LGY Bed & Breakfast ONLY MEN — Hotel in Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

When staying in Buenos Aires, I wanted to stay at a gay place and El Lugar Gay is just that. While the location is not bad, and the amenities are ok, El Lugar Gay stands out for having an amazing friendly, helpful staff.

Located in the historic San Telmo neighborhood, the bed and breakfast hotel is next door to a Tango dance venue (there was also some tango in the bed and breakfast on the sun deck), and less than a half block away from a famous outdoor festival and music park and the street fair marketplace on weekends. Many young natives walk around with giant bottles of beer and marijuana. I have never seen so much musical celebration anywhere else in the world.

While I would stay there again for the people, and the location is convenient to some venues, the location is not as prime as some of the other gay hotels. With the subway located about 10 blocks away, and several flights of stairs to my room, I lost 5 pounds in my 8 day stay thanks to all of the walking. Although I was also watching what I ate, and eating moderately of the plentiful delicious food in Buenos Aires.

Of course, what earns Lugar Gay its 5-star rating from me is the friendly assortment of staff and handsome visitors from Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Columbia, U.K., Asia and U.S. that were there. The size of the building and number of guests was just right for making new friends. The choice of private and shared rooms, along with sun deck, fountain dipping pool, private and shared showers and lounges makes it easy to choose time alone or with new friends.

For safety and security, guests are discouraged from bringing local strangers into the hotel, but the staff does not balk if you sign in a visitor.

The free morning continental breakfasts were limited to coffee, tea, cereal, sweet rolls, apples and bananas.

Compared to the U.S., Argentina is definitely a 2nd-world country with many crumbling buildings, sidewalks and streets. But it is a beautiful cross between Mexico and Italy with plenty of fancy, historic architecture and some downright impressive parks, restaurants, sightseeing, night clubs and entertainment. Argentinians are largely of white Italian descent. Visitors will need to speak some Spanish to really get around comfortably as there are not many English speakers in Argentina.

I attempted several times to conduct some business in Buenos Aires, but largely failed in several attempts to see real estate and to trade Bitcoins for Argentine pesos. All real estate agents told me there were no properties for sale despite seeing several for sale signs, and all Bitcoin sellers told me they were too busy to see me (my poor Spanish was no doubt partly to blame).

The positive spirit of the Argentine people was powerful. While there are plenty of downtrodden, struggling families, I do not remember seeing a single individual angry or upset in this upbeat country. Along with an appreciate of tourists, Argentina has a very strong spirit of freedom, human rights, politeness, dignity and love.

Like most places on earth, Argentina still needs to make progress in economic reforms. An increase in free enterprise, a reduction in welfare and ending of harmful protectionism will some day allow Argentina to fully realize its potential wealth.

While I failed in my attempts to take part in real estate and Bitcoin transactions in the city, overall my stay was a memorable success thanks to the helpful staff and friendly guests at El Lugar Gay, and I hope that yours...

Really disappointing and unprofessional. I reserved directly through Javier, the owner, on WhatsApp. He confirmed the dates. I told him the hour of the arrival. Two days later, on the morning of the my arrival, I sent again the exact time I’ll arrive. He confirmed! Then suddenly, 2 hours before my arrival time, he writes to me that the dorm room I booked is now full, cause apparently, they didn’t keep it for me, and they continued offering it, if you don’t pay in advance. But the thing is - he didn’t ask me to pay in advance or mention anything about the room not being totally booked, on the contrary - he confirmed twice my booking. He didn’t tell me that this might happen and that if I want to truly reserve the room I need to pay in advance! Then after canceling he offered me a more expensive room, without offering to compensate me. And the worst thing - when I wrote to him that it puts me in very uncomfortable situation in the last minute he took no responsibility, didn’t apologize and gaslighted me writing me this message: “To confirm, we ask for payment in advance. Like any other hotel. People don't come later if they don't pay” - But this is the thing - he didn’t ask me to pay in advance and he confirmed my stay twice. It was very uncomfortable to find myself without a place to stay in the last moment. Very unprofessional conduct. I’m disappointed of both what happened and even more of the way he handled it and the bad energy. I highly recommend to not book there, and if you still do, make sure you pay in advance.

Editting after reading the disgusting reply from Javier: What a liar!! Just don't go there!! I asked him just one more time before about prices and availability on other dates, I thanked him for the information and said that I'll let him know if it's relevant. Never confirmed it. That's it. one time. In his reply to this review he tries to present it as if I said I would come several times and that I'm not serious and... bored (wtf...). It's lies and it's disgusting. I have screen shots of the conversation. I hope no one goes there. And it's really bad karma to lie Javier....

Buenos Aires was only meant to be a stopover for me to break up my trip from Australia to Colombia. However it turned out to be such a wonderful four days I wish I had stayed longer.||||A large part of this was because of my stay at Lugar Gay. I was made to feel right at home by Edgardo and Miguel. While the main caretakers were away these two boys ran the accomodation effortlessly making sure there was always breakfast and ready to give advice on what to do in BA.||||Arriving in winter I didn't get to make use of the rooftop but the access to San Telmo and the rest of BA kept me busy with great food and bar recommendations from the boys.||||Travelling solo I was worried about being alone but the house has a very social atmosphere. I was able to go out to dinners, bars and even nightclubs dancing over the weekend. Of course there is a certain amount of luck with people staying but the staff will make sure to help out with whatever sort of entertainment floats your boat.||||Fair warning there are a lot of stairs and no elevator so if may not be ideal for everyone but as a boy with a backpack it was perfect.||||I will be making a trip to BA again and the only place I would stay...