u/Typical-Attitude-102

I'd appreciate your thoughts. Family of 5 (50 yr old parents, 17,17, 21 sons) traveling in Jan.

Have the crazy early flight from EZE to FTE landing around 7:30 am. The plan is to rent a car (currently have Renault Duster reserved). and hotel reserved in El Chalten for 4 nights, then 2 nights in El Calafate before flying to Ushuaia.

1 Arrive FTE, drive to El Chalten

2 El Chalten

3 El Chalten

4 El Chalten

5 Check out, drive back to El Calafate

6 El Calafate-- Estancia Cristina with horseback riding

7 Check out, 7:30pm flight to Ushuaia

The problem is this only gives us one completely full day in El Calafate-- One of my boys really wants to do a mini trek Ice Hike. Can you guys see anywhere to put this? Otherwise I think we will just do Safari cruise at Perito Moreno? Is there anything else fun/ more adventurous we should try? I personally just don't see a glacier being particularly interesting...So I think I will get my fill of cold glacier boat ride on the Estancia Cristina day. But I'm trying to make everyone happy!

I understand that the drive between El Chalten and El Calafate is about 3 hrs and the Glacier is on the other side...making the drive even longer. Is it worth really pushing it maybe on Day 1 or 5-- to do it?

I've read that Mallorca is a big draw for cyclist. I thought it might be fun to rent E bikes one day and spend a few hours exploring. We are not cyclist-- just average day bikers. Does anyone have suggestions on where? or specific routes? We are staying in Santanyi, but will have a car. I was thinking that Via Verde Manacor to Arta might be fun? Can anyone give input?

Can anyone recommend a specific boat day charter? I’m looking for private or maybe semi private (one other couple?) not a big party boat. We are visiting for a week and staying on both the east and west sides with a car- so I have some flexibility on where to depart. We are traveling the first week in October.

I really don’t enjoy the flying experience and we only travel for vacation. I’m wondering if lounge access will make the difference for me. My family of 5 (me and spouse, 2 teens, 1 young adult) will be flying from Miami to Buenos Aires , then multiple destinations in Argentina (W lounge) as our main family trip this year. If I get the platinum card, then add my spouse as a (paid) authorized user, will that get us all into the lounges? I also read that I can add up to 3 people as AU within the fee. I don’t mind my kids having cards. Is this still current info? Any thoughts on if we will actually get into the lounges during holiday (Christmas through mid January) travel?

I also was reading about the $75,000 spend allowing guests. Would that be calendar year? Or sign up date? How would that affect me with getting the card now and our travel planned for January?

I'd love your thoughts on the pacing of my itinerary. Where to splurge? Where to save? Where do I want more time? Traveling as a family - 50 yr old parents and young adults/ older teens. It's feeling a bit like "travel" and not a vacation. Suggestions? The kids love hiking and outdoor stuff...parents do like a bit of an adventure but wishing the budget allowed more splurge-y hotels, but alas it does not. There are 5 of us so we always need at least 2 rooms. Traveling over the kids winter break. $$

Day 1,2 Arrive Buenos aires from USA (arrive AM- can I spend only one night?)

Day 3 Fly to Ushuaia

Day 4,5 Ushuaia

Day 6 Fly to El Calafate and bus to El Chalten

Day 7,8 El Chalten Hiking

Day 9 Bus back to El Calafate (can I get an am bus and have a good portion of the day, or do I want a late bus and more time in El Chalten?)

Day 10,11 Glacier (CAN I SAVE A DAY HERE?)

Day 12 Bus to Puerto Natales -- get Car once there?? (Is this worth my time?? Do I need more days to actually enjoy it?? Where can I steal them from??)

Day 13,14 TdP

Day 15 From Puerto Natales Fly to Santiago

Day 16 Fly back to USA