La Eloisa Polo & Golf — Hotel in Buenos Aires

We contacted a travel agent in Buenos Aires to help us find a higher quality country visit as a one day escape from the city. This was our one big trip experience and for the day trip (including a car to and from) we paid $889 USD. We were a bit surprised by the cost but agreed because we were promised it was going to be much better than the touristic gaucho tours everywhere else on trip advisor. It was awful. ||||From the time you arrive and open the door of the car (where they fly into the car) to the time you leave (and kill the 10 or so that follow you into the car), you will be swarmed by mosquitos. Even if you put repellent on. This is not an exaggeration. There are hundreds of thousands all over the property and it makes being outside absolutely unbearable. There is a huge stagnant water pond (not pictured) very close to the pool. It's likely this is one of the many breeding grounds on the property. ||||The reason we came to the lodge was for a day in the country with delicious food and a nice horseback ride. We got none of those things. ||||The one pool was very dirty, needed to be vacuumed (lots of dirt and debris at the bottom). Unlike the photos you see here, there were no chairs or umbrellas near the pool. Nothing. No shaded areas, so we didn't swim. There was absolutely nothing to do. No polo, no game room (there was a lone foosball table put outside between two trees). ||||The food was terrible. Canned beets, canned corn, poor quality very fatty chorizo, low quality cuts of meat, and the chimichurri they served was thick and tasted like chinese sweet and sour sauce with some oregano and parsley added. No empanadas. The best part of the food was the cheap but drinkable Uxmal wine.||||But I could have tolerated all of that if the horse back riding would have been awesome. But it wasn't. The horses were very nice but they were miserable, they had thousands of mosquitos on them at all times - covering their bellys, faces and necks (where we couldn't reach to try to swipe them off).||||When we were walking to the stable to begin our horse ride, there were hundreds covering all of our pant legs, arms, and backs. We had already put on mosquito repellent. I personally stopped my ride 10 minutes in, it was miserable. The horse and I were both covered in mosquitos and there was nothing we could do about it. My friend decided to continue the ride and when she returned about 30 minutes later her legs were literally covered with more than 1000 mosquito bites. She had to take a benadryl and we had to stop at a nearby pharmacy to get a calamine / benadryl topical to get her some relief.||||The three things that weren't terrible. The staff, they were lovely, kind and helpful. The grounds, they were beautiful and had lovely flowers. You couldn't go check them out without being swarmed by mosquitos though. The horses, they were very nice. Although the grounds are beautiful, the staff was lovely, and the horses are nice - I'll never go there again. ||||I'm hoping this review saves you the huge disappointment we experienced for our one day in the countryside. Avoid this place and wherever you do book, be sure to ask before you go...

Our tour group of 13 spent two nights at La Eloisa, a polo and golf lodge about 70 km outside of Buenos Aires. The grounds were verdant, lush and spacious; lodges charmingly appointed; and staff uniformly gracious and welcoming.||||Pros||--Upon arrival, we were feted with a lovely multi-course lunch (tuna-salad stuffed tomato), salad, mashed potatoes, beef schnitzel, and all the soft drinks and red/white wine we could drink; with fruits and panqueques (crepes) with dulce de leche to top it off. In general, every home-cooked meal we had here was scrumptious and satisfying.||--Activities abound—whether you want to go horseback riding as you catch the brilliant sunset on the estancia; observe polo ponies and teams in training on the grounds; or simply chill by the pool and cool off from the summer heat—there is something for everyone.||--The asado (Argentinian BBQ) that we were treated to on our second day at the estancia was a real feast. After a fun yerba mate tasting and empanada-making session in the morning, the grill was fired up and every conceivable meat was laid out and tended to for hours while our stomachs growled amidst all the amazing cooking smells. Everyone lingered over lunch, which was served under the shade of a tree outside. ||||Cons||--In the heat and humidity of summer, it is definitely mosquito central here. Although the central air conditioning was turned on in the main lodge where we stayed, it was very weak upstairs, and did not prevent most of us from being endlessly bitten by ravenous mosquitoes in spite of all the insect repellent being used.||||La Eloisa is a lovely estancia with a gracious and hospitable staff. George, who is in charge of the horses and stables, was in charge of Prince Charles’ horses once upon a time, and knew the princes as young boys. He took us horseback riding and had some stories to share. Santi is the GM/runs operations and was ever-present to ensure that everyone’s needs were covered at all times. By all means, if you need a pastoral break from city life in Buenos Aires, visit La Eloisa—but perhaps in the spring or fall when the mosquitoes...

Our time at La Eloisa was extremely enjoyable. We are a family of five, and the staff provided us with a large room (king bed) and a crib for the baby, as well as a separate room with two twin beds for the other children (5 and 8). Each room had its own bathroom with hot water (important for bathing little kids!).||||We visited in May, so mosquitoes weren't a real problem. The staff provided us with mosquito repellant, which we applied to the kids before going out to ride the horses. They were able to ride twice a day, which they loved. It wasn't warm enough to use the pool, but we enjoyed walking the grounds, playing soccer, boating on the pond, and playing games in the activity center (ping pong and pool).||||The food was absolutely fantastic. Simple breakfasts, but amazing homemade lunches and dinners, like gnocchi, Milanese, cannelloni, and of course, a parrilla (the chorizo was SO delicious). The staff was kind enough to adjust their normal schedule to our kids' needs.||||The staff really was great. Friendly, attentive and helpful, both the staff in the house and in the stables. ||||The only negatives: the internet was slow, and the wifi signal in the TV room was very weak. And the furniture is old, so not terribly comfortable to sit and watch TV for awhile on a lumpy couch. But, I was happy that there weren't any expensive and fragile objects that had to be guarded with little kids running around.||||This isn't a fancy estancia with a spa and high-thread count linens. But for us, it was a great experience, and I would recommend this estancia to anyone who is looking for a relaxing and enjoyable country vacation with...