Hot List Hotels 2006
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Pte. Perón 1143
El Calafate
Argentina
Tel: 54 2902 492 454
A dusty Patagonian steppe town fronting Lake Argentina, El Calafate survives entirely on visitors to the Perito Moreno glacier, 50 miles to the west. Observing its huge columns of ice makes for a compelling day-trip, and the Esplendor can arrange hikes on the glacier itself. Although the hotel's exterior is unattractively boxy, designer Martín Churba has produced a lavish yet uncluttered interior. Flowing canvas drapes, 15-foot leather sofas, and tables of weathered quebracho hardwood section off the ground-floor public areas, and the 57 chocolate-and-burgundy rooms encircling the soaring atrium are Scandinavian in simplicity. Diners can savor Patagonian king crab, venison, or lamb as they gaze over the glacial waters and the gully-scythed mountains beyond.
When to go: Avoid the stormy chill of Patagonia's winter (June–Aug.).
Which room to book: Picture windows in each of the three suites form a triptych of Lake Argentina (doubles, $220).
Amenities:
Bar/lounge
Information may have changed since date of publication. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip.
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