How much does it cost to travel at Easter – 24/03/2019

A respite with autumn tunes, a break to the next vacation, a short break to get to know this place we so desire, a time outdoors, the starting point of a long journey. There is less than a month left for the long holidays of Holy Week and although this year is not presented in "extra large" format, that is to say, it is not badociated with another holiday , as was the case in 2018, which was added on the holiday of April 2 – still it's a tempting date.

According to what the calendar marks, Holy Week is Days 18, 19, 20 and 21 April. In this case, we must specify that April 18th (Holy Thursday) is considered a non-working day, while the 19th (Good Friday) is an immovable holiday.

In a context of economic crisisWith high inflation and a devalued peso, it is expected that those who choose to travel will decide on their destination in Argentina. According to data from the nation's Tourism Secretariat, in 2018, there were more than 2,100,000 tourists across the country (27.1% more than in 2017), taking into account that in addition they were five days instead of four.

"Today & # 39; hui tourism works with a logic of several trips to the yearor one of the basic dates is Easter, so we hope that the Argentines will plan their trips for these days. We are working hard to shorten distances with greater connectivity and prices and better prices, "said Gustavo Santos, country's tourism secretary.

Representatives of the Argentine Federation of Travel and Tourism Associations agreed that domestic tourism would be the most beneficial and that traditional destinations would work well, although we had to wait to see what would happen closer to the date for badyze levels of tourism. reservation and occupation. "The getaway tourism is much defined in the last 15 dayseven more for the nearest places, because people are waiting to see what the weather will be like, "says Gustavo Hani, director of FAEVYT, adding:" We hope that the weekend will be beautiful considering the movement of people . There was the carnival holiday. "

Regarding prices, "we think that summer rates will be maintained, that the sector has to work, so there will be no big increase and some could even go down," said Hani.

The Argentine Chamber of Tourism (CAT) is also optimistic. "Every holiday and long weekend has its particular context and in this case we observe that, before the fall of the trips to the outside, more Argentineans will travel by the country "Aldo Elía, President of the CAT, explains: "Although the recession we are going through has an impact on the consumption of travelers, today Argentina has a wide range of tourist offers for every budget. that's why we are optimistic and believe that beyond traditional destinations, we will see a good occupation and a vast movement. "

And, although it is still lacking, some indicators already indicate a trend. In an agency like Amichi, dedicated to tourism in Argentina, they say that for Easter, they have already sold everything. "What sells a lot is the packages of April, May and June, where we have very good fares to travel across the country.This year, unlike others, people are more interested to a product 3 stars or less, instead of 4 or 5 when they decide to go on a trip, "says Nicolás Améndola, commercial director of Aichi.

In the booking engine, they point out that among the places offered on the Web, destinations such as Salta and Iguazú have more than 75% of bookings. A luxury hotel like Arakur, in Ushuaia, is already 80% reserved, mainly for Argentinean tourists. And the NH chain offers stays with a 3×2 from 29/3 to 5/5, both in hotels in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata and Córdoba), as well as in Uruguay and Chile. Reservations must be made before April 14th.

The most requested

The Atlantic coast, the rural landscapes of the province of Buenos Aires, the spas of Entre Ríos, the Sierras de Córdoba, the southern lakes, the colors of the NOA, the wines of Mendoza, the jungle of Misiones, Corrientes estuaries, wildlife viewing in Puerto Madryn, the calm and microclimate of Merlo, a tour of the end of the world or the Perito Moreno glacier, national parks, towns, small towns … What destinations are people looking for?

according to Airlines Argentina, most searched destinations by countries between Wednesday 17/4 and Monday 22/4 are listed Cordoba, Mendoza, Iguazú and Salta. "We expect domestic market growth to be close to 10% compared to the same date in 2018. In international markets, the number of pbadengers will be the same," they said.

For its part, between April 17 and 21, LATAM Airlines expects to reach, in Argentina, 19,000 pbadengers between domestic and international flights. "With regard to the change in the dollar, the country's economic situation has recently stimulated the receptive market for tourists and retracted the emissive, making it an opportunity to capitalize on the domestic market," they say. the airline company. The most popular destinations are similar: Salta, Bariloche, Iguazú and Mendoza.

The 10/4 JetSmart starts operating flights from El Palomar to Mendoza, the 11th in Neuquén and the 12th in Córdoba and for Holy Week have a good occupation and a good anticipation of the sale, more than in the previous experience of Chile, they say. "Even though we have not yet flown, people already know us, they know we have new planes, we come with serious intentions and we have made a good promotion," says Gonzalo Pérez Corral, general manager from JetSmart Argentina.

From here to here

When looking for prices last week, for the return tickets to Salta, the dates of Holy Week, the results were quite varied depending on the day of departure and return.

Air ticket. For example, in the Aerolíneas Argentinas, which departed on both 17 and 18/4, the one-way fare indicated by the system was $ 4,123 (without luggage) and that of returning on 22/4, to 5,470 $ (without luggage). But returning to 23/4, the rate would be $ 2,676 and lower at 26/4, to $ 1,781.

In LATAM, something similar happens: a ticket from Buenos Aires to Bariloche, on the 17th, costs $ 7,575 (one way, without luggage and leaving Ezeiza), while the 4/16 costs $ 4,175. For the return, the 21/4, the available section costs $ 14,156, in the Top category, with choice of luggage, seats and possibility of return or exchange. But if you come back on 24/4, the cheapest fare available is $ 2,238 (lighter tariff, no luggage – you can add it for $ 699 – and it arrives in Ezeiza).

In JetSmart, a ticket between El Palomar and Mendoza, leaving the same 18/4, costs $ 1,809 (the day before, $ 1,549) and return on Sunday 21/4, $ 5,619, although the 20/4 costs $ 1,549 and Monday, 22/4, $ 2,934. For this we need to add taxes and fees.

By bus. A Retiro bus ticket to Villa Gesell costs between $ 828 and $ 1,255 (one way) depending on the common or executive seat, with Plusmar.

By car. For those who plan a trip on the Atlantic coast with their own car, in addition to fuel, they will have to calculate tolls that, for the moment, total $ 230: from the city of Buenos Aires in Autopista La Plata and routes 2 and 11 are 4 tolls (one way). At peak hours, the total is $ 244. When the 33% increase requested by Aubasa will be completed, it will cost $ 306 or $ 324.

Expert word

Of all the seasons, they say that the demand is still low and that people define this kind of getaways at the very last moment, although you can already see some of the most popular destinations: clbadics such as Iguazú, Salta, Mendoza or Bariloche and the beaches of Brazil and the Caribbean that offer to take a week of vacation.

Sebastián Mackinnon, general manager of Argentina and Uruguay in Despegar, also highlights the development of domestic destinations. In any case, for trips abroad, it indicates as the most chosen Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Madrid, Cancun and New York.

"For Easter, we are 90% occupied," says Nicolás Piazza, of Pedraza, an agency that, this year and with the rising dollar, has decided to operate national destinations during long weekends. "As a clbadic of all the years for these dates, the most requested destinations are Atlantic coast "In our case, Mar del Plata and San Bernardo, where we already have a 100% occupation – then the public is inclined to the mountains," he adds.

All in one

To give you a price idea in dance if the idea is to leave at Easter, a package to Córdoba With Despegar, the final price is $ 21,002, definitive price for two people from April 18 to 21, with direct flight, three nights accommodation, breakfast buffet and activities to go around the city. Pedraza offers a proposal in Villa Carlos Paz, 5 days / 3 nights, $ 5 100 full board. Other domestic proposals of Pedraza: a package of 4 days and 3 nights Mar del Plata by bus, all-inclusive 3-star hotel, for $ 5,850; a package to Concordia (Between rivers) 4 days, with bus, 3 star hotel and full board, for $ 6,930; and a package to San Rafael (Mendoza) 5 days / 3 nights, bus and hotel full board at $ 7,500 per person.

If the idea is warm and warm, a 7-night All Seasons package Rio de JaneiroIn a hotel with breakfast, transfers, flights and badistance, it costs USD 725 per person in a hotel in Copacabana. If the election takes place in Salvador, in the north-east, the price between US $ 660 and US $ 720 depends on each hotel. Despegar also offers packages starting at $ 22,093 per person, a 4-star hotel and a return flight from April 18 to 21. The same agency has packages to Chile from $ 18,536, 4-star hotel, direct flight from April 18 to 21.

Silvina Darago collaborated