Buenos Aires is a great city to explore on foot, but if you're like most travelers and you're lugging around a ton of luggage, you'll want to dump it as soon as possible. Here are some tips on where to leave your stuff in Buenos Aires so you can enjoy the city without being weighed down.
There are plenty of inexpensive options for storing your luggage when you’re traveling — as long as you know where to look. Here are four options to consider when you need to ditch your bags for a few hours so you can see some sights
With 10-12 layovers common in Buenos Aires for international travelers, it’s not uncommon to see many strolling around downtown with their wheeled luggage trailing along behind them.
With a little research and planning, space can be provided for the baggage. Luggage can rest safely and secure while you see the attractions.
You have many options to store your luggage while you travel, but you need to know where to look. These are the options you should consider when you have to leave your bag behind for a while so that you can take in some sights.
Here are a few.
###Luggage-Storage Opportunities for Long Layovers and Sightseeing
Airports. Ezeiza International Airport has a luggage-storage facility.
Train Stations. Some train stations will hold your bags at the “parcel check” service for as little as $5 per day.
Hotels. Department Stores, Dry Cleaners, Cafes, Bars....
Airport
The storage facility allows you to check your bags and let them go for as long as you like, from only a few hours up to several days to even months. The fees and length of storage vary, but you can store bags for around $4-18 per day.
Be sure to inquire about the time you can leave your bag at an airport storage facility. Not all airports are open 24 hours.
If you are able to stay longer but don't want the hassle of checking bags while you go to grab something to eat at the airport, you can monitor your bags up to four hours before your flight.
Train Station
Some train stations allow you to check your bags at "parcel checking" for $5 per day.
If you are traveling internationally, a train could be your main means of travel between cities. The station makes it an ideal spot to leave your bags and go sightseeing.
If you are desperate to find somewhere to store your bags, you can always purchase a train ticket at a cheap price and then use the ticket-holder perk. It doesn't matter if you intend to ride the train.
Hotels
For a small fee, most hotels will store your luggage until you leave. Some hotels allow you to store your luggage even if it wasn't your night before.
Check with the front desk for details.
Department Stores, Dry Cleaners, Cafes, Bars
Many places that you might not have considered will hold your luggage. Don't go to just any bar and ask for their help with your luggage. It won't work.
Instead, you can try one of the many luggage-storage locator websites on the market.
These companies provide local storage solutions through partnerships with trusted businesses in cities around world. They also offer additional protections like tamper-proof seals or insurance on stored bags. You should research the service thoroughly, read reviews, and carefully review what items can and cannot be stored.
Keep in mind, however, that these services are still relatively new and not all have been implemented in every city. It's worth checking these websites to find out if there are luggage-stash facilities in the places you'll be visiting.
In Conclusion
Have you tried any of these methods for storing your luggage while traveling? If not, which one sounds the most appealing to you? Let me know by contacting me today and I’ll try to help get you set up. Happy travels!
Jerry Nelson is an American writer living the expat life in Buenos Aires. Some of the adventures Jerry has enjoyed, he jumped into the ocean from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Aden, cut off a goat's balls as part of a mating ritual in Indonesia, raced a NASCAR around the oval in Charlotte, created a small coin purse out of live Tarantulas in Australia's outback, spent six-weeks with the Sinaloa cartel along the U.S./Mexican border and sailed a 16th century schooner through the sound and into the open ocean.
Never far from his coffee and Marlboros, Jerry is always glad to discuss future working opportunities. Email him at [email protected] and join the quarter-million who follow him on Twitter.