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The art
of creative hospitality: Sandanzas, Buenos
Aires
A
circle of Argentine friends has creatively blended art,
entertainment, culture and hospitality to create one of
Buenos Aires’ most inviting hostels reports
Chris Ord. |
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 They say
art involves suffering. Some extend that to the experience of
culture. Certainly every traveller can attest to large doses of
sufferance in the accommodation stakes.
Now, thanks to the
creative efforts of five childhood friends from Buenos Aires, those
headed to the ‘Paris’ of Latin America can immerse themselves in the
bustling city’s art, music, dance and social scenes while still
sleeping comfortably at night.
Located in the cobble-stoned
antique and Tango district of historic San Telmo, Sandanzas is one
hostel that breaks the mould (pun intended) of backpacker digs.
Bright, airy, clean and distinctively designed by its
owners, it has a comfortable, modern ambiance more often seen on the
pages of a Vogue interiors magazine than in big city (over 13
million in the case of ‘BA’) crash pads.
 Travellers choose from several dorm rooms with up to six
beds, two double rooms and a matrimonial. Bathrooms are always
spotless thanks to the friendly resident housekeeper Sylvia, and the
water always hot. With several communal areas including a cable TV
and video equipped lounge, dining room, a well-stocked kitchen and
courtyard, there’s plenty of opportunity to swap notes with fellow
travellers.
Guests are extended kitchen privileges with free
coffee and tea on offer throughout the day, or if you want to go
really native, there’s always ‘mate’ the traditional Argentine
herbal drink. If that’s not enough, there’s also free internet (to
find out exactly what ‘mate’ is before you join the thermos-toting
masses).
Irene (teacher and history buff), Nicolas
(photographer), Pablo (sociologist), Tomas (teacher) and Veronica
(artist) opened their ‘project’ hostel in 2002 with grand ideas of
creating accommodation that better served travellers looking to
connect with their city’s heart.
 “We began Sandanzas as a group of young travellers, artists
and investigators of Latin American culture wanting to help others
journey and explore our country as we have,” says one fifth of the
Sandanzas ‘family’, Nicolas.
“At Sandanzas, travellers can
find a space for exchange with young artists and social researchers
of the porteña, Latin-American and Argentine culture. Dancers can
practice Tango in our salon, take classes with our teachers and take
advantage of our agreements with the best milongas (tango dance
halls) in the city,” says Nicolas.
Indeed, having barely
dropped the pack, you already feel as though you’ve landed in a
major cultural enclave. Paintings by Veronica adorns the walls, her
sculptures decorate corners, Nicholas’ photography lines the
hallways and the hostel’s guitar is being gently strummed in the
lounge. Tonight there’s free Tango lessons in the quirkily decorated
activity room upstairs. Next week there’s a drum workshop and a live
band. There’s always something unfolding here.
 Still, despite their best efforts, even the Sandanzas team
couldn’t stuff all of Buenos Aires into the homey hostel. Instead
they provide you with everything you need to get out and about in
the city, from information on tango shows, art displays, football
games, antique fairs, live music and bars to contacts for Spanish
and Tango lessons. If you want to know, they’ll find out for you and
serve you coffee while you wait.
If there’s one Argentine
custom that, along with a fresh and filling breakfast, is served up
at Sandanzas in huge doses, it’s their renowned hospitality. It
could be said that the Sandanzas family has taken hostelling to a
new level. Indeed, they’ve mastered it as an art form.
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