When I Went: Every December/January
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? The seasons are flipped down there, so the best time is when it is freezing cold here in the States. Hop on a plane and arrive in 80-degree sunshine. Anytime from October to February. This is the best place in the world to spend NYE!
Why I Went There: In a very mixed up way, the woman who is the closest thing I’ve ever had as a grandmother is from Argentina. She is married to my great uncle who is more like a grandfather. Her name is Nelly and she grew up spending her summers in Punta. She still owns the original vacation home. Over the years, my Uncle Jim and Nelly have purchased several homes and condos that are next door. Now we have a family compound of sorts. Mostly, we go to spend time with our family, but what a wonderful off-the-map place it is.
Who Went With Me? Mom, dad, sister, cousins, aunt, uncles, distant relatives who dont even speak English. Come one come all!
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We Stayed Here: We stay in our families’ private homes but the best hotel, where we have other people stay when they visit, is The Conrad. We spend New Years Eve at the hotel’s massive all night party.
You Won’t Want to Miss: So many things. The beach, the nightlife, the food, the culture–all things water related. Punta is South America’s version of the Hamptons. South Americans flock here for vacation: 40 percent are from Argentina, 40 percent from Brazil (and we all know how much the Brazilians love to party), and 10 percent is a mix from other South American countries. We almost never meet other Americans. Because this is truly South America, the culture is not to be missed. The siesta is alive and well here: dinners don’t start until 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and coming home at 4 a.m. is standard, even for people my parents’ age!
Eat Here: Almost any of the restaurants along the beach serve wonderfully fresh seafood dishes. This is not American seafood—there are heads and eyes and tentacles aplenty! The restaurant at Hotel Serena is perfection. Sit outside under white linen billowing trellises, sip on crisp Argentinian wine, and eat fish that you’ve never even heard of. And if you can find a way to get into the private Punta yacht club for lunch you are in for a real treat.
Play Here: La Barra. A short drive from the center of Punta is La Barra. It’s almost like its own city. Hip art studios and the most adorable clothing shops with brands and labels you’ve never seen before but must have. It is Punta’s version of Uptown here in Dallas (except with a beach and, believe it or not, even more serious discretionary spending). La Barra doesn’t come alive until 11 a.m. at the earliest because it doesn’t die down until 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. If you show up to the bars at 10 p.m., you will be in line, not because of a crowd, but because they wont open until midnight. I love La Barra.
If I Went Again: Wear more sunscreen. Bring back more wine. Eat more dessert.
How Did You Get There From Dallas? Flight to Miami or Los Angeles and then connect to a direct flight to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Then, it’s about a one-hour drive to the center of Punta. You can also get a direct flight from Dallas to Buenos Aires, and then, either take a small, local connecting flight or get on a barge across the bay (about two hours).
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: Uruguay is putting out some serious wines and, luckily, there are plenty of vineyards open to the public within a 45-minute drive from Punta. This is a must. Because so many people with serious money spend their vacations in Punta, the art scene is amazing here. There is art in all forms. You can start every single night with a different art event or concert or something funky that is being passed off as art. Also, it would be a shame to fly all that way and not spend a few days in either Brazil or Argentina. South America is as beautiful and cultural as Europe without the annoying overflow of tourists and, thankfully, without the painful exchange rate. You can also rent a boat for not too much money and sail/boat around the unihabited nearby island. It is a nature preserve, so no one lives there. However, there is a beach bar with swim-up access only. So fun.
