Advice on Buenos Aires transport

WE ARE CRUISING FROM VALPARAISO TO BUENOS AIRES WITH A FEW DAYS IN SANTIAGO PRIOR. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE SHOULD ARRANGE PREBOOKED PRIVATE TRANSPORT FROM THE AIRPORT TO OUR SANTIAGO HOTEL AND FROM BUENOS AIRES PORT TO OUR HOTEL IN RECOLETA. WOULD A TAXI OR A SHUTTLE BUS BE SAFE? WHAT AUTHENTIC WINERY AREA FROM SANTIAGO COULD YOU RECOMMEND? IS THERE A TOUR FROM SANTIAGO TO ISLA NEGRA AND VINA DEL MAR TO VALPARAISO? WHAT DINNER AND TANGO SHOWS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IN BUENOS AIRES?

M. FREELAND, MAROUBRA

Some travellers have reported problems when taking a taxi from the port in Buenos Aires, since some drivers rely on confusion and lack of familiarity with Argentinian currency to scam the hapless. You could avoid this if you prebook private transport. Two operators that provide this service are Gray Line (grayline.com) and Cruising Excursions (cruisingexcursions.com).

On your journey from the city to the airport, book with Taxi Ezeiza (taxiezeiza.com.ar).

Santiago's airport offers a prepay taxi scheme, Via Controlada. Look for a counter in the passenger arrival area, buy your ticket and you'll be assigned a cab. When you step outside to the taxi boarding area, a staff member will help you find your assigned taxi.

The Casablanca Valley is a prominent winegrowing area within easy reach of Santiago. Santiago Adventures (santiagoadventures.com) is one operator that can put together a tour for you. Bodega Wine Tours (bodegawineschile.com) is another operator that gets good reviews.

For dinner and tango in Buenos Aires, We Are Tango (wearetango.com) is much smaller and more intimate than most, but La Ventana (laventanaweb.com) and Tango Porteno (tangoporteno.com.ar) get generally good reviews.