Villaggio Mendoza Hotel Argentina

Exterior View Villaggio Hotel in Mendoza Argentina

The hotel is located on 25 de Mayo between Sarmiento and Rivadavia; this won't mean much if you don't know Mendoza, so here's a googlemap.

This location is about 15 minutes by car from either the airport or the Omnibus terminal.

The casino is down the street at Sarmiento and 25 de Mayo. It's also a short walk (10-15 minutes) to Mendoza Plaza and the Palmeres Open Mall, but I didn't have time to visit either.

My room rate included a lovely breakfast with a nice choice of hot and cold foods in the dining room.

Several computers with free internet were located in the lobby; there is WIFI throughout the hotel.

The staff speak both English and Spanish, and were very friendly and helpful. My tour company had left a letter outlining the itinerary for the following day; when I saw that the time was unsuitable (I'd be gone to Buenos Aires before the city tour started), the front desk called to arrange a new time.

But I did have some trouble getting housekeeping to observe my Do Not Disturb sign. I contacted the desk after the first breach, then again when I found someone in the room changing the sheets. Really, for a short stay I don't need full service; even the towels were fine.

Villaggio Hotel Room with King Bed : Where I Stayed in Mendoza

A comfy king-size bed filled one side of this room, with table and two chairs occuping the other side.

It took a few tries and a call to the front desk for me to figure out how to operate the air conditioning; my error not theirs.

The hotel is fairly new; it opened its 26 rooms in 2006. Rooms have large flat screen televisions, and minibars.

On the fifth (top) floor, there is a spa for guests, and a lovely garden patio area off the lower level dining room.

Villaggio Mendoza Hotel Room Ensuite Bath

The Villaggio ensuite was roomy, with a nice large tub and shower with a rainshower head.

As did many hotels in Argentina, the bath room fixtures included a bidet.

The double sinks are a great feature for couples or families.

Bathroom floor was tile; bedroom seating area gleaming hardwood.

Though my room overlooked 25 de Mayo, it was not at all noisy.

TakeOut Food, Argentina Style in Mendoza

Outside the Villaggio, turn right: The next building (enter on the corner at Rivadavia) has a great little shop for snacks and fast food, drinks (including cold beer).

That's where I bought my take out lunch, shown here.

The green and yellow food is a zucchini type squash stuffed with cheese;

The golden 'bun' is a croquette of mashed potato stuffed with savoury chopped ham; the food in the plastic bag is potato salad, and the orange-white box is a liter of orange juice. I paid 18 ARP (Argentine pesos) about $4 for a very tasty lunch.

See how much lunch costs at nearby  restaurants on the Mendoza page.

Empanadas for dinner in Mendoza Argentina

Back from my afternoon tour of several wineries and an olive farm, I headed to the corner deli again to pick up dinner.

I bought another potato-ham croquette and a stuffed zucchini, plus two beef-ham-cheese empanadas, shown in the photo.

Add in a half bottle of chilled white wine , and the bill totalled 28 ARP or about $6.50 USD.

With a good choice of English language channels, I settled in for an early night, a happy camper.

Close Up of Ham-Potato Croquette, Mendoza, Argentina 

Here's a close look at the inside of the chopped ham and mashed potato croquette, served warm. Not at all spicy, but savoury and well seasoned.

I was happy to have found tasty, cheap food near by, since the Villagio dining room, where breakfast is served, is not open for dinner.

My first night, after the long day on the bus from Valparaiso, I ordered a serrano -style ham sandwich plate from room service. One bite, and I remembered I am not a serrano fan.

Two nearby restaurants were recommended by staff and my guide: Ocho Cepas (8 Grape Clusters) on Peru and Azafran, on Sarmiento.

Ocho Cepas opens around 9 p.m. and requires reservations; I couldn't find Azafran though I tried several times. Search on google, and lots of reviews come up, so apparently I am the only one with difficulty finding 75 Av Sarmiento. Azafran doesn't even answer their phone until around 8 or 8:30 p.m., I was told. Dinner is about 200 ARP or $46 USD, plus wine, tax, tip etc.

Overall, I enjoyed my two-night stay at the Villaggio, and would book there again. Hopefully, my next visit to Mendoza will be longer, with more time to explore the downtown neighbourhoods.

More Argentina Travel :

See Argentina travel information, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.