I'm looking into a year end vacation, spending the week leading up to Xmas in Buenos Aires and New Years Eve/New Years week in Rio....I see they have LCDH in both cities...anybody been to these shops and/or have other recommendations....I'm also looking for hotel suggestions--in Buenos Aires, I seem to have narrowed my choices down to Plaza Francia and Park Chateau Kempinski in the Recoleta section...in Rio, I'm leaning towards the Marina Palace in the Leblon section. Many thanks.

The LCDH in BA is small, but had a nice selection of obscure cigars when I was last there in 2000. Heading back in late October. Will post the current status.

Been to BA several times and visited the LCDH http://www.lacasadelhabano.cu/mundo_i.asp. Its maybe a 15-20 minute walk from Recoleta. Recoleta is very nice. Make sure you see Evita's tomb and then hang outside and watch the fashion show go by. Argie girls all strut and many look like models. Its fun to watch the old men react. There are also great steak houses along the inner harbor. Be sure to try the local Malbec and bring some home. There is a good wine shop around the corner from the LCDH. A good concierge will have all this info. Leather jackets are also a good buy. The weather is fantastic in Dec and walking around the city is very pleasant. I will actually be in BA on Friday on biz. Be careful taking street taxis.

Rio is less nice and more dangerous, but Leblon is nice. There is a great fish restaurant with local jazz bands and a great cigar selection that I cannot remember the name to, but will get it and post later. I will be in Rio on Tuesday and will search it out if I can.

Cigars tend to be cheaper in BA. BA duty free has limited selection...can really only buy boxes, not sampler packs. Most US/Rio flights go through Sao Paulo. SP has a good DF, but again a bit expensive. Have a good trip.

Oman and Bassman:

Thanks for the inputs.....I think the name of the other shop in Buenos Aires might be Tabaqueria Inglesia.

Oman: a friend suggested 8 days might be too much in Rio (though I never tire looking at beautiful women) and suggested I break up this portion of my trip by taking an overnight trip to a beach resort 2 hours north called Buzios...any information on this town? I would be traveling by myself....is this a honeymoon place only or is it a great beach resort that also has great nightlife? Appreciate the feedback.

Here is what my friend from Rio says..." spent a week there once. It is a very charming place. Nice beaches, nice girls, good food, nice girls. There are a number of different beaches in Buzios, but the best one is called Jeribá. I stayed on a hotel called Corais e Conchas, but there are a lot of other charming hotels there. He could access the following sites and choose the hotel:
www.buziosonline.com.br
www.buziosturismo.com.br
www.buziospousadas.com.br"

Hope this is helpful.

Roycigar...the jazz club in Leblon is named Mistura Fina. There is a night club near it called Sky Lounge with a restaurant Gatto Partida that I'm told is very good. Had Brazilian BBQ at Porkau in Botafogo. Highly recommend for food and views of bay/Sugarloaf.

Hey there;
I lived in Buenos Aires for about 8 years and spent plenty of time in Brasil at the same time. I love both Rio and BA, although they are about as polar opposites as you can find. The laid back "tudo bem" attitude in Rio is wonderful whereas BA can be as intense and uptight as any city you have visited. If you enjoy food, BA is as wonderful as it gets: insanely fresh, well cooked, lots of Italian and European influence and the best red meat on the planet. The NYTimes Travel section has a number of good articles on each location: http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/centralandsouthamerica/argentina/guide.html
As someone who lives in Miami, I am a FIRM believer that each spot in Latin America has some wonderful attributes, the problem starts when the ex-pats from each place have to convince the others that their version of WHATEVER is best!
Best of luck,
Andy

O Man:

Thanks for the information...I was even able to find web sites for the places you suggested and will definitely check them out...trip has been booked and cannot get cancelled (damn, I gues I'll just have to go through with it). Looking forward to 6 nights/5days at Plaza Francia in BA and 8 nights/7days at Marina Palace in Rio....will play it by ear with respect to an overnight trip to either Buzios or Parati.

Roy...enjoy!