oddly incongruous St. Regis Restaurant (complete with the logo of sister brand St. Regis Hotels) offers a sumptuous breakfast buffet with expansive views of the cityscape.
The banner views, however, are available from most guest rooms, which face the city's main train station and the Torre Monumental, formerly the Torre de los Ingleses, a gift to the city from the local British diaspora commemorating the 1810 revolution.
After the 1982 Falklands War, the official name of the tower changed, and it's still defaced out of anti-British sentiments that continue to linger. The tower is lit in bright neon colors in the evening, which makes for some spectacular viewing from the property's rooms.
Guest rooms are comfortable if not particularly updated since the hotel's opening. The standard Luxury Collection beds are delightfully comfortable and the overall design has held up well, as has the original order for branded amenities, every single item of which carries the hotel's tower logo.
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The hotel is well-situated in Buenos Aires. It is walking distance from the shops and dining of Puerto Madero and the popular tourist sites such as the Casa Rosada (Argentina's Presidential Palace) and the famous Teatro Colon, which offers tours of the theatre and backstage areas when a production isn't scheduled during the day.
The Takeaway: For the weary international traveler, Park Tower is a welcome respite with a charming throwback aesthetic and an unbeatable location.
The Damage: Rates average around $250 based on availability and seasonal demand.
Instagrammable Moment: Be sure to get a picture of the tower from the guest rooms, particularly at night.
Loyalty: Starwood Preferred Guest. Category 5 from 12,000 Starpoints for a free night.
Good to Know: Like most hotels in Buenos Aires, the front desk doesn't have a license for currency exchange. There's an ATM in the neighboring Sheraton Buenos Aires, but it tends to run out of currency early in the day. There are several banks around the hotel, but not all of them are able to exchange currency.
Uber is the only rideshare app operating in Buenos Aires, and drivers will typically cancel requests for rides to the international airport (Ezeiza). Cab drivers will take $40 or charge the going rate in pesos for the journey, but these should be arranged via the hotel.
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